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Subject:Optimizing laptop for acid?
Posted by: MattX
Date:2/29/2004 9:41:30 PM
Ok...here is the situation... I'm running 24 files/loops in my current project...8 are one shots...16 are loops...altogether the project is only using 17MB of 512MB ram... I recently changed my track FX defaults to the Waves R Channel...so each track is running through one....(i know, that could be the problem).... whenever i highlight anything any of the loops/files...the system slows down, lags hard and messes up...simply hitting play again fixes it no problem........i've adjusted and tried all the video acceleration settings and have seen no improvement.... My question is: How come this is happening with my new system? I'm using a Pentium 4 Dell 2.6 Mhz Processor...isn't that strong enough to handle the desired task of running smooothly? Even with Waves R Channels on each track? I upgraded to a new computer and was really thinking i could apply more, stronger plug ins than my old 600MHZ pentium 3...was i wrong in making this assumption? Why can't this system handle this? Its using barely any memory...and the video card adjustments didn't do anything....so why can't the processor handle it? Is there an adjust or way I can optimize my laptop so that i can get the most out of my laptop and Acid 4? Please advise...I'm want to push the boundries of Acid and my projects. Thanks in advance. Matthew_ Dell Laptop Inspiron 5100 2.6Mhz Pentium 4 512meg Ram 64Meg Mobility Radeon 7500 Video Card Stock Soundcard for now. Windows XP Home Edition (fresh formatted install,audio only computer) Acid 4.0F Sound Forge 7.0 M Audio Oxygen 8 |
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Subject:RE: Optimizing laptop for acid?
Reply by: marcarotsky
Date:3/1/2004 8:20:46 AM
youre laptop should run through all those tracks with at least 15 effects on EACH track and still beg for more....why its slowing down and choking......hmmmmm....not a simple answer. BUT, might be able to help a little: 1. how many other programs are open while doing any sequencing? 2. is a lot of your hard drive filled up? im assuming no. 3. do you defrag often? if not DO IT!!! at least once a day, ESPECIALLY before you start a session of using acid and editors. 4. how many tasks is windows managing while you use acid?? (in the bottom right of your taskbar are there tons of icons?) if there are SHUT THEM OFF!!! (use your "msconfig" utility to disable ALL NON-ESSENTIAL tasks at start-up) 5. try to get the program called "mem-turbo" its a great program to keep your memory free and actually defrags your memory also. helps A TON with audio on a computer. 6. try to partition your hard drive if its big enough. having a dedicated hard drive JUST FOR YOUR AUDIO APPS will solve probably 80% of your problems. operating system away from your audio apps works wonders!!! 7. there is a really good place on the internet to see how to "tweak your computer for audio use" do a search for that article. it has a lot of good info in it!!!! good luck, try some of these suggestions... --marc |
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Subject:RE: Optimizing laptop for acid?
Reply by: UNITIS
Date:3/1/2004 10:25:04 AM
The Soundcard or Audio interface you use can make a big differance in how quickly audio and plugin information is processed. If I was working on a note book computer I would get an external USB or FireWire interface. |
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Subject:RE: Optimizing laptop for acid?
Reply by: Iacobus
Date:3/1/2004 10:52:59 AM
I second what UNITIS said. The soundcard could be your bottleneck. Stock soundcards (and their drivers) are usually just not cut out for DAW work. Iacobus ------- RodelWorks - Original Music for the Unafraid mD's ACIDplanet Page |
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Subject:RE: Optimizing laptop for acid?
Reply by: UNITIS
Date:3/1/2004 11:00:17 AM
This is what you should get. http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.main&ID=77b8b59a677defc67c40d33428b4014a |
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Subject:RE: Optimizing laptop for acid?
Reply by: DKeenum
Date:3/1/2004 11:48:14 AM
Or look at echo.com BTW, laptop HDs tend to be a little slower. |
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Subject:RE: Optimizing laptop for acid?
Reply by: MattX
Date:3/1/2004 1:16:05 PM
i thank all of you who have answered.....i'll apply the advice given and return with results...hopefully Sony OP's can chime in on this...give a little advice.... thanks again guys...much appreciated. Matthew_ |
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Subject:RE: Optimizing laptop for acid?
Reply by: MattX
Date:3/1/2004 1:25:16 PM
Response to marcarotsky : 1: i have none open while sequencing....only acid. 2: hard drive is not filled up...only 10 gigs of 37 gigs 3: i defragged 2 weeks ago...i try that again.... 4: no other tasks are open...only the volume control...i've done MSCONFIG 5: i've never heard of "mem-turbo"...i'll invest in the idea.... 6: well...i can't partiton the drives...the install is complete, apps installed,loops too..... 7: i've seen alot of articles about tweeking...i'm going to get one now... thanks alot my friend....for taking the time with my issue. post soon with reports. matthew_ |
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Subject:RE: Optimizing laptop for acid?
Reply by: MattX
Date:3/1/2004 7:36:31 PM
OK.....SO, I completed the entire XP tweek available at www.musicXP.net.... Now...the only problem i'm continuing to have is: double click file in explorer for adding to project....slows down really bad...easily fixed by hitting play.... fixing/moving/resizing new loop add to project....slows down just as bad....easily fixed by hitting play..... my strong system should not be doing this right??? any ideas SONYBOYS? thanks matthew Dell Laptop Inspiron 5100 2.6Mhz Pentium 4 512meg Ram 64Meg Mobility Radeon 7500 Video Card Stock Soundcard for now. Windows XP Home Edition (fresh formatted install,audio only computer) Acid 4.0F Sound Forge 7.0 M Audio Oxygen 8 |
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Subject:RE: Optimizing laptop for acid?
Reply by: Iacobus
Date:3/1/2004 8:06:52 PM
Again, that could be caused by your soundcard just not being up to snuff. Try bringing your video acceleration down a notch or two (or even try turning it off). Iacobus ------- RodelWorks - Original Music for the Unafraid mD's ACIDplanet Page |
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Subject:RE: Optimizing laptop for acid?
Reply by: luceses
Date:3/2/2004 5:29:36 AM
Hey MattX sorry about the problems, but here are a few suggestions. I am using the EXACT setup you are with the exception of an MAudio Audiophile USB, although I do not agree that it is the Sigma -Tel sound device that is your problem, because I can use projects containing as many as 50 tracks with the Sigma -Tel and I have noooo problem. First off, when I got my 5100 out if the box there were a few slow downs and this is what I did to remedy a lot of my issues: 1)update the bios to A28(the latest), 2)update the video, soundcard and the usb drivers from the DEll site. The problem with this particular computer is that the video is on the same IRQ as the USB and believe it or not this will effect the performance of Acid even if you do not use an external usb audio device. Next I would not try using any of the XP tweaks that you have heard about, because Dell and most pre-config systems still have some type of proprietary mojo on their systems that are adversely affected by these "tweaks", at least that's how it was in my case. I tried doing exactly what you did and noticed a reduced performance until I upgraded the above drivers. Also I know a lot of people do what you did and will try to do a "clean install" on a pre-configed system and they usually have issues because of the above proprietary stuff I mentioned. If I were you I would reinstall the Dell to it's factory setup, then install the new drivers, uninstall (add/remove) any programs that you will never use(there are quite a few with this system), then disable the Dell Alerts program when you are doing audio and you should see a vast improvement. I know it sounds like a lot of work, but I am really pleased with my 5100 and I think you could be as well. Good luck, Luceses |
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Subject:RE: Optimizing laptop for acid?
Reply by: MattX
Date:3/2/2004 5:04:34 PM
so...should i undo all the tweeks i did? then update the drivers? |
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Subject:RE: Optimizing laptop for acid?
Reply by: luceses
Date:3/2/2004 9:10:26 PM
>so...should i undo all the tweeks i did? then update the drivers? < Well you could, but if you just do the factory recovery CD procedure all of your "tweaks" will be undone. You did say that you did a "clean install" which I assume means that you reformatted the drive and did NOT include some of the proprietary stuff that the 5100 probably wants. My point is that you need to restore the laptop to it's "out of the box" state then do all of the updates and Add/remove stuff. Unfortunately you are going to have to reinstall Acid and all other programs, so don't forget to backup any Acid projects you might have. Good luck. |
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Subject:RE: Optimizing laptop for acid? *(new fresh install applied)*
Reply by: MattX
Date:3/22/2004 1:42:10 AM
Hello All, So...I followed the advice...I wiped my hard drive clean...reinstalled windows XP...upgraded the bios to A28...upgraded the soundcard & video drivers...shut off sounds...shut off alerts...nice & fresh though: the system/project is STILL laging!?! the project in question contains 20 soundfiles...4 one shots...16 loops...18/512mb of ram being used...i changed the default EQ on each track to have a Waves RChannel applied...there are NO bus or fx channels being used.... when the project is playing...if i move any of the files...or even highlight them...the system slows down, only to be fixed by hitting play again... my question is....what now? isn't this system strong enough to handle the tasks i'm requesting? its a 2.6ghz with 512ram and 64mb video card...isn't that strong enough? i upgraded my system in the hopes of being able to change the default eq's to something more highend....and have at least a few (3 or 4) waves reverbs running at the same time...i'm very frustruated...there must be some reason why this is happening and a way to fix it? does anyone have any suggestions? (ie: Sony) thanks in advance. matthew_ my system: Dell Laptop Inspiron 5100 2.6Mhz Pentium 4 A28 Bios 512meg Ram 64Meg Mobility Radeon 7500 Video Card Stock Soundcard for now. Windows XP Home Edition (fresh formatted install,audio only computer) Acid 4.0F Waves Diamond Bundle Sound Forge 7.0a Logic 5.5.1 |
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Subject:RE: Optimizing laptop for acid? *(new fresh install applied)*
Reply by: Spirit
Date:3/22/2004 5:05:21 AM
All your comments seem to relate to this one project. Have you tried creating several other projects with different effects and tracks ? Maybe there's something about some of the elements of effects you're using that just happens to make your laptop unhappy. Experiment a little more with the music itself and see where and when the problems start. |
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Subject:RE: Optimizing laptop for acid? *(new fresh install applied)*
Reply by: DKeenum
Date:3/22/2004 5:36:11 AM
I would second that suggestion. Try different projects. See how many loops you can add before the system bogs down. Also, try disableing all effects and see what happens. |
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Subject:RE: Optimizing laptop for acid?
Reply by: MattX
Date:3/22/2004 11:11:38 PM
thanks for the feedback...but its not just that song...others have the same problem...some less severe...and thats using the default setting too...once it gets over 19 or 20 files...the system acts weird...i can't highlight or move files while playing...can't move screen without glitching.......and with the Waves RChannel on each, its really bad..the music basically stops or lags really hard......that project doesn't even have any Bus/FX channels working.... i wonder why acid does this??? the project in question only uses 18mb of 512...it runs only a bit better than my old 600mhz P3-640MB Ram-8Meg video.. and that is pretty sad don't ya think??? any possibility of Sony answering the questions? thanks m_ |