I would appreciate some advice regarding my DAW. I have searched these forums and have found a lot of great comments but I'm still not sure exactly what my next step should be. I am using X1 to work on orchestral-type music. I have set up 50+ midi channels each routed to a separate instrument in a GPO softsynth (trying to replicate an orchestra). I have 4 such softsynths inserted (16 channels each). I was doing fine at first but as I move through the project the response time is getting slower and slower. Simply clicking on a channel "solo" button takes 5 seconds to respond and I'm barely into the project. I assume the answer lies in my CPU or RAM. When I open another project with mostly audio files, X1 seems to perform normally. Here is my computer setup. I have a Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 /2.66GHz on an Intel DP965LTCK mobo with 4GB RAM Dual Channel DDR 2 (4X1GB). I'm using a 160GB 7200 SATA drive for the O/S and X1 and a 500GB 7200 SATA drive for the project files. My question(s): I can add another 4GB of RAM for about $80. Would there be any value in this to help speed things up? Or, do I just need to crack open the piggy bank for a new DAW based on i7 2600? Or, is there something else I can take a look at or tweak(I've made no system or Sonar adjustments or tweaks). I apologize if this question may have been already addressed elsewhere in these forums, but I just couldn't find an answer that just convinced me to "do this". Thanks. Roger

It was precisely for the same reason that I recently had to abandon my Quad core 6700 with 4Gb of RAM and update the poor thing to something a little more powerful.

I'm running EWQLSO Platinum Plus and on my new machine, 6 instances of Play, each one totally loaded up with instruments & articulations barely makes my CPU meter flutter, and the RAM consumption is around 7.7Gb

I can't say for sure whether it's JUST the additional memory that's caused this massive performance boost, I suspect it's the combination of CPU and RAM.

Both!

Hi Roger,
 
If you plan to make extensive use of virtual instruments, you'll want a machine with more RAM... and a faster CPU.  A DAW with an i7 2600 and 16GB of RAM would be able to sustain the loads you're considering... at small ASIO buffer sizes (for tight timing when playing).

FWIW, GPO is very much an "entry level" orchestral VI.  It is very good for what it is, and one can do very good things with it.  However, as one starts to get into the world of orchestral mock-ups, and sampling, you will likely reach the point of wanting something (much) better.

Even the "lower end" good stuff: EWQLSO Platinum or VSL SE (let alone the full VSL libraries or EW's Hollywood libraries) will absolutely choke your system.  Even for the VSL SE libraries, you need 8 gigs of Ram at a minimum, and at least a Q9550.  For the better, newer libraries, at least 16 gigs of Ram is needed, and a 3930K processor would not hurt, though depending on needs, the 2600k would likely be fine.

If you are thinking about pursuing orchestral VI's, it is very easy to make mistakes (from personal experience) and spend $$$ on libraries that you end up not needing/liking.  IMO it is a good idea to try to figure out the style(s) you wish to write in, and then determine what libraries best fit with what you intend to do (and the computer power you will have).

IMO it is a good idea to try to figure out the style(s) you wish to write in, and then determine what libraries best fit with what you intend to do (and the computer power you will have).

 
Good advice...
Define your end goal... and let that determine what you need (virtual instruments and the machine to run them).
 
The larger more complete orchestral libraries are expensive and very demanding.
Our clients that do huge orchestral mock-ups (say 1500 simultaneous notes of disk-streaming polyphony) are typically running a 3930k at 4.5GHz with 32GB RAM and multiple SSD drives.

Our clients that do huge orchestral mock-ups (say 1500 simultaneous notes of disk-streaming polyphony)

Blimey...

I don't know if I've ever used 1500 notes in an entire song yet...

Blimey... I don't know if I've ever used 1500 notes in an entire song yet...

 
I know it seems kinda crazy... but with the multiple mic options, polyphony can pile up fast with libraries like LASS or Hollywood Strings.  
 
Amazing how far the technology and virtual instruments have evolved over the years.
Hard-core composers can now run these types of projects from a single machine...
Granted this is an extreme circumstance.  Most users don't require this level of performance.

I'm certainly enjoying the benefits of the hardware developments over the last couple of years for sure.

Jim Roseberry

The larger more complete orchestral libraries are expensive and very demanding.
Our clients that do huge orchestral mock-ups (say 1500 simultaneous notes of disk-streaming polyphony) are typically running a 3930k at 4.5GHz with 32GB RAM and multiple SSD drives.

a BIG +1