32 bit versus 64 bit Audio plugins !

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2013/01/21 14:17:55 (permalink)

32 bit versus 64 bit Audio plugins !

Is there any advantage using a 64 bit plugin  ( Compressor / EQ ) compared to a 32 bit plugin.
I am not talking about VSTi's, just plain audio plugins.

I got an upgrade for windows 8 pro 32bit as i use (Normally ), but now i installed win 8 64bit (Release preview )
to TEST, (thinking i would get a performance boost.) By using a 64bit system.


First thing i noticed was ( Teleport Server =BitBridge ), was consuming about 10-25% of mu cpu power by just 
using 2, 32bit audio plugins. Eeeeeek :(   at 89% total cpu usage with some Softsynth's to go.

And Bitbridge uses 10-12% cpu anyway without using any 32bit plugins.

Also i had to raise my Buffers alot, and it still was crackling / popping.

In the win 8 pro 32bit version i could easy use 12-15+ 32bit plugins and still not use more CPU than like 56%
with way lower Buffer size.

So my conclusion is this: With the 64 bit Windows i could hardly run many plugins, if you don't have a powerful computer, you are best earned by running 32bit system, me thinks....

I will probably go back to Win 8 pro 32bit for now, unless there is a solution to less CPU usage.

So is there an advantage by using 64bit audio plugin versus 32bit ?






#1

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    CJaysMusic
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    Re:32 bit versus 64 bit Audio plugins ! 2013/01/21 17:07:24 (permalink)
    Is there any advantage using a 64 bit plugin ( Compressor / EQ ) compared to a 32 bit plugin.
    I am not talking about VSTs, just plain audio plugins.

    Well there is no audio quality difference, as far as performance, that depends on so many things, like sound card drivers, motherboard, and lots of others. sound cards cam make or break you in 64bit. So can other things
     
     
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    John
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    Re:32 bit versus 64 bit Audio plugins ! 2013/01/21 17:15:43 (permalink)
    Looking at your system specs you don't have enough ram to run a 64 bit OS. 

    Best
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    Jeff Evans
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    Re:32 bit versus 64 bit Audio plugins ! 2013/01/21 17:20:33 (permalink)
    Not a lot of difference in sound quality especially if you think of it in different terms. 

    If the final playback resolution is 16 bits then for quality audio processing of any description you need to be at least 8 bits higher so even 24 bit processing would sound pretty good. Add another 8 bits and go up to 32 bits and you now have enough resolution to do almost anything at very high quality. (The mix buss in a final mix may require higher bit depths but 32 bit systems can simulate 64 bit resolution here if needed anyway)

    64 bit systems give you access to larger amounts of RAM and that can only be a good thing. I see that as being the advantage. But yes you can certainly produce super quality mixes in an all 32 bit system. I do it all the time. 

    32 bit systems have some advantages. Stability being one of them. I can use all manner of plugins with no issues ever using an all 32 bit system. This for me is more important in many ways.




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    kevo
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    Re:32 bit versus 64 bit Audio plugins ! 2013/01/21 17:31:34 (permalink)
    Jeff covered it pretty well.

    The only thing I would add is that using bit bridge can cause stability issues when trying to use certain 32 bit plugins.


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    AT
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    Re:32 bit versus 64 bit Audio plugins ! 2013/01/21 18:00:45 (permalink)
    No sound quality difference between the two - it is all just maths.

    However, your computer, as others have noted, probably isn't well suited to doing audio work in 64 bits.  I had a virus on my home computer and moved this old computer in as a substitue for the time being.  It was my music computer up until 6 months ago.  But this one now seems lathargic in comparison to my year old home computer.
     
    I'd jump back to 32 bit that made you happy.
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    Soundblend
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    Re:32 bit versus 64 bit Audio plugins ! 2013/01/21 22:40:53 (permalink)
    Thank's for your answers.
    Yeah i know the Laptop is kinda old and not quite up to date :)


    Re installed Windows 32bit again, and everything seem's to run smooth :)

    Thank you for clarifying that 32 bit plugins have the same " quality " as in 64bit plug's,
    at least i could hear no difference using 64bit plug's.



    My thought was to, maybe get a Performance boost by using an 64 bit System.


    Running 64bit with my computer was a bad idea, with my spec's on the laptop.


    I guess the point is to have, the right plugins " a few " and good ears to mix
    with, also knowing the plugin how they sound is more important than 
    having a state of the art computer, ( Even if it may help in certain task's ).

    They made great music in the good old days with just a 4 track tape recorder
    or just 4 tracks in a studio, taping it onto Reel to Reel recorder.





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