How do you host multiple VI's on PC, while sequencer on Mac?

[Stephen]

So... in standalone mode, you can run single VI, but to run multiple VI's, you need host software, right? (to run VI as VST plug-ins) [Correct me if I'm wrong.]

No problem if your entire studio is on a single computer. Your sequencer would be your host. Perfect.

But in my current set-up I've got a Mac and two PC's. The Mac runs Digital Performer and calls the shots via MIDI. The PC's run Gigastudio (bleh.)

If I were to ditch Gigastudio and use Vienna Instruments, is there a way to run multiple VI's on each PC at the same time? I'd hate to think you have to install a full-blown sequencer (e.g. Cubase) on each PC, simply to host VI's as plug-ins. Would the PC software still pay attention to the MIDI commands from the Mac, and route them to the VI plug-ins?

I'm hoping there is an easier solution. Anyone try this yet?

[svonkampen]

You buy a little app for hosting called Plogue Bidule

SvL

[Paul]

Hi Stephen,

there are different options that you can check out

Plogue Bidule
or
Forte
or
Chainer

These programs offer a test download that gives you full functionality apart from saving your setups, so that you can go for the one you like best. There are some more hosts out there, but these are the ones I have tested so far.

You can also go or Steinbergs VSTack, but there´s no test version available.

Best,

Paul

[Rob Elliott]

@Paul said:

Hi Stephen,

there are different options that you can check out

Plogue Bidule
or
Forte
or
Chainer

These programs offer a test download that gives you full functionality apart from saving your setups, so that you can go for the one you like best. There are some more hosts out there, but these are the ones I have tested so far.

You can also go or Steinbergs VSTack, but there´s no test version available.

Best,

Paul

Using Vstack here beautifully on 4 slaves running VI. As ram limits are raised and I need more than 16 'VI's' opened - anyone using something with vstack successfully?


Rob

[PaulM]

I have a similar MAC / PC setup......and would be interested in this also....so I get the Bildule Plogue thing......

....the only other thing I would be into would be to get rid of the audio card in the pc (even though it is a RME 9652 and sound great) and use a PC/MAC plug like WORMHOLE to get the audio down ethernet from the PC and back into MAC - I intend to expand my setup with 2 or more G5's /PC's but don't want to go the whole mixing desk route if I can help it (looking at YAMAHA 02R)

I know DG uses a multi PC system and has FX Teleport to do the audio routing....but it is only a PC prog (Correct me if I am wrong) - and also...is there any latency when triggering a VI from a slave computer??? or is it negligable...DG??

Questions question questions!!!!! '[*-)]'


thanks to anyone who wants to give feedback...

PaulM

[Stephen]

Thanks, Paul and Svonkampen!
Sounds like a great solution.

[Nick Batzdorf]

Sorry to disappoint you, Paul, but Wormhole's latency is too great to be useful. FXT is PC-only right now, although the fabled Mac version is reported to be closer than it used to be. [:)]

In any case, I just ordered another MOTU card for my slave G5, since audio-over-ethernet isn't in cards yet.

MIDI is another story. MIDI Over LAN (musiclab.com) works really well between platforms.

By the way, the best audio-over-ethernet solution for Mac-to-Mac is probably Apple's AUNetsend/Receive, but its latency is still a couple of hundred milliseconds. It's free as part of the Developer disc that comes with OS X 10.4 if you want to give it a try. I recently found out that you have to clock the slave computer, or the latency will drift. You can send it TOSlink sync from one G5 to the other.

[Nick Batzdorf]

By the way, Paul, I went to school in Hertfordshire for a year - Haberdashers Askes. [:)]

[DG]

@PaulM said:

I know DG uses a multi PC system and has FX Teleport to do the audio routing....but it is only a PC prog (Correct me if I am wrong) - and also...is there any latency when triggering a VI from a slave computer??? or is it negligable...DG??
PaulM

I run my soundcard at 128 and FXT at 256 when tracking. However, there is no way that I can run a whole MIDI orchestra at this latency, but Freeze fixes this.

DG