A few advantages you get to using one VePro server, even on the same machine as the DAW, include:

1. you can have a single VePro server project that says loaded all the time while you switch between different DAW projects; without having to reload all the samples into the DAW project each time
   
   
2. Having one common VePro project shared between multilple DAW projects can mean that certain mix decisions can also be shared.  For example, if you use the VePro mixer to apply EQ, FX, level balancing, etc.. then you can reuse that balanced and mixed orchestr across several DAW projects and preserve the same mixed sound and not having to re-engineer the sound each time.
   
   
3. If you are using VSL instruments,  then VePro has some little built in features for managing VSL instruments and MirPro settings, that streamline workflow just a little bit compared to using VSL instruments and MirPro directly in the DAW.
   
   
4. VePro7 now includes the Vienna Suite built in, with a bunch of EQ presets in particular that are already engineered and related to VSL orchestra instruments.  Could be helpful.
   
   
5. Some DAW's don't do a great job of freeing up memory when you disable tracks (ie, LogicPro).  VePro does a much better job of that FWIW.  So if you liike to use extremely large project templates, and enable/disable tracks as you go, with LogicPro, eventually you may run out of RAM because it will not properly free the memory when you disable tracks, but VePro does.
   
   
6. VePro cpu handling is very efficient.  Some DAW's are equally efficient, some are not.  OSX Cubase for example is notorious for not being great on this point so using VePro may make it possible mix projects with Cubase that would not be possible without VePro.  That situation with Cubase seems to change from version to version though, so...  some of this could be urban legend.
   
   

I had to check what a Mac Mini was. The currently advertised ones list 10gbe Ethernet as available. There are also Thunderbolt 3 to 10gbe adapters on the market.

Is your 48 GB machine not enough? My laptop with 48 GB RAM is my music machine. If I get into VSL will I need to get my server (Cisco C460, 40 cores, 128 GB RAM) into the game?

HI,

Thanks for the reply.

What do you have the thread count parameter set to in VePro preferences?

Currently thread (core) count per instance is 1 when using multiple instances but 2-3 when one instance is being used. As i understand it the general guidence is divide how many available cores by the amount of instances leaving at least one for the OS. Also should mention I set each VEP plugin in Cubase to 1 buffer as that is then a multiple of the buffer set in the I/O which is usually 256 samples for the FireFace 800. So 1 VEP plugin buffer = 256 samples of latency, 2 buffers = 512 etc.

 How many channels of instruments are you trying to run?

No more than 3 Kontakts each playing 2-3 instruments (strings etc) usually in one instance

How many VePro instances? 

Normally only one. Have tried to split instruments over multiple instances (strings one instance, brass one instance etc) but the result/performance is the same

what else is running on the MacMini?

Nothing other than the OS and synergy which enables me to use one keyboard/mouse for all connected macs. No BT or Wifi, all disconnected.

 how many return audio channels are you streaming back over the network to your MacPro?

8 stereo tracks maximum with 8 midi channels per instance

So really this setup shouldn't be a heavy load for either Mac but i have the same issue if i use the other Mac Pro 1,1 with upgraded CPU (6 core 3.6ghz, 48gb ram & 3 SSD's) in the same setup. I end up using one mac as a FX & synth slave and the other to get as many Kontakt sample instruments as possible before having to print or freeze tracks, with the Mac pro 5,1 as the master running Cubase and any other low level bus processing. The Mac 5,1 and Mac Mini are running 10.13.6 and the upgraded Mac Pro 1,1 is running 10.11.

Theoritcally i should have enough CPU, RAM & SSD power to run a fairly heavy template but in reality, that's far from the case. Which is why i'm looking at the ethernet as a possible culprit but if the general feeling is, 10Gb won't or shouldn't make a difference then there must be something else going on?

Again any suggestions and or guidence would be appreciated.

Thanks,

MD