CPU Overload with SoloC and 8505

[Thedeloshimself]

hey guys I'm trying to quad track with SoloC and nick crows 8505. I really like the tones that I'm able to get but when I use those plugins four times each in addition to using Superior 2.0 my cpu pukes on me. I have a decent dual core machine but I was wondering if anyone else has this problem? and how to fix it?

Can I create a Stereo fx track of TSS ->SoloC -> 8505-> Boogex and then pan the two guitar tracks respectively into one chain? if two signals are sent into one instance of soloc/8505 does that sacrifice the quality?

Also I see a lot of people posting their guitar tones say "I used two tracks of SoloC and two tracks of xxxx(7170 or 8505 etc.). I don't really udnerstand how people do that, I thought SoloC was just meant to be a preamp? it doesn't sound that good by itself? Maybe I'm missing something.

tried searching, couldn't find much.

also this might be the wrong spot to post this. but when I've been using Catharsis impulses I hear like almost a reverb effect on the guitars? is that common? they sound sort of distant. I'm currently using his Awesometime impulse with the s-highpres. My guitar tracks are mono and so are my fx tracks that I'm using boogex with, if that helps.


thanks a lot

 

[Unavailable]

also this might be the wrong spot to post this. but when I've been using Catharsis impulses I hear like almost a reverb effect on the guitars? is that common? they sound sort of distant. I'm currently using his Awesometime impulse with the s-highpres. My guitar tracks are mono and so are my fx tracks that I'm using boogex with, if that helps.


thanks a lot

Only use one impulse per guitar track.

 

[exzem]

Well, I don't have a very fast computer either and I usually just record the guitars with some simple unprocessed drums (or just with clicks) then export the tracks into audio and disable the plugins.

Stereo fx won't work cause the output of soloC/7170/8505 are mono, but maybe if your using 2 effect channels, with plugins loaded and send 2 tracks in one and the other 2 in another.
Haven't tried that though (too lazy to quadtrack anyway ).

Also I see a lot of people posting their guitar tones say "I used two tracks of SoloC and two tracks of xxxx(7170 or 8505 etc.). I don't really udnerstand how people do that, I thought SoloC was just meant to be a preamp? it doesn't sound that good by itself? Maybe I'm missing something.

You can use SoloC by yourself, its only a preamp but impulses emulate both poweramp + cabinet so it works fine.

 

[dani]

you're not alone with the CPU usage issues you describe, i have them too. i'm on a macbook pro, and running just soloc or 8505 twice can make it go mad. usually, it'll behave just fine, but then someimtes CPU usage will spike, and it just stutters and skips like hell.

i don't really know what's causing it, although i've ruled out my interface, or another VST plugin (i also get this problem with the wagner sharp!)

my mac doesn't like poulin or nick crow

 

[Thedeloshimself]

Only use one impulse per guitar track.

I am, I meant since theres two guitar tracks on the right and left side each. one guitar track had awesometime and the other guitar track had s-highpres.

Well, I don't have a very fast computer either and I usually just record the guitars with some simple unprocessed drums (or just with clicks) then export the tracks into audio and disable the plugins.

Stereo fx won't work cause the output of soloC/7170/8505 are mono, but maybe if your using 2 effect channels, with plugins loaded and send 2 tracks in one and the other 2 in another.
Haven't tried that though (too lazy to quadtrack anyway ).

That seems like a gigantic pain in the ass. what if you want to record to drums? or what if you export them and then want to alter the tones while youre mixing? i think the tones using soloC to boost the 8505/7170 are the best but four times can't be done (on my machine).

 

[Mutant]

Just render something (drums maybe) to save some CPU cycles.

You don't need to have EVERYTHING tweakable at ALL times.

Or buy a faster CPU.

No other option.

 

[Mutant]

Also I see a lot of people posting their guitar tones say "I used two tracks of SoloC and two tracks of xxxx(7170 or 8505 etc.). I don't really udnerstand how people do that, I thought SoloC was just meant to be a preamp? it doesn't sound that good by itself? Maybe I'm missing something.

I think that they assume that the need for a cab simulator after a preamp only type sim is known to everyone.

Maybe thats why they don't bother writing the whole chain.

[edit]

Ah you meant that SoloC doesnt have a power amp section.
Well...
It sounds good with some impulses and mixed with 7170/8505 tracks anyway so it doesn't matter imho.

 

[MetalMiller]

Had the same problem and recognized that dandelium (he posted his settings in the killer soldano thread) uses the version 1.02 instead of 1.12 of soloc for boosting the 8505. It tooks a lot less cpu. You can find it here:

http://www.guitarampmodeling.com/viewtopic.php?f=2 4&t=5200&start=50

You have to register to download. No other source i think. It´s the second to last post i the thread.

 

[exzem]

That seems like a gigantic pain in the ass. what if you want to record to drums? or what if you export them and then want to alter the tones while youre mixing? i think the tones using soloC to boost the 8505/7170 are the best but four times can't be done (on my machine).

Well it's not that hard, you can still EQ/compress the exported track, but sure if your not happy at all with the tone you have to redo it. On my computer I can record 4 tracks with drums if I don't use too much compression/reverb/drumagog etc on the drums, just some basic setting so you get the rhythm correct, then mix the drums later.

 

[Damphire]

Yep, there is a serious CPU issue with SoloC. I can´t load more than 3 instances without having to restart my PC. I hope the creator solves this in the upcoming release.

 

[dani]

v1.02 is actually linked here on this very forum, on dropbox (no sign up!);

http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/andy-sneap/477528-killer-soldano-vst-preamp-2.html#post8126152

 

[Thedeloshimself]

I actually ended up learning how to drastically cut down cpu usage from Superior 2.0 so now I can do two tracks of each. but my buddy has an actual 6505+ so we used that today with boogex (catharsis impulses) and it sounds better than the emulators so i'll probably just end up doing that. but who knows, if i can keep tweaking soloC and 8505 ill use those cuz they sound good too.

 

[CarlBlomqvist]

You can freeze tracks in Cubase. It's amazing, and I use it all the time! It's faster than exporting and importing tracks all the time. And the two last plugins in the chain are still changeable. (I always keep an EQ there)

 

[dani]

yea, i do use the freeze button sometimes, but if not for the CPU issues, i wouldn't need to!

also, the last 2 plugins are put done post-fader, so you'd need to leave the faders at 0db. and freezing isn't really an option when you're tracking!

 

[reg3n]

yeah only thing that saved me on these is the freeze thing (in sonar) but yeah... so bad they make you pay extra cash for the gearbox and podfarm vst's... 'cause it's like:

cpu usage:

gearbox -- podfarm -- revalver -- amplitube -- NickCrow's stuff -- SoloC

in ascending order... at least as far as i tried...

 

[LePou]

Hey Guys,

I have also been concerned a lot with CPU consumption of my SoloC. That's why in the next version, that should be released soon, I put some effort in optimisation and I have also added a quality switch (inspired bt Nick Crow) to lower CPU consumption when tracking. I don't remember the exact number but on low quality the PreAmp runs at about 4.5%, the Head at 5.5% and the FullStack with both impulse loader engaged runs at about 10% (on my old Pentium IV).

LePou

 

[Damphire]

I have also been concerned a lot with CPU consumption of my SoloC. That's why in the next version, that should be released soon, I put some effort in optimisation and I have also added a quality switch (inspired bt Nick Crow) to lower CPU consumption when tracking. I don't remember the exact number but on low quality the PreAmp runs at about 4.5%, the Head at 5.5% and the FullStack with both impulse loader engaged runs at about 10% (on my old Pentium IV).

Cool

 

[dani]

LePou, thanks for checking out the forums and addressing your users! this is another reason why i love the free plugins!

basically, the normal CPU consumption of soloC isn't really a problem. when soloc is behaving itself, this machine could probably run more than 6 at once. what i'm having issues with (and i think other people are), is weird CPU usage spikes, when running it. let me explain;

if all is going well, i can have open S2.0, 2 instances of 8505, 2 of soloc, and about 8 of reaeq, some compressors and limiters, and that'll sit happily at around 60-70% cpu usage.

this can be fine for minutes, but then, sometimes, under certain conditions (don't know what they are), CPU usage will spike 100%, then everything begins to stutter and sound all bleh. one way i found that sort of helps, was freezing S2.0, and then setting cubase's affinity (which cpu cores it runs on), to CPU 0 - so giving it half the proccessing power, so it can only use 1 cpu core. the cpu usage is way higher than i'd expect, but it stops stuttering for most of the time. this doesn't work if i set it to CPU 1 (ie, still 1 core, but the second instead of the first).

i think there is some threading issue, perhaps?

anyways, i really appreciate your work, and i hope these problems can be ironed out!

thanks,

 

[-Loco-]

you're not alone with the CPU usage issues you describe, i have them too. i'm on a macbook pro, and running just soloc or 8505 twice can make it go mad. usually, it'll behave just fine, but then someimtes CPU usage will spike, and it just stutters and skips like hell.

i don't really know what's causing it, although i've ruled out my interface, or another VST plugin (i also get this problem with the wagner sharp!)

my mac doesn't like poulin or nick crow

how did you manage to get those plug-ins to run on your mac? are u running windows in boot camp?

 

[-Loco-]

PLEASE?