Note Dropouts with slave PC using VEP and Logic on iMac Master

[pmjbaumann]

Hi,

Having finally managed to get the systems communicating, I've now got another issue where the samples I'm using drop out even though there are midi notes showing on the piano roll in logic. This happens using even the most basic of EastWest Hollywood samples, and I've tried it with the most basic sus patches for strings, and even with 3/4 instruments (v1, v2, viola and cello), some notes just aren't sounding. I've attached an image showing the Logic file I'm trying to play in case that helps, as you can see, the CPU is barely moving so I don't think it's an overload or anything like that.

I'm using a UR22 interface, and here are my specs.

• Host: Apple iMac 21.5" (Late 2009), OS X Yosemite, 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 16GB RAM.
• Slave: Windows 8.1 Pro, Intel Core i7 6-Core Processor i7-5930K (3.5GHz) 15MB Cache, 64GB RAM, 1TB + 500GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD (OS and samples).
• Hardware: Oxygen61 Midi Keyboard, MGear Sustain Pedal.
• Software: Logic Pro X on host, VEP on Slave PC connected via ethernet server.
• Libraries: HO Gold, Pianos Gold, Silk Gold, Solo Violin Gold, Symphonic Choirs Gold, Voices of Passion Gold, Spaces.

I've had so many issues with this setup, and spent a lot of money so I was hoping once I'd got them communicating it'd be clear sailing from there, but evidently not.

Everything is offline apart from the ethernet between the two, and I've done tests with just one articulation loaded per instance of PLAY, and I still can't get it to work, it cuts random notes out of the midi playback, no matter what velocity/expression/modulation level they're at.

Please, has anyone else had a similar issue and found a solution?

[marnix]

Hello Peter,

Please make sure you have set Logics Process Buffer Range to "Small" in /Preferences/Audio/Devices/ and Sample Accurate Automation to "Off" in /Preferences/Audio/General/

Does it make a difference if you change the Threads per instance setting in the VE Pro Server Preferences on your Windows machine?

I made the experience, that Macs sometimes show a Gigabit Ethernet connection, but still only allow for 100 Mbit - please simply set 1000baseT manually on the Master Mac and do not forget to click on "Apply" after you have altered the setting.

Please let me know if any of this has changed the situation to the better.

Best, Marnix

[pmjbaumann]

I've got threads set to 6 at the moment as it's a six-core machine, should I reduce or increase them to test this?

The network was already set to the correct setting you described. I've changed the logic settings to see if that will help but will let you know shortly

[pmjbaumann]

I've done all the things you suggested but I'm still getting dropouts where some notes just don't play at all :( 

[Cyril Blanc]

@pmjbaumann said:

I've done all the things you suggested but I'm still getting dropouts where some notes just don't play at all 😞 

OOOPS !! I have set Logics Process Buffer Range to "Large" in /Preferences/Audio/Devices/ :)

What is the value of Logic's "I/O buffer size" ?

[pmjbaumann]

I've got mine set to 1024

[pmjbaumann]

In case anyone else is having this problem, I found the solution finally!

The issue was with the voice count within play, so when there were large string sections all playing at once (or other instruments), the max voices, which I think was set to 124 or something, was peaking, so I've now increased it to 1000+ before any issues should arise... Doubt I'll hit that many voices though!

Hope this helps anyone else that's struggling

[Cyril Blanc]

> I've got mine set to 1024

I have manage to go down to 256 with my 100 instrument templates and my Raid 0 of SSD 😉