Should my 2.66 P4 with a gig of RAM be able to handle pads?

[2windy]

I've got the exact same machine which I've just downgraded from DAW to general PC. I used to have no problem running Orion Platinum + a fair few VSTi including Reaktor AND be running Reason in Rewire mode if I wanted.

I'm not a PC whizz although I have run through most of the Music XP tweak. I'd say there's a seriously problem but have know idea of a diagnosis, I'll leave that to the pros.

[tk421]

I know when I was starting out with FL Studio, I was in love with the idea of all the possibilities of effects. My computer has similar specs and I was sometimes having the same problem. Lately I have been trying a "less is more" approach with pretty good results. I have picked my favorite vsts trying to limit what else I use and getting to know them really well. I also think my songs are getting better.

This may not work for you. The stuff I have been doing is simpler rock based music. It sounds like you may need all the effects you are using. But it might be worth looking at what is really not necessary.

Aside from freezing or rendering tracks, I have tried using more cpu friendly effects while composing and switching them with cpu heavy ones during the final render. This took me way too much time and was really not worth the effort.

[DevonB]

I'm not a PC whizz although I have run through most of the Music XP tweak. I'd say there's a seriously problem but have know idea of a diagnosis, I'll leave that to the pros.

I have all the plugs he listed, and had a similar machine. His only problem is an underpowered processor for the plugins he's using. He just needs to upgrade to do what he wants in real time, or bounce down audio. Pretty simple.

Devon

[keiross]

I know when I was starting out with FL Studio, I was in love with the idea of all the possibilities of effects. My computer has similar specs and I was sometimes having the same problem. Lately I have been trying a "less is more" approach with pretty good results. I have picked my favorite vsts trying to limit what else I use and getting to know them really well. I also think my songs are getting better.

This may not work for you. The stuff I have been doing is simpler rock based music. It sounds like you may need all the effects you are using. But it might be worth looking at what is really not necessary.

Aside from freezing or rendering tracks, I have tried using more cpu friendly effects while composing and switching them with cpu heavy ones during the final render. This took me way too much time and was really not worth the effort.

You know... I've been thinking to myself that I need to embrace the less is more approach (I've need to for about 10 years). It's all too easy for me to have a load of tracks playing at once, as oppose to letting two or three main tracks take the lead and making the most of their possible impact.

It's good to look on the bright side! I'm guessing you're a glass is half full kind of guy

Thanks for the post.

I'm not a PC whizz although I have run through most of the Music XP tweak. I'd say there's a seriously problem but have know idea of a diagnosis, I'll leave that to the pros.

I have all the plugs he listed, and had a similar machine. His only problem is an underpowered processor for the plugins he's using. He just needs to upgrade to do what he wants in real time, or bounce down audio. Pretty simple.

Devon

I've done a load of the XP tweaks too... now my desktop scheme looks like it's from 1972

I hear what you're saying. I'll learn how to bounce down audio while saving up for a dual core, thanks man.

[keiross]

Could you suggest any such synths? I use the z3ta+, Vanguard and Albino II (all of which I love).

two of those synths are known to use too much cpu compared to other solutions. for instance, the wusik vsti, was praised to be -the- pad machine while using much much much much less cpu usage. you should take a look on that one, not to mention that its one of the cheapest synths around, and you not only pads with it, but tons of extra sounds.

:-}

M.

Thanks for the suggestion, I've purchased this and it's downloading at home as I type (I hope).

[keiross]

Could you suggest any such synths? I use the z3ta+, Vanguard and Albino II (all of which I love).

two of those synths are known to use too much cpu compared to other solutions. for instance, the wusik vsti, was praised to be -the- pad machine while using much much much much less cpu usage. you should take a look on that one, not to mention that its one of the cheapest synths around, and you not only pads with it, but tons of extra sounds.

:-}

M.

Thanks for the recommendation, because it downloaded (finally) and the pads really are awesome (and easy on the processor). Much appreciated!

[tk421]

You also might like quadraSID from reFX. It emulates the C64 sound chip, but it does not have to sound like old videogame hardware. Once you get to learn it, it can make some fat, complex sounds. CPU usage is pretty low and there are lower quality settings to help with that.

[keiross]

You also might like quadraSID from reFX. It emulates the C64 sound chip, but it does not have to sound like old videogame hardware. Once you get to learn it, it can make some fat, complex sounds. CPU usage is pretty low and there are lower quality settings to help with that.

Thanks dude, I'll be sure to have a look at it, as I am officially in love with reFX.

[Sascha Franck]

Here's a relatively hot tip on how to use more or less massive pads and yet saving some CPU power:
Get DiscoDSPs Highlife. It's an automated VSTi sampler. So you load your favourite VSTi into it, tell it to sample (or "freeze") the current patch and then disable the original instrument.
You will of course lose most realtime modulation options and sometimes it just doesn't cut it, but very often it does. Worth a try anyways. And the best thing: It's free!
http://www.discodsp.com/highlife/

Alternatively (or in addition), you may consider a fullblown sampler. In case you don't use much of their onboard synthesis options, patches usually play back with quite less CPU overhead than on a synth. Of course, chances are that things will sound more static, but in many cases you may not notice that at all, especially once things are sort of hidden in a mix.

[guitarzan]

Here's a relatively hot tip on how to use more or less massive pads and yet saving some CPU power:
Get DiscoDSPs Highlife. It's an automated VSTi sampler. So you load your favourite VSTi into it, tell it to sample (or "freeze") the current patch and then disable the original instrument.
You will of course lose most realtime modulation options and sometimes it just doesn't cut it, but very often it does. Worth a try anyways. And the best thing: It's free!
http://www.discodsp.com/highlife/

Sascha, I just tried Highlife, it's amazing! SO simple to sample (freeze) a VSTi...this along with the equally amazing (and also free) sfz is going to help me out a lot while trying to compose and arrange with my limited older laptop computer (not just with pads, seems like it'll work for just about anything, especially when used as a temporary jamming/arranging scratchpad sound source)!!

[keiross]

Here's a relatively hot tip on how to use more or less massive pads and yet saving some CPU power:
Get DiscoDSPs Highlife. It's an automated VSTi sampler. So you load your favourite VSTi into it, tell it to sample (or "freeze") the current patch and then disable the original instrument.
You will of course lose most realtime modulation options and sometimes it just doesn't cut it, but very often it does. Worth a try anyways. And the best thing: It's free!
http://www.discodsp.com/highlife/

Alternatively (or in addition), you may consider a fullblown sampler. In case you don't use much of their onboard synthesis options, patches usually play back with quite less CPU overhead than on a synth. Of course, chances are that things will sound more static, but in many cases you may not notice that at all, especially once things are sort of hidden in a mix.

The world needs more people like you.

Thanks for your help, this sounds great - I'm checking it out now.

[Sascha Franck]

The world needs more people like you.

Errr.. believe me, it doesn't. And you better don't try to find out yourself

Thanks for your help, this sounds great - I'm checking it out now.

Yeah, good luck.

Fwiw, I am still working on a machine similar to yours on some workshops I'm teaching at, and while you may not be able to do a fully fledged mix on your machine, you should be able to get the basic parts together more or less without too much of a hassle. Clever FX management and such being very important, of course.
But, once you're done with the structure of your songs, you can still freeze or mixdown things.
Which is exactly why one shouldn't take care about mixing while composing. At least not too much. The "musical meaning" of whatever lucious pad might as well be represented more or less properly by using a low CPU overhead synth. The same goes for "expensive" reverb effects and whatever. I usually tend to get away with one single reverb and probably one additional delay while working on my arrangements.