Computers and Multitrack Remix

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eradio

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I am aware the Pro Tools uses separate units to handle the load when you have many tracks at once on a PC. But is there any other way to beef up a nice audio PC to better handle a large multi track mix?
Also is there some sort of mathematical reference like 1 track requires X amount of memory?
Thanks for the great resource.
 
eradio said:
I am aware the Pro Tools uses separate units to handle the load when you have many tracks at once on a PC. But is there any other way to beef up a nice audio PC to better handle a large multi track mix?
Also is there some sort of mathematical reference like 1 track requires X amount of memory?
Thanks for the great resource.
Click to expand...

How big (how many MB) a track is depends on 1) bit depth, 2) sample rate 3) length of track. recording at 24/192 takes up way more space on an HD than recording at 16/44.1 and if that needs to be loaded into RAM clearly sucks up more memory

DSP cards (such as UAD) give additional processing power for specific VST effects

Cleaning your system so that only sytem necessary files are running in the background will mean that you have less calls on CPU and RAM and HDD for non audio applications when you are recording/mixing (For example turn off Anti virus, software firewalls, windows updaes, google updater, apple updater, print spoolers, etc,etc,etc). if you have a lot of unecessary backround services running it could impact audio performance
Setting your virtual memory minimum/maximum to the Same number (usually double the RAM. means your sytem isn't constantly resizing the page file. This can help if you are running low on RAM

Some of the key points to remeber are
CPU power is directly required to crunch numbers for VST/VSTi. The more you have running simultaneously the more CPU power you are going to need

Softsynths samples are generally preloaded into RAM so if you are running multiple softsynths simutaneously you need enough RAM

The number of tracks you can run at the same time is dependant on HDD read write speeds. Faster drives = more tracks you can record simultaneously

You need a setup that fits your situation. Tons of CPU power for live recording with no effects but a high track count (over 20 inputs for example)doesn't help you need more Drive speed.
4 Hard raided Velociraptors (lots of HDD speed and capacity) isn't helpful to Run 15 softsynths with 10 VST effects on each track you need CPU power and RAM for that
 
Thanks for the reply.

You mentioned DSP cards (such as UAD) giving additional processing power for specific VST effects..

Can these be added to any PC? Are they audio cards? Any recommendations?
I am looking to prepare my PC for remixing upwards of 24+ tracks and need to give it every advantage I can find.

Thanks again.
 
What are your PC specs you may already have more than enough power to do what you are looking at, What sotware are you running and what kind of VSTs do you use

UAD cards require an open PCI or PCIe slot an your computer's motherboard and will process UAD Plugins. The starter version of their latest offering is the UAD2 Solo and comes with 7 plugs but runs about 600 + bucks so not cheap (although nice plugs)
The card is basically an additional processor that is dedicated to number crunching for those specific plugs it is designed to run and takes the load of those calculations off your CPU
 
Dual Core AMD Opteron Processor 1212

3 Gigs of Ram

Win XP

Sound Card is Xfi Fatal1ty by Creative

I may need to get different HD's as they are only 7200 RPM's

I have Cubase SX with the Waves Gold Bundle and a few other various plugins...Lexicon, PSP Vintage Warmer etc...
 
that's not a horrible setup, so long as the DAW software version supports multi core, except for the sound card which is a gamer card and adds lots of coloration to the sound and is not ideal for recording or mixing audio.

I'd be more concerned about a decent Audio interface than a DSP card at this point either PCI or Firewire

Try it and see, I'm not a big fan of worrying about PC performance issues until they actually happen, most people have more than enough Horse Power in their system with a few tweaks.
 
I was considering an M-Audio Delta card either the 1010LT or the Delta 66. Any thoughts about these sound cards or others?

I really appreciate your time.
 
eradio said:
Dual Core AMD Opteron Processor 1212

3 Gigs of Ram

Win XP

Sound Card is Xfi Fatal1ty by Creative

I may need to get different HD's as they are only 7200 RPM's

I have Cubase SX with the Waves Gold Bundle and a few other various plugins...Lexicon, PSP Vintage Warmer etc...
Click to expand...
a 7200 rpm hd is more than fast enough for 24 tracks at once.i ionly use 7200 and can mix over 50 tracks at a time with many plugins
 
eradio said:
I was considering an M-Audio Delta card either the 1010LT or the Delta 66. Any thoughts about these sound cards or others?

I really appreciate your time.
Click to expand...

Lots of people are using Delta cards, tired and tested and reliable drivers
 
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