VE PRO SERVER v.s. IAC + VE PRO with Logic 9

[Cyril Blanc]

Hello

I just bought VE pro, now I have to decide how I am going to do the final setup of my configuration

I have a Macpro 8 core 3ghz 13gb  with Motu PCI system with 84 ins and 64 out

I have SE Plus extended + Appassionata,  my goal is to be able to load my full orchestra with all articulation available ; 

I will switch articulation using program changes (except if you know a better solution)

From the 1st test I have done it looks like my  Macpro  is going to be able to handle it without having to have a second computer.

What is the best solution ?

What are the advantages an inconvenient of each solution ?

Is it better to have one VE with all orchestra or one VE by section ?

1st test done with VE Pro server shows that you cannot use volume control with Logic Multi instruments (is there is a way to fix this problem ?)

Best

Cyril

[Nathan Allen Pinard]

I can't say exactly is what ideal, but this is what I have for a basic film/game score template:

1. VE Pro server instance in Logic 8, loaded with 4 gigs worth of string samples. Chamber, Orchestral, Appassaionata, and Sordino. All at once for a more organic effect rather than just one version. The strings are routed to busses, and put out to logic in 4 different channels. So I can mix/engineer each version of VSL strings.

2. Then I have 2 "The Trumpet" instances loaded into another VE Pro instance in Logic. I route the MIDI channels that trigger these samples, to also trigger the VE Trumpets I have loaded as well.

3. Then I have 1 Kontakt 3 plugin loaded into another VE Pro, with about 6 different Taiko samples, for that BSG effect (this is for a particular project I'm on now)

4. On top of that, I have another Mac Dual G5, with all my woodwinds, percussion (snare/bd), trumpets, trombones, and french horns loaded via VE Pro (32bit) as well.

My strings are in the 64bit patch, so I can load past 3gigs. Everything else is 32bit VE Pro.

With an 8 core, you MIGHT be able to load all your samples on one comp, however the harddrive throughput could struggle depending on what you have. It's best to share the load if possible. I have a 4 core mac, and everything loaded and played on every track, is still possible with a bit of artifacts depending on HD and network activity. My CPU gets up to 80% or so, but that's also with a few Altiverb instances running too. 

NOTE: I'm using Snow Leopard in this instance, and Logic 8.

[Nathan Allen Pinard]

@Another User said:

1st test done with VE Pro server shows that you cannot use volume control with Logic Multi instruments (is there is a way to fix this problem ?)

There is a work around with this, it's in the VE Pro manual. Set up VE pro as a multi-output instrument in logic, then click the + button below the solo button in the mixer window to add the aux tracks.

The "NET 1/2" outputs in VE Pro will route that audio to those aux outputs. 

[Ashermusic]

Indeed, that is what I am testing and so far I am VERY pleased with the results.

[AlCapps]

Can someone explain how to open VE Pro as a Standalone on a Mac Pro along side Logic9. Also, can someone explain how to open VE Pro as a Plugin in Logic on a Mac Pro.--- I've watched all the videos, but I still don't know if I'm opening VE as a Plugin or a Standalone. I would like to have both going at the same time.--- It says that you can click the "preferences" button in Standalone and it will open up. But so far all the instances I set up do not let the "preferences" button open. So I suspect I'm only opening Plugins.--- I'm also using my older G5 2.5 dual as a slave, which seems to be working fine running multiple VE Pro Standalones.--- Thanks for any info, Al Capps-----Also, how do you make Paragraphs when posting?

[Nathan Allen Pinard]

When you open VE Pro into Logic it's only as a plugin. To open via standalone you have to open VE Pro in the Applications>Vienna Ensemble Pro folder.

In able to route the audio and MIDI, you have to use the IAC Bus for MIDI, and some audio routing program like JackOSX or Soundflower to get it to Logic.

[JT3_Jon]

Has anyone figured out which option is best; IAC or VE Pro Server? I'm assuming its best to use VE Pro Server unless you need more midi channels per instance, but does adding extra VE Pro servers add that much more strain on resources? Anyone do any tests and are willing to share their results? This is pretty important for those of us using Logic / AU, as we do not have the ability to route midi through specific ports, thus limiting our VE instances to 16 midi channels! 

[Paul]

Hi JT3Jon,

please take a look at this thread.

Best,

Paul

[AlCapps]

@Nathan Allen Pinard said:

When you open VE Pro into Logic it's only as a plugin. To open via standalone you have to open VE Pro in the Applications>Vienna Ensemble Pro folder.

In able to route the audio and MIDI, you have to use the IAC Bus for MIDI, and some audio routing program like JackOSX or Soundflower to get it to Logic.

Thanks Nathan, That's a bummer, I was hoping to get rid of Soundflower. And I could never figure out how to set up JackOSX.

[Nathan Allen Pinard]

Well wait, if you use the plugin in Logic it's not standalone, but with SL it'll just just as many as standalone.

[Cyril Blanc]

Hello JT3_Jon

Correct me if I am wrong :

Inconvenient of VE pro Server v.s IAC

• I suppose that using VE Pro server give more stress to your CPU as it has to deal with re-routing audio to your DAW
• Also there is this problem of volume control that is controlling the 16 channels of the Multi-instrument in Logic
• In the VE Pro server you need to have a VE pro per 16 instruments
• I supposed that the plug ins in Logic are giving less stress to my CPU compared to VI 

In my Motu PCI system, in addition of a 24i and a 1296 I have Motu 2x2408 audio interfaces that have 3 Adat IN/OUT each

Today I use 4 of them.

I have put a light pipe cable between Out and In of my 4 ADAT to re-route IAC VE PRO 64 bit into Logic, so I have 48 in/outs for my VE PRO project

This project it has all the instruments (69) of that I have bought with all articulation loaded

[ilfman]

well i don't think VSL pro support direct outputs from the standalone version, my test was running jack osx(as an audio patcher between VSL Pro app and Logic 9) VSL pro running a few k3.5 with different IAC and audio outs going to logic via Jack ( i have been using jack since day one, so i know well how it works) in logic to avoid getting the audio via AUX, i use to create a multi instrument in the env then i open a plugin called external inst (it comes with logic ) and select my midi and audio input, Jackosx is selected in both logic and VSL audio pref.

the problem i find is that VSL dosnt send the audio out via it separate selected ch, only via master out, even when changing the audio bus out in the pref to no go

this would have been great if it can be done as then with external instrument plugin you get full control over the ch in logic like any other software plug

idea / thought ?

Frank