Helpful ReplySonar Platinum ver. JP: Exclude Synth Inputs?

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2:43AM
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2015/11/16 20:29:45 (permalink)

Sonar Platinum ver. JP: Exclude Synth Inputs?

What does this mean exactly:
 
The new Exclude Synth Inputs option under Allow Arm Changes During Playback/Record instructs SONAR to not allow dynamic arming of synth tracks, thereby avoiding the overhead. When enabled, synth tracks can only be armed when the transport is stopped. The Exclude Synth Inputs option is enabled by default.
 
That's an excerpt from the Guide regarding the preference setting under allow arm changes during playback/record.  What does the term "overhead" refer to in this case?  CPU power?  If so, then how so?
 
Is there a negative aspect to leaving it unchecked and thereby allowing arming of a synth track during playback/record?  Before Jamaica Plain, I always left this unchecked because while I create and record a good MIDI track, I then a short while later, usually still while playing, "rip it" straight to an audio track to lock it in.  This was for external audio inputs.  Now that Jamaican Plain allows me to record in real-time a synth track, I am taking full advantage of this while giving me the same flexibility as an audio track with an external input.
 
So if for some reason I shouldn't leave this unchecked, then please let me know.  Thanks!
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John
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Re: Sonar Platinum ver. JP: Exclude Synth Inputs? 2015/11/16 20:53:31 (permalink)
That was in response to severe performance problems with some synth setups and being able to record without arming.  I belove they are working on a better solution. 

Best
John
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2:43AM
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Re: Sonar Platinum ver. JP: Exclude Synth Inputs? 2015/11/16 22:00:35 (permalink)
Do you know what particular setups and/or synths were causing problems?  I guess I'll just try it out with it unchecks and see how it goes.  If any problems arise, I will check the box.
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Noel Borthwick [Cakewalk]
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Re: Sonar Platinum ver. JP: Exclude Synth Inputs? 2015/11/16 23:27:54 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby 2:43AM 2015/11/17 00:13:41
The issue was that with synth heavy projects with multi output synths (multiple instances of Kontakt for example with hundreds of outputs) there was some overhead if dynamic arm was enabled since the code which allowed you to arm any synth audio track on the fly was expensive in this case. If you dont want to arm synth tracks while actively recording then by disabling this you can save some CPU.
However as of the next update this has been optimized so even the synth heavy case is quite efficient so it may not be necessary to disable this if you want to arm synth tracks on the fly,

Noel Borthwick
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2:43AM
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Re: Sonar Platinum ver. JP: Exclude Synth Inputs? 2015/11/17 00:06:58 (permalink)
Thanks Noel!
 
It seems that play startup is a little delayed with this unchecked, and when things start acting like that I think the next WSOD is just around the corner.  So with that in mind... I may leave it disabled (checked) for the time being.  It seems that the defaults worked well enough and are optimized for the audio engine.
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Noel Borthwick [Cakewalk]
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Re: Sonar Platinum ver. JP: Exclude Synth Inputs? 2015/11/17 07:45:13 (permalink)
Its normal for a little extra delay since preroll has a lot of work to do when there are lots of synth outputs in dynamic arm mode. For one, record wav files have to be opened and other record initialization tasks have to be performed.
As I said there are improvements in this area for next time but in general if you don't intend using dynamic arm for synths then you can leave that option off.

Noel Borthwick
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