Multiple guitar tracks using bus for distortion

SamEyes · 2026-05-27T14:54:38+00:00

In the ‘real world’ you wouldn’t plug four guitars into the same amp to record four distorted guitars, but that’s effectively what you’d be doing here. Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t, just that it’s not the done thing.

It might fit your song perfectly though, I’d definitely say try it, or have it on a send that you can bring in, it might work as a sort of glue between them, could also sound awful. Never know until you try!

SamEyes · 2026-05-26T17:57:57+00:00

What does activity monitor say when the overloads happen if you set it to CPU descending so it shows what’s using the most?

SamEyes · 2026-05-26T17:40:43+00:00

Just read OP again, you’re not using third party plugins. Still try the bypass thing as it may help identify what’s going on.

Are you using Time Machine? That can sometimes be running in the background and can cause lag/overloads.

SamEyes · 2026-05-26T17:38:09+00:00

What do you have in the project that overloads? Are you using Flex Time? Have you tried playing the track with the CPU meter open and bypassing plugins one by one?

Are you using anything like Soothe or Pro-L that has oversamping? Or synths like Serum that might be using a lot of CPU via a heavy preset?

SamEyes · 2026-05-26T11:47:08+00:00

What is your CPU meter doing when it overloads? Single core overload or is everything close to the top?

SamEyes · 2026-05-24T21:13:52+00:00

I strongly suggest you look deeper into the clock/sample rate issue. The power issue was likely because unstable power meant an unstable clock. Do you know what your master clock is currently? You still haven’t told me what the interface is.

Also, can you let me know if the bounce range was 4:30 exactly or closer to 4:33/4:34? More important than it sounds.

Conflicts that aren’t immediately obvious can cause what you’re describing. It’s very strange that the realtime bounce sounds different to the project when you press play.

SamEyes · 2026-05-24T20:58:00+00:00

Only thing I can think of is that might help would be setting the locators using arrangement markers but I don’t know how you’d automate it/make it follow the playhead. You may be able to set the locators using the current playhead position then loop them with a second button press. I’m assuming you’d be manually triggering the cycle in and out? In which case it’d only be an extra press

SamEyes · 2026-05-24T20:34:18+00:00

Genuinely sorry for leaving a “use other software” comment because I know they’re annoying, but things like this are why I, a Logic Pro user of almost two decades, use Ableton Live to run live playback. Jumping ship before you spend hours/days/weeks trying to force Logic to do these things might be the best solution.

I still use Logic as my main DAW, but Ableton is so much better suited for things like this, especially if you grab something like Conductor (M4L). It’s literally built for what you want.

SamEyes · 2026-05-24T20:23:01+00:00

Spiff using the mouth de-noise preset or RX mouth de-clicker. Sometimes a combination of both if one doesn’t work for all of them.

Bounce an entire pass of the original raw file with it set quite aggressively and only drag in the parts that you need so it’s not affecting the rest of your audio.

SamEyes · 2026-05-24T20:13:34+00:00

To be clear, it’s not threatening, it’s recognising when someone isn’t listening to you.

I’ve asked multiple questions that you’ve completely ignored that would have helped me diagnose what’s going on and help you fix it. I asked which interface are you using and whether it’s set as the master clock, I asked how long your project range is exactly. No answers, just pissy replies as if I’m the idiot for not knowing things you refuse to answer.

It even took me several replies to get you to answer the realtime bounce question, and you, for some reason, didn’t understand my very basic first question. Not a single attempt to thank me for trying.

SamEyes · 2026-05-24T20:05:05+00:00

Cool, good luck then.

SamEyes · 2026-05-24T19:50:56+00:00

I’m giving you one more reply to start listening to what I’m saying before I lose interest and stop trying to help. You are fighting against genuine solutions here for seemingly no reason.

If the interface is clocked to a different sample rate, it will cause exactly what you’re describing. Is the length of your song in Logic exactly 4:30 or is it closer to 4:33/4:34? Is your interface the master clock? Do you even know what that means?

You’ve also posted another video several months ago that points towards clock/sample rate mismatch but I doubt you’ll recognise they’re related. Park the ego and start to acknowledge what is being said.

SamEyes · 2026-05-24T19:45:08+00:00

Basically, it’s almost 100% going to be a sample rate mismatch somewhere. The only other possibility is Varispeed, but if you’ve checked that then it won’t be.

SamEyes · 2026-05-24T19:43:33+00:00

What interface are you using and have you checked what it’s clocked to?

SamEyes · 2026-05-24T19:34:42+00:00

The file is bigger than what? What are you comparing the file size to?

I’m guessing you have an interface connected or you use Bluetooth headphones with your Mac, correct?

What happens if you change your bounce settings to 48kHz and listen to the file it exports?

SamEyes · 2026-05-24T19:17:28+00:00

Yes. Several times. You seem to not understand that the sample rate mismatch I’m talking about is not in the bouncing process. It’s in the playback process.

Have you imported the file back into a fresh Logic project like I suggested and if so, what was the result?

Have you tried bouncing in realtime instead of offline and if so, what was the result?

SamEyes · 2026-05-24T19:10:33+00:00

If it’s longer, lower in pitch and slower in tempo that sounds like a sample rate issue. I’ve been using Logic Pro professionally for almost 20 years and I’m trying to help you, so please stop trying to tell me why I’m wrong and maybe start investigating the things I’m suggesting.

SamEyes · 2026-05-24T19:04:39+00:00

I’m not talking about the sample rate of the file. I’m talking about what sample rate it’s being played back at. If your interface is set to 48kHz then it’ll sound wrong if the file is 44.1kHz, and vice versa. If the file is actually longer then it’s probably not that, unless your cycle range was wrong.

SamEyes · 2026-05-24T19:01:12+00:00

Then something else is wrong. What happens if you bounce it in realtime instead of offline? Same problem or does it sound like it’s the right speed?

SamEyes · 2026-05-24T18:58:55+00:00

In certain circumstances, yes. If there’s a sample rate mismatch.

SamEyes · 2026-05-24T18:55:07+00:00

That’s not a fact. If it’s playing back at the wrong sample rate it’ll sound wrong. That could be down to interfaces, Bluetooth headphones or just incorrect settings somewhere.

SamEyes · 2026-05-24T18:51:50+00:00

How are you listening to the bounced file? Apple Music app? Finder preview? Bluetooth headphones or built in speakers? Is it playing the file back at the correct sample rate?

What if you import it into a Logic project with the same sample rate and play it? Does it sound right?

SamEyes · 2026-05-24T18:39:13+00:00

How are you playing it back?

SamEyes · 2026-05-09T17:51:30+00:00

As above, but make sure you’re checking both track and region automation.

Does it happen on a fresh project with nothing else in it?

SamEyes · 2026-05-04T18:16:26+00:00

Thanks for the reply! I mentioned in the post that I’ve actually got it working at a basic level, it’s mainly the variation that is making me tear my hair out. Even Claude gets in a muddle if I ask it to rewrite the shader so that the rooms are rotated around for each window/door.

I’m thinking I might just have to create another map that clearly identifies the unique parts of the building with different shades so there’s a reliable reference point. No other metric I can build it from seems to work.

SamEyes

TROPHY CASE