CPU usage and adding intros with no count-offs

[VertuGoGo]

our projects are getting pretty big since we've split the midi drum track into individual drum tracks. while adding the effects for each drum/cymbal, we've noticed that the CPU usage meter was getting past the 60 percent range. i've lowered my latency to 8.7 msec, but kept the rest at their defaults (buffers in playback queue @ 2). what else can i do to keep my CPU usage low? (or am i ok so long as i don't go into the "red?")

also, another problem some of you may have encountered...

on some songs, we forgot to add a count-in. that's no problem for the songs where the drums start off, but it is for when the guitars start off first. my idea was to record the intro while the drums are playing (so i have the song's rhythm), then move that recording to the beginning of the song so that its ending and the drum's beginning are end-to-end. don't know if it'll work that way though. any other ideas?

 

[moskus]

our projects are getting pretty big since we've split the midi drum track into individual drum tracks. while adding the effects for each drum/cymbal, we've noticed that the CPU usage meter was getting past the 60 percent range. i've lowered my latency to 8.7 msec, but kept the rest at their defaults (buffers in playback queue @ 2). what else can i do to keep my CPU usage low? (or am i ok so long as i don't go into the "red?")

You're ok as long you're not in the red, or you don't hear any clicks or pops. To lower your CPU usage, you can always bounce effects to tracks...

on some songs, we forgot to add a count-in. that's no problem for the songs where the drums start off, but it is for when the guitars start off first. my idea was to record the intro while the drums are playing (so i have the song's rhythm), then move that recording to the beginning of the song so that its ending and the drum's beginning are end-to-end. don't know if it'll work that way though. any other ideas?

Yeah, that will work, no problem! Another (very similar) way to do it is to insert the required number of measures before the drums kick in, and record the guitars with a metronome or click-track playing...