xabiton
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Is it a good idea to get a lot of ram for Sonar?
Right now I am running X1 studio on a core i7 laptop with 8 gigs of ram. I use a lot of sample libraries for Kontakt I am wondering if I upgrade to 16 will Sonar even take advantage of this or would I just be wasting my time?
Kevwestbeats.com Sonar X1 Studio, Native Instruments Maschine MK2, Akai Miniak, Behringer BCF 2000, Ableton Live 8 and Reason 6 user with a load of plug ins Core i7 Laptop 2.2ghz with 8 gigs of ram.
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Guitarpima
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Re:Is it a good idea to get a lot of ram for Sonar?
2012/04/04 22:36:00
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If you use a lot of synths with huge libraries, yes. If you don't, it couldn't hurt.
Notation, the original DAW. Everything else is just rote. We are who we are and no more than another. Humans, you people are crazy. Win 7 x64 X2 Intel DX58SO, Intel i7 920 2.66ghz 12gb DDR3 ASUS ATI EAH5750 650w PSU 4x WD HDs 320gb DVD, DVD RW Eleven Rack, KRK Rokit 8s and 10s sub
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riojazz
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Re:Is it a good idea to get a lot of ram for Sonar?
2012/04/04 22:49:07
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I assume you are using Windows 7 Pro or Ultimate. Otherwise, with Home Premium, nothing over 4 GB of RAM is used. And you are running Windows 64-bit, right?
Software: Cakewalk by Bandlab; Adobe Audition; Band-in-A-Box audiophile; Izotope Ozone; Encore; Melodyne; Win 10 Pro, 64-bit. Hardware: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 2nd; Roland Integra-7; TCE Finalizer; Presonus Central Station, Behringer X-Touch. Home built i7 with 16 GB RAM, SSDs.
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chuckebaby
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Re:Is it a good idea to get a lot of ram for Sonar?
2012/04/04 22:51:55
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i ran a computer using 4 gigs in a 64 bit enviornment,i built a new computer with 8 gigs still a 64 bit and i did notice things load a little faster but anything over 8 gigs i think is just not going to stand out as much as you'd think,it will help,but not a whole lot.
Windows 8.1 X64 Sonar Platinum x64 Custom built: Asrock z97 1150 - Intel I7 4790k - 16GB corsair DDR3 1600 - PNY SSD 220GBFocusrite Saffire 18I8 - Mackie Control
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osd
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Re:Is it a good idea to get a lot of ram for Sonar?
2012/04/04 23:12:20
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It's not difficult to see memory utilization through windows task manager, and tell if the system is topping out and having to swap. Like chuck said, it's a small gain, but it's such an easy and inexpensive upgrade, I couldn't resist bumping mine to 16GB.
i7-870 2.93Ghz, 16GB RAM, Radeon HD 5770 + 2 x DisplayLink w/ 4 x 22" screens, Intel SSD 80GB, Sonar X1-D Exp. - Problems? How's your latency? What processes are running? Driver crash?
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ampfixer
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Re:Is it a good idea to get a lot of ram for Sonar?
2012/04/04 23:22:56
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In the 64 bit world there's lots of expansion room. I run 12 gigs and have never come close to using it all, but I'm no power user. If you are using more than 60% of your current ram I would upgrade.
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bapu
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Re:Is it a good idea to get a lot of ram for Sonar?
2012/04/04 23:30:10
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"RAM is everything" ~ Alan Parsons
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xabiton
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Re:Is it a good idea to get a lot of ram for Sonar?
2012/04/04 23:48:13
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Thanks everyone. I am using a lot of Kontakt libraries. They have a ton of samples so as I get into bigger projects I think it would be useful. My laptop maxes out at 16 (and windows home premium also maxes out at 16) I am just curious if Sonar would even use the extra ram or is it a bit of overkill.
Kevwestbeats.com Sonar X1 Studio, Native Instruments Maschine MK2, Akai Miniak, Behringer BCF 2000, Ableton Live 8 and Reason 6 user with a load of plug ins Core i7 Laptop 2.2ghz with 8 gigs of ram.
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Bub 
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Re:Is it a good idea to get a lot of ram for Sonar?
2012/04/04 23:55:03
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Doesn't it all depend on whether or not the sample library you are using streams from the disk or loads in to memory?
You could have 128GB of RAM, but if everything is streaming off your HDD, it ain't gonna do you any good.
"I pulled the head off Elvis, filled Fred up to his pelvis, yaba daba do, the King is gone, and so are you."
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xabiton
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Re:Is it a good idea to get a lot of ram for Sonar?
2012/04/04 23:56:49
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never thought about it that way. ill look more into how kontakt does this as well
Kevwestbeats.com Sonar X1 Studio, Native Instruments Maschine MK2, Akai Miniak, Behringer BCF 2000, Ableton Live 8 and Reason 6 user with a load of plug ins Core i7 Laptop 2.2ghz with 8 gigs of ram.
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AndyDavis
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Re:Is it a good idea to get a lot of ram for Sonar?
2012/04/05 00:09:55
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Don't ask the question if you cannot live with the answer.
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bapu
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Re:Is it a good idea to get a lot of ram for Sonar?
2012/04/05 00:25:09
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AndyDavis
riojazz
I assume you are using Windows 7 Pro or Ultimate. Otherwise, with Home Premium, nothing over 4 GB of RAM is used. And you are running Windows 64-bit, right?
This is accurate for any 32 bit version, but the x64 Home Premium limit is 16GB. It's 192 for Pro/Ultimate.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa366778(v=vs.85).aspx#physical_memory_limits_windows_7
Yes, I have x64 Home premium with 6GB on my ADK Laptop and my mobo can go to 12GB is I ever need to. And I may since "RAM is everything" according to Alan Parsons.
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Alegria
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Re:Is it a good idea to get a lot of ram for Sonar?
2012/04/05 11:19:19
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"Bud"
Doesn't it all depend on whether or not the sample library you are using streams from the disk or loads in to memory?
You could have 128GB of RAM, but if everything is streaming off your HDD, it ain't gonna do you any good. Many sizable libraries such as EastWest's offerings give you the option. It's up to you to manage it. But the end goal is always to load up the RAM as much as you can.
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konradh
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Re:Is it a good idea to get a lot of ram for Sonar?
2012/04/05 13:52:35
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I run Windows 7 in 64-bit on an 8-core machine. I went from 6 GB to 12 GB almost immediately after buying my new PC because of the number of virtual instruments I use. I makes a huge difference, especially if you use large libraries like Hollywood Strings. (In the Hollywood v Vienna debate, note that Vienna requires much less computing power, although I like Hollywood for the epic/film score string sound).
Also, the company that makes your VIs can advise you when to use several instances v a single instance with multiple MIDI channels to take advantage of multiple cores. Example: I am certain for Hollywood it is better to use multiple instances (provided the same sample set is duplicated in multiple instances). I believe for Kontakt it is recommended to use fewer instances with multiple MIDI channels for the different sounds/samples.
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Jonbouy
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Re:Is it a good idea to get a lot of ram for Sonar?
2012/04/05 13:55:34
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xabiton
Thanks everyone. I am using a lot of Kontakt libraries. They have a ton of samples so as I get into bigger projects I think it would be useful. My laptop maxes out at 16 (and windows home premium also maxes out at 16) I am just curious if Sonar would even use the extra ram or is it a bit of overkill.
If you ain't running out or getting close to then it won't make any difference. If you plan on getting into bigger projects and libraries then the question will answer itself....you'll have to get more.
"We can't do anything to change the world until capitalism crumbles. In the meantime we should all go shopping to console ourselves" - Banksy
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John
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Re:Is it a good idea to get a lot of ram for Sonar?
2012/04/05 14:11:01
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I think the more ram the better for overall performance. One may not run out as such but one may also be paging in and out without knowing it.
If you can keep all your stuff in memory it can only be a benefit.
Also if running a 64 bit OS 4 GB is simply too little.
BTW it can't hurt!
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Jonbouy
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Re:Is it a good idea to get a lot of ram for Sonar?
2012/04/05 16:10:28
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John
One may not run out as such but one may also be paging in and out without knowing it.
Which is long hand for saying it makes no noticeable difference I guess....  I'd would say though given the no-brainer price of 4Gb sticks just now, it's a good time to fill yer boots.
"We can't do anything to change the world until capitalism crumbles. In the meantime we should all go shopping to console ourselves" - Banksy
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aleef
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Re:Is it a good idea to get a lot of ram for Sonar?
2012/04/05 18:29:53
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with Kontakt you can multi-out with a few different soundsets, with 1 instance. 8gb of RAM is plenty.. i have had 60 tracks of various library's and audio..and have never reached 4gb of RAM. the cpu hit 54% with no freezing..Kev what you have, seems like a nice secure blanket of power to me. HAPPY EASTER YAW..
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Bub
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Re:Is it a good idea to get a lot of ram for Sonar?
2012/04/05 23:02:30
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Jonbouy
John
One may not run out as such but one may also be paging in and out without knowing it.
Which is long hand for saying it makes no noticeable difference I guess.... LOL!
"I pulled the head off Elvis, filled Fred up to his pelvis, yaba daba do, the King is gone, and so are you."
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Bub
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Re:Is it a good idea to get a lot of ram for Sonar?
2012/04/05 23:07:15
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I've run my system with 8GB and 4GB. I saw no difference but, I'm also not using anything that loads in to RAM.
Having more RAM does not automagically make your system faster. If it did, we'd all be running 286's with 1,000TB RAM.
"I pulled the head off Elvis, filled Fred up to his pelvis, yaba daba do, the King is gone, and so are you."
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californiamusic
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Re:Is it a good idea to get a lot of ram for Sonar?
2012/04/05 23:23:22
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 As Andydavis said.. Windows 7 Home Premium uses up to 16GB not 4GB. Ram's not too expensive, Max it out ; )
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