Recording software with dual core support?

[passerby3141]

I have been using Mackies' Tracktion 2 for recording for about a year and a half now. I like it, but I recently upgraded my computer with a AMD dual core X2 4400+ chip, and found out that Tracktion only uses one core! I feel let down, but as they say, you get what you pay for, and in the world of software Tracktion is very inexpensive. For the money though it's incredible, the dual core problem is my first real complaint, the plugin bundle is awesome, and the presets (which are numerous) really help out an inexperienced self-producer such as I.

I am not really excited about the prospect of switching to new software, as I am in the middle of recording some songs with Tracktion right now. There is a new version of Tracktion coming out soon, but Mackie has not announced yet if it will include dual core support. So, if it doesn't I will be switching to somthing else.

What are my best options in terms of price vs. performance. I got T2 for less than $150 USD, and wouldn't want to spend more than $300 USD if I could get away with it. I have done a modest amount of web searching on this issue, but dual core support doesn't seem to be at the top of the list of features for most programs these days. So I am a bit in the dark here.

Thank you for your time.

[itsplayed]

At $300, I'd say Sonar 6 Studio and Cubase SL are both good calls.

[passerby3141]

Thanks again itsplayed!

Sonar looks like the better investment to me, may have to spring for the producer edition though.:cool:

[MrHope]

Forgive me if I misunderstand your question. I don't know a lot about dual core systems.

However, I don't see what the problem is. If Tracktion doesn't use one core it could be because it doesn't need the extra processing power. Or maybe it's just designed to use one. But either way, can't the extra processing power be used for other things, like background tasks ?

What exactly is the advantage of a dual core if you don't need to max both cores out ?

If you can get your work done with Tracktion, why worry about how it works internally ?

Or are you saying that dual core systems ONLY handle dual core programs ?

[itsplayed]

You will, without a doubt be able to load many more plug-ins and see lower latency numbers on a music app that is multi core capable on a machine that's multi-core. Benchmarks prove the multi-core CPU's advantage over the single core in music apps. that support it.
Whether or not you'll need it is another matter.

[Monkey Mouse]

Don't even bother with Sonar unless you get the Producer version.....

Ableton Live 6 will also support multi core & multi processor machines.

[passerby3141]

Forgive me if I misunderstand your question. I don't know a lot about dual core systems.

However, I don't see what the problem is. If Tracktion doesn't use one core it could be because it doesn't need the extra processing power. Or maybe it's just designed to use one. But either way, can't the extra processing power be used for other things, like background tasks ?

What exactly is the advantage of a dual core if you don't need to max both cores out ?

If you can get your work done with Tracktion, why worry about how it works internally ?

Or are you saying that dual core systems ONLY handle dual core programs ?


Apparently, software must be written to access both cores, this is all new to me as well. Tracktion is a fine program, for the money it's outstanding. I was able to get much done with it, but as I refined my mixes, and added plugins, I maxed out my old AMD 3500+ easily, even at the highest buffer size on my card. I am using soft synth for bass and drums making mock rock band recordings.

I also noticed that the sound was different, when I rendered tracks to wave, it got better, but then that in turn prompted me to refine my EQ and other plug settings, so I was mixing in the dark pretty much.

Monkey, thanks for the interest. After comparing Sonar studio and producer I came to the same conclusion as you. I went out and purchased Sonar 6 the other day actually. Don't regret it after looking into Ableton's feature set, not that it looks bad.

Sonar sounds better than Tracktion BTW, the summing buss is much better, even though they both claim 64 bit mixing. I am now in the process of exporting my midi files to Sonar, and rebuilding my project.

Thanks to all for the interest, and input.

[curtizb]

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/videos/default.mspx

Check out the top video. I am running Sonar 6 with AMDx2 4200.
The main thing that 64bit systems allow you to do is use more RAM, (a lot more) and use it efficiently. This is the way a DAW should have been in the first place. Hard drives are the bottle neck, so the less you have to use them the better.

[passerby3141]

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/videos/default.mspx

Check out the top video. I am running Sonar 6 with AMDx2 4200.
The main thing that 64bit systems allow you to do is use more RAM, (a lot more) and use it efficiently. This is the way a DAW should have been in the first place. Hard drives are the bottle neck, so the less you have to use them the better.


Thanks for the link. Unfortunately, I am on a dial-up connection so I can't watch the vid. I am interested in going to a 64-bit OS at some point in the future, but the driver issues seem to be a problem right now. From what I have read, my M-Audio delta 44 only has a beta driver for 64 bit right now, and I will wait for a proper release. I am waiting for an E-MU 1212M from Sweetwater, they are back ordered, but I am thinking I may want to hold onto the 44 for some purposes, so I will most likely go with Vista 64 bit in a few years.

[curtizb]

Thanks for the link. Unfortunately, I am on a dial-up connection so I can't watch the vid. I am interested in going to a 64-bit OS at some point in the future, but the driver issues seem to be a problem right now. From what I have read, my M-Audio delta 44 only has a beta driver for 64 bit right now, and I will wait for a proper release. I am waiting for an E-MU 1212M from Sweetwater, they are back ordered, but I am thinking I may want to hold onto the 44 for some purposes, so I will most likely go with Vista 64 bit in a few years.


Yeah I am using the Delta 192 beta drivers. They only work in WDM mode, but they seem to be very stable and are working better than I expected.
As long as you run the profiler in Soanr you should get latency settings right.

Here is a link to a lnger blog I added today.

So far I am very happy with Sonar 6 and XP PRO64. I have vista (32bit) running on my test box (I have a computer business) and so far I don't see what the big deal is. I have not tried any performance tests with it. You will have a hard time getting any drivers for the 64bit verison of vista for a while.
I found all the drivers I needed for XP PRO 64 except for a printer driver that should not even be on my DAW anyway. I would suggest a dual boot running XP pro 64 on one parttion and then regular XP or vista on the other.
That was you have the best of both worlds.

Here is the link:

http://www.audioforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=79104#post79104