Going No-native, dsp question Options

[karambos]

I presently run all my audio and effects natively on my G3 processor. It's only a small one (233MHz) and gets overloaded quickly with about 6 or 8 audio tracks with effects. I need some advice on what non-native solutions are available out there. As far as I'm aware there are DSP's (Digital Signal Processors) that take care of the effects (like the Powercore) and others that do both audio and effects (like DigiDesign's MixPlus). Is that right? Potential candidates so far are: TC Powercore, Digi Design 001, Yamaha DSP 2416, something by Terratec, MOTU Audio 2408, DigiDesign MixPlus, Creamware Pulsar, Creamware Scope.

Ideally I'm willing to spend more money on something that fully removes the load from my processor so that no matter what computer I buy (Macintosh) it will not overload. Basically I need at least 30 Audio tracks.

thankyou

karambos

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www.thefair.de

[Johnny Valium]

HI Kamambos,

but why do I get an overload at about 10 - 12 tracks of audio with no effects at all? What's overloading - my CPU or my soundcard?

Logic has two monitors, one for cpu and one for disk usage. So you just have to read them and they will tell you. Usually, your computer should be able to play back 12 audio tracks at 16 bit and 44000 Hertz even with the slowest hard drive. You can try higher buffer settings that take away strain from the drive and put in on the ram. I you want 48 audio tracks you should get yourself the fastest ide controller card and buy the fastest hard drive and even then
I'm not an expert but I think this would maybe put too much strain on your system even with no effects. You know what just happened to me? I just ended a singing session where we put lots of background choirs on a finished playback. We ended up with about 26 tracks of 24 bit 48000 Hz audio and digital performer put out warnings about there being too much processing strain all over all that with very little effects. It finally crashed upon saving the song which corrupted the song file that cannot be opened again now
I will have to sit down tomorrow and restore the whole session from a previous version of the song I - thank god - have. Now that's with a g3 b/w 400, the buildt in ide controller and the fastest Maxtor ide drive there is. Think about it. Of course, I have my audio on a seperate drive. Do you?

the MOTU IS your "soundcard" - am I right?

Most of the multi I/O units consist of a pci card and a breakout box which holds the plugs and the a/d converters. They are not only cards, they don't have Midi and they don't have stored sounds. You don't want to confuse them with a Soundblaster that's why they're called Audio Interfaces.

I would suggest you to get a fast hard drive only for your audio and then try again how many tracks it will give you. If you think it' still not enough think about getting a new ide controller or upgrade your computer.

Greets
Johnny