800 mHz PIII, 512M ram. Cubse VST 5.1
I mostly use the compression "plug" that's built into cubase, but it can't be that much more efficient than a plug. I also tend to use VST rather than DirectX because they use less CPU.
I have one tune that's 20 tracks audio and 4 channels VST drums (with 16 being the most that play at once) and I have:
4 effects set up on sends.
16 compressors
3 "Tube" plugs
8 EQ's (also built into Cubase)
And the processor is running at 70%
I have another tune that was tracked MUCH better but uses VST instruments. I have, oh, 16 channels of virtual instruments, 3 4"Tube" plugs, 4 Eq's, and 4 effects set up on the sends. And the processor maxs out if I move the mouse around too much.
Something about putting plugs on software synths eats CPU.
Chris