G5 Dual 2 advice for PC user

[stratcat]

Hi Guys,

I am a pc guy with a P4-3.0 2 gig ram- 2 UAD cards work fine.
I WANT MORE POWER !!!
don't we all ?

Recently, thinking of a pci version of the G5 dual 2 (the good version)

I've been reading that these machines will work but as long as latency is high. (approx 10-12ms)
I use RME hardware so there is no direct monitoring with a MAC, how are you Guys getting around the issue of tracking with that big delay ?
That wouldn't work for me
Or, how low can you go crackle free on this machine with 2 uads cards.

Any advice is appreciated.
Best
Peter

 

[Giles117 DP]

I thought the RME had Total Mix.

 

[stratcat]

yes, it does but Apple computer did away with DM for \"most\" hardware/apps in OSX, a real drag.

I get by fine on a powerbook but , if I get the uads in the system I don't think they allow 3-5 ms latency without crackling ,.. so I've heard.

do you know ?

Peter

 

[Trace]

yes, it does but Apple computer did away with DM for "most" hardware/apps in OSX, a real drag.

I get by fine on a powerbook but , if I get the uads in the system I don't think they allow 3-5 ms latency without crackling ,.. so I've heard.

do you know ?

Peter

Uh you know that most Mac I/O solutions have direct monitoring and this is taken from the MOTU website:

"For the computer-based studio, the included PCI-424 card features CueMix DSP™, a flexible DSP-driven mixing and monitoring matrix that eliminates the need for an external mixer or patch-bay. Connect all of your studio gear, including synths, keyboards, and even effects processors. Then control it all from your desktop with no audible monitoring latency and no processor drain on your computer"

I use a Yamaha O1X with my G5 and I use the direct monitoring with FX to track and there's no audible latency. I wouldn't worry about that being a problem. The only time you have latency issues is when listening to audio going thru the computer buffer and back out. Aside from that you should be able to track using the Direct monitoring feature of your Digital I/O, whether its RME, MOTU or Yamaha etc.

TRACE

 

[stratcat]

Hi Trace,

You know you're right, I hadn't thought of that, I'm used to the check box in Nuendo that says \" direct monitoring\" which is greyed out on the Mac.

So I would have to turn the monitoring off on the recorded track and only use the RME instead. as the source monitor.
thanks for mentioning that, I only got the powerbook a week ago, I probably would have stumbled onto that realization

How's the G5 for you with UADs, ??

I'm thinking of a dual 2, any input?

Thanks again

Peter

 

[Giles117 DP]

That why I mentioned Total Mix. If the RME has DSP you should be fine....

 

[Trace]

Hi Trace,

You know you're right, I hadn't thought of that, I'm used to the check box in Nuendo that says " direct monitoring" which is greyed out on the Mac.

So I would have to turn the monitoring off on the recorded track and only use the RME instead. as the source monitor.
thanks for mentioning that, I only got the powerbook a week ago, I probably would have stumbled onto that realization

How's the G5 for you with UADs, ??

I'm thinking of a dual 2, any input?

Thanks again

Peter

The UAD's and my Dual 1.8 get along fine, Zero issues here. The only thing is from time to time I get some sort of system disconnect. It lasts for a few seconds and then goes away. I blame it on the FW O1X and its drivers. So far it hasn't really been a big problem during a session or anything. It is weird, but since my mixes come out great I won't complain.

 

[stratcat]

Thanks,
I'm sure the magma chassis is responsible for the good performance.

Peter

 

[Giles117 DP]

Sice I sold my magma in prep for my Soo arriving Quad and then that new magma, I have noticed a 20-25% performance loss with my UAD's. Yes the magma helps.....

 

[Trace]

Sice I sold my magma in prep for my Soo arriving Quad and then that new magma, I have noticed a 20-25% performance loss with my UAD's. Yes the magma helps.....

I have to give UA some credit for continuing to at leastt try to impove the performance of the UAD and AMD 8131 combo. I have confrmed some slight improvements in the overall performance of my system since Vs 4.0

I look forward to one day getting back full use of my UAD's. For now tho this is OK. Definitely getting a Dual 2.0 with PCI slots would make a great DAW.

TRACE

 

[stratcat]

Hi Trace,

My main concern is not so much UAD plug count, but host load.
I had a DAW builder put an AMD dual opt rig together.

It was a total joke, for 3K. I think I remember 4 UAD plugins overloaded the host @ 96K. The project wouldn't even play/

That same project runs at 40% on the Nuendo meter of my P4 3.0.

So it becomes a host problem not so much a UAD issue, I can't deal with that.
I refuse to solve this by spending 2-3K on a DAW and HAVING TO by a Magma to get acceptable performance, I just won't use the UAD plugins if it comes to that. I've been seriously considering the later quite a bit lately.

Thanks for the input

Peter

 

[Trace]

Hi Trace,

My main concern is not so much UAD plug count, but host load.
I had a DAW builder put an AMD dual opt rig together.

It was a total joke, for 3K. I think I remember 4 UAD plugins overloaded the host @ 96K. The project wouldn't even play/

That same project runs at 40% on the Nuendo meter of my P4 3.0.

So it becomes a host problem not so much a UAD issue, I can't deal with that.
I refuse to solve this by spending 2-3K on a DAW and HAVING TO by a Magma to get acceptable performance, I just won't use the UAD plugins if it comes to that. I've been seriously considering the later quite a bit lately.

Thanks for the input

Peter

Well if you get a PCI version of the G5, you should have NO problems with Host overload whatsoever. Right now I can load my 4 UAD's to the Max and not overload my G5. In fact there's plenty of CPu power left for VSTi's and mine is one of the crippled G5's!!!

TRACE

 

[paulstone]

Hi Trace,

My main concern is not so much UAD plug count, but host load.
I had a DAW builder put an AMD dual opt rig together.

It was a total joke, for 3K. I think I remember 4 UAD plugins overloaded the host @ 96K. The project wouldn't even play/

That same project runs at 40% on the Nuendo meter of my P4 3.0.

So it becomes a host problem not so much a UAD issue, I can't deal with that.
I refuse to solve this by spending 2-3K on a DAW and HAVING TO by a Magma to get acceptable performance, I just won't use the UAD plugins if it comes to that. I've been seriously considering the later quite a bit lately.

Thanks for the input

Peter

Well if you get a PCI version of the G5, you should have NO problems with Host overload whatsoever. Right now I can load my ***4 UAD's*** to the Max and not overload my G5. In fact there's plenty of CPu power left for VSTi's and mine is one of the crippled G5's!!!

TRACE

sorry but the G5 have 3 slot PCI not 4 =

 

[Trace]

Well if you get a PCI version of the G5, you should have NO problems with Host overload whatsoever. Right now I can load my ***4 UAD's*** to the Max and not overload my G5. In fact there's plenty of CPu power left for VSTi's and mine is one of the crippled G5's!!!

TRACE

sorry but the G5 have 3 slot PCI not 4 =[/quote]

I have a Magma Chassis. I bought it sometiime ago for about $300.00. That's how I have 4 UAD-1's running

TRACE

 

[Gorou Tanigawa]

 

[tuf]

I use RME hardware so there is no direct monitoring with a MAC, how are you Guys getting around the issue of tracking with that big delay ?

I use a mixer for tracking/monitoring. Yamaha 01v96 via mLAN.

 

[Trace]

I use RME hardware so there is no direct monitoring with a MAC, how are you Guys getting around the issue of tracking with that big delay ?

I use a mixer for tracking/monitoring. Yamaha 01v96 via mLAN.

I use the Yamaha O1X which is a VERY useful DAW controller/Mixer. You have EQ/Dynamics and FX for live monitoring just like the O1V, but you also have direct I/O and control of your DAW Apps like Cubase, Logic, Digital Performer etc. Its very powerful and affordable. I love it.

TRACE