report on Acid 4!!!! POSITIVE!!! -ACID Product Family

ACID Product Family

Subject:report on Acid 4!!!! POSITIVE!!! Posted by: Jacose Date:10/4/2002 1:32:58 PM I am working on a new song, beautiful day(s).... I have about 15 loops tracks going on 8 disk based tracks and only track fx, such as compressor and eq. My CPU is at 6 percent so far, doing good... I will report back here after I use some envelopes and time based send FX (flange,reverb echo, etc..) No glitches yet!
Subject:RE: report on Acid 4!!!! postive!!! Reply by: skysurfer Date:10/4/2002 2:00:48 PM great,really amazing,i am totally impressed. Anyway i would like to know where the disk-based number of tracks limit is in Acid 4.0 ?
Subject:RE: report on Acid 4!!!! postive!!! Reply by: Maruuk Date:10/4/2002 3:04:26 PM Jacose--Congrats! Especially good news about the 6%--that's the way it's supposed to be!
Subject:2nd report, 10-05-02 5:00pm Reply by: Jacose Date:10/4/2002 3:41:28 PM Thanks!@ did I mention I upgraded my HDD from a ATA 66 30 gig 7200 RPM maxtor that was three years old and got a SiSoft SANDRA Drive index of 19000 Kb/s (there benchmarking is really tough you should try it on all your drives!!! the free verison will do this!) I upgraded TO an ATA/133 7200 60 gig Maxtor brand new that has a SiSoft SANDRA Drive index of 31000 Kb/s !!!!! thats almost twice as fast!!! ( a little noisy tho) ok, here the next report - added about 5 more disk based tracks, 8 more loops tracks total loops memory usage : 21 out of 1024 MB. volume envelopes on just about every disk based trak, resonance filer with envelope on the frequency Waves Real verb 1 on lead vox waves real verb 2 on background vox various different parts bussed to 7 different busses, each with there own compressor and track eq. Beatmodel Amplee on one bus for distortion effect on vox (This is a real CPU hog) CPU is up to 26 percent now. Problem one: I noticed that when I would do something else on my PC and return to ACID (as I am doing right now, writing in internet explorer) My last two recently recorded files sound like someone farting..and its not me..I SWEAR!! no really, the last two files start stuttering, and you cant really even hear them, it doesnt go away so I have to restart the program and its fine. But Otherwise, as stable as vegas so far! Ill report back!
Subject:My specs Reply by: Jacose Date:10/4/2002 3:51:00 PM P4 1.7 ghz Asus Mobo 1 gig of SDRAM 2 HHD HDD 1: 5400 RPM drive index: 15000 Kb/s 80 gig HDD 2: 7200 RPM drive index: 31000 Kb/s 60 gig Generic motherboard soundcard ;) (Sound max digital audio) 64 meg Nvidia Geforce Videocard WIN XP home OEM
Subject:3rd report, 10-05-02 5:06pm, possible bug? Reply by: Jacose Date:10/4/2002 3:53:00 PM Found a problem. everytime it gets to a certain point in the song, it starts stuttering and slows down. However, this is only when Im letting ACID run in the background, and Im using internet explorer. Is this supposed to happen???? I can push stop and play it again and its ok, when acid is the active application.
Subject:4th report 10-05-02 DEFINITE BUG. Reply by: Jacose Date:10/4/2002 5:03:00 PM no offense, but gee, didnt take too long!! lol ok, this time, I was recording a bass track (audio not midi) that was to span the entire length of the song... toward the end of the song, (My CPU was at about 40% before this or less) the CPU sho up to 99% (acid usage only) and my entire system slowed down, the project played stuttering, and I had to wait 10 minutes before the project stopped. This is the same bug that happened with my last project "Sungreen" which features Vsti's and more FX, average processer usage 60 percent. Please hlep me fix this one, I like to use ACID to the fullest, I want to be able to go the distance with it! !
Subject:RE: 4th report 10-05-02 DEFINITE BUG. Reply by: SonyNateM Date:10/4/2002 5:18:50 PM Which effects and VSTi's are you using in this project? Which are automated? If you mute/delete a track or two at a time, can you correct it? If so, we need to look at the VSTi or effects that are on that track specifically. Please let me know. Nate
Subject:RE: 4th report 10-05-02 DEFINITE BUG. Reply by: Jacose Date:10/4/2002 8:44:32 PM everything I am using is listed in the previous posts. (Thats the point of this thread, just going thru the same project progressively and seeing about the perfromance of ACid) I will try to mute a couple of tracks and see if that would work, but I dont understand WHY it would work. I am not using ANY vstis but the DLS soft synth is selected. I automated the resonance filter but that is not playing at the same time as the glitch, although I notice the Frequency slider moving throughout the entire song. ;) thanks.
Subject:RE: report on Acid 4!!!! postive!!! Reply by: Iacobus Date:10/4/2002 11:43:40 PM Where or what? If you mean where, it's not listed, as it's theoretically unlimited. (The same applies to the Loop track type.) However, how many disk-based tracks (Beatmapped or long One-shots) you can get away with is all dependent on your computer's config. (CPU speed, hard drive speed, etc.) Check out a recent post of mine for a little more info. I should've mentioned in that post (now that I'm thinking about it) that the hard drive and motherboard is all part of a hardware chain (which also includes CPU, RAM speed, etc.) that will ensure your tracks playback smoothly. You don't want anything in the chain to bottleneck the rest. HTH, Iacobus
Subject: ok, clarification ? Reply by: Jacose Date:10/5/2002 11:08:46 AM ok, heres something that may help. The ENTIRE PROJECT slows down and the cpu shoots to 100% when the song has been playing all the way thru. It ALWAYS does it at the same spot... roughly about 1 minute b4 the end of the song, at 4:10 . I truly feel this is a Serious ACID bug because this happened the same exact way with my other song, Sungreen. "http://www.sectionz.net/sz40/userinfo.sz40?flooperTag=Silent find it in the link above, the songs name is SUNGREEN. tell me what you think!!! " It played great, CPU at 80 percent, until about a minute b4 the end, I think it was 5:00.... then the CPU shot up to 99 percent and playback slowed to a crawl. in that project, there were only two loop tracks playing at that point, with some reverb on them (Likely WAves) On this project, Beautiful Day(s), at the point of breakup, there are 4 disk based tracks playing, and one loop track playing... Likely, Waves Truverb is active, and there is PSP vintage warmer on the drums.... ummmm...some track eqs, nothing really too big. BTW, this had the same behaviour WITHOUT the PSP vintage warmer, so its not that. Additionally , Im not sure I mentioned, but I have 7 busses going, all routed to the master. I have them so I can do overdubs and apply the fx to an entire group of tracks.
Subject:positive turned negativE~!!! Reply by: Jacose Date:10/5/2002 11:17:19 AM wow. I really hope this can be sorted out. I never have this problem with any other software, I am not totally sure its not my fault, but I doubt it. here is a thread with a similar problem I had, for reference: http://www.sonicfoundry.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=122142&Replies=1&Page=4 http://www.sonicfoundry.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=125059&Replies=6&Page=2
Subject:an offer, if it will help...techsupport? Reply by: Jacose Date:10/5/2002 11:28:49 AM I have a cable FTP server for music transer between myself in PA and my friend in South Dakota. I would be more than happy to put the entire ACD.ZIP on there, 174 Megabytes. if any of you techsupport people think this would help, you would have to download the demos of waves plugins,(version 3.6 or 3.5.1) (if you dont have them already) and Just email me At Silent223@hotmail.com and Ill give you the login info. JUST REMEMBER this song needs work so dont judge me on it!!! lol
Subject:RE: an offer, if it will help...techsupport? Reply by: Iacobus Date:10/5/2002 1:13:41 PM I don't know if this will help either, but from what I've heard, the Waves plug-ins are notoriously CPU-hungry. Have you tried bouncing down just the tracks with the Waves plug-ins applied to them? Also try what Nate suggested earlier by muting and soloing tracks, as it's a good way to find out what track(s) is making a project go kablooey. Mute everything and while the project is playing back, unmute tracks one by one. HTH, Iacobus
Subject:RE: My specs Reply by: astral_supreme Date:10/5/2002 10:15:41 PM Generic mother board soundcard?...if its the standard one from the factory I am willing to bet an upgrade to soundblaster audigy 2 or better could help your playback problems.
Subject:RE: My specs Reply by: Jacose Date:10/5/2002 11:10:50 PM I am willing to bet an upgrade to soundblaster audigy 2 or better could help your playback problems. I doubt it, no offense, because I do not have this problem with ANY other software, and I have pushed all software to its limits..... I dont even touch ACIDs limits, and I get glitches... I dont get it.
Subject:RE: 4th report 10-05-02 DEFINITE BUG. Reply by: Jacose Date:10/6/2002 7:28:21 AM ive given all the details I can, all the clues.... still no hope or what?
Subject:RE: 4th report 10-05-02 DEFINITE BUG. Reply by: dhanjit Date:10/6/2002 7:58:15 AM Sorry astral_supreme is right, it sounds like you need a proper soundcard. Acid 4.0 will push components further than other software.
Subject:RE: My specs Reply by: dkistner Date:10/6/2002 9:40:29 AM I thought people were having major problems with the Audigy cards. That's why I haven't bought one. Still at SB Live! and trying to learn more about cards before I get one.
Subject:RE: My specs Reply by: Iacobus Date:10/6/2002 10:15:59 AM astral_supreme makes a good point, Jacose. Since you've pretty much given everything there is to know about your system, I'd suggest a better soundcard. Your hard drive (specifically your 7200 RPM model), CPU, RAM and operating system are more than adequate. I've got less power than you in those terms except the audio interface. I used to have some minor but annoying problems with a Sound Blaster Live! and ACID Pro 2.0 and Pro 3.0. Glitchy playback here and there was common, as was audio playback not sync'ing to what was going on screenwise. And let's face it: Cards like the Live! just aren't up to the task. (They're extremely noisy to boot, but that's a different story.) I have since upgraded to an M-Audio Audiophile 2496 and an M-Audio USB Duo, both of which work great with ACID Pro 4.0. Not only are they very stable, rock solid interfaces, but they fully utilize the 24-bit capability of ACID Pro to boot. (They both produce super clean audio as well.) Also, if you've seen my other post regarding a hardware chain, you could apply it to your situation. The weakest link in yours could be your soundcard. While it may be true that you don't have problems with other apps, you have to remember that ACID works differently from those apps. Take, for example, the "Delta ASIO driver and ACID 4.0" issue. There weren't any problems with the previous Delta ASIO driver and other apps until ACID 4.0 came around the corner. M-Audio confirmed it was their fault for the crashes users were experiencing and have mostly rectified the issue via beta drivers. It could be a case where ACID 4.0 is exploiting a sloppily-written driver for your soundcard much as ACID 4.0 exploited the Delta ASIO driver. BTW, I recommend anyone considering the Audigy 2 to hold off on that purchase, at least for now. If you look closely, both the regular Audigy 2 and the Audigy 2 Platinum can only record via ASIO at 16-bit/48 kHz. Allegedly, the "Platinum eX" version will have true 24-bit/96 kHz, but that's not set to appear until early 2003. HTH, Iacobus
Subject:RE: My specs Reply by: drbam Date:10/6/2002 10:16:27 AM Just because all your previous apps worked fine with your current soundcard, doesn't mean that it will do so with a new app. However, if you were you using AP 3 successfully with this system prior to installing AP 4 then I would think that your card is not the problem. A rule of thumb though is if one is serious about creating commercially viable music, a pro soundcard is essential. Entry level pro cards are just under $200. I find it puzzling that many folks (from the posts I've read on the SOFO forums) will spend a lot of money on kick ass systems, apps, etc, and seem to dig their heels in when it comes to purchasing a quality soundcard or interface??? To my mind its kind of like having a Neve console with Radio Shack cabling (or some similar analogy). ;-) Anyway, and seriously, good luck on sorting this out. I know its a big pain in the butt!! drbam
Subject:RE: My specs Reply by: L25 Date:10/6/2002 2:13:08 PM mD: I have not got a definitive answer, should I update to the M-audio beta drivers for my 1010? I use vegas video 95% of the time, don't want to mess that up. I also have Sonar2xl, but am more interested in just using ACID, my problems with ACID only seem to be with absynth vsti, and I know absynth has problems that should be addressed in the next few weeks w/ v134. thanks, L
Subject:my soundcard??? thanks but lets get focused here... Reply by: Jacose Date:10/6/2002 3:49:22 PM if you were you using AP 3 successfully with this system prior to installing AP 4 then I would think that your card is not the problem. Im sorry you guys, but the response that my soundcard is the problem is really just not good enough for me when I run just about every audiosoftware I see as demo and they all work stunning, it stands to common reason that Acid SHOULD work, as they also market their products for ametuers (install it and it works!!! loook now EVEN YOU a begginer musician can ARRAANGE LOOPS!!! ) And yes I was using Acid 3 quite well, as wel as Vegas Video 3.0c and Sound forge works great, Fruityloops 3.56, I tried the demo of Cubase SX, works fine, The demo of SONAR 2, just about every software you can think of I have TRIED... except Gigstudio, I needa GSIF soundcard to run that. I feel this is a major cop out.. my sound card really sounds pretty good and has never given me problems..alhtough I realize that it look sort of embarrisingly foolish to have such a crappy soundcard amongst such a system as mine, although mine isnt THAT great. you can hear my stuff in the link I posted above, the quality is pretty decent I think... maybe you can tell me different, Im still learning.... No offense, I just dont want the focus to be taken off the fact that I have a major problem with this app, but I appreciate your kind suggestions, people. I really do. So anything yet? techsupport???? so, please dont blame it on the soundcar I can think of no logical reason why that would be the case./
Subject:RE: my soundcard??? thanks but lets get focused here... Reply by: drbam Date:10/6/2002 10:54:22 PM Folks are just trying to be helpful Jacose . . . looking at any and all possibilities. No need to get defensive. drbam
Subject:RE: my soundcard??? thanks but lets get focused here... Reply by: Jacose Date:10/7/2002 10:28:52 AM I dont think that the reply was defensive at all. I thanked all of you for your suggestions, and I considered them, but dismissed them on the facts available, and implored those willing to help not to focus on something that quite likely is NOT the problem, no offense meant, and thanks again ;)
Subject:Acid pushes components farther? Reply by: Jacose Date:10/7/2002 10:30:33 AM Acid 4.0 will push components further than other software. what does this mean?
Subject:RE: My specs analogy Reply by: Jacose Date:10/7/2002 10:36:23 AM To my mind its kind of like having a Neve console with Radio Shack cabling (or some similar analogy) lol I do agree.... althought I have never had a problem with my sound, I try to make the best out if it that I can.... It would be like a POD flextone Amp with a 30$ walmart cheap guuitar with a top of the line piezo pickup in it!!!! I suppose the quality level would be bottlenecked somewhere. lol
Subject:5th report Squashed the bug..it wasnt ACIDs fault, probably. ;) Reply by: Jacose Date:10/7/2002 2:18:54 PM ok, I found the bug. I added an organ loop I made and decided to add a track effect, Beatmodel Optiverb. sounds great, but for some reason, when I played the song, right after the organ loop, the CPU went up to 100% slowed to a crawl.... I then implemented the simple suggestion to mute tracks, I muted the orgran track and had no problem. SO I looked at the plugins used, deleted the beatmodel plugin and all was good... So Im like " ok well maybe thats the problem towards the END of the song too" so I looked at the end of thge song and sure enough, I used another beatmodel plugin for distortion. well Ill bE! I took the plug off and whalllaa all Is good. Thanks for all of your help and sorry if I was being stupid at all... but it is true that I have never recieved this problem from beatmodel plugs in any other host... So maybe they just dont communicate in this audio sandbox right.... Moving on./...
Subject:6th report, song almost done!!!! WOW --3 and a half days!!!! Reply by: Jacose Date:10/7/2002 2:22:00 PM well, it hasnt been too long, but My song "beautiful day(s)" is almost done now!!! Even thru all the problems, ACID remained quite stable, and VERY VERY effiecent.. even thoough all my loops were perfectly to the beat and I could have sequenced them just as well in Vegas and done my multitracking in there, I love Acids options so much better, I didnt even bother to look at Vegas Video 3. All I have done is the bass track, and some rum modifications, as well as replacing some FX I lost due to the fact they were buggy. My CPU is up to 50% now, on average.. it has shot up to 67 and been as low as 40 tho.
Subject:RE: 6th report, song almost done!!!! WOW --3 and a half days!!!! Reply by: drbam Date:10/7/2002 2:53:14 PM <<well, it hasnt been too long, but My song "beautiful day(s)" is almost done now!!!>> Great and congratulations! I'm glad you found the problem and I appeciate that you kept the forum current on how it was unfolding. I know I find it helpful to track some of these dramas so I can perhaps better navigate it when the next one comes my way. ;-) Thanks! drbam
Subject:RE: My specs Reply by: Iacobus Date:10/7/2002 3:25:09 PM If the problem is only with Absynth and not other VSTi's, I wouldn't worry too much about it. I'd only suggest the betas if you were having a problem with all your VSTi's and/or ASIO. I can report that the betas have been stable for me thus far. If you'd like to try them out, be sure to set aside some free time to do so. You might want to keep in mind that installing the betas might require you to reinstall your other apps. I had an initial problem with Sound Forge (files wouldn't play) and the betas until I did a complete uninstall/reinstall. Everything's been fine since then. HTH, Iacobus
Subject:RE: 6th report, song almost done!!!! WOW --3 and a half days!!!! Reply by: Jacose Date:10/7/2002 3:26:43 PM well, the main purpose was so that I could put Acid to the test and see if it succedded, I think everyone should do this!!
Subject:RE: Acid pushes components farther? Reply by: Iacobus Date:10/7/2002 3:32:14 PM I believe dhanjit's referring to how ACID exploits (makes productive use of) a soundcard and any other device in the hardware chain. Of course, this will probably be all dependent on how well the device's driver is written. HTH, Iacobus
Subject:DONE!!! (basically) here it is/..... Reply by: Jacose Date:10/8/2002 8:04:26 PM http://www.sectionz.net/sz40/04detail.sz40?mp3ID=4289 check the song out here! I would love your opinions!

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