I could use some advice

[Tebbes]

Hello,

Every time i want to start mixing my music in pro tools i notice that whatever i do the mix always sounds dull, flat and has no depth or width. The mixes just never seem to sound open or transparant. I've done recordings and mixes on other pc's with pro tools which always sounded good, so the problem isn't with pro tools, but probably with my pc.

Could this be a summing problem?
Could the motherboard or cpu be the problem? Could the problem be fixed with replacing either or both of these?

I use pro tools le 7.3 with an mbox interface on a pc with windows xp pro.
My motherboard is a asus p5 kpl-am se with a intel celeron e3300 cpu.

I dont want to replace the entire pc (yet) so i could really use some advice.

Kind regards,
Tebbes

[zedhed]

Best place to start would be to post a Sandra report;

- Please - Use SiSoftware's Sandra Lite application to generate a full system profile:

www.sisoftware.co.uk

Under SiSoftware Sandra, click on "Download & Buy" to download the free Sandra Lite version or purchase other versions. After installing Sandra, click on the 'Hardware' tab and run the 'Computer Overview', then copy and paste into your post here on the DUC.

[Bob L]

Originally Posted by Tebbes

Hello,

Every time i want to start mixing my music in pro tools i notice that whatever i do the mix always sounds dull, flat and has no depth or width. The mixes just never seem to sound open or transparant. I've done recordings and mixes on other pc's with pro tools which always sounded good, so the problem isn't with pro tools, but probably with my pc.

Could this be a summing problem?
Could the motherboard or cpu be the problem? Could the problem be fixed with replacing either or both of these?

I use pro tools le 7.3 with an mbox interface on a pc with windows xp pro.
My motherboard is a asus p5 kpl-am se with a intel celeron e3300 cpu.

I dont want to replace the entire pc (yet) so i could really use some advice.

Kind regards,
Tebbes

The other mixes that were better - same monitoring, same room?

[Tebbes]

Okay, this is what Sandra tells me:

SiSoftware Sandra

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU E3300 @ 2.50GHz
Speed : 2.5GHz
Cores per Processor : 2 Unit(s)
Type : Dual-Core
L1D (1st Level) Data Cache : 2x 32kB, Synchronous, Write-Thru, 8-way, 64 byte line size
L2 (2nd Level) Cache : 1MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 4-way, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing

Computer
Mainboard : ASUS P5KPL-AM SE
BIOS : AMI (OEM) 0602 09/11/2009
Bus(es) : ISA X-Bus PCI PCIe IMB USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : No
Multi-Processor Advanced PIC (APIC) : Yes
Total Memory : 2GB DIMM DDR2

Chipset
Model : ASUS P35/G33/G31 Processor to I/O Controller
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 200MHz (800MHz)
Total Memory : 2GB DIMM DDR2
Shared Memory : 8MB
Channels : 1
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 400MHz (800MHz)

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Kingston 2GB DIMM DDR2 PC2-6400U DDR2-800 (5-5-5-18 3-23-6-3)

Video System
Video Adapter : Intel(R) G33/G31 Express Chipset Family (8 SP 400MHz, 8MB DDR2 800MHz 64-bit, Integrated Graphics)

Graphics Processor

Storage Devices
SAMSUNG HD503HI (500.1GB, SATA300, 3.5", 5400rpm, 16MB Cache) : 466GB (C:) (D:)
WDC WD5000AAVS-00ZTB0 (500.1GB, USB1/SATA300, 3.5", 5400rpm, 8MB Cache) : 466GB (F:)
Optiarc DVD RW AD-5240S (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (E:)

Logical Storage Devices
Hard Disk (C:) : 124GB (NTFS) @ SAMSUNG HD503HI (500.1GB, SATA300, 3.5", 5400rpm, 16MB Cache)
Hard Disk (D:) : 342GB (NTFS) @ SAMSUNG HD503HI (500.1GB, SATA300, 3.5", 5400rpm, 16MB Cache)
Optical Drive (E:) : N/A @ Optiarc DVD RW AD-5240S (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)
Extern (F:) : 466GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD5000AAVS-00ZTB0 (500.1GB, USB1/SATA300, 3.5", 5400rpm, 8MB Cache)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : ASUS 82801GB/GR (ICH7) LPC Interface Controller
LPC Legacy Controller 1 : T0 B0-73
Audio Device : ASUS 82801G (ICH7) High Definition Audio
Audio Codec : Realtek Semi Realtek 662 High Definition Audio
Serial Port(s) : 1
Disk Controller : ASUS 82801G (ICH7) Ultra ATA Storage Controller
Disk Controller : ASUS 82801GB/GR/GH (ICH7) Serial ATA Storage Controller
USB Controller 1 : ASUS 82801G (ICH7) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 2 : ASUS 82801G (ICH7) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 3 : ASUS 82801G (ICH7) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 4 : ASUS 82801G (ICH7) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 5 : ASUS 82801G (ICH7) USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller
USB Controller 6 : VIA VIA VT6214L USB UHCI Controller
USB Controller 7 : VIA VIA VT6214L USB UHCI Controller
USB Controller 8 : VIA VT6202 USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller
FireWire/1394 Controller 1 : VIA VT6306 VIA Fire II IEEE-1394 OHCI Link Layer Controller
SMBus/i2c Controller 1 : Intel ICH SMBus

Network Services
Network Adapter : Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller - Pakketplanner-minipoort (Ethernet, 100Mbps)

Operating System
Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP Professional 5.01.2600 (Service Pack 3)
Platform Compliance : x86

Performance Enhancing Tips
Tip 2546 : Large memory modules should be ECC/Parity.
Tip 2 : Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip is selected for more information about the tip.

[Tebbes]

Originally Posted by Bob L

The other mixes that were better - same monitoring, same room?

Not really, same monitoring but some were done in acoustically worse situations.

[Bob L]

Originally Posted by Tebbes

Not really, same monitoring but some were done in acoustically worse situations.

Sorry, I meant same monitoring room/control room. I'm wondering if the issue has more to do with how you're hearing the mix rather than the mix itself. You're hearing the same issues if you burn a disc and listen elsewhere?

I do see that you have all 5400 rpm drives reported. I wouldn't expect that to impact the symptoms you describe, but the slow drives could be part of it I guess. 2 gb RAM is pretty lean, but again I would expect that would cause a performance problem, not what you describe.

Bob

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by Tebbes

Okay, this is what Sandra tells me:

SiSoftware Sandra

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU E3300 @ 2.50GHz---NOT SUPPORTED
Speed : 2.5GHz
Cores per Processor : 2 Unit(s)
Type : Dual-Core
L1D (1st Level) Data Cache : 2x 32kB, Synchronous, Write-Thru, 8-way, 64 byte line size
L2 (2nd Level) Cache : 1MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 4-way, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing

Computer
Mainboard : ASUS P5KPL-AM SE
BIOS : AMI (OEM) 0602 09/11/2009
Bus(es) : ISA X-Bus PCI PCIe IMB USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : No
Multi-Processor Advanced PIC (APIC) : Yes
Total Memory : 2GB DIMM DDR2--- BARELY ENOUGH TO RUN WINDOWS

Chipset
Model : ASUS P35/G33/G31 Processor to I/O Controller
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 200MHz (800MHz)
Total Memory : 2GB DIMM DDR2
Shared Memory : 8MB
Channels : 1
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 400MHz (800MHz)

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Kingston 2GB DIMM DDR2 PC2-6400U DDR2-800 (5-5-5-18 3-23-6-3)IF YOU ADD RAM, MAKE IT THE IDENTICAL MATCHING, OR REPLACE THE OLD STICK WITH A MATCHED PAIR

Video System
Video Adapter : Intel(R) G33/G31 Express Chipset Family (8 SP 400MHz, 8MB DDR2 800MHz 64-bit, Integrated Graphics) ---ALSO NOT SUPPORTED

Graphics Processor

Storage Devices
SAMSUNG HD503HI (500.1GB, SATA300, 3.5", 5400rpm, 16MB Cache) : 466GB (C:) (D:)
WDC WD5000AAVS-00ZTB0 (500.1GB, USB1/SATA300, 3.5", 5400rpm, 8MB Cache) : 466GB (F:)
Optiarc DVD RW AD-5240S (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (E:)

Logical Storage Devices
Hard Disk (C:) : 124GB (NTFS) @ SAMSUNG HD503HI (500.1GB, SATA300, 3.5", 5400rpm, 16MB Cache)---maybe okay for a system drive, but see next item
Hard Disk (D:) : 342GB (NTFS) @ SAMSUNG HD503HI (500.1GB, SATA300, 3.5", 5400rpm, 16MB Cache)---RECORD TO A 7200 RPM DRIVE
Optical Drive (E:) : N/A @ Optiarc DVD RW AD-5240S (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)
Extern (F:) : 466GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD5000AAVS-00ZTB0 (500.1GB, USB1/SATA300, 3.5", 5400rpm, 8MB Cache)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : ASUS 82801GB/GR (ICH7) LPC Interface Controller
LPC Legacy Controller 1 : T0 B0-73
Audio Device : ASUS 82801G (ICH7) High Definition Audio
Audio Codec : Realtek Semi Realtek 662 High Definition Audio
Serial Port(s) : 1
Disk Controller : ASUS 82801G (ICH7) Ultra ATA Storage Controller
Disk Controller : ASUS 82801GB/GR/GH (ICH7) Serial ATA Storage Controller
USB Controller 1 : ASUS 82801G (ICH7) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 2 : ASUS 82801G (ICH7) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 3 : ASUS 82801G (ICH7) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 4 : ASUS 82801G (ICH7) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 5 : ASUS 82801G (ICH7) USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller
USB Controller 6 : VIA VIA VT6214L USB UHCI Controller
USB Controller 7 : VIA VIA VT6214L USB UHCI Controller
USB Controller 8 : VIA VT6202 USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller
FireWire/1394 Controller 1 : VIA VT6306 VIA Fire II IEEE-1394 OHCI Link Layer Controller---NOT SUPPORTED
SMBus/i2c Controller 1 : Intel ICH SMBus

Network Services
Network Adapter : Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller - Pakketplanner-minipoort (Ethernet, 100Mbps)---SHOULD BE DISABLED WHEN RUNNING PT

Operating System
Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP Professional 5.01.2600 (Service Pack 3)
Platform Compliance : x86

Performance Enhancing Tips
Tip 2546 : Large memory modules should be ECC/Parity.
Tip 2 : Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip is selected for more information about the tip.

Observations in red. What speakers are you mixing on? What mics are you recording with? Does the room have any acoustic treatment? Are you only using a single set of speakers or can you compare on several? Do things sound dull as you record them? Sorry for so many questions, but everything plays a part in the process.

[Tebbes]

Okay so today I did some good testing. With my computer I went to a friend of mine who has a good sounding home studio. I hooked up my mbox to his pc, loaded a session and made a simple, but pretty decent mix and bounced it.
We both use PT LE 7.3 so I could use the same plug-ins to make the difference as little as possible.

Then I hooked up my own pc to his system, with the mbox, and loaded that session and listened to the mix. It was a huge difference!!

The mix on his pc was the kind of mix I wanted it to be, open, transparant with good depth, but on my pc, again, I had the results I kind of expected.

That made me decide to buy a new pc, with great specs, and at the same time to upgrade to PT 10. I'm still thinking about what kind of pc and what interface to use, so im just browsing this forum and the internet to make a final decision

Thanks for the replies so far :)

[zedhed]

If you haven't already, check this thread out;

http://duc.avid.com/showthread.php?t=238426

[thescarecrow]

Your computer can't affect the sound quality. It can either run protools or it can't. Only the algorithms in protools (and plugins) and your audio interface have have an effect on sound quality. If your computer can't keep up with protools you will get error messages, choppy playback and stuff like that, but not a crappy sounding mix, that's just not possible.