Re: mainstage CPU,how good is it for live looping?

[Per Boysen <perboysen@gmail.com>]

On Mon, Jan 17, 2011 at 10:30 AM, Louie Angulo
<louie.angulo@googlemail.com> wrote:
> is anybody using it live succesfully?

Yes. I'm doing that. And even though Mainstage blocks the keyboard key
commands of Mobius' I'm staying with that host because it sounds
better and is lighter on the CPU. Of course you have to avoid using
plugins that are extra CPU consuming, that's the trick. And since some
of the Logic plugins are extremely CPU efficient you can reach an
extraordinary low CPU consumption if sticking with those plugins in
your Minstage stetups. Channel EQ and Compressor are the two most used
plugins over here. And limiter (but beware of the Ad-Limiter 'cause
that is a mastering tool that would ruin your live setup if you try
using it). On the master output I use a Multiplressor followed by a
limiter. When Mainstag was released a couple of years ago I copied my
older Bidule setup and have in fact used the same wiring ever since
(although I constantly try alternatives).

> can the latency be better
> adjusted?

Certainly! Do not use plugins that add latency and seet the audio
buffer to 128 samples.

> what buffer sizes are u guys using?

I use 128. That is on a 2.2 MHz MacBook, the four year old white model
with the cracking up plastic case ;-)) and Santa Rosa chip. It is till
good enough and I have seen the CPU load minimize over these four
years as Apple keep optimizing code between system upgrades and
application upgrades.

Greetings from Sweden

Per Boysen
www.boysen.se
www.perboysen.com
www.looproom.com internet music hub