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Re: software reverb to use with LIVE



Apr 2, 2005 kl. 1:50 skrev Zoe Keating:

> Ok. I hate to ask another SOFTWARE question (I say this because there 
> is a purist in me that feels that all this software is distracting me 
> from the "real" business of looping. And don't ask me what I mean by 
> that, because I can't tell you. It's a gut feeling, like the way 
> sleeping late makes me feel guilty.)
>
> So, I'm generally happy with LIVE except for the dog damn CPU load 
> that makes audio drop out. The only thing I've found to alleviate the 
> problem is to shut off all the LIVE plug ins (reverb, EQ, etc). I know 
> I can always run the outgoing audio through my Lexicon box, but I'm 
> trying to slim down my gear rack. I'm curious if anyone can recommend 
> any lightweight, stand-alone reverb apps that won't affect performance 
> too much.
>
> Thanks very much!


One of the things I like a lot with Live is the built in reverb and 
especially a pre-set patch named Frozen Build Up. I keep a foot switch 
mapped to the freeze button. What amazes me is that I find it to sound 
better when run in low resolution "Economy" mode (which BTW is very CPU 
friendly).

The free reverb that comes with OS X, the Apple AU Matrix Reverb, is 
also good. I use that one with Numerology. FreeVerb also sounds good 
but it taxes the CPU meter more. Of course reverb is a matter of taste. 
I used to haul around my Lexicon but now I rely on Live's built-in 
reverb.

Speaking about CPU usage with Live, it's true that apple machines are 
not as effecient as windows based machines. Hopefully this will change 
some days, since Ableton has not yet implemented Altivec support in 
Live. When this happens an apple machine with G4 or G5 processor will 
gain a lot.

I have a 1,25 MHz Powerbook with 2 G ram and I'm able to run Live with:
- 2 Augustus Loop plug-ins
- 1 Musolomo plug-in
- 1 Ohmboys plug-in
- 1 Impulse (with loads of midi clips running random scripts for crazy 
drum patterns)
- 2 Utility (used as tremolo on the AL loops by rhytmical trigging from 
midi clips)
- 1 Sonalkis SV-315 stereo compressor on the master out (to "swell" the 
reverb during more silent parts. Sonalkis is one of the few plug-in 
compressors that does not delay the signal. It's working completely 
within the buffer)

This is it. From here I can not add more processes without feeling 
insecure. I may delete the Musolomo to bring down the load (or exchange 
it for an external EDP on the second audio input). I'm running Live 
with an audio buffer size of 259 samples. Since I don't rely on 
software monitoring for my direct instrument audio through signal, I 
guess I can use a much bigger buffer (think I'll look into that).

I never get any audio drop outs with this set-up. Maybe that's because 
everything is RAM based, I never record to disc - only into software 
plug-in loopers. The other day I decided to record an improvisation 
with this set-up and I set an audio track to "input: Resampling", 
record enabled it and hit a clip for recording while I played. Then I 
heard awful crackles in the audio during recording. But the funny thing 
was that the recorded file on the drive was ok! Audio artifacts only 
affected playback audio.

ooops.. didn't intend to write this much (morning coffe on the side and 
all ;.). Hope someone finds any useful info.

Greetings from Sweden

Per Boysen
---
http://www.looproom.com (international)
http://www.boysen.se (Swedish site)
http://www.cdbaby.com/perboysen