buffer size, ram and mixing

gunnywolf wrote on 8/7/2005, 6:56 AM

I have just begun to mix on Vegas 6. I generally have between 20 to 30 tracks and will create around 10 buses for mixing in effects. I am using Wav plugins for effects. Everything was fine at around 10 tracks but at 20 to 30 my computer cant handle it. I have a pentium 4 with 2 ghz and 1 gig of ram. Is this enough? I put the sample buffer size as high as it can go from 256 (normal level) to 2048 . Still, my computer loosing it. It is a music only computer and no other programs are running or in the start up. Any thoughts?

Comments

SHTUNOT wrote on 8/7/2005, 12:38 PM

1) Do you mean that you try to play 20-30 tracks with no fx and your system gets bogged down? [at the same time?]

2)Do you have your audio files on the same HD as your OS?

3)What size files? ie: 24bit/44.1khz or 24bit/96khz

4)Speed of HD+ size? ie:WD raptor 10krpm 300gb sata? [eide?]

Ed.

gunnywolf wrote on 8/8/2005, 7:14 AM

Hi Ed

When I play the 20 or 30 tracks without effects then the computer works fine. When I add the effects it gets bogged down and plays it stutting or just stops.

I have the tracks on the same hard drive as the opperating system. I have a second hard drive in my computer that I could use if it would help. I also some maxtor external hard drives.

The files are 24 bit at 44.1

The hard drive is 120 gigs. The speed of the computer is 2 ghz and I have 1 gig of ram.

Eric

SHTUNOT wrote on 8/8/2005, 4:39 PM

You have hit your systems "performance ceiling". Some audio plugins will eat up your processor faster than others. Just experiment and find what your system can handle and mix around that.

Also don't forget that you can render your tracks to a new track>>>save the plugin-chain preset>>>then delete the fx and old track to conserve cpu.

Definitely get another HD for those audio files.

Ed.

aroomstudios wrote on 8/11/2005, 6:53 PM

Go to system prosperities (in windows xp control panel) click on advanced, the performance settings, then advanced under "processor scheduling change the tab to "background services" you must restart your computer for this to take affect.

This will allow the plugins/soundcard to take priority over running Vegas

If this fixes your problem great if not also try these things (if this makes it worse set it back to programs)

Faster memory (not necessarily more memory but faster memory)

Fast memory will have a CAS timing of 2.3.3.6 or faster
Slower or stock memory will have a timimg or about 4.5.5.7 or so

The first number in this is THE MOST IMPORTANT it tells you how fast the memory reacts (the 2 or the 4) I would recommend getting memory with the first number a 2 or a 2.5

Most computers ship with stock a 3 or 4, this is fast enough for most applications but not for audio

When I installed the faster memory in my computer it was like I just doubled my processor speed

Also disable everything your not using in your computer, if you have virus protection programs turn them off while recording and mixing. If you have devices in your computer that your not using take them out i.e. PCI Cards, Firewire, USB what ever, the less that’s in your computer the less prone to errors it is, and the faster it will run.

Get a 2nd hard drive to store all your Vegas files on, if you can afford a 15,000 rpm SCSI ultra 320 hard drive get one Seagate makes the fastest drives I have ever used (check out ST336754LW) seek time 3.3 latency 2 msec VS an IDE drive that is 7 to 12 msec at 7200 rpm’s

Make sure your SCSI card is for Ultra 320 LVD, and all your cables and terminators are 320 LVD also

Also the chip set in your mother board is very important there is a HUGE difference in $60 motherboards and $300 motherboards Ive had the best luck with ABIT boards

If you do everything I have said here you should have to problem doing what you need to do

I run about 30 to 50 tracks (48k, 24bit) with 14 to 24 stereo busses about 20 to 60 plugins through a 48 channel sound card to a mixing board, plugins I use are Mackie UA1D, TC Electronics Powercore, Waves platinum bundle, ext using Vegas 6

I don’t think you will need to sup your computer up as much as I have done to do what your doing with it, maybe only the faster memory or more, but here’s what I have in my computer

P4 3.4 HT
Abit IC7 Series Motherboard
Adaptec SCSI card 29320
C: drive (system drive) Seagate barracuda 15,000 rpm U320 17 gig
Vegas Drive Seagate barracuda 15,000 rpm U320 34 gig
Corsair 2 GB TwinX memory CAS 2.3.3.6
UAD-1
Powercore
RME Hammerfall 9652 x2 (48 ch lightpipe 1/0)
Plus 3 Ide Drives for backup