CPU % low, but I'm still getting the "!" ...any id

[Kang]

As the subject says, my CPU is only like 20-25% when I'm running a bunch of tracks, but when things like guitar solos and extra short tracks kick in I get the "!" and for some reason these tracks get studered. Everything else plays through fine.

Anyone have any ideas? I'm thinking maybe if I get a firwire card and use an external drive for audio this might help, but I don't know for sure. I have a very old computer with windows 98, but I can't upgrade ($), and actually it does fine except for this. (It didn't do this with N-track, but N-track in general was unstable, hence the switch).

Thanks a lot.

[AD80]

The ! doesnt have anything to do with CPU load, it indicates overloaded HD. So you're probably running more tracks than your HD speed can handle.

[Warmonger]

If you're running Windows 98, there's a possibility that you don't have DMA enabled on your hard drive. That could cause stuttering when using many audio tracks. I don't remember where exactly the setting is in 98, so you might want to try searching for "windows 98 DMA" or something like that.

Otherwise, you may simply have your latency set too low, even if it's just using 25% CPU. On my computer, I can run at 2ms with just one or two VSTi's, but when I start adding stuff, I need at least 5ms for artifact-free audio.

[IIRs]

I'm guessing that means your HD can't keep up.. are you running everything off one drive?

It might be worth investing in a fast drive, as you can always drop it into any future machines you buy..

Meanwhile it might be worth trying a defrag..

[Kang]

Thanks for the info.

Would an external 7200rpm drive to a firewire pci card input help if I ran the audio off that?

[IIRs]

Probably yes.. no room for an internal one?

[AD80]

Thanks for the info.

Would an external 7200rpm drive to a firewire pci card input help if I ran the audio off that?

I agree with platinum. If you have room for an internal one it would probably be less hassle. But a FW 7200rpm HD would DEFINITELY let you run more tracks.

[Kang]

Thanks, I'll look into an internal one, but since I currently have no money, and would like to get more tracks up and running quickly I think I'm gonna snag a firewire pci card for cheap and use the external drive I have already for now. Plus I can always use the firewire for othr things in the future. (I have been using usb 1.0 and it's slow as hell).

Plus I have no idea how to install a harddrive.

[Kang]

If you're running Windows 98, there's a possibility that you don't have DMA enabled on your hard drive. That could cause stuttering when using many audio tracks. I don't remember where exactly the setting is in 98, so you might want to try searching for "windows 98 DMA" or something like that.

Otherwise, you may simply have your latency set too low, even if it's just using 25% CPU. On my computer, I can run at 2ms with just one or two VSTi's, but when I start adding stuff, I need at least 5ms for artifact-free audio.

Also, I believe I did do this when I optimized my PC for audio about a year ago from a book I had. But thanks for the info.

[IIRs]

Plus I have no idea how to install a harddrive.

Its really easy: just plug it in, screw it in place, boot up & format.

[scoop]

I have Win 98 on desktop pc and enquired about an extra internal harddrive and was told my motherboard would not support more than 30gb of disc so this was not an option. Worth checking if your motherboard will support more disc before buying an internal disc.

[Warmonger]

The 32GB limitation is a combination of two factors: FAT32 and FDISK. If you don't use FAT32, then there's no problem (although that's not really an option with Win98). Likewise, if you don't use FDISK to partition, there should also be no problem with creating a FAT32 32GB partition.

So, FAT32 with a 3rd party partitioning/formatting program should work just fine. Other limitations may still apply though (137 GB limit for LBA24 addressing comes to mind).

[C00kie]

... since I currently have no money, and would like to get more tracks up and running quickly I think ...

Ehm, why not take the George Martin approach? Mix down what you have to a temp track and mute the original tracks? Convert the 20 tracks to one stereo track.

It is a bit of work, and far from optimal. But you can get more tracks! If you organise it a bit (group the drum tracks in one mixdown, backing instruments in another mixdown, vocals/leads/melodies in a mixdown) you can drastically reduce the number of audio tracks your host has to play, and still hear what the end result should sound like.

[Warmonger]

Or you could just use freeze...

[C00kie]

Or you could just use freeze...

No that won't help I'm afraid. Freezing helps CPU issues but in this case it is the harddisk that can't keep up. Audio tracks are already kinda frozen... Grouping in temp mixdowns ("group" freezing, not individual tracks) is the answer imho.