Soundcard Help!

Mecctro · Joined: Apr 18, 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Erie PA

I am having this terrible problem with my Vst synthesizers... you see I have a problem plying music live because I have high Cpu usage due to the monster plugins I use on my Host program. I don't need many outputs and inputs just two of each as a minimum... money is not a huge problem, I just don't like to blow money on things I don't need. So what I need is something to cut down on the Cpu usage of those plugins without a loss of quality and at least my minimum of two output and input plugs. If you have any idea on this please help me out! I have all my hardware specs if needed. I am running windows on a Desktop pc. thank you in advance.

Jason · Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 7:26 pm Post subject:

Greetings.
Yes your system info would be helpful to know.
There are numerous system tweaks and modifications you can do to help optimize performance. There is a great deal of info on this topic on the net (some important points to check out are virtual memory settings for the swap file and making sure you don't have many processes open draining CPU cycles). What kind of sound card are you using and does it have ASIO drivers? ASIO drivers are pretty much a requirement if you are using soft synths in order to keep latency to an acceptable amount. Also all that aside I would have to say , depending on what kind of computer you have, a new sound card will not solve these issues. A new more powerful computer that can handle the plugins you speak of is most likely what is needed. A sound card will not offload this processing requirement unless you get one that has this functionality
like the T.C. Powercore built in. Of course if you go that route there are numerous limitations, mainly that you need compatible plugins etc.

Mecctro · Joined: Apr 18, 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Erie PA

I have a the soundcard that came with the computer so that is why I am considering getting a new soundcard. It id not come with any asio drivers right now i just stick to asio4all. I am not worried about system speed as much as the soundcard because I have a good system (p4 ht 1 gig ram) i just don't have a soundcard. I am looking to have enough power to do live sets via tools such as abelton and reaktor and things of that nature, and right now the beasts of songs i have been creating just eat up tons of resources, but since I have never even owned a soundcard other than the one that came with my motherboard (which i am sure is a terrible trajesty) I have no idea about what is out there. That is why i asked for help with a new soundcard Wink

. So if you had any reccomendations I'd greatly appreciate the help.

Jason · Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 7:11 am Post subject:

depending on the price range your going for as well as quality I recommend the following.
For basic use most any M-audio http://www.m-audio.com/
Going up a few steps are the RME cards which I personally love.
www.rme-audio.com/english
Then even higher http://www.apogeedigital.com/
Really anything with a solid ASIO driver will be good, also the quality of the converters as well are something to consider. Sound Cards aren't the place to save money imo, so best to shell out a little extra to keep you going. Just a thought.

Or better yet look at www.zzounds.com or www.musiciansfriend.com for shopping ideas and more info. There are so many choices.
But again this isn't going to make all your plugins play flawlessly.

Jason · Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 7:18 am Post subject:

Also when you find one you like, feel free to ask us about it.
Also we didn't even get into different hardware options regarding Firewire/USB/PCI, so that as well is important to consider depending on your computers hardware options. I almost don't recommend getting a PCI card as if you want to take that card into a computer in the future, it may not have a PCI slot... But just another thing I wanted to mention.

Mecctro · Joined: Apr 18, 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Erie PA

I would more than likely go for a firewire based system.

Mecctro · Joined: Apr 18, 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Erie PA

Any ideas on hardware for a completely flawless based system. At this point I am willing to spend the money and just start over and get everything exactly how I want it to work. I dont have a huge demand for inputs and outputs but I do need some serious power when it comes down to it. I mean I dont have any idea what is powerful enough to habdle some of the stuff I make, know that in good practice you are supposed to limit cp usage and things of that nature by rendering and sampling the rendered sound, but I have a huge need for power because some of the synths I use in combination with some of the effects I use, I like to use live and hear exactly what I am playing before I record.

Jason · Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 8:26 am Post subject:

Mecctro · Joined: Apr 18, 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Erie PA

question... I am using fl studio right now for most of my music and I like it, but how would a dsp processing unit help me. I don't really see that being used in fl. What I mean by flawless system is, zero latency with a cpu load of under 70 percent during live playing within fl and at 32 bit. I don't know a lot about hardware as far as music equipment goes, but I do know about computer hardware. I don't really know exactly what would be the best for a system so I ask you what you would reccomend for someone who needs to do production an live performance on the same computer. I don't want a laptop for a couple of reason so suggestions to that extent really wont be needed. I do already have a mic and m-audio ozone right now. but I don't like the latency on it at all... i don't know if that is my computer or the ozone. cost is not an issue but i don't want to blow money on something i don't need. If my ozone isn't part of the latency issue than i will just get a new computer and than i will be done.

Mecctro · Joined: Apr 18, 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Erie PA

Also any reccomendation on studio speakers? I need to get some terribly. Again cost is not a huge factor.

elektro80 · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 5:53 am Post subject:

As for DSP-cards, I use the UAD-1. http://www.uaudio.com/products/uad-dsp_menu.html

Main point is that these use special plug-ins. You should choose a DSP product which has plug-ins you like like/need. However, latency is still an issue, so these will still be most useful when producing and not for live performances.

Re vocals, do you process vocals in realtime? This will give latency problems.

From another thread:

elektro80 · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 6:02 am Post subject:

A problem is that we tend to use a DAW for writing, tracking, production and often even live performances. These are however very different modes, and even though you might see yourself doing it all at once, there are various issues involved you might want to consider.

Jason · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 8:02 am Post subject:

When I am using the term DSP processing in this context I am speaking specifically about plug-ins, how and where they are processed. It is somewhat an interchangable term.

Mecctro · Joined: Apr 18, 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Erie PA

I havent been using the ozone becuase i dont have any monitor speakers right now, and i get some more latency issues because i like to record the mic. So yes I use a microphone. Musical hardware to me in this genre is new to me because i only started about 1 year ago. any programs for making music you would like to recomend to?

elektro80 · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 11:09 am Post subject: