Vienna Symphonic Library Forum
Forum Statistics

200,867 users have contributed to 43,214 threads and 259,141 posts.

In the past 24 hours, we have 2 new thread(s), 8 new post(s) and 62 new user(s).

  • Minimum System Requirements for Running VSL Instruments

    From what I can see, I've got approximately double the minimum system requirements spelled out by VSL for running Vienna Instruments II. But my system is crashing immediately with only one instrument plugged in.

    Here's my full setup and things I've tried so far.

    MacBook Pro, 1.86gHZ Dual Core processor, 2G DRAM.
    MOTU Ultralite I/O Interface
    Logic Pro 7.2.4
    500Gig 7200 RPM, 8mb cache RAM external Western Digital Hard Drive.
    Firewire 400 (the early MacBook Pros from last year didn't have 800).
    VSL installer, Logic Pro, and Syncrosoft are the latest updated versions (just bought VSL last week).

    Vienna Instruments are installed on the external. Logic Pro and Vienna standalone are installed on the internal computer drive (200G, 40G empty).

    Since I only have one firewire slot, I have tried piggy backing the MOTU and the 500G external hard drive both ways (MOTU plugged directly into the computer in front of the HD, with the HD piggy-backed into the MOTU's firewire slot, and the HD in front of the MOTU). No difference in results.

    Specific issue: everything works flawlessly until I plug in just one Vienna sample. As soon as I choose it (before playing anything), the system starts to crackle, and even just trying to audition the sample in the AU Standalone taxes the system beyond being able to make a consistent sound. As I touch the "piano keys" in the standalone, most of the time I get no sound, other times I'll get the note accompanied by a lot of crackling. Then when I actually try to play the sample in a Logic Pro track, all sound is hosed. Only solution is to reboot Logic Pro, and 1/3 of the time I have to reboot the computer itself.

    This happens whether I have 10 other Logic Pro instruments plugged in or none. One highly optimized Vienna sample by itself hoses the whole system (example - I've tried the Bosendorder optimized to only take up 1MB of RAM - same result including only 20% of the notes playing in the VSL standalone before I even try to play it in a Logic Pro track).

    The system requirements spelled out by VSL are about half of what my system has. (VSL calls for a minimum 1G processor and 1G of RAM - I have a 186gHZ Dual Core processor and 2G Ram). I don't mind having to optimize and play some tricks to get 6-10 instruments to play at once, but I can't get a single instrument to run (with double the minimum system requirements).

    Spent 2 1/2 full days working on this so far with no progress. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance for your help.

  • cfblakeman, sorry to hear about your troubles - i don't want to comment on MOTU drivers (reports are mixed) but the vast majority of systems does not like to have the FW audio device and the FW harddisk (for sample streaming) chained or even on the same controller.
    since i'm assuming your powerbook has also only USB 1.1 this might be not a solid alternative but worth a try ...
    christian

    and remember: only a CRAY can run an endless loop in just three seconds.
  • He's got a MacBook Pro so his USB ports are USB 2 ports.

    But what might be worth a try is to see if when you remove the ultralight and just hook the external disk to the firewire port, do you still have problems using the internal audio device. If not then chaining the ultralight and the disk on the same firewire port is the problem.

    One solution to this is to get a disk interface that supports USB 2.

  • thanks for the correction and the tip, dbudde, i promise i'learn to read [;)]
    the external WD should have a USB connector too ... (seem to be good devices btw, some models have actually all 4: FW400, FW800, USB 2.0 and sATA)
    christian

    and remember: only a CRAY can run an endless loop in just three seconds.