PC Question

1) An idea setup for DAW - the most basic one is not running WIFI. Download the DPC Latency Checker to test your system :

http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml
 
Hard disk should be 7200 rpm or above, no green drive (5400 rpm).
 
2) So many possibilities, but something like my setup below or better (i7 4790, etc) would run Platinum fine.

Get or build a custom PC that has low/consistent DPC Latency.
This will allow you to effectively run heavy loads at small ASIO buffer sizes.
With the right motherboard, the i7-4790k can be locked at 4.4GHz.
At 4.4GHz, the 4790k is fast.  Since you're not over-clocking, the CPU also runs cool/quiet.
Great balance of cost/performance...
16GB of RAM is sufficient for most scenarios.  
If you're making heavy use of virtual instruments, bump that up to 32GB.  
Note that adding unused RAM doesn't increase performance.  
IOW, If your projects only use 10GB, installing 32GB won't increase performance vs. having 16GB.
 

Btw the clicking and popping issues, Kontakt for instance puts in a load of unnecessary convelution reverbs that's bound to kill CPU. Kill them and you run just fine. I suggest you start another thread, giving us full steps to repro from a new project and telling us what you are experiencing in the Sonar forums, maybe this can be resolved..

You should be looking at tools like latencymon, process monitor and process explorer. Making sure your power management is set up correctly, software drivers are up to date etc..

OK - so, I think I'm going to take your advice and post a step by step because I feel like this thing pops WAY before it should.
 
So - just for grins I'll see if I can get it to a 15 minute or less screencast. I know I'm asking a lot, but I hope you guys can help.
 
@Doktor - is there any way to globally turn off convolution within Kontakt? Or do you have to do it each time and for every instrument?
 

Here's the question; are there any posted specs & parts lists to use? I'm not really a PC guy and I don't honestly know the difference between this part and that motherboard, etc.
 
or is there a custom PC configurator?

@Bajan - Jim, above, built them for you?

Jim Roseberry
When you're comparing an off-the-shelf machine to one where you hand pick literally each component for maximum DAW performance and minimum noise, there's absolutely no way any off-the-shelf machine is equal... let alone superior (not even a Mac Pro).  That's ignoring the obvious fact that off-the-shelf machines are built for general-purpose use and to a specific price point.  

To imply though that an off the shelf PC can't run a DAW perfectly well is utter bull. In most cases the specifications far exceed Sonar's minimum requirements, probably the most important component is the audio interface. Of course one is assuming the user will be buying a PC with at least half decent specs.

Most people using DAW's don't need to play counterstrike at the same time...

@Bajan - Jim, above, built them for you?
 
Hi Joshua
Yes Jim above - all our music and videos are made on Studio Cat Machines - Sonar for Music, Vegas for videos
His website is:-
http://www.studiocat.com/open_cart/
Cheers
Nigel
 

Jim didn't say that, doc.

Also, I use one of Jim's computers. I like it.

@gswitz I'm sure Jim's PCs are great. Not joking. Of course for those who have serious requirements (like needing to individually mic each member of the LSO, or some experimental synth nut (sadly I'm one of those), he's gonna be a guy worth talking to. I'm all for small business.

He said some of these things, and he tends to leave out the balance implying the rest, as though off shelf are somehow blanketly incapable. Of course that is what every good salesperson should do, and I'm not going to reprimand for doing so, but I hope he does not mind though if I add a little balance ;)

My problem is what Jim said. It's CONSTANT, CONSTANT workarounds and interruptions. Nothing just works and then I spend 80% of my time trying to chase a rabbit instead of writing & recording my ideas. 
 
So, I think I got a little lost in the translation - I can use studiocat for my custom machine, or that would be risky? Just need some clarity. Thanks!
 

Thank you guys very much!

ruralrocker2010
My problem is what Jim said. It's CONSTANT, CONSTANT workarounds and interruptions. Nothing just works and then I spend 80% of my time trying to chase a rabbit instead of writing & recording my ideas. 
 
So, I think I got a little lost in the translation - I can use studiocat for my custom machine, or that would be risky? Just need some clarity. Thanks!
 

Well, throwing hardware at the problem is a good solution :). In general if you have a high end computer, and you do get something customized such that it is good for audio, you can get to the point where you can just do whatever you want and not care because it'll probably work well. Not the case 100% of the time, sometimes software is crap and causes problems and there's nothing that can be done since it is just written poorly.
 
Studiocat is a good option if you want a custom machine that you didn't build. What they do is buy the same parts you could buy, but put it together, configure it, test it, and support it. So it is a situation if you want support like you get from a major vendor, but control over the parts.
 
Regardless of if you build or buy, there are a number of things to try and get to keep your problems down:
 
1) More processor power is more better. While in general the CPU isn't going to be the limiting factor, it can be sometimes and the more you have the less likely it'll stall out on anything. Stick with Intel and with their high end stuff.
 
2) Throw a good amount of RAM at the problem. At least 16GB, maybe 32GB. You want your system to not have to page stuff out so you want plenty to load all your programs n' samples n' background services and so on.
 
3) SSDs are amazing. If you can afford it, SSDs are what you want for your samples storage. They are so fast that you'll basically never have a dropout due to waiting on disk access, even under heavy sample loads. The Samsung 850 EVOs are great choices for that for not too much money. I like a SSD for your OS, and another for samples. The audio tracks can go on a magnetic drive.
 
4) You can make some OS and UEFI changes to power management to help with latency. Basically you turn off most of the power saving features. You disable C-States, turbo mode, and dynamic voltage for the CPU. You fix it at one frequency and one voltage level. For the GPU, you change it from adaptive mode to max performance, which does the same thing and disables power management. This can double the idle wattage of your system, but helps with latency as there isn't any waiting for these things to spool up and down. This is the stuff that you need a custom system/motherboard for in general. Dell and such don't let you change that in their UEFI, whereas motherboard vendors like ASUS do.
 
5) If you run a virus scanner, make sure you run a good one. I recommend NOD32 from ESET. Also change it so that it does not do scanning on the directories with your samples and audio files in them, and that you exclude scanning of extensions of audio files types (WAV, CWP, NKI, NKM, that kind of thing) so it doesn't mess with that stuff while you are working.
 
6) Use wired network, not wireless. While all networking causes more latency when accessed than you might think, wireless is a lot worse. Also using a good NIC from Intel generally seems to give the best results. You can disable the NIC, of course, but I find it unnecessary.
 
7) Don't run unnecessary background processes. That doesn't mean go all slash n' burn, you can still have stuff running, but if you don't need it, don't have it run all the time.
 
 
If you do all that you will probably have a system that just works and you can do what you want. I never bounce anything, I run all the samplers, all the effects live on my system and it isn't an issue. No dropouts, slowdowns, stutters, etc. Nothing magic, just high end hardware :)

ruralrocker2010

tomixornot
To the OP, have you tried running DPC Latency Checker ? If it's indeed related to WIFI or HDD rpm issue, your existing PC may still run Sonar fine after settling it.

Yes I have - seems ok when I'm not running any software. So should I be doing the latency check while the software is running?

Nope, just run the latency check alone. It will test the condition of your pc and gives you a yes / no if your pc is suitable to run DAW.