PCI-e Card DSP for VSTs in Sonar?????

Does anyone know of any companies out there that make or will be making a PCI-e DSP card for VST instruments. I imagine something similar to UAD-2 line of cards but for instruments instead of effects.... all the ones I've found seem to only do effects but maybe I'm missing something.

I can't seem to find anyone who is doing this and it seems like it would amazing to be able to do that.

I am aware of Pro-tools TDM and how it works and would like something that would work with SONAR in a Windows platform.

I already have a Muse Receptor for offloading from my main computer but it seems it would be much more streamlined for latency purposes if it were intergrated(ie an add-on card) into my system. I have to admit I'm not really into the Muse workflow and it requires a seperate monitor and mouse for a quicker workflow. I've tried KVM switches but thats more annoying.

I use:
BFD2
Omnisphere
Komplete
SONAR 7
Ableton Live7

PC

This is what you are looking for ...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=i7&x=0&y=0

This is all I know of that might suit your needs: Receptor

Hope it helps.

BTW. I do sizable MIDI orchestrations with my setup - 16Gb projects spread over 2 PCs with VSTi's (EW PLAY Platinum Orchestra) loaded from regular HDD to RAM, and it all works just fine so am personally curious as to your line of investigation (?)

Edit: Just seen you've already got a Receptor - Doh!

Ah... in his original post, he says he already has a Receptor

Thats what happens when trying to play GTA 4 while using this forum!

Yeah, obviously 1 whoop-ass pc would be lovely, but personally I'd never pay the stupidly high prices for cutting edge whoop-ass technology - hence why I stick to a bit under the best stuff available spread over my 2 pc's and upgrade one (or both of them) every other year or so if required.

FYI - I used to use FXT a lot and it's seriously managable (after setting it up, only extra thing you have to do is remember to turn on your slave pc when needed)

Also, maybe (at a guess) distributing your workload over 2 pc's would help your latency issue out ?

I don't use FXT anymore as I'm now running the PLAY version of East West (Platinum) Orchestra which has native 64bit support (so I can use all of my 8Gb memory per pc) but FXT doesn't support 64bit VSTi's so I had to find another method of communicating my 2 computers. Prior to going 64bit, I was using the NI Kompakt 32bit version of EW's orchestra (running 4Gb memory per pc) using FXT to sort out the system link and that worked jus fine. FXT 2 is supposed to be in the works (to have 64bit support) but it's taking a very very long time to be completed and released.

I needed an immediate solution with my new setup, so I found out about ADAT Lightpipe methods.

Master PC has EMU 1616 in it which organises my hardware (MIDI piano input, guitar input, speaker outputs to amp). Slave PC has EMU 1820 in it.
I have a huge project file within Sonar (on Master pc) which has MIDI tracks setup for entire orchestra, and a Sonar on slave pc with half of the orchestra's MIDI tracks.
Strings and Percussion are kept internal on master pc. Brass and Woodwind are on slave pc - so I re-route these MIDI tracks to output MIDI from EMU 1616 MIDI out to EMU 1820 MIDI in to trigger the MIDI inputs in Sonar on slave pc.
I then reroute the audio back into master pc over the digital optical cable that runs between both EMU's (personally use 6 out of 8 available channels as I work in 5.1), then reroute these 6 channels into (master) Sonar so I can hear all audio from both pc's at the same time.
I've also setup MIDI Sync so that master pc is controlling slave pc's timings.

Note: most people run synths in slave pc as standalone, but you can't do individual instrument mixing like that, hence why chose to have a Sonar on slave purely to monitor levels and record automation (my Tascams mixer levels) before sending to master pc.

Even though this sounds like a bit of a mess, it's not that hard to use and I get a full orchestra with keyswitchable (multiple articualtion) and DXF (dynamic cross-fading) samples loaded for (nearly) all instruments, and each instrument is loaded 3 times over (close, stage, and surround mic recordings) for realtime 5.1 mixing and soundstage/ambience control (over my 2x24 track mixers)!!

Besides, it's good to know the workload is distributed over 2 pcs so HDD, Sound-card, Processors, memory (hell, pretty much everything) is working half as much as a monster pc, and I have a slight bit more peace of mind as I'm routing everything myself manually (not reliant on FXT anymore).

Hope this helps. If not, ask anything else if ya want!

Glad to be of assistance BlackMath!

Heres some better pics of me "studio":










All 4 monitors are running from one graphics card (nVidia NVS440) in master pc, but generally speaking I use the extreme right monitor as a standard Windows Remote Desktop Connection to see the slave's visual output, and yes this lets me control everything using one qwerty keyboard and mouse. I also set it up like this (as in not have a monitor directly connected to slave) so when I do a project which only requires the master pc I can still use all 4 monitors (didn't like the idea of pointlessly restricting myself to just 3).

Personally speaking I just prefer multiple monitors as opposed to big screen affairs - I used to use a 42" plasma tv as my centre monitor, along with 2 of my current monitors (one either side). This was handy for reduced mouse dragging distance (compared to now), and when doing projects with video I could have instant decent "end result" previews. That said, w/o wanting to brag, I think my current setup is perfect (for me) - plenty of visablilty of track view (2 monitors purely for that), left monitor (if you can just about tell with my piccies) has Tempo, Event list, and Console view (showing 24 tracks = Tascam US2400 no.1 - Strings and Percussion), and right monitor has Piano roll (floated out of master Sonar and placed over the top of slave pc's track view - which is only temporarily used for mixer automation assesment) and Console view for slave (24 tracks for Tascam no.2 - Brass and Woodwind). Obviously though, monitor setup and usage is a matter of functionality, and personal preference so my opinion is most biased

To clarify my MIDI patching setup - I have each instrument send MIDI from one EMU to the other (using old-style typical MIDI lead) but the MIDI sync / SMPTE signal is transferred using MIDIoverLAN application (if you're not aware, it's a virtual MIDI cable software which you need on both pc's and obviously it sends the data over the LAN network connection). I did this for 2 reasons, I generally didn't have enough MIDI ports using EMU method (only 16), and the SMPTE signal was (I think) causing master Sonar to hang and crash when sent through EMU's, but when I sent it through MIDIoverLAN it all worked perfectly first go.

Another point to consider (if not aware) is that if you plan on using FXT, you don't even need a soundcard / audio interface in slave pc - just need a decent spec machine with enough ram for your needs, and a network connection!!

Note: one slightly inconveniencing factor of having slave pc audio routed into master pc/Sonar is that you have to record/capture those ASIO channels (in realtime) before your do a general project mixdown (entire mix), so it takes on average twice as long to do. Personally I then put my exported 6 split-mono channeled audio tracks/wavs into Surcode DTS encoder to rebuild my project as a burnable DTS wav file for playback on compatible home cinema systems - so it can take me about 20 minutes just to make a burnable file!!

And yes, physically this kind of setup takes up loads of space - I decided to gut out a spare room full of (frequently used) excersing equipment to fit my all music stuff in. Wasn't overly happy about that but felt the sacrifice and extra commitment to my music would benefit my work greatly, which it has.

Phew, think that's got most of it covered Holla back if/when ya want. Good luck with whatever route you chose to take anyways.

wow - dont you need an extra pair of eyes for all thet screen size?

Me eyes are ok, but I could do with an extra brain

Hey LS,
OT, but I would just like to say NICE SETUP......

Randy

BlackMath - I fear that I've unintentionally hijacked you're thread a bit - if I have many many apologies.

So as to maintain you finding out more about your PCI-e DSP mission I've setup a new thread of my own (about me studio) : My thread

Good luck with your mission and future studio enhancements.