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  3. What's my performance bottleneck - which new gear will fix it?

  • What's my performance bottleneck - which new gear will fix it?

    S
    S

    Hi all,

    I've read through lots of "what kind of gear" should I get posts, and I realize how diffiicult it is to make one recommendation. So, I'll try to be specific.

    I'm a Mac-only, Logic user. My main libraries/plug ins are Vienna, Omnisphere, Kontakt, Play, and for FX, mainly the built-in Logic ones with a few additions.

    I currently use a 4GB RAM MacBook Pro Intel, all my sounds come off a TB firewire harddrive. I use FireFace800 for my interface.

    I CONSTANTLY get bottlenecked with system error messages. I have to freeze/unfreeze things all the time, can rarely listen to FX in realtime etc. Omni seems to usually be the big culprit. Obviously, I know my current system was never meant to do what I'm asking it too!

    I'm looking to upgrade my "host" either with the latest iMac (preferred) or a MacPro. Then, use Vienna Ensemble on a second computer as a slave - hoping that can take some of the burden as well.

    My questions:

    1. I don't think my problems are usually associated with a slow disk, but would I see any improvement over having my sounds on a secondary INTERNAL drive rather than external via Firewire? That would force me to go the route of a Pro console Mac versus the iMac.

    2. The processing speed spec for the new iMac seems better to me than the Pro. I'll admit, all the Core stuff (and posts about what software can use it, which don't) confuses me greatly. What spec should I really be worried about? How much RAM I can have? How many CORES it has??

    3. For my "slave" computer - how good of a computer does it need to be? Can an older G5 Mac handle it? A new Mac Mini? An old Dell laptop...?

    I essentially do indy film and dance/theater scoring - with faster and faster turn around times. So, I'm willing to invest adequately as long as I can get the issue solved. I'd love to know what some of the bigger film guys have for a set up and just mimic that.

    Thanks for any advice
  • Cyril BlancC
    Cyril BlancC

    How are connected your FW disk and Fireface ? daisy chained ?

    Is it a FW 400 or a FW 800 disk ?

    Best

    Cyril
  • S
    S

    Hi Cyril -

    Fireface is connected to my computer via the FW800 port. The drive is then connected to the Fireface via it's 400 port.
  • Cyril BlancC
    Cyril BlancC

    That is your problem

    If you have 2 FW device one 800 one 400 they run at 400 also it is very bad to daisy chain a FW disk with a FW audio device (except if you use the FW disk for backup and it is unplug when you do some music)

    a FW disk at 400 is quite slow !

    On thing I will try 1st  to use you Mac without the Fireface and just the FW disk

    If it is ok and you don't have click  and pops you just need to by a PCMCIA  with FW 800 and connect on it your fireface

    Otherwise you replace your FW disk with a eSata disk and get a PCMCIA  with eSata port and plug your fireface to the FW port on your Macbook

    Best

    Cyril
  • S
    S

    Thanks Cyril - I will try these recommendations.

    When I have my issues - it's usually not pops and clicks though - just the standard System Can't Handle stuff - I'm assuming you think that's still the issue.

    Finally - any experience with Ensemble on a separate computer? I would think that would have to help too, yes?
  • S
    S
    last edited
    last edited

    Cyril

    On my MacBook - I'm assuming this is what I need? (Or somethng like it)

    Duel Adapter ExpressCard 34 to PCMCIA PC Card ...
  • Cyril BlancC
    Cyril BlancC

    Hello

    not at all

    You better go in a MAC shop so you have guarantee !

    Those one should work 

    http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=11078

    http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Sonnet%20Technology/FW800E34/

    http://eshop.macsales.com/item/EZ%20Quest/A59920/

    Best

    Cyril
  • S
    S

    Hey Cyril

    So I've been doing some research, and think I'm ready to go with the following configuration. Looking for any more advice or tips on this set up:

    1. Use a new iMac with Core i7, maxed out on RAM for main DAW (Logic 9)

    2. Get Firewire 800 Express card 34, so I can hook up both my sample hardrive and Fireface 800 to FW800 ports

    3. Use my existing MacBook Pro (Intel) - as a slave running Ensemble.

    Questions:

    1. Do I need something special to do the Ethernet hook up between the two computers? A switch or router?

    2. The slave...is that accessing the hard drive for sounds too? Will it do that over the ethernet - or should I be connecting a drive directly to the slave?

    If there's any existing links, etc - that detail this - just point me in the right directio.

    Thanks again so much for your help - Cory
  • Cyril BlancC
    Cyril BlancC
    last edited
    last edited

    @stonerome said:

    1. Use a new iMac with Core i7, maxed out on RAM for main DAW (Logic 9)

    if I was you I will try to find a macpro on Apple refurb a good 8 core 3ghz
    i got mine for 2000 euro instead of 3 000
    then you can sell your Macbook pro

    Questions:

    >1. Do I need something special to do the Ethernet hook up between the two computers? A switch or router?

    a switch 1 000 base T (gigabit)

    > 2. The slave...is that accessing the hard drive for sounds too? Will it do that over the ethernet - or should I be connecting a drive directly to the slave?

    no you need to copy the files on the slave and you need an authorization key

    Best 

    Cyril
  • S
    S

    Thanks Cyril -

    Do you mean I should look for a used MacPro for the slave, rather than my MacBook?

    Is the new iMac (maxed out) good for the main DAW?

    Finally - I'm still not clear on streaming all of my samples. Right now, they are on an external firewire drive. If I do the Ethernet connection between the master and slave - will both of those computers be able to stream sounds from that drive?

    Thanks again for all the help - Cory
  • Cyril BlancC
    Cyril BlancC

    Hi

    Apple refurb, give you all the guarantee not if you buy second hand elswere

    I can load a full SE +  + Appassionata with all there articulations on my Mac pro 3ghz 16GB  bus 600 Mhz (1st Macpro's) that using 50/60 % CPU

    MacPro have better buss speed and you can add a PCI audio card

    Also you can have SATA disk and build a raid 0 for your samples, (they will load a bit faster)

    You do need a slave !

    you cannot share a disk over internet with samples, the link speed is too slow, you need a second disk and a second dongle

    Best

    Cyril
  • M
    M
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    last edited

    @Cyril said:

    That is your problem

    If you have 2 FW device one 800 one 400 they run at 400 also it is very bad to daisy chain a FW disk with a FW audio device (except if you use the FW disk for backup and it is unplug when you do some music)

    a FW disk at 400 is quite slow !

    Ok, there are some myths concerning FW

    please read:

    http://www.mhsecure.com/technotes/TechNote_0010/TN_0010.php