recording Problem POPS CLICKS HORRIBLE DistortioN AAW

[texlop]

My friend has a powerbook G4 he just bought brand new that has a Presonus firepod, and a Rhode Tube mic connected for recording. He's running cubase and can record up too 3 tracks no problem. He plays mainly bossonova style music. When he starts adding the effects plugins into the mix at about the 4th or 5th plug in it starts to distort heavily. It sounds so bad and glitchy that is very displeasing. Anyone here had similar problems. I can't figure out what is wrong all the levels are nice and leveled it only happens when the plugins are added. What could be going on here?

[Ethan Holdtrue]

It could be that some how your maxing out your processer... but I'd think a G5 would be able to handle more than 5 tracks worth of FX (next time get an AMD ). The other thing you should check is your master level in your mix, as you may need to turn it down a bit.

Those should be the first things you check for...