Cubase performance question on a Mac G5 dual 2.0

[Krackle]

Hi folks,

I'm running Cubase 4 (LE) on a Mac G5, dual 2.0 ghz with 7 gigs RAM in Tiger 10.4.11.

Things are generally ok until I start to get into the 10, 11, 12 track range (depending on number of inserts etc). The program starts to get pretty sluggish.

I'm wondering if this is par for the course? Is there a way to run Cubase more efficiently or am I just hitting the limits on my machine.

I've been reading the various forums and some report these issues on similar machines, some say things are ok.

Thanks..

[shanabit]

Hi folks,

I'm running Cubase 4 (LE) on a Mac G5, dual 2.0 ghz with 7 gigs RAM in Tiger 10.4.11.

Things are generally ok until I start to get into the 10, 11, 12 track range (depending on number of inserts etc). The program starts to get pretty sluggish.

I'm wondering if this is par for the course? Is there a way to run Cubase more efficiently or am I just hitting the limits on my machine.

I've been reading the various forums and some report these issues on similar machines, some say things are ok.

Thanks..

1. What I/O are you using?
2. Do you have a Separate drive for your project your using?
3. Are you running a bunch of VSTi Instruments, they will def suck up the cpu and make things sluggish


If your putting plugins on every track and loading up the inserts it will dog it down for sure. Are you inserting your reverbs as well or are you using them on a send?. Effects such as Reverb, Delays, Flange, Chorusing etc will eat up CPU more rapidly than say your dynamics ones such as EQ, Compression, Limiters etc. Thats why you put those on a send and send whatever tracks that need that effect to it.

Im on an OLD Dual G4 here and Im getting way more out of mine that what your talking about. I have 2 gig Ram BTW and a second hard drive for the projects

Also, when your recording you want the ASIO buffer as low as you can without clicks happening on the I/O. When mixing as your talking , turn that thing up to 512 or higher depending on how much you have going on.

[Krackle]

Hi Shane,

--I'm using an ALesis io 14 inerface..working fine sounding great, though others have tossed it from porches and rooves.

--I'm writing to a Seritek/Firmtek external SATA box with two Seagate 750gig (7200 rpm decent buffer) drives in it, mirrored in a basic RAID config. The unit is controlled by a pci card from the same compnay, excellent setup.

--VSTi's..I've played with turning them on and off, for sure it makes a difference. Though, I'm primarily using EQ, compression and limiting. A few others including reverb.

I'll read up on using sends..not a clue as to how to set it up..I'm riding several curves here, big time.

Changing the buffer makes sense for mixing. Do I change the buffer size for my interface AND for Cubase? Or, only for Cubase?

Your mention of the G4 gives me some hope here..

Thanks much..any other thoughts would be great..

Pete

[shanabit]

Hi Shane,
--VSTi's..I've played with turning them on and off, for sure it makes a difference. Though, I'm primarily using EQ, compression and limiting. A few others including reverb. I dont know if LE allows you to FREEZE those VSTi's or not, thats something I do here as well

I'll read up on using sends..not a clue as to how to set it up..I'm riding several curves here, big time. that will save you on the reverbs and such
Ill take a look at the manual and post back

Changing the buffer makes sense for mixing. Do I change the buffer size for my interface AND for Cubase? Or, only for Cubase? Under Device/Device Setup and your I/O. Its set inside of Cubase usually

Your mention of the G4 gives me some hope here..

Thanks much..any other thoughts would be great..

Pete

Bump

[shanabit]

1. Pull down the Project Menu and select FX channel from the Add Track submenu
2. Select whether you want a stereo or mono effect
3. Select an effect for the FX channel track or you can do this later
4. click OK
5. Click the e button for and audio track you want to use that effect on. If your in the inspector then clik on the Sends tab, You should have 8 sends available.
6. turn on the power button for the send ,
7. set the send level.

page 9 in the Plugin ref manual

[shanabit]

http://www.steinbergusers.com/videos.php

Click on cubase and check the FX Sends in Cubase video

[Krackle]

Shanabit,

Thanks for that link and the outline on using fx sends. I did a couple of tests, fairly simple.

A question:

Why does it use less cpu than when using an effect in an insert?

Would there be any reason to use compression, eq, etc as a send? I haven't tried it but I thought I'd ask..

Very new to this program, I appreciate the help.

Pete

[shanabit]

It uses less CPU because your only using one effect unit as opposed to many and your sending the signal from diff channels to it instead of each channel running that same effect.

*Inserts will basically bathe the whole signal with whatever is inserted on the channel. These are usually done on individual channels or a group channel that your

*Auxiliary Sends on the other hand will allow you to adjust how much of the dry signal gets sent to the effect your using so you can control how much effect your getting overall on the signal. Think of this as making a loop. Channel audio to send out, effects in, effects out back to aux return channel