8 Core Mac Pro users...

[pguy]

Hey Guy's....

How many processors have you selected in Pro Tools hardware setup?

I was told to select 4 processors.

Have your results varied greatly when choosing 4, 6, & 8 processors?

I don't have large sessions loaded into my Mac Pro yet, have not had time to transfer sessions from my PC.

Thanks.

[@ndy]

Yes, lots of different results and it depends on what I'm doing. When tracking, I use only 1 processor with a buffer set at 32 and it is solid. Then when I mix at higher buffers, I add a processor at a time as needed. I never use all 8. If I use VI's when I'm tracking, I set the buffer to 64 and use 2 processors. It is all variable depending on what plugins and VI's I use in a session. With experimentation you will find what fits your particular workflow.

[pguy]

Hey thanks Andy.

As a new Mac user, I really don't know anything about this at all.

Common sense i would think would tell you that the more the better, but, I guess that's not the case.

[schuyler_c]

i'm set to use 7. works great, no hiccups, more power than i've ever needed. (i don't use many VIs, though.) YMMV.

[@ndy]

I have high hopes for PTLE8! Hopefully we will be able to run lots of VI's and all 8 cores at a buffer setting of 32. Or maybe it will be possible when snow leopard comes out and we have to upgrade to PTLE8.1

[DigiTechSupt]

You should only need to reduce the number of processors if you're using or have installed plug-ins that are not fully RTAS optimized - meaning they may still have some non realtime code in them.

Start with 8 processors and, if you see errors (6087 or 9128 being the most common), try reducing the number of processors by 1 until the errors go away. What this does is opens up a those processors for the non realtime code to run - you're still 'using' them, just not in a way that's apparent.

[@ndy]

I know digi can't officially name the "not fully RTAS optimized plugins", however it would nice to have a list so that we the consumers/users could put pressure on those companies who have not "optimized".

[pasanta]

I keep mine set on 7. Using just PT I don't see any real difference now that everything I have is updated to current. But using Reason, I seem to have fewer hiccups and little hangs. I don't have any crashes at 8. it just seems a bit smoother set to 7 when running Reason along with larger PT sessions (I have the DV Toolkit and also run Ivory and NI B4 a lot). FWIW, anything 7 and under feels smoother.

[johnnyz]

i am also on a macpro 2.8 10 gigs of ram 10.5.5 protools m-powered 7.4.2 and i have been getting the 6101 error message,telling me to increase the buffer,last nite i was playing bask like 3 tracks and had my buffer set at 256 and processors set to 8,i am also using cubase ai4 with a yamaha n-12 and it is rock solid,on the protool side i am using a m-audio profire lightbridge hooked up to a yamaha 01v96 v2 ,Is it the software? the interface? I am stuckShould i upgrade to protools le?Any help is greatly appreciated,johnny z.

[DigiTechSupt]

i am also on a macpro 2.8 10 gigs of ram 10.5.5 protools m-powered 7.4.2 and i have been getting the 6101 error message,telling me to increase the buffer,last nite i was playing bask like 3 tracks and had my buffer set at 256 and processors set to 8,

And what happens when you set the number of processors to 7?