Laptop to run sonar 2.2?

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jeff0633

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Hi.

I have a 400mHZ pentium 2 laptop that has 228 megs of ram, 7.5 gig drive, and 24 speed cdrom.

Will I be able to load up Sonar 2.2 and the roland vsc softsynth 3.2 version and have this play smf midi files using the vsc softsynth, without any cpu or ram problems?

What about using live synth pro as a dxi and loading an 8 meg soundfont, would this be possible on this laptop?

What operating system would everyone suggest be put on this. I have xp pro, WinME, and 98 second addition

Thanks for any help

Jeff
 
No, You can load and run the program for basic analog or midi recording but anything that uses a bunch of cpu will not be usable...VST is a cpu hog. dxi! I think not.. as a matter of fact using effects could be very challenging. I had a 300mhz laptop that I used at work for learning when I had time and all I could do with it was basic stuff. If youve already got the laptop give it a try but I would say NO it wont be very usable for recording and using any plug ins.
If you do get the plugiins to work you will constantly have to save your tracks as you record them to save cpu... what is the term for that again?///? I cant recall right now but its a destructive save so whatever youve got your stuck with.


Peace
Bill
 
I wasn't going to record with it. I will not be using audio tracks at all. This is simply to play GM midi files and to play along with them live on stage. It will only be playing a single midi GM song at a time, with no recording or audio tracks at all.



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wfaraoni said:
No, You can load and run the program for basic analog or midi recording but anything that uses a bunch of cpu will not be usable...VST is a cpu hog. dxi! I think not.. as a matter of fact using effects could be very challenging. I had a 300mhz laptop that I used at work for learning when I had time and all I could do with it was basic stuff. If youve already got the laptop give it a try but I would say NO it wont be very usable for recording and using any plug ins.
If you do get the plugiins to work you will constantly have to save your tracks as you record them to save cpu... what is the term for that again?///? I cant recall right now but its a destructive save so whatever youve got your stuck with.


Peace
Bill
Click to expand...
 
If you just want to play midi files you dont even need Sonar, why stress the computer? Quick Time or creative player would do that. Hope you understand what I am trying to tell. Sonar is mainly for recording midi and audio, if you are doing neither, then why run a program that could put much stress on that poor 400mhz machine.
 
well, because I need to have the choice of sending individual tracks to different midi outputs. I am using a digitech vocalist harmony unit. I program all my controllers on a midi track, and need to send this not to the vsc soft synth, but out to the vocalist. The rest of the tracks will go to the roland softsynth. I have looked for small, free sequencers, but the two I found will only let you choose one midi out port for all midi tracks. I can't send just one track to a seperate midi out. I am not sure what free sequencer or program would do this for me. I do have an older copy of cakewalk pro audio 9, would that be less of a cpu hog than Sonar? I am trying to avoid having to buy a gm sound module, because then I could have used even a weaker laptop, if all I was going to do was play midi files with no soft synths or anything. The vsc 3.2 version doesn't appear to be too bad of a cpu hog, not like the edirol hypercanvas. I figured that the vsc would run fine on a 400 pentium 2 with 228 megs ram, and sonar would play my gm midi files. Any help would be appreciated.

Jeff



Jeyan said:
If you just want to play midi files you dont even need Sonar, why stress the computer? Quick Time or creative player would do that. Hope you understand what I am trying to tell. Sonar is mainly for recording midi and audio, if you are doing neither, then why run a program that could put much stress on that poor 400mhz machine.
Click to expand...
 
PA9 would use only a small amount of Sonars CPU usage, but PA9 doesen't support softsynths. However, there are standalone softsynths (the Microsoft GM softsynth for one), but they still use a fair amount of your CPU cycles.

The truth is that 400 MHz doesen't really help you that much when you're talking about softsynths.... :(
 
My vsc sound canvas is a stand alone synth program, not the dxi version. Sonar sees this as a normal midi port. Will this still work with pro audio 9?

Jeff







moskus said:
PA9 would use only a small amount of Sonars CPU usage, but PA9 doesen't support softsynths. However, there are standalone softsynths (the Microsoft GM softsynth for one), but they still use a fair amount of your CPU cycles.

The truth is that 400 MHz doesen't really help you that much when you're talking about softsynths.... :(
Click to expand...
 
jeff0633 said:
Will this still work with pro audio 9?
Click to expand...
Yes! :)

(Well I'm not 100% certain, but I'll put my money on it ;))
 
yes, it should work. back when i had a 400mhz desktop i wrote a software sampler that i use to run in conjunction with cakewalk using hubie's midi loopback driver.

your laptop should be able to do the same type of thing. cakewalk shouldn't be a cause for concern, but your sound canvas might be.
 
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