So how do you load all your VST's?

Zelos · 11-02-2009, 08:37 AM

I was just wondering how you manage to load so many instruments (someone told me I should use more than 32 for some project) at the same time?
My PC dies after loading Addictive Drums, Trilogy and two EW Symphonic Orchestra multis and I can't really do anything with it giving up so soon.

Well, how do you manage to use as little RAM as possible? I already have 8GB RAM and use the x64-version of Reaper... and every multi takes away about 600MB RAM.
Is there some other method?

EricM · 11-02-2009, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zelos

someone told me I should use more than 32 for some project

This is bullshit.

Use as many YOU need to make the song right. It could be 10, or up
to 50 if you are making an orchestral score.

The plugins you have listed are RAM heavy, as they load up a lot
of samples for quick access and realistic sound. When using such
synths, there will be a limit somewhere, but with a lot of RAM
and solid CPU power you can raise your buffer size to make it easier
on the PC. This however prevents live input for further instruments.
In that case you will have to freeze (render VSTs to audio file
and make them offline), to preserve RAM & CPU power for other instruments.

Than if you need to make a correction, unfreeze it (ditch the rendered
file, put the plugin back online, and put others offline temporarily
to get the CPU power back), correct the midi and repeat the freezing.

That's the way it goes with avarage/above avarage computers.

Zelos · 11-02-2009, 09:50 AM

I can make individual tracks offline?
I didn't even know that, thanks.

I'll try to work that way from now on but I still don't get why my computer can't handle more than two or three EWSO multis. I really don't think that I have too little power...

EricM · 11-02-2009, 09:59 AM

You can make individual plug-in offline, not just tracks.
The best way to handle that is to create a macro function
with Actions, which renders the audio, puts it to a new
track and make the original track offline all with a push
of one button.

http://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=26840

What is your latency? Which processor (how many cores) and at
what frequency are they running?

Zelos · 11-02-2009, 10:24 AM

Well, the only thing I know is that I'm using an AMD Phenom II X4 940 Processor at 3,00 GhZ.
I didn't overclock anything but I think I could without problems.

EricM · 11-02-2009, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zelos

Well, the only thing I know is that I'm using an AMD Phenom II X4 940 Processor at 3,00 GhZ.

This should handle your VST load without problem,
check your sound card latency that it isnt't too low.

Zelos · 11-02-2009, 11:26 AM

It's just the RAM that's the problem since it's already over 6GB after loading two pianos...

The freezing doesn't really help because it uses the same RAM as it does without.
So I guess the only thing I can do is really completing one instrument, rendering it so I can close the VST and load the mp3 into REAPER?

EricM · 11-02-2009, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zelos

It's just the RAM that's the problem since it's already over 6GB after loading two pianos...

The freezing doesn't really help because it uses the same RAM as it does without.
So I guess the only thing I can do is really completing one instrument, rendering it so I can close the VST and load the mp3 into REAPER?

Strange, I tried on a BFD plug-in, and putting the VSTi
offline also purges the memory. When I put it back online,
it has to load the library back in RAM first...

Anyway if two instruments use 6 GB of RAM than they should really
justify that space... If you consider rendering, than I would
suggest to render to a .wav 24bit and the same sample rate as
project.

Alternative would be to use a different plug-in for composition
like TruePianos, and than when u start working on sound use
the heavy VSTi.

Zelos · 11-02-2009, 11:45 AM

Well, then I think my tracks don't really freeze because I can just unmute them and listen to it again.
If I use the macro you sent me a link to with the 32-bit version of Reaper it just crashes and if I use it with the 64-bit version it just seems to render something and then mute the track.
And if I click on "Render selected tracks to stem tracks (and mute originals)" they don't go offline as well, I can just click on mute again and listen to them.
It also doesn't seem to change anything if I click on the green dot by the FX-button...

I hope you don't mind me asking for help in this subforum.

EricM · 11-02-2009, 12:06 PM

Ok, make your own macro:

I use two, one is for whole track rendering (it can take
some time), so i don't use that if I only have a short
portion at the end of the song I need to render. To do
that, put these actions in a macro sequence:

Track: Render selected tracks to stereo post-fader stem...
Track: Go to next track
Track: Set all FX offline for selected tracks

Here's a video:

The other one I use is for selected items only, which
needs a few more actions:

In this case the edit cursor must be placed on the beginning
of the first selected item, for pasted render to have the same
starting position. To an extent, you can do that with action
(Item navigation: move cursor left to edge of selected item)

Hope that helps.

Zelos · 11-02-2009, 12:36 PM

It worked perfectly, thank you.
And thank you for the video and the screenshot.
I didn't even expect to get it to work anymore so I don't really know how to thank you.

EricM · 11-02-2009, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zelos

I don't really know how to thank you.

By making some good tunes with Reaper

You're welcome.

EricM · 11-02-2009, 12:52 PM

Just another tip, if you have sends on the instrument
track, you will have to copy them to the rendered track
to get the effects like reverb back.

kelldammit · 11-02-2009, 03:55 PM

typically, i can get superior2 (humongous kit), gpo (keyswitched dbass,cello,viola, and 2 violins), and mebbe independence free (bass). that's pushing it for sample based stuff on my poor old machine. but then i can still add pianoteq (i ditched ivory for that one and will never regret it), several instances of blue and zebra, sometimes microtonic, albino3, amplitube, etc etc etc.
in pt8, i can't get the independence free bass to load in addition to the other samplers.

the sample based ones i DO use often have little "tricks" that allow you to combat overzealous memory use. superior2 allows you to load sample kits as 16bit rather than 24 (this can cut a 1200mb kit WAY down), and also allows you to "turn off" mics that you don't need (bleed, etc). so while working, my kit may be less than 500mb. i then revert to 24 bit samples, and turn on the other mics when i bounce.
gpo4 is pretty good with memory, it doesn't seem to be a real pig.
i think the vienna stuff has a trick where you load your samples in, play the piece, and it unloads samples the piece doesn't require (VERY COOL).
i don't know if omnisphere/trilogy, etc, have their own similar tricks...

i think vsl also now has software that runs standalone, but interfaces with your daw that allows up to 4g of ram per instance. it also hosts vst plugins. you could try running the sample based stuff as their own processes (a pref in reaper) for a similar effect. but in the end, if you only have 8g of ram to play with...you may just need more ram to do what you're looking to do.

kell

Zelos · 11-03-2009, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricM

Just another tip, if you have sends on the instrument
track, you will have to copy them to the rendered track
to get the effects like reverb back.

Thanks, I'll remember it.

@kelldammit
I don't think there's any purpose in getting more than 8GB of RAM (is it even possible?).
It's working well with the method EricM told me so I'll do it that way from now on.

Thanks for your help as well.