AUDIO: Snap, Crackle, Pop, Depending on Playback Preference

Hello -

I've got a sudden onset of popping with audio on established projects and any new clips placed in and played on the timeline. One thing to note, this doesn't happen when I set playback preferences to "Better Performance", but the problem immediate returns when the preference is set to "High Quality" playback.

Any similar experiences and / or better yet, solutions.

Thanks, as Always,
sp

1- What are your hardware specs?
2- What is the origin, format and codec are the media files you're editing with?

Thanks for the response and any input you may have.
sp

Running FCPX 10.0.9 (think that's the latest version?)

HARDWARE:
MAC osx v10.8.5
Memory: 4 GB 667 Mhz DDR2 FB-DMMM
Processor: 2 x 3.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon
Running Media off external Seagate SD's Mac-Formattted

PROJECT/FORMAT/CODEC INFO:
Project: 1080i
HDV 1080i60 (25 Mb/s), Linear PCM
Audio Sample Rate: 48 kHz


ADD'L NOTES:
These are projects / files / formats / codecs run previously over 2 years with no issues (but for the occasional/rare popping audio that resolved itself). Usually, restarting FCP and/or the Mac and rebooting HD's would take care of it. The problem is sticking around this time.

The latest version is 10.1.1, and it only runs in OS X 10.9, latest is 10.9.2.

4GB RAM is bare minimum for FCPX, and not realistic for serious work. Bump thatup to 8GB RAM, if not 16GB RAM, and see an improved performance.

HDV? Where did that footage come from? iMovie? A camera? ProRes will give you better perfromance.

I'll assume this is a Mac Pro. What video card is in it?

Been hesitant to upgrade to Mavericks, due to problems encountered by counterparts, but will look into it. In the meantime, I'm wondering why this would start with completed projects, as well as current one (and never exhibited issues) without any other changes to system, not running multiple programs, etc.

Video Source (current project): Camera: Sony HVR-V1U (so optimized on import)

Video Card: ATI Radeon HD 5770 1024 MB

Understood about 4 GB of RAM, but again, haven't had previous problems with configuration and have processed some heavy projects / edits with source media from multiple formats / cameras, types of files, heavy graphics, etc.

Have you had any experience / issues or heard of any with upgrade to Mavericks - problems with FCPX?

Thanks Again,
sp

As you grow you collection of Libraries, that 4GB RAM will fill up more and more.

If you are Optimizing, then you're working with ProRes.

But yes, that 4GB RAM will be a bottle neck as your collection of databases grows.

Be sure all drives have at least 15% of their total capacity left as free space.

How is that Seagate connected to the Mac Pro? Firewire, eSATA, USB? And is it a 7200rpm drive?

I'll check on the Seagate drive RPM's, which is connected via USB.

I'll also look into adding another 4GB of memory, at a minimum. In the meantime, I'm using Event Manager so never have all my libraries "accessed" at any given time. Would this alleviate some of the bottleneck effect you mentioned?

Forgot to confirm. Yes, I'm running a Mac Pro 2008.

Thanks Again,
sp

OK, Mac Pros (except the recent 2013 tube model) only have USB 2.0, not USB 3.0. That is your bottleneck. That and RAM. Get off of USB 2.0, it will bog you down the more work you do. It is not recommended by anyone for video work. Switch to a secondary internal drive(s) for your media/Library storage. Otherwise use eSATA external drives. FW800 barely handled heavy HD video work.

I just switched from a 2008 Mac Pro to the newest 2013 tube. I used internal 4TB drives for my media and Libraries, with an ATI 5870 GPU, 16GB RAM, and it handled pretty much anything I could throw at it. Not all that fast at times, but it did a ton of work with very little issues.

Thanks,
sp