What would be your diagnosis? Hard Drive? CPU?

russ300 wrote on 4/8/2000, 10:44 PM
This question relates to performance (not uncommon, I know -
but before I drop any MORE money on this DAW, I'm looking
for some sound advice)- I'm using Vegas with the Lexicon
Core 2 and have been having big problems with clicks and
glitches in the audio - on the whole, if I've got tracks
playing back while I'm trying to record (this happens even
with only 1-2 tracks), I can only get about 30 seconds or
so before I've got some sort of hiccup. When I used a trial
version of Vegas before I had the Core2, I was able to play
7+ tracks back and record, and never had any problems (this
was with plugging lines into the back of the computer
(Stereo 1/8") via an adapter (hodge-podge, I know - but I
was still in the research phase).

Granted, the Core2 gives me more input and output options
and killer sound quality, but I'm wondering if there's
something about how it works that would cause this kind of
discrepency? I disabled all the suggested things in Windows
for better performance and even added 128 MB of RAM, but
nothing has improved. SO - my big question is, from what I
can gather it's not a problem with CPU speed (I'm on a P2
350 - which seems to be adequate and doesn't get bogged
down - I've also got 192 MB of RAM which only seems to be
clocked on the Vegas meter around the 19-25 MB range
depending on how many tracks are playing back) - so I'm
assuming it's probably something to do with the fact that
I'm using a standard Gateway hard drive that came with the
computer 2 years ago. I still don't know why it didn't act
like this before the Lexicon, but perhaps you have some
insight? If I spring for a SCSI card and hard drive, will
this eliminate my problems? Any suggestions would be
greatly appreciated - I'm sure people are using the Core2
successfully with Vegas, and I'd like to be among them.
Thanks!

Comments

acegrube wrote on 4/9/2000, 7:56 PM


Russ Starke wrote:
>>This question relates to performance (not uncommon, I know -
>> but before I drop any MORE money on this DAW, I'm looking
>>for some sound advice)- I'm using Vegas with the Lexicon
>>Core 2 and have been having big problems with clicks and
>>glitches in the audio - on the whole, if I've got tracks
>>playing back while I'm trying to record (this happens even
>>with only 1-2 tracks), I can only get about 30 seconds or
>>so before I've got some sort of hiccup. When I used a trial
>>version of Vegas before I had the Core2, I was able to play
>>7+ tracks back and record, and never had any problems (this
>>was with plugging lines into the back of the computer
>>(Stereo 1/8") via an adapter (hodge-podge, I know - but I
>>was still in the research phase).
>>
>>Granted, the Core2 gives me more input and output options
>>and killer sound quality, but I'm wondering if there's
>>something about how it works that would cause this kind of
>>discrepency? I disabled all the suggested things in Windows
>>for better performance and even added 128 MB of RAM, but
>>nothing has improved. SO - my big question is, from what I
>>can gather it's not a problem with CPU speed (I'm on a P2
>>350 - which seems to be adequate and doesn't get bogged
>>down - I've also got 192 MB of RAM which only seems to be
>>clocked on the Vegas meter around the 19-25 MB range
>>depending on how many tracks are playing back) - so I'm
>>assuming it's probably something to do with the fact that
>>I'm using a standard Gateway hard drive that came with the
>>computer 2 years ago. I still don't know why it didn't act
>>like this before the Lexicon, but perhaps you have some
>>insight? If I spring for a SCSI card and hard drive, will
>>this eliminate my problems? Any suggestions would be
>>greatly appreciated - I'm sure people are using the Core2
>>successfully with Vegas, and I'd like to be among them.
>>Thanks!
acegrube wrote on 4/9/2000, 8:03 PM

I would definitely hold off on the SCSI card and hd until you are
sure that the Core2 is working properly. The fact that you were
doing things with your old sound card (the 1/8th inch jack on the
back of the pc) that you can't do with Core2 makes it sound to me
like there is a definite problem with it.I've seen some content in
this forum that sounded like other folks having trouble with Core2.

I was running VP on a PII 350 from Micron, about 2 years old now and
probably very comprable to your Gateway. My performance with an Echo
GINA was pretty decent. Play back up to eight tracks w/minimal
effects and record a stereo pair w/o glitches or pops -- (all at
16bit 44.1khz.)

Good luck and hopefully someone will pipe in with some Core2 specific
info.

BTW: I assume you've got the latest version of VP and the latest
drivers for the Core2, that's almost always the best place to start.

Erich Gruber
Russ Starke wrote:
>>This question relates to performance (not uncommon, I know -
>> but before I drop any MORE money on this DAW, I'm looking
>>for some sound advice)- I'm using Vegas with the Lexicon
>>Core 2 and have been having big problems with clicks and
>>glitches in the audio - on the whole, if I've got tracks
>>playing back while I'm trying to record (this happens even
>>with only 1-2 tracks), I can only get about 30 seconds or
>>so before I've got some sort of hiccup. When I used a trial
>>version of Vegas before I had the Core2, I was able to play
>>7+ tracks back and record, and never had any problems (this
>>was with plugging lines into the back of the computer
>>(Stereo 1/8") via an adapter (hodge-podge, I know - but I
>>was still in the research phase).
>>
>>Granted, the Core2 gives me more input and output options
>>and killer sound quality, but I'm wondering if there's
>>something about how it works that would cause this kind of
>>discrepency? I disabled all the suggested things in Windows
>>for better performance and even added 128 MB of RAM, but
>>nothing has improved. SO - my big question is, from what I
>>can gather it's not a problem with CPU speed (I'm on a P2
>>350 - which seems to be adequate and doesn't get bogged
>>down - I've also got 192 MB of RAM which only seems to be
>>clocked on the Vegas meter around the 19-25 MB range
>>depending on how many tracks are playing back) - so I'm
>>assuming it's probably something to do with the fact that
>>I'm using a standard Gateway hard drive that came with the
>>computer 2 years ago. I still don't know why it didn't act
>>like this before the Lexicon, but perhaps you have some
>>insight? If I spring for a SCSI card and hard drive, will
>>this eliminate my problems? Any suggestions would be
>>greatly appreciated - I'm sure people are using the Core2
>>successfully with Vegas, and I'd like to be among them.
>>Thanks!
blisster wrote on 4/10/2000, 3:48 PM
I'm successfully using Vegas with a Core 2. You shouldn't need to go
for SCSI, though you may want to add a new, faster IDE/DMA drive.
Before you get that far, though, make sure that there aren't any
conflicts with your Core2.

First, make sure you have the most current drivers.

Second, try increasing the audio buffers in the Vegas properties.

Try moving the card to a different PCI slot, and check for IRQ
conflicts.

Do you have any USB devices? Unplug them, as these tend to hog
resources even when not in use.

Perhaps your current drive needs to be defragged. This can make a big
difference in performance.

Also, in doing the standard system tweaks, did you decrease graphic
acceleration? Since the meters in Vegas are pretty graphic intensive,
you might want to bring it back up.

You may also want to join the core2 listserv at www.listbot.com/core2


Russ Starke wrote:
>>This question relates to performance (not uncommon, I know -
>> but before I drop any MORE money on this DAW, I'm looking
>>for some sound advice)- I'm using Vegas with the Lexicon
>>Core 2 and have been having big problems with clicks and
>>glitches in the audio - on the whole, if I've got tracks
>>playing back while I'm trying to record (this happens even
>>with only 1-2 tracks), I can only get about 30 seconds or
>>so before I've got some sort of hiccup. When I used a trial
>>version of Vegas before I had the Core2, I was able to play
>>7+ tracks back and record, and never had any problems (this
>>was with plugging lines into the back of the computer
>>(Stereo 1/8") via an adapter (hodge-podge, I know - but I
>>was still in the research phase).
>>
>>Granted, the Core2 gives me more input and output options
>>and killer sound quality, but I'm wondering if there's
>>something about how it works that would cause this kind of
>>discrepency? I disabled all the suggested things in Windows
>>for better performance and even added 128 MB of RAM, but
>>nothing has improved. SO - my big question is, from what I
>>can gather it's not a problem with CPU speed (I'm on a P2
>>350 - which seems to be adequate and doesn't get bogged
>>down - I've also got 192 MB of RAM which only seems to be
>>clocked on the Vegas meter around the 19-25 MB range
>>depending on how many tracks are playing back) - so I'm
>>assuming it's probably something to do with the fact that
>>I'm using a standard Gateway hard drive that came with the
>>computer 2 years ago. I still don't know why it didn't act
>>like this before the Lexicon, but perhaps you have some
>>insight? If I spring for a SCSI card and hard drive, will
>>this eliminate my problems? Any suggestions would be
>>greatly appreciated - I'm sure people are using the Core2
>>successfully with Vegas, and I'd like to be among them.
>>Thanks!