What to do when you're out of processing power?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Cheetah
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Cheetah

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My mixes are usually 8-12 tracks. I'm at the point where
I can't mix the song while having all of the plugins running.
My machine (pentium 550) is optimized for audio and I'm
defragging etc etc.

My question is it common to mixdown a few tracks to one to conserve processor usage? I record my guitar dry and apply
effects while mixing. Is it a bad idea to mixdown the guitar
with compression and reverb or something like that?
My last song had 4 or 5 plugins just on one guitar track. Then
there's drums, pads etc.

How does everyone handle this situation? Any guidelines that
would help me?

Thanks in advance.
 
You have a couple of options...

Generally I would start by making a copy of the project under a different name which contains the raw tracks. This will give you some "backwards protection".

If your software has Auxiliary Buses, you can try routing tracks that require the exact same effects to an Aux Bux and just use a single effect on the Bus, rather than on each individual track. This works well on something like background vocals.

Or you can "apply" the FX to the tracks. IOW don't use realtime effects, but apply them directly to the wave. This will reduce processsor load.

After that you can create submixes of tracks. e.g., mix all the drums down a single track, or mix all the background vocals down to a single track. Whatever makes sense. Then you can delete the individual tracks (or archive them if your software allows).

Some of the above will limit your options going forward. e.g., if you later decide the snare drum is mixed too loud, you would have to go to your backup project and pull the original tracks back and start over. However, it will help to reduce the load on your system.

Life's a trade-off!
 
you could also take your tracks with the highest plug-in counts and bounce them to new tracks with the effects applied. then archive the originals as dachay mentioned to conserve cpu cycles.
 
In addition to what Kieth and dachay2tnr have said (which is good stuff)

1) Be sure to listen to any tracks that you apply effects to before deleting the originals. Sometimes the levels can change or other wierd things can creep in.

2) I have also applied effects to a track for mixing, then gone back prepared the final stereo file from the original files and plugins when everything is tweaked to perfection. This only works if your software lets you mixdown offlline.

3) Depening on what you are using all those plug-ins for, concider how you can use your recording technique to reduce the number of plugs you need.

For example, are you always using software EQ to roll off the bass on the guitar tracks? You might then experiement with ways to record it with less bass. Minus one plug-in!
 
if yuo're using reverb plug-ins, they will kill your processor. get rid of any reverbs, and maybe use outboard.
 
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