Buffer underruns driving me insane
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KonKossKang
Ozagas
If you already have a "not built in" soundcard that comes from your computer you won't need a 2i2, presonus audiobox or others like those.
I have a dualcore 3ghz pentium g203 machine that I plan on replacing once I find a mobo for a lil build. 3ghz can struggle on the big things too.
I'd recommend a machine that is AT LEAST, an i3 or an amd a4 and nothing less at all.Possible in the 300-500$ range if you aren't building.
If you will build, 250-400$ for specs that would top my 3ghz pentium g203 machine.
Also, make use of midi channels on heavy programs{these allow you to use multiples in one instance of a vst}
I have a dualcore 3ghz pentium g203 machine that I plan on replacing once I find a mobo for a lil build. 3ghz can struggle on the big things too.
I'd recommend a machine that is AT LEAST, an i3 or an amd a4 and nothing less at all.Possible in the 300-500$ range if you aren't building.
If you will build, 250-400$ for specs that would top my 3ghz pentium g203 machine.
Also, make use of midi channels on heavy programs{these allow you to use multiples in one instance of a vst}
KonKossKang
Ozagas
Upgrading all specific parts, possible for desktop only.
Upgrading ram/gpu possible for laptops/tablets, but gpu upgrade can only be external for now.
If you aren't willing to build, could save up, or just bounce your midi to save cpu like bandcoach said.
Upgrading ram/gpu possible for laptops/tablets, but gpu upgrade can only be external for now.
If you aren't willing to build, could save up, or just bounce your midi to save cpu like bandcoach said.
KonKossKang
Ozagas
12 of the best budget USB audio interfaces | Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 | Tech News | MusicRadar
If you do not currently have one of these, recommended.
Assuming you tried asio4all already.
Other than that, increase the buffer rate from audio settings in your daw.
If you do not currently have one of these, recommended.
Assuming you tried asio4all already.
Other than that, increase the buffer rate from audio settings in your daw.
logic7
old school
hehe, I JUST got off my Socket478 P4. My desktop DAW is now running a Pentium D 950 w/4GB RAM (which is not a lot more than two Pentium 4 HT 650's grafted together).
Buy a dedicated audio interface. Guitar Center has the Lexicon Alpha on sale right now for $49. You likely don't need a new computer, just a good interface.
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bandcoach
Zukatoku - Mod Scientist
my next machine for production is Dell T5400 server with a Quad-Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5400 series (looks like a regular desktop tower) and 16gb of RAM
new soundcard (or maybe I just use my Tascam FW1884 8 channel interface/mix control surface
if you are running a motherboard based soundcard then your cpu is handling the lions share of the processing with an external soundcard some of that should be offloaded to the dedicated dsp in the card/box
in addition the asio drivers for an external/card/interface will be better than asio4all which has only ever been a stopgap measure to try and bring the motherboard based cards into the same ballpark as the rest; this means that buffer sizes can be accurately set and managed to minimise under-runs (i.e. the processing bottleneck (which causes under-runs) is no longer based on what your motherboard can do but on what the interface itself can do)
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Vorpal-Blade
New member
Most likely, the CPU is not your problem.
You cannot expect to run many channels on a plain laptop audio interface (built in) it just doesn't have what it takes.
You should buy a proper external card as all the audio processing is happening on the audio interface not the CPU itself.
That being said, if you really insist consider the following tips:
1. Install the ASIO For All driver (usually comes with FL Studio) and make sure you use this.
2. every time you finish working on a few channels, export them (solo all of them then export) remove them and use the exported audio as 1 channel. Then you could actually add as many as you want - but that's a really long weird and frustrating way to work. It will work!
3. Most DAWs have a freeze button - don't know if FL Studio. Freeze just makes your channel (lets say a VST that's playing something) into a wav and you also have the option to unload the VST. This frees CPU and Memory but this will not help much if you still have many channels - then you must go back to step 2.
Or -- use a proper audio interface, then just freeze channels as you finish working on them. That's the best and most conservative way to go about it.
I would go for something like Native Instruments Komplete
this is not too expensive and is a great interface.
You cannot expect to run many channels on a plain laptop audio interface (built in) it just doesn't have what it takes.
You should buy a proper external card as all the audio processing is happening on the audio interface not the CPU itself.
That being said, if you really insist consider the following tips:
1. Install the ASIO For All driver (usually comes with FL Studio) and make sure you use this.
2. every time you finish working on a few channels, export them (solo all of them then export) remove them and use the exported audio as 1 channel. Then you could actually add as many as you want - but that's a really long weird and frustrating way to work. It will work!
3. Most DAWs have a freeze button - don't know if FL Studio. Freeze just makes your channel (lets say a VST that's playing something) into a wav and you also have the option to unload the VST. This frees CPU and Memory but this will not help much if you still have many channels - then you must go back to step 2.
Or -- use a proper audio interface, then just freeze channels as you finish working on them. That's the best and most conservative way to go about it.
I would go for something like Native Instruments Komplete
this is not too expensive and is a great interface.
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logic7
old school
Yeah, the Precision T5400's are good machines. I had a project at the office where I had to use 4 of them loaded to the gills with two quad core Xeon 5400 series procs, a quad port gig ethernet card, and 64GB of RAM as VMWare Vsphere 4 hosts 'cause my boss pulled my budget at the last minute and we had a closet full of them. Worked beautifully. Wouldn't mind having one myself or even the older Precision 690 with a pair of quad core Xeons.
Hey guys so an update;
- I bought an audio interface and it has jumped the cpu down a moderate amount, but it's STILL doing it. I've come to the conclusion it has to be my processor or something. I heard people say that Intel is better than AMD (which is what I have), but getting a decent intel processor is expensive for me right now and I don't know what to do.
- I bought an audio interface and it has jumped the cpu down a moderate amount, but it's STILL doing it. I've come to the conclusion it has to be my processor or something. I heard people say that Intel is better than AMD (which is what I have), but getting a decent intel processor is expensive for me right now and I don't know what to do.
B Side Producer
Moderator
In all honesty, your gonna be better off buying a new laptop or desktop. Putting 200 bucks or something in the laptop is probably doubling it's market value. Makes you wonder if that is gonna be worth it.
There's probably a nice setup for 400 bucks that'll do the trick pretty well. Otherwise, buy second hand. Maybe from a second hand reseller that also will give you some sort of warrantee.
Above comment from logic still matters though. Imo, I'd consider that the last step.
You can't make a nice cake from shit!
There's probably a nice setup for 400 bucks that'll do the trick pretty well. Otherwise, buy second hand. Maybe from a second hand reseller that also will give you some sort of warrantee.
Above comment from logic still matters though. Imo, I'd consider that the last step.
You can't make a nice cake from shit!
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logic7
old school
For what??? What he has is likely more than enough.
Above comment from logic still matters though. Imo, I'd consider that the last step. You can't make a nice cake from shit!
With a decent interface, even an old ass P4 or less can be used to compose good music. A decent interface is the first thing anyone should look into.
B Side Producer
Moderator
He did buy an interface and that didnt solve it.
Yeah, it runs on older cpus, but combine that with Windows 7 or higher and it'll definitely limit you. Certainly with so little ram on top of that. He also tried everything on imageline.
It could also be faulty hardware.
I might be spoiled but I'd find this not worth the trouble trying to fix or upgrade.
I refer to my last post in this topic.
Yeah, it runs on older cpus, but combine that with Windows 7 or higher and it'll definitely limit you. Certainly with so little ram on top of that. He also tried everything on imageline.
It could also be faulty hardware.
I might be spoiled but I'd find this not worth the trouble trying to fix or upgrade.
I refer to my last post in this topic.
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logic7
old school
You're limited only by your understanding of recording techniques. I can still make music on a P3 if it's set up properly.
I'm making music on a 5 year old low-power i3 based laptop. I also have an intel Atom N450 based netbook that I can make music with (using the same Lexicon Alpha interface from my main laptop). It's all about knowing how to work with what you have.