Hosting GigaStudio on Separate Computer

[Phyl]

Be gentle, I'm a wirgin...

My current set up is a Pentium P4 (1.8 GHz, 1 GB RAM, 2 Hard drives, XP) running SONAR 2.0 with an Aardvark Q10 installed. This set up works pretty well until I get to about 18-20 tracks with some sort of effect (compression, reverb, etc) on each one. At that point it will occasionally burp.

I like what I've read about GigaStudio and want to add it to my system but I'm afraid that the additional CPU load will limit me to fewer tracks and/or plug in effects.

What I'd like to do is run GigaStudio on a separate computer but I have no idea if this is feasable. Here's some questions:

1 - Could I use a MIDI track on the SONAR computer to control the Giga Computer? Could I use USB to do this?

2 - What's the best way to get the Giga Computer audio over to the SONAR computer and into an audio track?

3 - Will there be considerable latency? Any way around it? Any way to sync the two computers?

Is there a better way to solve this problem? I'm already migrating towards outboard hardware for compression and reverb to alleviate the load on my SONAR computer.

Thanks!

 

[James Argo]

...Okay, lets see if I could help you out.

1 - Could I use a MIDI track on the SONAR computer to control the Giga Computer?

Yes, you can. SONAR will "assume" your GIGA Computer as external MIDI devices (MIDI tone generator).

Could I use USB to do this?

I'm affraid you can't. Run a MIDI cable from your SONAR computer's MIDI out, to GIGA computer's MIDI in. SONAR will trigger it.

- What's the best way to get the Giga Computer audio over to the SONAR computer and into an audio track?

There's no other way than to route your GIGA computer's audio out (from soundcard) to SONAR computer's audio in. Record the audio to track in SONAR.

Can you explain it a little bit more clear Jaymz ?

Yes, here we go. Prepare SONAR and load the project. Insert an audio track, arm it for recording audio. Route MIDI cable from SONAR computer MIDI out to GIGA computer MIDI in. Here you see that you'll need both computer to have MIDI interfaces. Assign the port in both computers. Do a little test if it works (you can tell if GIGA computer can respond to incoming MIDI signal). Still with me ? good... Route audio out from GIGA computer's audio out to SONAR computer's audio in, like I mentioned above. Hit record button in SONAR. There you go... You'll record audio being sounded from GIGA computer (triggered via MIDI by SONAR) back to SONAR. SONAR will record it in armed audio track.

- Will there be considerable latency? Any way around it? Any way to sync the two computers?

Well, since I never tried this (but I'm sure it will work), I can't give any clue about latency you have there. Try it out, and you'll hear...

Good luck

Jaymz

 

[Phyl]

Thanks Jaymz.

After asking the question at the Tascam forum, here's my thinking (the folks over there concur with everything you've said):

1 - Load gigastudio on a separate computer, install a soundcard with MIDI and SPDIF capability.

2 - have SONAR computer send MIDI data to giga computer.

3 - mix giga tracks into a stereo pair within giga computer.

4 - route giga computer output back to Sonar computer using SPDIF.

Viola!

Maybe...

Any thoughts?

A more expensive way is to install a RME Hammerfall Digidesign card on each computer, that way you could transfer up to 24 tracks simultaneously from the giga computer to the SONAR computer and do all the mixing from within SONAR.

 

[James Argo]

I believe they suggested it as they have better knowledge and experience with GIGA Sampler. I haven't used it so far. May be it's a better idea, but IMHO, their suggestion will be more expensive than my way... (Pocket wise ) Sure it won't be a problem if you can afford. I'm not sure either how to route the audio back to SONAR using SPDIF. I mean straight to track. Well...






ps. It's Voila!

 

[Phyl]

I used to spell it "wala!"

My cheapo solution is to bring it into the SPDIF port of my Aardvark Q10.

Thanks James.

 

[James Argo]

...Anytime Phyl, good luck

Jaymz