Vienna Ensemble Pro

[Jon_Atkinson]

Originally Posted by Phil Buckle

I also think it works best on a multi computer setup.
Even using Bidule and another interface on my G5 and streaming it back into PT on the same machine just killed my G5 dual 2.7.
There was no point in me doing that.
But the 2 machine thing is a different story.

I've been doing more testing with my G5, just to try and figure out where my problems are coming from...
I thought what I'd do was load a bunch of VI's into Ableton Live, and play the MIDI out of PT through the IAC bus, then route the audio out of the Mac's built-in audio and back into PT....
I've got a lot of time for Ableton... It's very efficient with VI's, and can also run VST as well as AU....

Oddly, with PT running nothing but an AUX input, and four MIDI tracks routing out to Ableton, I get EXACTLY the same high CPU readings as I was getting with VEPro when I'm running the VI's in Ableton...!!

Clearly the CPU RTAS meter isn't just showing RTAS useage... It's showing overall native CPU processing strain.
I was getting the same pops and clicks as I had been with VEPro.

I'm going to try VEPro using two machines next... (Need to order a second Vienna Key I believe..?) and see how I get on...

I guess what I'm learning is that VI's on a DP G5 is a bit of a no-no....!!!

[Keybeeetsss]

Originally Posted by Jon_Atkinson

I'm going to try VEPro using two machines next... (Need to order a second Vienna Key I believe..?) and see how I get on...

Yeahppp...

[Jon_Atkinson]

Originally Posted by Keybeeetsss

Yeahppp...

Yep... I think that's probably right....
Although the manual does specifically say "You need a key for each slave" (rather than each machine), and the diagram shows keys only in the slaves....

I shall explore further...

[d.f.]

A Steinberg key is £10 cheaper and does the job.

[Jon_Atkinson]

Ok... So the host computer DOESN'T need a key to simply run the plugin...

But of course you then couldn't run any VSL sounds in the host machine.

[Keybeeetsss]

Originally Posted by Jon_Atkinson

Ok... So the host computer DOESN'T need a key to simply run the plugin...

But of course you then couldn't run any VSL sounds in the host machine.

Whatever comp u plan to have VSL or VEPro on, U need a key; A Steinberg key will work just the same as getting a Vienna key so he was informing u could save a few bucks getting that key...

[Jon_Atkinson]

Originally Posted by Keybeeetsss

A Steinberg key will work just the same as getting a Vienna key so he was informing u could save a few bucks getting that key...

Absolutely...!

Got it working with just the one key though..... The host machine doesn't require a key to run the plugin.

I tested it with my Macbook 2.16Ghz Core Duo, running Superior 2 as it's the only plugin I have on that laptop....

The default settings gave TONNES of clicks and pops.... This is at 128 on the host machine.

Without the clicks and pops (!) the latency is absolutely fine though.... Feels pretty similar to playing Superior at 128 as RTAS.

Bearing in mind that I can run Superior at 128 on that laptop both standalone and as RTAS with no issues at all, I wonder what i should be doing to VEPro to make it play more nicely..?... If I can get rid of the clicks and pops I'll be very happy...!!

[Phil Buckle]

I think it's because you are running at 128.
I'm currently running at 532 and usually leave it there unless my host is laboring. Then I take it to 1024 for mixing.
Remember that the higher buffer settings won't change the tightness of your playback It only affects the input latency.

I've never in my life run at 128. I do use 256 for drum programing though.
You can watch the RTAS meter on PT jump quite considerably when you alter that buffer. It's a killer.

OK in my current small session of VEP I have:
1x Stylus RMX using 8 channels and 8 stereo outputs
1x Omnisphere using 2 channels and 2 stereo outputs
1xKontakt with Art Vista Virtual Grand on one stereo output.
1x Kore Player using one stereo output
1xVienna Suite Convolution Reverb
1xMOTU BPM *this alone would have brought my G5 to its knees) using one stereo output
1x Spectrasonics Trillian using 2 stereo outputs.

Thats 30 channels coming back into PT on 30 separate channels.
My RTAS meter is sitting at 17% (Autotune and VEP plug)
VEP plug is on level 2.
No clicks no pops, nada.
My slave is averaging 10% on each core. In other words it's almost sleeping.

Try changing your buffer setting and messing with the VEP buffer setting in the plug.

[Jon_Atkinson]

Originally Posted by Phil Buckle

I think it's because you are running at 128.
I'm currently running at 532 and usually leave it there unless my host is laboring. Then I take it to 1024 for mixing.
Remember that the higher buffer settings won't change the tightness of your playback It only affects the input latency.

I've never in my life run at 128. I do use 256 for drum programing though.

Ok.... So I continued with testing this....
Clicks and pops galore....!

Inserted VEPro in Reaper, exact same settings, exact same hardware, 128 buffer.
Rock solid, no problems... No discernable latency. Reaper shows 1% CPU useage.

Go figure.

Though I appreciate that 128 is a pretty low figure, it is necessary for playing edrums.
For all other VI's then 256 (or perhaps even 512) is what I'd use.

[jeremyroberts]

Phil and Jon and d.f. and other thread participants:

I have been following your posts with great interest.

Like Phil, my PT machine is a G5 2.7DP/Accel2 -- and I am in need of some kind of host for Trilian/Omnisphere/RMX/Kontakt as my G5 is bursting at the seams when loading the VIs. The workflow is a drag (constantly bouncing, etc...)

I also own a WinXP machine (AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ dual core) That I use for Giga (GS3 - I own the old Vienna Pro giga library - never upgraded to the instruments) and various VST hosting, but it is a bit underpowered and ram limited and I only have 8 channels of lightpipe back to protools.

SO........ your discussion of VEP is quite intriguing. I own a 2 year old macBook Pro (C2D 2.33) -- and a 500gb 7200RPM internal, and I have an eSATA express card w/dock.

IF I CAN offload the spectrasonics plugs to the MacBookPro, and simply ethernet the audio and midi, and the latency won't kill me, man, oh man will this be a great investment!

I am running down to B&H right now to buy a steinberg USB dongle, to try the demo. IF THIS WORKS....

Anyone running VEP on a MacBook Pro C2D?

Thanks,

Jeremy