Using External HD to store Spitfire - MIDI sometimes dropping out on playback

Captaintact

Hello and thanks in advance for any and all help.

I have a 2019 iMac 27

3 GHz 6-Core Intel Core i5

32Gb RAM

1TB HD

Sonoma 14.5

I have all my spitfire sounds on an ext 7200rpm HD connected USB

ALL programmes are fully updated

When i play a project from Logic, the MIDI often cuts out. I have checked settings and changed buffer etc to no avail. It doesn't always cut out and is unaffected by any or no other programmes open.

iMac HD is APFS and ext HD is Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

Are the sounds 'streamed' from the ext HD as the project is playing or are they loaded to the main computer when the project is loaded?

If 'streaming', is the ext drive or it's connection not fast enough?

Any thoughts welcome

Graeme

Jeremy_NI

What are your settings in Logic? Especially these ones?

Also if you open Kontakt in standalone, do you get the same performance issue?

Maybe this would also help: How Can I Optimize the Performance of Kontakt?

Captaintact

Hello and thank you for your reply. I will try all you have suggested. I am new to using Kontakt and Spitfire sounds.

Regarding your screenshot of the Audio/General tab in Logic, are the settings shown, your recommended ones?

Kind regards

Graeme

Theo Aronson

FWIW I have a dedicated SSD External "Samples" Drive to avoid exactly these issues. I'd bet good money part of the problem is your disk speed where sample library is located.

Captaintact

Hello Theo

Thank for your reply. I had thought this as a possibility. My 7200rpm extHD is connected via USB 3. I had hoped that would be fast enough.

Are the sounds 'streamed' from the drive or simply loaded into computer memory?

Kind regards

Graeme

Jeremy_NI

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/159516#Comment_159516

Yes, especially this part: