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  4. Stand-Alone VI as powerful as VST Host?

  • Stand-Alone VI as powerful as VST Host?

    V
    V
    Hi there,

    I'm just about to buy 2 more PCs to run the Vienna Instruments (Strings Collection to start).

    PCs wil be linked via ADAT to my PT Rig on Mac.

    I'll only use the PCs for the VI nothing else. I already have another station for my other VST instruments.

    So my question is to know if I should consider having a VST host to use the VI or if I won't be limited with the Stand-alone version of the VI.

    If I need a VST-Host, is there one you'd recommend in particular?
    I'd like to get as much juice as I can with the PCs.

    I've been thinking about the Mac Minis but I believe PCs will give me a better price/performance ratio with 3Go RAM and AMD Processor.

    Any advice to make sure I won't be disappointed?

    Thanks!
    Vinc'
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    @vinco said:

    Hi there,

    I'm just about to buy 2 more PCs to run the Vienna Instruments (Strings Collection to start).

    PCs wil be linked via ADAT to my PT Rig on Mac.

    I'll only use the PCs for the VI nothing else. I already have another station for my other VST instruments.

    So my question is to know if I should consider having a VST host to use the VI or if I won't be limited with the Stand-alone version of the VI.

    If I need a VST-Host, is there one you'd recommend in particular?
    I'd like to get as much juice as I can with the PCs.

    I've been thinking about the Mac Minis but I believe PCs will give me a better price/performance ratio with 3Go RAM and AMD Processor.

    Any advice to make sure I won't be disappointed?

    Thanks!
    Vinc'

    As VI is not multitimbral you will need a VST host. There are various people using Forte, although I've only dabbled with it myself. With your new PCs make sure that you are able to set the 3Gig switch. Also, check the price point between 3GB and 4GB RAM, as the latter will get you around 150Mb extra samples loaded. I would also suggest that you use MOL instead of MIDI cables, as that will also save money in the end. I've not used it, but there are many people on this forum who do.

    The other thing to remember is that you can't split up Collections, so you will have to use Strings I on 1 PC, and Strings II on the other; no mixing and matching.

    As an addendum I think that it is really disappointing that VSL hasn't put any test results for XP64 (never mind Vista64), as this would get you almost another GB of sample loading. Unfortunately VI is still only a 32bit app (VSL are you listening?), so you will be limited, even in a 64bit OS, to 4GB of RAM per application (subtracting some for the OS use).

    I hope that some of this helps.

    DG
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    V
    HI DG,

    Thank you so much for your advice.

    I'm not sure I understand what's needed for the 3Go switch you're talking about.
    Does it mean I need a specific motherboard? How can I check this?

    I already use MidiOverLan so I'll be expanding it for the 2 more PCs.

    I've been using Kore as a VST-Host lately after using for V-Stacks for a few years.
    I never had a big problem with any of them but I've heard good things about Forte too.

    I guess I'll have to try them to see which is more reliable for the VI unless there's a summary somewhere that I haven't found yet [:)]

    Does the licence allow me to put Strings I&II on both computers? That would give me more options than having a collection on one computer only.

    Chances are I'll probably have Vista with the new computers and the more RAM the better even though it's not useful for now.

    I agree with you that the VSL team should give us a better requirements status, especially on PC.

    I'm definitely not a PC guru and I don't really know which one to choose from. I just know I'll get the same machines for better maintenance.

    Thanks again!
    Vinc'
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    @Another User said:

    Chances are I'll probably have Vista with the new computers and the more RAM the better even though it's not useful for now.

    I agree with you that the VSL team should give us a better requirements status, especially on PC.

    I'm definitely not a PC guru and I don't really know which one to choose from. I just know I'll get the same machines for better maintenance.

    Thanks again!
    Vinc'

    Vista 32bit seems (from what I've read) to be good. 64bit is still rather an unknown, I'm afraid.

    DG