Something about Cubase4 that’s NOT RIGHT!

[DJ Keith Porter]

I upgraded to cubase4 from Sx3 and It’s been killing me to complete mixes with Cubase4.

Opening an older track I created in Sx3 or starting a new track in CB4 I get warnings that say (CPU overload/Audio drop out). I never got the CPU over load messages when I worked on tracks in sx3.

While I am clicking selections I get an hour glass on my mouse where I can not do anything till the hour glass is done or the program crashes & the program makes a new file name (File Name01..02..03.cpr). Again this didn’t happen in sx3.

Continuing to build the track I begin to using more plug-ins besides Halion, (sampletank Soniksynth, T-Racks, Eq’s, flanges etc.) and now I’m getting the crackling sounds and hesitation in the playback.

My last issue is that the program is not recording exactly what I am playing with the Auto quantize button on. I have to use the quantize setup every time I play an instrument and then I have to move the notes to their right location. (Its not recording exactly what I am playing)

I thought all of this was because I needed more than 1GB of RAM so, thank God for Black Friday; I caught the sale on Ram and I upgraded my PC to 4GB. Ok Great!

I figuring this would solve the problems but to no avail I still have all the same and other issues:

1. Can’t use too many plug-ins in one track.

2. System Freezes #1 (program crash and the program makes a new file name (File Name01.cpr)

3. System Freezes #2 (The hour glass on my mouse appears while selecting or playing the track)

4. Auto quantize does not work.

Other Issues: Some of my IK-Multimedia plug-ins don’t work in CB4

1. AmpegSVX
2. Amptube

What is my problem over here? Is there some settings I need specifically to allow CB4 to work properly on my system?
I would appreciate if someone can help me resolve these issues ASAP.

[Joeflame]

hey
the problem might be you video card. and or you drivers on you audio card.
you video card might not be able to handle the graphic hungry of cubas 4 and if you use a lot of tracks that have to be redrawn to play then can slow the pc. also it might be time to upgrade the drivers on you sounf card.
btw what are you useing as a soundcard ??????

[DJ Keith Porter]

Thanks Flame for your time.

I have been hearing about the video card issue for the last two days.
I do have dual monitor setup but I thought the video card had its own memory?
I am a little confused on what’s the different between my Ram and video memory, I thought they were separate.

I’m using the Motu 828 mkII firewire interface. I will check for update on that.

I have also been told that I may have to reinstall windows.

I think I remember way back in my earlier CB days I did have to reinstall windows in order for it to work properly. Like I said that was way back and I vaguely remember.

Before I do all the system back ups and the reinstallation of windows XP; I will check for updates for the, Soundcard, Motherboard, Bios and video card.

I hope that does the trick because Lord knows I really don't want to sit there and reload all my programs again. ggzzz!

Thanks for your input and if you can help me with anything else I do except.

hey
the problem might be you video card. and or you drivers on you audio card.
you video card might not be able to handle the graphic hungry of cubas 4 and if you use a lot of tracks that have to be redrawn to play then can slow the pc. also it might be time to upgrade the drivers on you sounf card.
btw what are you useing as a soundcard ??????

[Joeflame]

also bro
try changeing some of your plugins some of them can be greedy on the pc
I stopped useing the WAVES pack for that reason.
you gotta troubleshoot to find which ones hog up the mem

[DJ Keith Porter]

also bro
try changeing some of your plugins some of them can be greedy on the pc
I stopped useing the WAVES pack for that reason.
you gotta troubleshoot to find which ones hog up the mem

Here is what I am working with:

Built up P4 2.8Ghz-800 FSB-4GB RAM l 120GB Prim l 250GB Sec. l Motu 828 MKIIl USB Berhringer B-Controller l Trigger Finger (M-Audio) l Pro 88 M-Audio l SampleTank 2 l Sonic synth 2 l T-Racks l CSR Reverb l Amptube l Ampex l Virtual Bassist l Virtual Gauitarist l Cubase 4 plug-ins- halion etc.

Should I really have any problems or have to change or eliminate plug ins?

Thanks Bro

[Ashwell]

also bro
try changeing some of your plugins some of them can be greedy on the pc
I stopped useing the WAVES pack for that reason.
you gotta troubleshoot to find which ones hog up the mem

Second on this one.

It's a complete pain but you may want to just back up everything and load it all up again - reinstall windows, load the new drivers, load up CB4.5, and then load up the most necessary plug-ins and keep adding them until you find something that's causing a problem.

I've also started keeping all of my samples, refills, etc on an external so I don't have to reload them each time something like this happens. You may already be doing that.

Also, I was having some problems like what you're describing with a couple of cracked plugs as well. Had to uninstall all the plugs and load them back up until I found the guilty culprits.

[DJ Keith Porter]

Second on this one.

It's a complete pain but you may want to just back up everything and load it all up again - reinstall windows, load the new drivers, load up CB4.5, and then load up the most necessary plug-ins and keep adding them until you find something that's causing a problem.

I've also started keeping all of my samples, refills, etc on an external so I don't have to reload them each time something like this happens. You may already be doing that.

Also, I was having some problems like what you're describing with a couple of cracked plugs as well. Had to uninstall all the plugs and load them back up until I found the guilty culprits.

lol @ (guilty culprits). That made my morning. haha

Yeah I do keep all my refills on a separate HD but all my VST plug-ins SampleTank 2, Sonic synth 2, T-Racks, CSR Reverb,Amptube, Ampex, Virtual Bassist, Virtual Guitarist (No Cracks) and all the plugs that came with the program are on the Primary HD.

Although my primary HD is only 40% full and these specs (P4 2.8Ghz-800 FSB-4GB RAM l 120GB Prim l 250GB Sec. l ) I really can't see what the problem is.

Question:
Where are your VST Plug-ins loaded on your primary or secondary HD?

[Ashwell]

Question: Where are your VST Plug-ins loaded on your primary or secondary HD?

I just keep the vst's on the Primary drive.

You're CPU seems fast enough though and you've got plenty of Ram. You might want to check Cubase.net if you haven't already - People are pretty helpful over there.

I can relate to what you're going through though - it's a real drag. I've had a lot of problems with my Dell. On the lighter side, I've been able to make lots of new friends in India at their help desk.

One more thought - I don't know if you use the internet on this computer but I've had issues due to Trojan horses that I didn't even realize were there and when I reformatted the drive and reinstalled everything it worked great.

So, I'm sticking to my guns - I'd back it up, wipe it out and just load up a few programs each night.

[DJ Keith Porter]

I just keep the vst's on the Primary drive.

You're CPU seems fast enough though and you've got plenty of Ram. You might want to check Cubase.net if you haven't already - People are pretty helpful over there.

I can relate to what you're going through though - it's a real drag. I've had a lot of problems with my Dell. On the lighter side, I've been able to make lots of new friends in India at their help desk.

One more thought - I don't know if you use the internet on this computer but I've had issues due to Trojan horses that I didn't even realize were there and when I reformatted the drive and reinstalled everything it worked great.

So, I'm sticking to my guns - I'd back it up, wipe it out and just load up a few programs each night.

Yeah, I’m leaning toward the reformatting that drive task. I believe this will to the trick.

I am also a member on Cubase.net and they have been very helpful and in fact there is where I got my first suggestion to reformat the drive.

I will not be able to do it till after work Friday because as you know once you think you will be in the lab for a minute it always turns out to be hours and sometimes days lol..

I will keep yall posted on my success.

Thanks for all the feed back everyone.

Happy producing!

[Ashwell]

If it makes you feel any better I'm doing the same thing right now. Spent three hours yesterday loading drivers and software back up.

[DJ Keith Porter]

And I stress fresh start!

Thank you all who contributed to assist me with my initial problem.

I spent the whole day backing up and reformatting my hard drive.
I installed Cubase sx3 and then my upgrade to cubase 4 from scratch.

After this I had no hour glass interruption or the CPU overload messages. (cool)

But I still had a latency problem.

I tried changing the sample rate below and above 512 and I still had no luck.

An idea sparked in my little head and I then got driver updates for my Motu 828MkII fire wire interface. (Great!)

But I still had that latency problem. (Getting a bit upset at this point.)

While testing the program after loading drivers for the Motu I noticed that when I was hitting the key board the sound was slightly off.

From out of the blue another bright idea popped in my head and I then updated the drives for my M-Audio Pro 88.

To my surprise the latency was gone gone gone!! Yippee!!

Finally Cubase sx3 and Cubase 4 works with none of my initial issues.

I tested both versions of the program and found it to be that original tuff program I bought from the Guitar Center!

Although I didn’t check older projects nor did I test to see how many instruments I can load without getting the crackle or the crashes. I think by upgrading my ram to 4 GB I shouldn’t have to worry about that.

Now that I’m off to a fresh start and not all my backed up plug-ins were able to be restored I will have to reinstall them all from scratch.

After going through all these channels I am wondering if all I needed was to update my Motu and M-audio drivers from the beginning.

All your advice was helpful and it was another learning curb that was well learned.
I hope this thread will help someone else that may have fallen into my old shoes.

Thanks a lot everyone.

Happy producing!