Networked / Offloaded FX and freezing tracks

Märk · Post by **Märk** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 8:11 pm

http://www.fx-max.com/fxt/index.html

I've tried to get VST System Link working on 4 different computers, with zero success. It just will not work for me. This seems like a good alternative. Anyone used this before?

Billy's Little Trip · Post by **Billy's Little Trip** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 8:24 pm

Yeah, I saw this, or something similar, a few weeks ago. Someone posted it in my thread about my computer freezing, if I remember right. Seems like a great idea. I have no clue as to how well it works.

Märk · Post by **Märk** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 8:40 pm

I checked the price... for a 1 server/1 host configuration, it's 200 fucking dollars. Screw that (or bittorrent a haxxord copy)

Billy's Little Trip · Post by **Billy's Little Trip** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 8:56 pm

ouch, that seems high.

fluffy · Post by **fluffy** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 10:38 pm

Man, you have to pay for that? Logic comes with that shit built-in.

(Also uh, if you're low on CPU, you could always freeze some tracks.)

Billy's Little Trip · Thu Oct 25, 2007 11:00 pm

I just turn off my FX after I'm happy with their settings. Then after I get all of my recorded tracks done with all dynamics, EQing and FX, I export the tracks as wav files and start a new project called, name of song mixing tracks. I know it sounds like a lot of work, but its not too bad, and its the only way I know how to deal with my 5 year old dinosaur computer.

fluffy · Post by **fluffy** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 11:39 pm

That's basically how a track freeze works, except your mixing software swaps between the dynamic and static tracks easily. It's a bit surprising that the company Märk linked to also sells a VST-based track freezing plugin since doesn't most software which supports VSTs also have freeze capabilities? I know the big ones do anyway (Logic, ProTools, Cubase, and I'm pretty sure Digital Performer... even GarageBand does and it's not supposed to be a pro-level app).

Post by jb » Fri Oct 26, 2007 4:59 am

I don't know how to freeze a track in Cubase, and I haven't been able to find it. I can "lock" a track, but that just keeps me from moving it around-- how does one freeze a track?

roymond · Post by **roymond** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 6:04 am

fluffy wrote:Man, you have to pay for that? Logic comes with that shit built-in.

(Also uh, if you're low on CPU, you could always freeze some tracks.)

Apple just released Logic Studio with Pro 8, which is a one window UI now (finally!) and cut the price in HALF! $500 for the whole package including a pretty cool live system for using Logic as a live processing tool on stage, and the whole FCP sound editing suite. If you're Mac based this all is a huge deal. But I have to buy more RAM to support it, so there the box sits until...tomorrow.

starfinger · Post by **starfinger** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 7:10 am

fluffy wrote:I know the big ones do anyway

so do Sonar and Live, fwiw.. Live has something called 'deep freeze' that lets you manipulate your frozen audio like all the other audio in your project. it is awesome.

-craig

fluffy · Post by **fluffy** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:30 am

jb wrote:I don't know how to freeze a track in Cubase, and I haven't been able to find it. I can "lock" a track, but that just keeps me from moving it around-- how does one freeze a track?

I dunno, ask obscurity. He mentioned it was possible when we were discussing whose penis^WDAW was better.

obscurity · Post by **obscurity** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 11:10 am

jb wrote:I don't know how to freeze a track in Cubase, and I haven't been able to find it. I can "lock" a track, but that just keeps me from moving it around-- how does one freeze a track?

If it's an audio track you want to freeze, you want to click on the icon that looks kind of like a snowflake in the channel settings section of the track inspector (press alt-i in the project window to bring up the inspector if it's not already shown).

If you want to freeze an VST instrument channel, look for the same looking icon in the instrument rack (which you can bring up by pressing f11), just to the left of the power button against each VSTi.

These instructions are for Cubase SX3, btw. I assume it's the same in the later versions, and I can't remember how you did it in earlier ones.

Billy's Little Trip · Fri Oct 26, 2007 11:41 am

I don't have anything that looks like a snow flake in the channel setting section, on Cubase LE. But I do have a simple icon per track to bypass inserts that turns off all VST FX.
I can however freeze edits and freeze quantize.
Oh, and of course just click the X to turn off a track.

fluffy · Post by **fluffy** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 11:46 am

Isn't Cubase LE the cheapo limited version? Most DAW makers seem to think that freezing is an advanced-version function. (Except Apple. I'm actually pretty surprised they include it in GarageBand.)

[edit] <a href="http://www.steinberg.net/932_1.html">Steinberg's handy comparison chart</a> - yeah, LE doesn't do freezes. Or much else, for that matter.

Billy's Little Trip · Fri Oct 26, 2007 12:14 pm

Yeah, LE is a version for other hardware companies to include in their bundles I believe. But I have been able to do some pretty awesome stuff with it. But yes, I'm looking forward to upgrading to Cubase 4. In fact, I just got an email from Cubase telling me that as a Cubase customer, I can upgrade to 4 on line for a discounted price. I have to fill out a form and contact them to find out how much it's going to cost me. I'm just concerned about how my computer will like it.

edit: duh, right at the bottom of your link Fluf. Cubase LE is OEM only (available as bundle with 3rd party hardware)

Me$$iah · Post by **Me$$iah** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 9:43 pm

FxTeleport rocks

I use it instead of VST link (tho VST link is a great system, when properly set up, sample accuarte n everything)

But Fxteleort is really good. I use it with a second computer which houses my BFD. Makes programming a dream. The second computer also has a copy of my cubase VST folder on so all my effects are available in mixing just in case I need a little more. Tho I have just bought myself another DSP card, so Im hoping to use less weak VSTs and more of my favoured toys.

There is a small latency in the system, which ya dont get with the VST link, but it tells you the latency and its easily compensated for.

The cost is a pain, and I needed another copy of cubase for my second comp, Like no-way that aint fair surely.... hello BitTorrent.

But, if ya get it, Im sure ya wont be disappointed.

Very easy to set up, I used the onboard network connections when I first tried it, one comp had a gig the other 100mb and it worked fine, tho there was a huge improvment when I bought two gigabit network cards and used them.

All in all, very stable. Excellent addition to any setup.

cheers

PS I also have all my samples on the second computer with all the drives mapped. I use it to back up projects etc. When the teleport is running I can still gain access to my sample collection etc.