audio interfaces and your CPU

I have a fast track usb (1.1) interface and I think it is slowing down my setup but I am not sure. I have trouble running some softsynths like Sculpture and some samplers sometimes, and I get a CPU overload in Logic.

would a usb 2.0 interface help me better run those synths, or do i need to upgrade my hardware instead, like more ram, new cpu, etc? I cant get a straight answer on this. I dont care so much about inputs or recording latency. I just want to be able to run more shit and nicer shit in my sequencer, without constantly seeing a CPU meter light up.

Right now I am looking at NI Audio Kontrol. suggestions?

Sounds like you need to upgrade your computer.

And why are you still running USB 1? It's 2009 for christ's sake.

That's called "bottleneck". Your computer is basically only ever as good as the worst component in it.

I would also say...upgrade everything. If you can afford it, that is.

Definitely USB first if you can only afford to replace a few bits.

  iamabe said:

I have a fast track usb (1.1) interface and I think it is slowing down my setup but I am not sure. I have trouble running some softsynths like Sculpture and some samplers sometimes, and I get a CPU overload in Logic.

 

would a usb 2.0 interface help me better run those synths, or do i need to upgrade my hardware instead, like more ram, new cpu, etc? I cant get a straight answer on this. I dont care so much about inputs or recording latency. I just want to be able to run more shit and nicer shit in my sequencer, without constantly seeing a CPU meter light up.

 

Right now I am looking at NI Audio Kontrol. suggestions?

depends, depends, depends.

the usb interface DEFINITELY could be slowing you down (i had that happen to me) but that doesn't mean replacing it will make everything magic awesome. if your computer only has USB 1 and you buy a USB 2 audio interface... well, it's not gonna do you much good.

i'd also advise against "compromise" solutions. get what you want, and if you can't afford it, don't blow your cash on something halfway. you'll only hate it. wait until you can get something proper.

finally, in general, plugins hog CPU/memory, and not the interface... but the interface can kill an otherwise good system, or lift a bad one up a notch.

The only way the interface would have anything to do with the slowdown is if it's drivers were somehow using a lot of cpu. Since all it is is doing to decoding a single stream of audio data from your sequencer(in most cases unless you are using multiple outs), I highly doubt it is what is causing the problem. Sounds like you have a slow CPU. The most helpful thing would be to get a faster processor. You could also invest in some kind of dsp card, which are really nice to have(someday I will get one), although you need plugins especially written for the card, they don't take just any VST.

I cant really upgrade my macbook pro. i read that firewire interfaces process audio seperately from the cpu. would that improve things? i think the TC electronics konnekt 8 or some other firewire interface like that would work. word?

  iamabe said:

I cant really upgrade my mac

steve jobs says to buy a new one.