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Subject:PC Hardware Recommendations
Posted by: djbutterface
Date:1/21/2003 10:43:52 AM
For those high-end audio types that are not experiencing any audio stuttering in Acid 4, what processor, motherboard, ram, soundcard are you using? And how's that working out for you? |
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Subject:RE: PC Hardware Recommendations
Reply by: Iacobus
Date:1/21/2003 11:38:40 AM
PIII 800EB MHz ASUS CUSL2-C motherboard w/ Intel 815EP chipset 384 MB PC133 SDRAM M-Audio Audiophile 2496 M-Audio USB Duo Windows XP Home SP1 I do get some audio stuttering, but that's because I'm just hitting a performance ceiling with some projects that are 30+ tracks with FX. Bouncing down tracks together or bouncing down tracks with FX, as always, cures it. I'm practically draconian when it comes to my system. Each device has its own IRQ, installation of software is kept to a minimum, etc. I'm sure that helps some. I've also built my own system from the ground up, from selection of the case to the type of power supply that comes with it. Which reminds me: Can any of you confirm the wattage of your power supply? 300W should be a minimum for an ATX system. Anything less than that and your system is starving for power, especially if it's loaded with all kinds of gadgets. (Vendors can cheap out sometimes and only provide, say, a 220 Watt power supply.) I'm not saying it could be the cause of your problems but it could contribute to it. HTH, Iacobus |
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Subject:RE: PC Hardware Recommendations
Reply by: knowbody
Date:1/21/2003 4:09:14 PM
That's very interesting to know you built your own system. How do you ensure that none of the IRQ's are shared? Is it possible to change an IRQ address? Can you recommend any good sources of information for this? Thanks, Chris |
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Subject:RE: PC Hardware Recommendations
Reply by: Snappy
Date:1/21/2003 7:29:55 PM
athlon 1.4, 512MB generic ram, some crap FIC mobo, and some crap VIA soundcard. i don't know my HD specs off the top of my head but i think it's a seagate scsi 7200 rpm. i usually run around 30 tracks, mostly loops and one-shots. rarely any full-length audio or beatmapped tracks. effects-wise, i run 3 relatively complex ones on the master bus as a pseudo-mastering chain (eq, multiband dynamics, mastering compressor), usually 2 or 3 assignable fx (delays or verbs commonly), and a few track effects here and there (eq, multiband dynamics, basic compressors, delays, verbs, etc.). i'm usually at about 50% cpu usage with this kind of setup and never hear a stutter. (i don't do a great deal of processing on my individual tracks cuz they're already sound-designed to be decent. if something is *that* out of whack i'll just open it in forge and tweak it into shape, rather than use a realtime effects chain.) if more intense effects processing is required, and i get into the 'stutter zone', turning up the playback buffer time is usually sufficient to eliminate it (i usually run about .25s playback buffer. i can go about as high as .75s before the delay starts driving me nuts.) if playback buffer doesn't solve the problem, then it's time to start making the 'tough' decisions ;) ... permanently apply effects to certain tracks (always backing up the original files first, of course), use assignable effects on multiple tracks wherever possible, eliminate unneeded gratuitous effects, etc. i also have a MOTU 2408 (1st edition) that i bring into play when hi-quality audio output is required. usually i don't because... i'm too lazy to constantly alternate patching the MOTU or the pc sound card into the amp. i used the MOTU more often when i had a studio and was tracking a lot of live audio, but at present, everything i do is 100% in the PC from concept-->master. so... monitoring through the cheapo sound card is sufficient for this, at least up to the mixing phase of things. of some interest though, is the fact that when i do use the MOTU, although the sound quality is a billion times better (and just plain louder), the processing/performance doesn't seem to be noticeably faster. this may change with these new WDM drivers that i haven't bothered to install yet. don't know... god... dirty, dirty confessions... bottom line: i am a demanding 'high-end audio type' and this setup, while it's far from the 'ultimate acid dream system' has never failed to get me where i need to go. worth mentioning, though, is that i'm only using this system for my own work gratia artis. if i was using acid (or any other apps for that matter) to produce professionally, i would probably want the latest and greatest of everything, as i am a firm believer in 'the right tools for the job' philosophy. right now, it's not a job, so i have a little breathing room ;) HTH have phun =) |
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Subject:RE: PC Hardware Recommendations
Reply by: RasKeita
Date:1/22/2003 1:27:14 AM
Processor:P4 1.8GHz Memory:1.24GHzDDR Board:Intel D845WN AAA64179-203 H/D:80MB-7200rpm & 60MB-7200rpm Western Digital Sound Cards:M-Audio Delta 66 & AP 2496 & Creative Audigy OS:Win XP Home (optimized for audio) I have yet to experience any problems what so ever. Altho when 4.0 first arrived and I installed it, I was to say the least, disappointed. I uninstalled and went back to 3.0g. When SF released 4.0b I reinstalled, it's basiclly the same for me no problems but still a major disappointment. I find I still prefer 3.0 over 4.0, perhaps once SF gets up to 4.0m or 4.0t I'll go back to it regularly. In the mean time I stickin' with what I know works smooth and easy...Acid 4.0g, Reason 2.01, Sonar 2.1, Fruity Loops 3.5, Nuendo 2.0, and one of my newest favs Computer Music's Muzys...Level Vibes |
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Subject:RE: PC Hardware Recommendations
Reply by: liquid
Date:1/22/2003 9:13:43 AM
Hi I think you'll find that if you're not using 24 bit, you're not going to have any problmes. Up until last week, I used a 1ghz laptop with 256 ram with a ua-700 and almost never had problems, even for 30+ tracks. But now that I'm using 24 bit, nothing seems to be solid anymore. I up graded my computer to a p4 2.4 with 512 megs of ram but the cpu is still spiking....I think it's the 24 bit. So anyway, to answer your question, just keep away from 24 bit and you should be fine. I'd be interested to know if there's anyone out there using 24 bit audio, and if that's working out for them, what kind of system and hardware are they using? |
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Subject:RE: PC Hardware Recommendations
Reply by: aress
Date:1/22/2003 10:43:18 AM
asus mombo, 1gig rambus, pentium 1.4! winpro 2000 6 firewire hard drives, 2 cheetah 10000rpm 100g scsi disks matrox dual head two sound cards....motu 24i/o- also MIA ECHO card [for spdif] initally i did have stuttering issues, only on 24/96 HUGE [100 tracks or more] acid files..... all is good with the buffers at around 2k......also turn down all video acceleration on your display panel..... i also have a stock pent 4 2G, 512RAM 533fsb, with two stock IDE drives running xp pro, and a motu interface with NO issues..... acid 4.b is great..... AND SOUNDS 100% BETTER THAN V3.G............... also be aware many older plugins are system HOGS, if u use alot of plugins, [even new ones] you will have probs.... also, close the meter display, and any open plugin windows, and that might help loosen the stools............... GOOD LUCK, IT SUCKS WHEN U WANT TO CREATE WITH A GREAT TOOL [ACID] AND ALL U DEAL WITH IS THE TECH BS....... |
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Subject:RE: PC Hardware Recommendations
Reply by: DKeenum
Date:1/22/2003 11:01:35 AM
I also went back to 3.0. I'll stay there unless I need other time sigs or vstis. |
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Subject:RE: PC Hardware Recommendations
Reply by: donkerce
Date:1/22/2003 4:40:06 PM
I built my own. I'm running a PIII 866 on an ABIT SE6 mobo. 300 watt power supply. Windows ME. 256mb of RAM. DMAN 2448 sound card. 30GB 7200rpm system drive. 80GB 7200 rpm data drive. I don't seem to be having any problems. But I'm also not using alot of effects. But I was doing a thing with 20 plus tracks of loops with no hiccups or issues. |
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Subject:RE: PC Hardware Recommendations
Reply by: Iacobus
Date:1/22/2003 6:26:33 PM
D.I.Y.! (Sorry. Couldn't resist.) :) Iacobus |
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Subject:RE: PC Hardware Recommendations
Reply by: Iacobus
Date:1/22/2003 6:31:34 PM
It's possible to force an IRQ to a specific slot via your system's BIOS, but your BIOS has to support this feature. I've had to touch this setting once to force my soundcard to take IRQ 5; once the soundcard took it, I turned the setting back to "AUTO" out of curiosity. The soundcard still kept IRQ 5. Weird, but these are PC's after all... ;o) Resources on what? Building your own system, changing IRQ's, or both? Iacobus |
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Subject:RE: PC Hardware Recommendations
Reply by: knowbody
Date:1/22/2003 8:54:58 PM
Thanks Iacobus, I'd be interested in any links that give information about building a computer from the ground up for audio and in manually chanign IRQ addresses. I'll check out my bios. Chris |
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Subject:RE: PC Hardware Recommendations
Reply by: fulani
Date:1/22/2003 11:19:09 PM
great thread. where in XP do i find the settings for the VIDEO ACCELERATION? couldnt find it in the display settings. does anyone have a breakdown of the Optimum Settings for 4.0's Preferences? (or a link to one?) the GENERAL tab and the AUDIO tab in particular. aress said, "also, close the meter display," are you refering to the green level meters across the bottom of the display? (the Master, Bus's etc.) these are system hoggs? |
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Subject:RE: PC Hardware Recommendations
Reply by: aress
Date:1/23/2003 9:31:50 AM
fulani, yes, click the 'x' on the meter bridge when you have multiple [many] busses and or plugins....will save processing on your cpu..... your video card acceleration should be under your 'advanced tab' in the display settings on XP.... also remove anything in your system tray that you are not using.... [like the little quicktime, aol messenger, icons at the bottom right on your menubar.....] i think most issues that i am reading now are due to guys trying to use acid in 24bit, or heavy plugin usage....with non pro sound cards [audigy, live blaster....] PRINT YOUR EFFECTS AND RENDER THEM OFF TO A NEW TRACK>>>>>>>> i could be wrong but i think its not acid anymore, just the hardware, and drivers needed to deal with all the new features on acid4.x...... yeah, v4 initial release was a HUGE blunder on SF's part........it really was a beta......... hell even with a solid system like mine, i will get once in a great while the blue screen of death on winpro2000..... it is ALWAYS a driver/kernel issue, not acid, acid only makes the issue come up from the drivers........ i do wish that the new company that might happen, will make the products available on MAC OSx.... [doubtfully]......... the audio core and kernels are in the system core! no need for a directx like layer to deal with audio.... i am having a fine time with 4.0b................... |
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Subject:RE: PC Hardware Recommendations
Reply by: djbutterface
Date:1/27/2003 12:42:18 PM
I'm considering getting a Dell 4550 desktop to replace my current system. Does anyone here have a Dell desktop, and if you are experiencing any issues? Thanks. |
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Subject:RE: PC Hardware Recommendations
Reply by: SHTUNOT
Date:1/27/2003 1:22:51 PM
I will be buying a new daw from PCnirvana. Earle Foote comes highly recommended from spot[DSE:douglas spotted eagle] and others. Go to...http://store.pcnirvana.net/ I feel that he [Earle] understands best the needs of the A/V crowd. Dell/HP/etc...at your own risk IMHO. Better do some thorough research first. HTH. Ed. |
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Subject:RE: PC Hardware Recommendations
Reply by: tascolas
Date:1/27/2003 8:17:49 PM
ASUS P4B533-E -P4 2.4gig - 1.5 gig ram - DELTA 1010 - SEKD SIENNA( now called MARIAN MARK 8) - STAudio DSP 2000 - ADAPTEC 29160 SCSI CONTROLLER - ATI RADEON 9000 - IBM 60gig IDE 7200 running WIN XP PRO - 2x120 gig WESTERN DIGITAL IDE 7200 stripped on RAID 0 - IBM 18gig and IBM 36gig both SCSI 10000 rpm . I built it myself. No stutters or hicups ever. I run 30 loop tracks PLUS 25-30 24bit hard disk tracks PLUS about 35-40 plugins and 2-3 soft synths with no fuss at about 80-85% of my processing power.About 90-100 24bit hard disk tracks in Vegas. Oh and this reminds me ... When r the guys praising other platforms in this forum are going to wake up and smell the coffee ? SOFO ROX - cheers . |
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Subject:usb audio cards?
Reply by: buffalosnout
Date:3/18/2003 5:25:40 PM
Is there by now a "consensus" usb audio that has distanced itself from the other products? To mD: Are you still using the M-Audio Duo? Are you happy with it? Did they ever get the monitoring the way you needed it? If you were putting something together today, would that still be your choice for a usb sound card? Thanks, James |
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Subject:RE: PC Hardware Recommendations
Reply by: coolout
Date:3/19/2003 12:01:19 PM
no issues with Dell at all, they use industry standard parts unlike one of my other computers, a crap compaq. here's the specs on my audio cpu: Dell 4500 1.8ghz P4 512 ddr-sdram 40gig 7200rpm boot HD, 80gig 7200rpm audio HD 32meg ATI video card terratec ewx 24/96 sound card waveterminal u2a usb audio interface UAD-1 effects card MOTU fastlane MIDI interface now that i have my UAD card for compressors and reverb i never really push my cpu. even running about 50 tracks with a crapload of effects in acid my cpu usage sits at about 40-50%. |
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Subject:RE: PC Hardware Recommendations
Reply by: Rawhead
Date:3/20/2003 4:18:22 AM
Hey Dar. Just finished a project on my system which comrised of 20 tracks of 24 bit 48k audio data. Waves RCL compression on 15 tracks. waves natural verb reverb on 1 bus. 20 instances of TL audio EQ. 2 time delay FX on 2 busses. Smooth as Silk. Machine: Pentium IV 1.9 gig processor. 1 Gig PC133 Ram. GeForce 2 Vid Card. Gina 20 Audio Card. 1 x 10 gig UltraWide Scuzzi Drive (For current Audio Projects). 3 x 80 gig IDE storage Drives. Personally, UltraWide Scuzzi, A Ton of Ram and an Audio Card with It's own built in processors for calculating Audio Data are The way to go. (Pentium processor seems to help too, I seem to have a lot less difficulties than others out there with higher rated processors but have a lot more problems than I do.) |