Heavy Strain on Computer
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Posted on Mar 31, 2005 05:11 pm
Vitalus
So that's what an OHM is
Member Since: Dec 27, 2004
I've had downtime in writing my own music, so I started recording a lot of local rap artists, which has been a chance to work with Pro Tools, and hone vocal mixing. I can work at 96khz/24 Bit with that alright, because the file sizes, split between song parts and vocal stacking, are fairly small.
I then tried to record my own tunes with it (drums, guitar, bass, violin, a lot) and it didn't work out. Pro Tools drained the computer instantly. I moved all of the tracks into Acid, and could mix more freely for a while, but eventually it could no longer withstand the strain either.
Since, I've dropped down to 48/24, which I've been more used to in the past. But after working on a 19 track song split between several stereo and mono tracks, which minimal effects on the tracks, Pro Tools is still whining. Its CPU usage is up to 85%, I'm rocking at about 765 RAM, and I'm wondering what I can do to give Pro Tools more room to breath, short of buying another computer.
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Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Mar 31, 2005 11:03 pm Well you dont say what size CPU your gateway has. But I am guessing if 19 tracks is maxing your rig out, you may not have a big enough CPU. That or you have several processor intensive things running in the background.
And just for referance, I have an older PIII 667 Coppermine with 768meg. And in that PC I can run Sonar 2.2 and stack up well over 25 tracks with effects and not hit 85% CPU usage. On my main studio PC which is an AMD Athalon XP 3200+ Barton core with 1 gig of ram. At 25 tracks with heavy FX on them I dont even see 25% CPU usage.
So I would take a look at either you CPU size, or see what is running in the background that is sucking the life outa your CPU.
Apr 01, 2005 12:14 pm I've had the exact thing happen to me at 19 tracks of 24/44.1!!!! my computer (P4/2.8/512) decided to take a crap on me at that same time...i've learned two things...
1. it's my harddrive, 7200 rpm, that can't keep up with all them big files. try movin' some of the tracks on to another HD if you can (this got me up to 35 tracks if i loop 30 seconds)
2. the CPU meter in sonar hangs out at 50% (but if i open up the one in xp, it's taxed at 100%.
so i donno if i can really trust the disk drive meter in Sonar that's readin 98% until it loops (which drops it down to 0%) which would indacate that it's all in RAM.
keep me posted, cuz i cannot listen to a song from start to finish currently ยง=o(
wyd
VitalusSo that's what an OHM isMember
Since: Dec 27, 2004
Apr 01, 2005 05:53 pm I wish I could remember the speeds of my drives. But I think I'll invest in some more ram, and start working at a gig. See what that does.
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Apr 04, 2005 12:59 am Wow! Wierd sceans in the goldmine!
I would definately start with Noise's acertion to check your task list. I also agree with WHD, I think. I keep all of my data files on a seperate drive to ensure no jamming when the Godbox needs to stream a wave file and pick up a little more info for the host sofeware and plugs. But nineteen tracks in the mixdown stage? Yow, that is really capped low. I often run 23..24 with a few group tracks mixing big band stuff, and there are plenty of plugs tapped in on those recordings trying to get everything under control.
Now I did bury an old P3 850 with Cubase SX and Ozone during mastering, but I had the mazimizer, the multiband compresser, eq, harmonic enhancer, and room verb running all at once. Each of which in Ozone are mega huge algorithms that beat the piss out of a cpu all being real time.
By the same token, I have been told by credable sources that PT is not easy on a pc in any regard. I really thought with all of the TDM based plugs using their hardware assist PT would be better, but I have been informed that this is not the case.
