pops and clicks -performance issue question

[Gate 13]

Hello,
I have a Mac (quad core) with 10.6.8 OS
memory 13GB
Plogue bidule
digital performer 7


I have all of my East West products in different instances of Play inside Plogue Bidule.
I use an orchestral template with many instruments in DP7
In each instance I have similar patches so I can save memory.

I have also installed 3 different hard drives in my mac and spread out the different libraries.
all of my softwares are up to date

questions:
1)How come even with a very few instruments playing in digital performer, I get clicks and pops, a sign of overloading....
2) I just purchased a 2TB external drive (WD Passport I think is called). Will it help to put some libraries in this external hard drive as well? Is the connection of the hard drive to mac (USB or Firewire) matters?
3) can you give me any tips of how to improve my issue with overload performance which causes pops and clicks? I thought with all the steps I have made , I wouldn't have any issues! Buying more memory, I don't think it will help!

[Gravity Jim]

Are you actually seeing an overload in the CPU window when this happens? Because that's not the only cause of pops and clicks.

[Gate 13]

I see at DP the meter going red
I can give more details tomorrow but in general what other steps I should get in order to improve performance?
Are my steps so far OK?

[Gabe S.]

In my experience, it's the PLAY engine that's causing you the trouble. I run Bidule and DP, and it was ALWAYS the PLAY engine that was the culprit for me. Just one channel of string staccatos coming from Bidule would max the DP meter and cause clicks/pops. Meanwhile, Kontakt does not do that. I can play hundreds and hundreds of notes from Kontakt without issue.

Ultimately I'm sorry to say, I uninstalled PLAY and I don't use those libs anymore…..and it's a shame because I have a lot of EW libs. I have one external Windows pc, but I only allow Kontakt on that machine. I can leave that thing on for months without issue. Maybe someday I'll experiment with PLAY on another pc. I hear it behaves a bit better on pc…..ah well…..I really had hoped EW would figure out PLAY on a Mac, but they never did seem to…..at least not in my experience.

-g

[Gate 13]

I think you are right about Play!
It is really a shame not to fix this... We have year 2015....