Macbook Pro 2.8ghz, Live8 & RME fireface800 performance

[flowdesigner]

Hi,

Im currently using Live8 on a quad 2.53ghz PC laptop with FF800. On projects using up to 20/25 % CPU i use 256ms lateny without crackles, but with bigger projects in go over 512ms latency.

Im thinking about swithing to Macbook PRO 2.8.

Will I be able to run at lower than 128ms latency on big projects?

Thanks

[leedsquietman]

It's going to depend on plugins and internal devices usage as much as anything.

If you'd said Mac Pro octacore tower, I would be inclined to say yes, 128 samples should be possible on larger projects, on a MBP it is less likely (on larger projects, small projects should be manageable). Tarekith and other FF800/FF400 users might want to chime in here with their experiences.

Just do all your recording and tracking without loading FX on, use direct monitoring if necessary if tracking anything like drums which requires really low latency tracking, and then when the thing is pretty much complete, start to add your FX and step your latency up. For playback 512 samples latency should be no problem at all (besides, any latency hungry plugins are going to be compensated for anyway so the true latency figure is likely to be higher than you'd imagine anyway).

I have some projects so heavy that on playback (after adding all the plugins and such) I am running 1536 or 2048 samples latency to avoid processor meltdown. This is still fine for in the studio playback, although a bit on the high side if you are playing out live or trying to do automation.

[3phase]

back in 2002 64 samples was no problem on bigger projekts...

128 is no problem on my machine with logic and L7..with L8??

i dont know if this is one of the points that change again when version 8 is finished..

but for now the times of low latencys are over for L8 users

[leedsquietman]

Also there are much more demanding softsynths and plugins than in 2002 and many more intensive features within DAW programs (stuff like racks wasn't happening in 2002).

Also remember - Live needs that extra plugin buffer for VST/AUs as well, meaning achieving truly low sub 128 samples latency when using 3rd party softsynths/ FX is particularly difficult.