It’s 2026, and I’m Still Freezing Tracks in Logic Pro
- Leiam Sullivan
- Mar 19, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 2
Here I am, 27 years after first opening Logic Pro on my trusty G4 back in 1999, now running it on a blazing-fast M2 Max chip, yet still freezing tracks to finish projects.
Thinking back to around 2003, I clearly remember running massive projects -125 audio tracks with plugins like Pro-53 and Absynth - on my humble G4. Sure, freezing tracks was necessary then, but it felt reasonable given the hardware limitations. Fast-forward to today, my computer is vastly more powerful in both single-core and multicore performance, packed with 32 GB of RAM, and Logic Pro itself has evolved tremendously. You’d think freezing tracks would be a distant memory by now.
Yet, the reality is surprisingly familiar. Even now, with incredible processing power at my fingertips, I quickly hit that familiar wall - pushing the limits by using oversampling, ultra-detailed plugins, and layers upon layers of audio. Of course, if I ran things like I did back in the day - no oversampling, lighter plugins - my current setup would breeze through without breaking a sweat. But given the option to crank everything up to achieve that ultra-polished, big-studio sound, why wouldn’t I take it?
It reminds me vividly of when I upgraded to a G5 loaded with 64 GB of RAM and 12 processors. The feeling was exhilarating: unlimited channels, endless plugins, no more compromises -right? Within a week, I was back to maxing it out.
I guess it’s human nature - give us more power, and we’ll immediately find ways to use every last drop. And maybe that’s a good thing; it’s proof we’re constantly pushing forward, striving for the highest possible quality in our art.
Don’t get me wrong: I’m thrilled with the tools we have now. Being able to achieve that “big studio sound” from literally anywhere is incredible, something I only dreamed of two decades ago. But part of me can’t help but wonder:
Will the next generation of computers finally give us that promised creative freedom, or will I have to wait for the Quantum chips before freezing tracks becomes a relic of the past?
Until then, I guess I’ll just keep pushing the boundaries - one frozen track at a time.
Choosing your plug-ins wisely can certainly help. I tend to hit 50% CPU after about 30/40 plugins (mainly FX- inc. EQ, Comps, Reverb, ChannelStrips).
There are a few plugins that bring my (slightly older) CPU to it's knees [begin slight-rant]& I simply uninstall them, no matter how good they sound. I use a combo of software/ hardware that I'm VERY happy with, I really don't need plugins that compromise or even de-stabilise my super-solid modern PC-builds. I tried Reaper lately & was blown away by a). it's sound, b). it's customization options & c) it's (initially apparent) awesome plug-in optimization. After a week or so running custom (some a.i) scripts & finding the SAME plugins causing (different, basically automuting ehilst…