ok...

Got my macbook pro today.

I installed Serato & VSL.
launched it and started playing.

It runs smoother than my PC but...
When trying different effects & transitions... it crashes... then relaunches the video plug-in... It happened like 4 times within a short period..
That NEVER happened on my PC... on my PC it just wouldn't run smooth because the CPU it pegged.

Any advice for a newbie mac user on how to optimize my laptop would be greatly appreciated.

I won't be using my macbook pro for anything other than VSL!! The most I will do is just connect to my wireless network & I can live without wireless if it helps with performance.


ironic... it never crashed on my pc but once I get the mac... it crashes... HA!

What I do on my machine. Macbook Pro 17", 2.33 dual, 3 gb Ram, 320 gb HD, ATI X1600 (256 dedicated)

Internet & Bluetooth off. (No brainer)

I disable dashboard: captire.info. I personally disabled via coding in terminal, but DashPrefs is nice if you may use dashboard in the future. I don't use it so I don't need it.

I disable Spotlight: www.fixamac.net. Spotless is a good program if you don't want to mess with terminal. Again I don't use it, don't need it.

SMC Fancontrol: www.macupdate.com. I have separate settings for all of my power apps. Very useful and needed if you plan on using Windows via Bootcamp, which yes I use XP on my Mac for Vegas and VDJ.

I would install Perian: perian.org

Other useful applications:

App Delete: www.macupdate.com. Use to completely delete all applications and associated files.

Onyx: www.macupdate.com. Allows you to verify the Startup Disk and the structure of its System files, to run misc tasks of system maintenance, to configure the hidden parameters of the Finder, Dock and of some of Apple's own applications, to delete caches, to remove a certain number of files and folders that may become cumbersome and more.

VirtualHub: www.techspansion.com. Universal video converter.

Cinematize: www.miraizon.com. What I use to separate DVD's.

iStat Menus: www.islayer.com. Great for checking out what's going on in your computer right on your menubar.

Hope this info helps, congrats on the new computer, and as I've said many times...My machine runs V-SL nearly flawless. Oh yeah max your RAM (which i'm sure you already have planned.)

i have the new mbp as well. all i did was plug and plkay. never crashed. no need to turn everything off. all effects are working fine. play with the buffer. make sure to build overviews.

cool!
thanks for the info guys!

i to switched from pc to mac a couple months back so i can run vsl ( i still use my pc for regular serato)... my mbp does da same thing ever so ofthen da video crashes no music drop out though it relaunches and it fine...

charlie thanks fo the tips....

i bought a macbook for doing all my conversions and video editing max out the memeory and its still way slower than my mbp...charlie is it safe to run all those progzz on ya mbp and dj wit it

I have a macbook, not a macbook pro and no crashes.

Disable wireless. That's all I do. Nothing else. Bluetooth is never on so I don't even have to disable that but if you do have it on, disable it.

I have to run VSL with buffer of 10 so I don't experience dropouts. Buffer of 2 when using SSL alone.

Also.... check this.

Mac OS X Version 10.5.2 not officially supported

Scratch LIVE users have reported various problems, including increased USB dropouts, after installing the 10.5.2 update of Mac OS X.

While these are yet to be confirmed and followed up with Apple, it is currently NOT recommended that users update to 10.5.2.

Users who have already updated and are experiencing problems should start a topic in the help forum to let us know the details and receive technical support.

After doing a few tweaks... or optimizations... like no internet, bluetooth, etc..
I was able to play a little more successful. It is ONLY when I load it with different video effects... either at the same time or whatever..
some transitions don't work either. the slide one where it slides the other video out of the screen either horizontal or vertical. It is just a black screen coming in instead. Did it on the PC too.

Same here, but I dont think it has to do with effects and transitions.

afraid to say it but i do most of that stuff too. i really don't want spotlight indexing my files while i'm djing!

Exactly. Hopefully all that info helps some people here as I'm sure most people on these boards haven't done much other than disable the internet.

thanks for the mac tips..... damn, learning a whole new set of tweaks.... ugh.

also with my old powerbook and regular ssl, i would never shut off my laptop or exit ssl. i would just close the lid and stuff the laptop in my bag. you can't do that with vsl. you need to start the laptop FRESH each time you want to run VSL. no sleeping!

man i cant believe you are having these problems...i dont know why my laptop works so well....

I just upgraded to 4gb's of ram.

so I am about to do some more testing pushing effects & all the transitions...

keep us updated