Intel MacBook vs G4 Powerbook

Please help me out here....

I've been running R5 on a 1.5GHz Powerbook G4 and recently moved that to a 2.2GHz C2D 4Gig RAM Macbook.

I'm getting less performance on the MacBook even with AirPort off.

I was running my ensemble at 88.2k and getting a CPU hit of 70% on the G4.

Running the same ensemble on the MacBook is impossible at 88.2k. I have to reduce the sample rate to 44.1k just to get the CPU down to 75%. Oh and my ensemble is monophonic so I can't reduce the voice count.

So, how do I get more performance from my Intel MacBook?


Michael Oster
F7 Sound and Vision
http://www.F7sound.com

 

Welcome =)

Follow the guidelines given here:

http://www.nativeinstruments.de/index.php?id=niosxtut&L=1

The really important thing here is the processor performance setting; otherwise speedstepping comes into play.

ew

 

Thanks for the info. I'll make the changes and get back to you.


Michael Oster
F7 Sound and Vision
http://www.F7sound.com

 

ew,

So I followed the instructions and recovered a percent or two, but that's it. My MacBook is pretty lean with no other audio programs on it yet.

Here's what happens, though. I launch Reaktor5 and my ensemble comes up. It registers around 20% which is great. I play a few notes then the usage jumps up to 70+% where it stays. And that's at 44.1k. I can't even begin to run at higher sample rates (which I can on the Powerbook G4).

I can't edit HD video on the Powerbook, but I can easily do it on the MacBook. I was thinking that I should be able to get a similar power jump with Reaktor as well, but maybe that's not so.

Just that the Intel C2D running at 2.2GHz should absolutely KILL the G4 1.5GHz using the same ensemble in Reaktor. Right?

 

It definitely should be killing it. Contact support.

ew

 

ew,

I'll contact support. Thanks!

 

what are you Audio settings for Reaktor in terms of Output Latency?

are you using the internal Mac Soundcard?

sowari

 

I've adjusted the output latency from 40ms or so all the way to over 100ms. It helps, but it doesn't get below 70%.

I'm using the internal Mac audio. I don't have an audio interface for that MacBook.

I have an Mbox which I use on the G4 Powerbook. When I use that, my G4 processor takes a hit of an extra 2 - 3%. Not too big of a deal.

 

good god: 40ms - terrible - never used more than 8 ms on mac mostly 6ms

 

My G4 defaults at 23ms latency with the Mbox. I don't know why. Also, Reaktor seems a bit less stable with the Mbox. Again, it's minor, but I can hear the difference.

BTW, my Mbox is the 1st generation one. The newer ones may play better with R5.

I followed up more on this and spoke w/support.

After running a different ensemble "SpaceDrone" on my MacBook, that ensemble running at 88.2 with 96 voices hit my CPU at around 40%. I'm thinking that my MacBook doesn't like my own creation too much.

But, it's weird that I can run that same ensemble in R5 on the Powerbook which is ancient by today's standards and it uses less CPU than on the Intel MacBook.

 

make sure you are using the Reaktor 5.1.5

 

Yes, I'm on 5.1.5xx