Semi-Advanced Upgrade help (pops and crackles)

[luctellier]

I run Cubase SX3 on a Pentium4 3.2ghz with 1gig of RAM with a Presonus Firepod. I use a lot of Waves SSL E-Channel plugins, some delays and reverb, Waves Doubler and my CPU is almost at 95%. I set my latency to 25ms but it happens often that I hear pop or cracks... This is of course caused by my CPU suffocating by all the plugins...

[racemize]

Also, is there any advantage for upgrading my sound card (other than getting more inputs and outputs?). i.e., will I get any performance increases for more expensive cards than my m-audio 2496. Thanks again!

[luctellier]

I pretty sure the pops and crackles are caused by your CPU. Try removing some plugins and if the problem disappear, you will be sure that your CPU is the problem. Of course, getting a better soundcard will result in having better converter/more IOs but it won't give you more power to use effects. You would be able though to have less latency with a better soundcard. If you goal is to use more plugins without the sideeffects of having cracks/pops, then you should upgrade your computer.. not your soundcard.

[racemize]

I thought that was the case, but I wanted to be sure. ALthough lower latency does sound good (as that would result in less strain on the processor right (that is to get my qurrent 5 ms I have to use 512 buffers)?). I don't really need more inputs or outputs and I don't think I have high enough quality audio recording equipment to need a better ADC, but if this might not be the case, let me know.

Thanks!

[racemize]

Just checked out your band, did you produce all those songs? Sounds really good to me. All of it recorded or any sampled stuff in there?

[luctellier]

Originally Posted by racemize

I thought that was the case, but I wanted to be sure. ALthough lower latency does sound good (as that would result in less strain on the processor right (that is to get my qurrent 5 ms I have to use 512 buffers)?). I don't really need more inputs or outputs and I don't think I have high enough quality audio recording equipment to need a better ADC, but if this might not be the case, let me know.

Thanks!

Lower latency is great when recording of course! But while mixing, you won't save that much CPU power with a new soundcard. Get a better computer if your real problem is having crack and pops while mixing!

[luctellier]

Originally Posted by racemize

Just checked out your band, did you produce all those songs? Sounds really good to me. All of it recorded or any sampled stuff in there?

Thank you! Yeah I produced everything we have. It was all recorded at our studio/jam space using Cubase SX3, a Presonus Firepod, cheap drum mikes (Apex ADP3 Kit!). Some songs you might have heard like "Hollywood" are only preproductions posted for the Battle of the band. The songs from our album have some samples (I made myself) or course like any other bands in our stlye of music does.

[racemize]

that firepod looks pretty sweet (I keep seeing them, but I hadn't bothered to look it up until now). What plugins do you use besides the waves set? (those are so expensive, I'm not sure if I'm ready to invest in them (that and they seem to have some issues in c4)). I'm still experimenting a lot with plugin effects trying to find the ones that I like etc.

[luctellier]

I really don't want to "hi-jack" this thread and use it as a chatboard e but..

For the price I paid (820$ CAN, Tax Included), I think that soundcard was the best I could buy.

I use:

Waves SSL 4000 for drums
IK Multimedia's T-Racks for Stereo Buss and sometimes bass
Sidekick3 for sidechaining kick,bass,premaster subgroup in Cubase
Waves Doubler for backing vocal and overdub thickening
Waves Renaissance Channel for Vocals
Waves Renaissance Bass for Kick and Bass
ApTrigga2 for triggering samples
GuitarRig2 to add distortion on bass track dupplicated track and sometimes for prod-fx
URS Everything EQ or Channel Strip (for kick, snare, vocals)
Blue Tube Bundle for its compressors

Hope that helps