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Best low-CPU vsts for streamlining live set? (and some of my own findings)
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mudpeople
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Mar 29, 2011 15:52:50
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So, im trying to figure out which vst instruments out there use the least CPU, so I can expand my live beyond racks-of-loops=blah-plus-pad.
I would have been trying more and more from what I got, but, idk what happened to the set i was working on, it and its loops, whihc I recorded from Renoise rewired, is now gone.
Before that tho I had a refx Claw, an Angular Momentum TB-30x, and I think tweakbench's Peach, or maybe Synth1 v1.07.
THe whole reason for streamlining is that I was workign on a p4 2.6ghz, with 1gb. Originally I started out in Live 8.1.1, but it kept falling over when i tried using more than 1 vsti at a time... and Im trying to make this thing something i can play, not just arrange, I want versatility that wont go glaflop at the wrong time. So I downgraded to 7.0.3. It runs a Renoise rewired, 4 loop tracks, 3 vsts, and master fx simultaneously with less than 60% cpu on the old clunker p4. Idk how much additional cpu the rewire was using but it never went glaflop. Thats what im talking about.
But of course even having the cpu and RAM to waste doesnt mean you should, just think of how much crazier you can get with, say 5 more vsts at a time (overload? id love to find out).
Also Im trying to get a good bank of master fx that help the whole thing not just be doof doof adnauseum, so far the basic Live fx are useful but hoggish on cpu, and then tehres Glitch, which either sounds too noticable or not enough and theres no major mangling between movements. Ive got a ton of other looping, stuttering, and whatnot plugs sitting waitign for me to chant the voodoo rite and draw the veves on the microKONTROL so me and Samedhi can resurrect the live set.
And also your own tips on how to streamline live sets, make controlling them more intuitive with less room for flustration, or whatnot will be helpful.
And yes moderating peoples I understand teh mother of all thread is there, but its a long way back and anyway it catches they eye more when theres a new title, and I want results.
Dammit.
http://www.screencast.com/users/mudpeople/folders/Jing/media/ac911a4d-5f38-444c-8479-4f6ae203ff48
This is the pic of either the dead set or the previous 8.1.1 incarnation, described here http://triplag.com/4room/viewtopic.php?p=37893#37893
Layout inspired by Electrypnose's tut http://www.electrypnose.com/index.php?page=download
at the bottom of the tutorials list
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mudpeople
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Mar 30, 2011 01:19
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Axis Mundi
Axis Mundi
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Posted : Mar 30, 2011 02:38
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One good thing about FabFilter plugins is that in Ableton, they accept preset changes from dummy clips in a channel routed to the plugin. So you can use their filter/delay/whatever and set up a channel containing dummy clips going to that FX and trigger the clips as if they were audio so the preset changes in time with the beat. (note; best used when you have already made a lot of your own presets).
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Noisecycle
Noise Cycle
Started Topics :
2
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36
Posted : Mar 30, 2011 11:58
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Nice tip axis mundi! Didn't know they could receive program change. Bet they are some other vst fx that are capable for that, I'll go and hunt for them.
Another tip if you want to keep low CPU while using vst in a live act is to automate 'device on/off' on the plugs/racks. Providing you have enough memory you can have a lot of vsts while keeping processor usage of one or two plugs at a time 
http://www.soundcloud.com/noisecycle |
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makus
Overdream
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3087
Posted : Mar 30, 2011 12:41
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Nectarios
Martian Arts
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187
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5292
Posted : Mar 30, 2011 12:44
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One thing I love about playing live with Logic... its synths and effects sound great and are not CPU hungry (except Sculpture basically) and work fine every time.
/off topic.
Peace out.
http://soundcloud.com/martianarts |
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Noisecycle
Noise Cycle
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2
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36
Posted : Mar 30, 2011 13:07
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Quote:
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On 2011-03-30 12:41, makus wrote:
Doesn't Live treat synths and effects which are not playing like switched off?
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Depends on the plugin and how they tell the host that they are processing or not. I use complex racks of combined synths&fx and switching them off definetely raise the cpu bar down most of the time.
http://www.soundcloud.com/noisecycle |
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mudpeople
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Mar 31, 2011 07:14
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just got the FabFIlter bundle a few days ago, just now installed em. Gonna fiddle about...
Also if anyone knows of any, Id love to know about vsts or other software that does procedural, random, or other such automatic (or otherwise without my input) sound generation, something that would accompany waht Im doing without my input, seems like that would add elements of randomness and help fill out the overall sound better.
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Axis Mundi
Axis Mundi
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Posted : Apr 7, 2011 03:42
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Quote:
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On 2011-03-30 13:07, Noisecycle wrote:
Quote:
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On 2011-03-30 12:41, makus wrote:
Doesn't Live treat synths and effects which are not playing like switched off?
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Depends on the plugin and how they tell the host that they are processing or not. I use complex racks of combined synths&fx and switching them off definetely raise the cpu bar down most of the time.
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Yes, but if the plugin has a graphic interface then it still uses CPU to keep it maintained.
Also, some FX will cause noticeable artifacts/cutouts when turned on and off... especially glitch plugins which rely on a short pre-recorded buffer to achieve the glitch effect (meaning for the first second or two after you turn it on, you won't get audio out of that channel).
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magner
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
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Posted : Apr 7, 2011 04:00
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[/quote]
Yes, but if the plugin has a graphic interface then it still uses CPU to keep it maintained.
Also, some FX will cause noticeable artifacts/cutouts when turned on and off... especially glitch plugins which rely on a short pre-recorded buffer to achieve the glitch effect (meaning for the first second or two after you turn it on, you won't get audio out of that channel).
[/quote]
Hence the name 'glitch'
http://soundcloud.com/mejinuf |
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Vonoom
Vonoom
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274
Posted : Apr 8, 2011 14:41
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bandarlog
Bandarlog
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44
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809
Posted : Apr 9, 2011 10:30
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makus
Overdream
Started Topics :
82
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3087
Posted : Apr 13, 2011 15:16
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mudpeople
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
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Posted : Apr 15, 2011 12:11
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I just spent a solid 4 or 5 hours just messing arond with a Surge in one of my tracks, an dhonesrtly I just thought all that beefy has to have cpu on the menu. Im giving it a try mmentarily, same with Disco.
For gltchy stuff the K Kemmerle plugs linked above is mainly waht i turn to, tho idr eally just call it vinyl-effect, they all have offset controls which for example let theh reversed data sync be tweaked, and bypass the effect, which as far as i can tell dont prooduce artifacts (if they do please let me know before i go play this thing out) I try to avoid using too much effects, personally i like it to be clean and flow well foremost rather than try to be unpredictable and clever, entirely. (and being tha ti make ti the way i want to make it, and do)
Some of teh Live natiives are handy too such as the cut-o-matic which alwways runs smooth and done right, with speed control mapping, can add that 'i did more than record 8 bars' feel
Also on a background-runing-instruemnt front, Tweakbench has a found-audio rack that autoplays , and has a goood few samples that loop and can be blended, its called Field and its as usual free but donatiosn are nice too 
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