Hollywood Strings/Brass - Latency Issues

[Manolito Mystiq]

Hello everyone,

Reaper clicks and pops whenever I try to play live with buffer setting at 64 or 128 (even 256 seems unreliable).

I upgraded my EliteBook 8540w with an 256 GB SSD (OCZ Vertex 4). The OS (Win7) as well as Reaper and the EW samples are on the same drive (though I could put the samples on my second internal 7200 RPM HD).

I also have a Presonus FireStudio Mobile interface, which I can set as low as 64 samples. Light samples, like the 1st Violin NV NV NV VB RR, work better than a heavy 1st Violin Leg Slur + Port SM Ni.

SPECS:
From 256 onwards, the samples play okay.

Windows 7 Professional 64-Bit
i7 Q720 @ 1.60Ghz
12.0 GB RAM
Akai LPK25 Midi Controller (connected via USB)

Is the USB Midi Controller the bottleneck? I could connect my Roland FP-4F digital piano through the midi connectors and try again.

Is my PC simply not powerful enough?
Or is Presonus's FireStudio Mobile just not powerful enough and should I look for a higher end interface like that of RME's BabyFace? (which I don't plan to do for budgetary reasons, but so I know that it's a limitation I can't solve by not upgrading some more).

The DPC Latency Checker stays green until I strike a note, when it becomes yellow to red. Interestingly, it keeps peeking having increased the buffer size, but then I don't have clicks 'n' pops.

Sincerely,

Mano

[flickerflix]

You would be better off with your OS and Reaper on the HDD and the samples on the SSD.

[trumpoz]

64 samples - I don't know of anyone that streams that low for HS (though there are probably people out there). The fact that lighter patches are working better is saying that the buffer is too low. The heavy 1st vln leg slur + port patches are huge. I'm not surprised you are getting pops at such a small buffer.

[Manolito Mystiq]

Transcribing music and then using VSTs is how I normally work things out, but I was just wondering if this was okay. I don't need to worry about latency when recording with my usual method, would I?

[Manolito Mystiq]

Originally Posted by trumpoz

64 samples - I don't know of anyone that streams that low for HS (though there are probably people out there). The fact that lighter patches are working better is saying that the buffer is too low. The heavy 1st vln leg slur + port patches are huge. I'm not surprised you are getting pops at such a small buffer.

Sorry, my bad. I'm talking about HS Brass/Strings GOLD!

[trumpoz]

I use both of those and wouldn't dream of trying to go at 64 samples buffer. My computer would raise the white flag and collapse.