SONAR4 Slowness...Graphic Related?

[mark4man]

Tried this before, with limited response...so here we go again:
(& thanks to Jaymz & Teacher for takin' a shot at it):

Upgraded from SONAR XL 2.2 to SONAR 4 PE. After installation & opening v4, I noticed in Audio Options (ASIO) > Advanced Tab > File System...that my I/O Buffer Size had been automatically set to 128 KB, whereas it was always 64 KB in v2.2.

I then opened a project created in v2.2; & the playback was slow to start, with a slight (one second +) delay after hitting the play button (even after resetting the I/O Buffer Size back to 64 KB.) Went back into v2.2 & opened the same project; & playback started immediately.

The Buffer Size setting?...don't care about. I reset it. End of deal.

But the playback delay is bothering me. Other things bog the app down, as well. Normal functions such as scrolling in the Vertical Scrollbar too quickly, or moving the Outline Window in the Navigator Pane too quickly; & SONAR 4 goes a little fritzy. It also starts up weird...with certain elements & toolbars appearing as ghosts, before the main views kick in.

So what's boggin' it down? Is it API delay compensation? May be a factor in playback commencement.

But I think it's too heavy laden with graphical content...am I wrong?

I'm running a P4 2.53GHz CPU w/ 1024 MB of PC1066 RDRAM. I should be fine.

Thanks,

mark4man



BTW - Jaymz: Everything OK with you in Indonesia? Hell of a a thing...the tsunami!

 

[moskus]

Then what graphics card do you have?

Have you tried the basics yet? Setting the "Color Quality" to 16 bit, reducing the screen resolution, reduce the hardware acceleration, etc...

 

[mark4man]

moskus,

Then what graphics card do you have?

Nvidia 64MB GEFORCE4 MX420 AGP

Have you tried the basics yet? Setting the "Color Quality" to 16 bit, reducing the screen resolution, reduce the hardware acceleration, etc...

I'm assuming you're talking about my PC's Display Properties on the first two...which are set at 32 bit & 1024 X 768 Pixels. But I shouldn't have to adjust those to have SONAR4 run normally (should I?)

On Hardware Acceleration, the only way I found in to check the settings was through the 'Sounds & Audio Devices' dialog, but the Advanced tab is grayed out under Sound Recording...so I assume I have full acceleration via my AI's default device (1-2 Analog In.)

Thanks,

mark4man

 

[Middleman]

I have the same video card, and the same problem. Looks like we both need an upgrade. Possibly new drivers would help but I don't see any later than the ones I have, version 6.6.9.3.

 

[Teacher]

I have a dual head nvidia geforce 4 64mb (I think the exact name escapes me at this moment) and have no problems with screen redraw. I used it with a Dual Athlon MP 1900+ and an Athlon 64 3400+. no problems using win xp pro with 1 gig of ram

 

[James Argo]

On Hardware Acceleration, the only way I found in to check the settings was through the 'Sounds & Audio Devices' dialog, but the Advanced tab is grayed out under Sound Recording...so I assume I have full acceleration via my AI's default device (1-2 Analog In.)

Now, that's different "Hardware Acceleration" You need to check "Hardware Acceleration" for your graphic card. Display properties -->Setting-->Advanced-->Troubleshoot tab. It's usualy set to full by default. Reduce it step by step...

BTW - Jaymz: Everything OK with you in Indonesia? Hell of a a thing...the tsunami!

It was terrible down there! But I'm fine here! I'm living on highland area on West Java, thousands miles away from the disaster. Thanks for your concern, Mark


Jaymz

 

[James Argo]

On Hardware Acceleration, the only way I found in to check the settings was through the 'Sounds & Audio Devices' dialog, but the Advanced tab is grayed out under Sound Recording...so I assume I have full acceleration via my AI's default device (1-2 Analog In.)

Now, that's different "Hardware Acceleration" You need to check "Hardware Acceleration" for your graphic card. Display properties -->Setting-->Advanced-->Troubleshoot tab. It's usualy set to full by default. Reduce it step by step...

BTW - Jaymz: Everything OK with you in Indonesia? Hell of a a thing...the tsunami!

It was terrible down there! But I'm fine here! I'm living on highland area on West Java, thousands miles away from the disaster. Thanks for your concern, Mark


Jaymz

 

[James Argo]

...Ooops... sorry for double post, BBS went bad sometime

 

[mark4man]

Middleman,

Called Dell...they said: "go for the latest update direct from Nvidia, forget the Windows drivers". I did (6.6.9.3)

No changes.
~~~~~~~~

Jaymz,

Scaled back Hardware Acceleration 2 notches.

No changes.

(BTW - Glad you're high & dry in the high country.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Teacher,

What's your MoBo?
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks all,

mark4man

 

[K-dub]

Hey Bud-

I've got an ATI 128 ... and I experience that slight stutter too. I just created a project in 4PE w/ TWO TRACKS ... one of the tracks is a soft synth (The Grand), and I'm getting that slight hesitation. But I've had other projects where I've had 40 tracks and no hesitation. What gives?

So I'm thinking it might be usage of soft synths causing the hiccup. Is there soft synth usage in your project?

Also, here's another puzzle. Some projects won't save as bundle files. I get an "Unable to write compressed audio. Audio disc may be full." I still save the file as a .cwp ... so I have a backup, but again: not every file has the problem, and there isn't a discernable pattern to it.

Tech support goes: I dunno...weird, huh?

It really isn't a huge deal, because I can still back it up via .cwp, but...I'd like the program to work as designed.

I'll be watching to see if anyone can figure this out. You aren't the only one experiencing it...but it might not be related to the video/graphic.

K

 

[Middleman]

I usually get this when the tracks are loaded heavily, say even 20 with synths, etc. It's just a dropout when I use the mouse on anything like a volume change or sizing a track. I just hit go and things keep working, minor inconvenience however.

 

[Teacher]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Teacher,

What's your MoBo?
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks all,

mark4man

The athlon 64 is an Asus K8V

Dual MP was MSI something can't remember right now.

damn weed....

 

[mark4man]

Kev,

How's it goin'?

I don't think it's strictly soft synths, per se. I think it could be just heavy graphic load, in general (maybe specific to MoBo…who knows.). The project in question is a 60 track'r, with about 20 plugs...but even with all tracks archived except for the rhythm section (piano, bass & drums), I still get the delay. Still no response from Cake tech support (Form based, thru the site.)

The bundle boondoggle goes back to XL 2.2, 'cause it still happens to me in that version. For me, it's normally only associated with external storage. I'll have a project that exceeds 750MB, so I'll attempt to save it to an external USB hard drive as a bundle for transfer to my guitarist’s studio; & it wont take (I get the same message.) So I save the project file in one folder & the audio data in another & transport it that way.
~~~~~~~

Teach,

Thanks. Reason I asked is...maybe it's related to Intel (playback & redraw delay.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Thanks all,

mark4man

 

[K-dub]

Still no response from Cake tech support (Form based, thru the site.)

I hope you're not holding your breath. I can recall maybe ONE time I ever got something back via email from them.

Their email support stinks. YET...and this is a big YET -- their telephone support is absolutely excellent.

Given a choice between the two. I'd take phone support -- everytime -- hands down.

K-

 

[Middleman]

Ok, Mark4man. You cost me $89 bucks.

I thought I would try a newer NVidia board with 128 vs 64MB Ram. The problem still exists. So, its either the driver (uses the same one as the prior board) or its Sonar.

....working.

 

[mark4man]

Middleman (& Kev),

MM, Sorry you had to spend the cash, man. It's SONAR (IMO.)

I posted a message in a Cubase forum voicing my Cakewalk concerns & asking questions about their program (prior to if I were to migrate); & received a hail of replies from disgruntled SONAR users who bolted to Cubase after no longer being able to work in the new sluggish environment (some even went so far as to label SONAR a cheap imitation of Cubase...what with new copycat features like the Track Inspector, etc.)

Of course you would expect them to be biased...but it was like a mantra: "SONAR slow & dark...Cubase clean, fast, bright, efficient; & feature packed". (And I wasn't exactly full of accolades, myself...given the present situation, but...)

And you guys have been in the game longer than I have...(I've only been around since Pro Audio 9), but Cake tech support has really taken a nose dive of late (IMO)...no response to form-based inquiries thru the site, no response to direct e-mail, no response from techs monitoring their forum...nothing I could find of particular relevance in the form of informationals on the site...

I think if I could get the meters to lay down in the Cubase track control windows, I'd be real tempted to make the move...which would be tough for me, 'cause I'm comfortable in, know my way around; (& am sorta' fond of), XL 2.2.

Hope we get this sorted out. BTW - If we ever suffer the good fortune to perhaps run into each other at the Grammy’s...dinner is on me. Or...if "Subtle Change" takes off, I'm sure Kev will have some extra cash, if he's there.

mark4man

 

[Middleman]

See you at the Grammys..maybe someday.

I will be at NAMM next week. Going to the Gearslutz get together Thursday night. If your around for that, maybe we can hook up.