Noob: Cubase maxes Intel P4 2.8?

[twitcher73]

Hey all...

So, I'm kind of a noob with Cubase (LE - my Studio 4 upgrade should be here in a few days) and something I've noticed is that once I really get going with a project, performance really suffers. I assumed it was RAM related, but it seems to be my processor maxing out at 100% - its a P4 2.8 MhZ processor. Are there tricks I can use to not put so much burden on my processor? I'm not even using half my RAM (512Mb) and the machine is dedicated to only recording (i.e. no AV software / network connections/ etc that could tax the CPU)... Example: I have a project with a total of 9 audio tracks and 2 midi tracks, and the system is really struggling to keep going. The CPU pegs at 100% and it freezes.

Again - I'm a noob, so is it possible I'm just not doing something right?

[Electriclight]

There are various improvemnts you can make to Windows XP but the most important is to optimize it for Background Services:
START>CONTROL PANEL>SYSTEM>ADVANCED>PERFORMANCE SETTINGS>ADVANCED

Still, it sounds like you have a problem beyond just tweaking. Do you have leftover Anti virus software or automatic processes going on? Is your hard drive defragged? 512 MB RAM is bare minimum and I suspect an upgrade there is in order if you have Cubase 4 coming.

I had similar problems that actually were the result of a misbehaving audio interface. You didn't mention what that might be.

[justinthyme]

Hey man, i was in the same boat and still have issues... I had a P4 2.56... I had to minumize my processes find out what processes you need and ONLY run those... though I must confess i just used that compter untill I got off my tail and transfered over to my dual core 64 bit amd... so on an so forth... you shoud be able to get under 30 processes and hopefully down to 20-25... make sure you have no anti virus crap running or anything like that its imperitive that you don't... um... i don't know what ur running as far as midi but export them down to waves and dissable the vst afterwords, that should help some to... keep an eye on things though I cant tell you how many songs i lost because if forgot to save before the crash... i run massive vst for EZDRuMMEr and mad other vst's since im doing metal and god knows what else... well let me know how it goes and good luck...

Justin Thyme

[twitcher73]

Ahhh... thanks for the optimization tips with XP.

I MIGHT have narrowed it to a particular VST effect - NI Guitar Rig combo. Bummer, because it sounds really good (and it cost $99).


So -
I'm using a Presonus Inspire Firewire. As I think about it, I might have to check the bit rate settings.

10 Tracks:
3 vocals - using Pluggo Chamberverb and the built in Compressor VST effects
4 guitar tracks - (L,R) with NI Guitar Rig plugin (2 tracks TwangCombo, 2 are ACCombo)
1 Bass track - built in Tube plugin and built in Reverb
1 Midi Drum track - programmed from the built LM-7
1 Midi Keyboard track using Lounge Lizard EP (Rhodes)

So, maybe I'm pretty plugin heavy?

[Electriclight]

Originally Posted by twitcher73

3 vocals - using Pluggo Chamberverb and the built in Compressor VST effects
4 guitar tracks - (L,R) with NI Guitar Rig plugin (2 tracks TwangCombo,

In these cases, you are using the effects as ONE shared send rather than MULTIPLE separate inserts, right?

[twitcher73]

Originally Posted by Electriclight

In these cases, you are using the effects as ONE shared send rather than MULTIPLE separate inserts, right?

Haha! Ok - I finally figured out what you meant - NO, I have been using them as multiple seperate inserts. So it looks like I have some reading to catch up on...

[brandondrury]

I'm not even using half my RAM (512Mb)

Windows rations it's usage of RAM based on how much you have. So a computer with a gig of RAM will actually take advantage of more RAM even under the same load.

In these cases, you are using the effects as ONE shared send rather than MULTIPLE separate inserts, right?

Haha! Ok - I finally figured out what you meant - NO, I have been using them as multiple seperate inserts. So it looks like I have some reading to catch up on...

Search for effects sends. That should take care of it.

Brandon

[twitcher73]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

Windows rations it's usage of RAM based on how much you have. So a computer with a gig of RAM will actually take advantage of more RAM even under the same load.


Search for effects sends. That should take care of it.

Brandon

Yes! Yes! Yes! I found the section in the l'il Cubase Studio 4 manual and switched my vocal inserts to FX channels / sends. This seems to have helped the load. I also exported my MIDI tracks to wav and re-imported them in. This seems to have made a difference as well. You guys are more than awesome! Thanks!

[brandondrury]

Much of getting max performance out a computer rig is knowing how. Adjusting latency, rendering MIDI tracks to wav, using sends/inserts appropriately, etc all free up quite a bit of horsepower. Of course, then you start using more demanding compressors and EQs and then you are back to square one again!

Brandon