Found my PC's limit.

[TeyshaBlue]

I've extolled the virtues of common computers and their ability to handle most audio recording applications with little or no issues. I've been using a very cheap, HP/Compaq laptop...2.1ghz Celeron, 320gb HD @5400 rpm, and 3gb of ram + ZOOM R16 interface.

Last night, I was working on a project that has bloomed to 20 tracks...and I was running multiple plugs on 14 of them. I was slamming my CPU, but it was still slogging right along with no hiccups or dropouts. I then added a multiband compressor across the master buss and BAM! It went to pieces...CPU warning flashed on my Sonar status bar, and everything started stuttering and hiccuping. I experimented with switching between console view and waveform view...thinking the wave view would be less taxing than the console view. Didn't help. When I minimized all screens, it barely kept going, but it wasn't stable at all. So, I guess I've reached the practical limits of this budget laptop. Still, not too shabby for a $285 lappy.
Time to go get a little beefier rig.

 

[Zaphod B]

Seriously, that you could get that much out of a dirt-cheap laptop...impressive. Especially when you consider what that processing power and memory would have cost you 15 years ago.

 

[Seafroggys]

Seriously, that you could get that much out of a dirt-cheap laptop...impressive. Especially when you consider what that processing power and memory would have cost you 15 years ago.

That computer didn't exist 15 years ago. The top of the line computer 15 years ago was maybe....*maybe*...100 mhz original Pentium, with 16 megs of RAM. It was a totally different world.

At least that computer has something relatively similar to what we see today.

 

[grimtraveller]

There is an upside to this, however. The title of your aggregation's next album ~ "Limitations..." with a picture of a fried computer on the outside but great music within.

 

[michaelst]

Teysh...


What kind of software are you using?

Why do have to add the multiband compressor with all the others?

Couldn't you just mix-down what you have to a stereo track, then add the MBC?

 

[TeyshaBlue]

Teysh...


What kind of software are you using?

Why do have to add the multiband compressor with all the others?

Couldn't you just mix-down what you have to a stereo track, then add the MBC?

I'm using Sonar Producer 8.31, and yeah, I could just as easily bounce the mix down and lay the multiband comp over in SoundForge (which is what I ultimately did), but I wanted to hear, in context, the changes the multi made to the guitar tracks so I could make any adjustments necessary before I bounced the mix down.
Another thing to consider with budget processors....bouncing down 20 tracks will take about 4 minutes.

 

[kcearl]

not bad for an old laptop...i have a pentium 4 for the internet and it would manage less..

still think, back in the 1690's you would have been accused of being a witch! there's some perspective for you!!

 

[moresound]

WITCH BURN HIM!!!!
Now I can't remember do witches float?

 

[legionserial]

WITCH BURN HIM!!!!
Now I can't remember do witches float?

As long as they are no heavier than a duck. If they are heavier than a duck, they aren't made of wood and therefore are not a witch.