Are you using multiple computers?

[Timothy]

I recently purchased Kontakt 2 and if you own either K-2 or Gigastudio you know they are computer hogs when running multiple instances and convolutions. I have read about the more pro setups using more than one computer,even when using a seperate drive to stream from this is heavy software on my 1.5 ghz 512 ram machine especially when running a recording app as well.
Will you share with me what kinds of schemes you have arrived at to overcome this. I had considered using two machines but that gets a little expensive. Here is an innovative product : http://www.fx-max.com/fxt/product.html#reasons

Do any of you use this with any success? I have seen that Waves is now doing a similar thing with their dsp effects and lan.

 

[Halion]

Cubase SX has this build in, it's called VST Link. I know that profesional composers use it all the time, mostly for big orchestral libraries (strings on one comp, brass on another, winds on another etc.). Although I don't have any first hand experience, it seems to work great. I don't know about FX Teleport first hand either. The book The Guide to Midi Orchestratoin 3rd Ed. by Paul Gilreath, speaks lovingly of FX Teleport. To quote: "My trials with the product have produced fairly good results in smaller systems and I'm constantly trying to push its limits (as is the software's author). This product represents the wave of the future - less cables and more internally connected multiple computers. I anticipate that one day soon, we will talk fondly of the old days of MIDI and audio connections before FX Teleport. Look for great things from this company!"

There's multiple of these products described in the midi orchestration book.

 

[Timothy]

Thanks Halion for your reply.I'll check the book out.

 

[studiomaster]

Nope...one computer, two monitors

 

[Dr Biscuits]

I'm running Giga and Sonar on one box, and so far so good... just gotta shut down MSN Messenger when you load up a 56 peice orchestra

 

[bigj]

...and a lot of the background processes in your system...i don't know about yours...but i have configure to be starting with just 16 of them. If i need anything besides recording...most likely i have to start it manually, sometimes that means starting services manually, but that's no issue to me.

I ussually don't have to mess with the services that much. I run an Athlon XP 1800+ @ it's default speed, 512 of DDR, and an ATA 133 HD on WinXP.

I can, if i wanted, run Cubase SX3 and record all the way to 1 instrumental track and i believe the # was 37-38 vocal takes with all of them using GlaceVerb reverbs before i see any "crackling/stoping" in the audio while playing back. I think that's pretty good for my PC and nowhere near of my real needs....my real needs are about half that on a whole song.

I also use Fruity Loops 6 and sometimes use multiple (2-4) instances of Hyper Sonic without a hick up. That's including at least 1 instance of Plasticz, Orchestral, and multiple samples for the beat line. I really need to look up the specs on that GigaStudio since, im not so much into it, but more into the Technical side of the why is running so sluggish on your PC!

hey that's just my 2.5cents

 

[Dr Biscuits]

Ya, I should be more specific... I run them both on one box, but that box is optimized for audio and is a quick enough computer (P4 3.2, 1GB RAM, SATA drives), and I never have anything else running at the same time.
Giga is the big hog because of the way it streams it's samples and the Giga Pulse convolution - but thats why I love it
You can definitely do it on one machine, but you need to be quite conscientious about it.

 

[Timothy]

Thanks guys, I have adjusted my settings to performance mode vs. appearance so my graphics is basic. I automatically disabled all unused programs on startup. As mentioned earlier I am using a 1.5ghz laptop that is only expandable to 512mb memory,on top of that I have shared graphics memory so I only have about 480mb to play with. Additionally I have only a 4200 rpm hard drive. Things start to choke up pretty quickly in the data pipeline. I probably will replace the hard drive with a 7200 but I am helpless with the memory.
Its not that I cant play Kontakt 2 with it, I am streaming samples from a 7200 rpm usb 2.0 drive with success, but only with one or two instruments before it all goes to heck.
I want to gig live with Abelton and I think that is highly possible with the laptop and a 7200 drive. I am thinking I will gig with the laptop and use the new desktop for number crunches.I am presently gigging with the laptop and either K-2 or M-audio key rig but only playing one and maybe two sounds at a time.
For recording I thought the laptop could work with the desktop to increase the power.

 

[ds21]

I just got another computer, (or should I say a new mother board and cpu), the one I've been using is a 2200XP overclocked to 2700, the new one is a 2800XP. I had an extra case, mem, and powersupply etc. I run Waves and EMU ProteusX, think my next will be Stylus or Giga, So I'm going to try the teleport FX and see how it goes, I've heard some good things about it...

 

[Timothy]

Congrats DS21 on the new computer setup, will you let this dummy know how it all goes?