Can I use an old computer running VEP 5 as a slave to a master computer running VEP 7?

So I guess VEP can't use VST3 plugins as inserts on channels. Has anyone found a workaround to use Reason in VEP? I can use Reason in my main DAW. But my room is setup such that my workflow on keyboards centers around the slave computers running VEP. I'd really prefer to use it on those slaves. 

I too am disappointed and very surprised VEP doesn't support VST3s yet......although I'm also surprised Reason doesn't have a regular VST

My setup for VEP: MacPro (master),  PC (slave), plus I have 2 Eucon Artist series control surfaces that conect via ethernet. And I need an internet connection to the modem (not wifi) that prefereably both Mac and PC can access. The Mac only has 2 ethernet ports. Do i need a router or what they call a switch? I'm googling the difference now......but terms are confusing; switch, hub, router......

I upgraded to VEP 6........and rewire VST does indeed load Reason. So yes....VEP 6 is required. WEP 5 did not work. You're welcome, XT Software.....

Tried your demo to see if it runs in VEP 5........Reason seems to hang......so i sent your tech support an inquiry..... a week ago........that's some realy great support there XT Software........

Is VEP 6 required or will this also work in VEP 5?

Originally Posted by: Paul

Hi stereotype, 

A few questions for you: 

What are your preference settings in VE PRO? Did you assign all threads to VE PRO?

Thanks Paul, I'm still new to VEP but I think I know what you're asking. The computer is a quad core. I come from a Pro Tools background where at one time it was recommended to use one processor less than the max of the computer. So even though the slave computer isn't running PT, I probably carried on with that thinking. So I have it set to 3. However, I haven't taken into account hyperthreading (I think it's called). So I have the option to set the preferences to 8. I'll try some different settings and see if it makes any difference.

(update.....I just tried 4 and 8 and nothing changed. I'm back to creating the whole VEP session if I close it and come back)

Originally Posted by: Paul

Does this also happen when you load VE PRO on your master computer?

I have my libraries all installed in the slave computer. So it would take some time to install, authorize and activae them all in the master. I might have the space for just a couple of the crucial ones. But I might have to add a drive. So I've been holding off on testing that. 

I'm using a current version of VEP 5. I run the slave on an Asus (quad core) w/ Windows 7 and the main computer is a MacPro 12 core (OSX 10.12.3) with Pro Tools 12.7.1. But this problem has been going for a year or more throughout other versions. If I load VEP and one by one build a session of Kontakt instruments, Omnisphere and some others, everything is great. If I save that and come back to it later, trying to play either a new track or just add to an old one will be full of latency and notes choked off similar to what too many voices might sound like. Small or large number of instances doesn't seem to matter. It will behave this way with 1 track in 1 instance or 16 tracks in 3 instances. It will play just fine. But recording is the problem. Close it and create a new instance of the same thing and the problem is gone until I save, close and open again. 

I've changed routers. The router does go to the internet. But I get the same behavior if I connect the PC straight to the Mac; bypassing the router. I've tried various buffers. And I've double checked things like midi in the Mac. Midi thru is on, but there are no midi loops through the controller. In fact, there's no midi in to the controller at all. I've tried another key controller; same thing. I've tried midi as opposed to USB; no change. And I'm certain there are no midi clocks or large amounts of sysex being sent. 

Other than trying (and learning) Logic,  I'm at a loss as to what else to check. Maybe someone smarter than me can make a suggestion. 

I figured it out after walking away from it for a few hours. Something confused my Mac into changing Ethernet 1 and 2 into Ethernet 2 and 3. Once I deleted and defaulted those connections in the network settings, the PC is online again.

Thank you....

Sorry. I forgot to mention that. I did swap the ethernet port connections just to see and that made no difference. No, I don't believe they are fixed IPs. I know the Mac is set to "using DHCP". There is a specific setting for "using DHCP with manual address".....but that isn't how it was set previously when working.

After several hours, my frustration level is too high to think clearly. So would some kind soul please offer to me some suggestions? I have a MacPro (Yosemite) as VEP master and a PC (Windows 7) as slave.  This setup was working fine until I moved my gear to a new location. I've hooked it back up the exact same way, but the PC slave can not be seen. There is no router involved. The PC connects with a Cat 6 cable directly to one of the 2 ethernet ports on the Mac. (The other ethernet port goes to the cable modem.) So far I've tried setting up a new connection in the Windows 7 control panel. I've changed firewall settings back and forth on both computers. I've tried completely different Cat 6 cables. Both master and slave have the latest versions of VEP5 installed. The PC is visable and accessable as a shared computer from the Mac finder. And the PC can even connect to the internet if I enable internet sharing in the Mac network settings. But still, when I place an instance of VEP onto a Pro Tools track, with VEP running on the slave PC, it's as if the PC isn't there.

So please......can someone suggest something I haven't tried?

Is VEP working on Windows 8? 

I have VEP 5 working now as a slave on a PC and master on a Mac Pro 12 core. But I've recently retired an 8 core mac and was thinkng about using that as an additional VEP slave. However, it's an earlier MacPro and will only use an OS up to around 7.5 I think (or Vista via Bootcamp). So if I read the system requirements I would need to use an older version of VEP 4. I'm under the impression that slaves need to match the version of VEP on the master. Is this correct and will or will I not be able to integrate this 8 core Mac into my system for VEP?

Just thought I'd let you know, I'm doing pretty well now. A 128 buffer is possible for a limited time. Several midi tracks into programming I'll need to go to 256, but I can deal with it for orchestral sounds. I still get this same result with either a local setup or adding a networked slave.

However, reducing PT to 3 cores, and 2 instances locally set to 2 cores each, with 1 left for the computer seems to work the best. I can also do instances set to 1 core each with little or no noticable change. Adding the slave is working fine. Pretty much the same settings apply other than no PT to adjust there. While I know I'd been through these settings previously, it's easy to get confused in such invoived troubleshooting. Also, I appreciate the explanations of things (especially to "Civilization 3"). I've had to wrap my head around the terminology and a new way of working.

I think as I progress I'll have to think about a newer computer with more cores, hyperthreading and capable of running a 64 bit OS. But in the meantime, I'm getting work done so I'm thrilled. Thanks.

Ah........the box. Between iLoks, eLicenser, Codemeter, serial numbers, etc.......for all the various software I'm accumulating, it just all starts to run together in my head. So I completely forgot about the box. Thanks. that took care of that at least.

VEP comes with 3 licenses to be used on keys at slave computers.......correct?

If so, where do I get the activation code far an additional key. The email I received after registering has the 1 code used on the master computer and that key. Entering it again only gives me a message that the code has been used. How do I get one for the slave key?

Thanks

Thank you for all the help Civilization. While I'm sure I traveled across these settings before, I'm going to try them a bit more intentionally. One more question for the moment......and I apologize for my lack of knowledge. But I think the terminology is effecting my understanding. Thread......what does that mean? I'm trying to grasp the concept here of spreading things around on cores but I'm confusd by what I'm doing when, say, I set it to 2 threads. Is that saying it's using 2 cores? I know this is really a silly question. But hey, I've go to start somewhere learning this stuff.

 I know that on Macs with hyper threading, you may see the option to set PT to use virtual cores (i.e. 8 physical cores with hyper threading will show an option for 16 in the PT preferences). However, PT doesn't really run stable using hyperthreaded cores. And my Mac never has the option to set anything accept 1-8 cores in PT anyhow. So yes, I didn't know it. But maybe my Mac being a first generation 8 core doesn't hyperthread or some other issue. But I get the same results using the quad core PC. So while sometimes I feel like it's hardware related, it also seems to not be at times.

I appreciate everyone's patience with me. Maybe I should back up and try something different. Even though I've tried about every configuration there is possible, maybe the problem is really me and my confusion on the terms cores, instances, etc. Lets take just a local setup with no networking. With my 8 core Mac (8GB of RAM, all streaming samples like Kontakt library on a dedicated internal 7200 RPM drive), PT 9 ( native; not HD), VEP and Kontakt, how would you guys set cores, instances, midi channels and instruments in VEP to multiple sounds using Kontakt, etc?

No. I can run PT at any core setting. In fact, at the point I'm doing
VEP, many times I'm only using a stereo 2 mix as the only audio to do
midi programming to. So I have no trouble setting PT to say, only 1
core; leaving 7 open. Someone else added the comment that PT runs best
set at 1 core less than the number of processors. In actuallity, PT runs
fine on any number of cores (respective to the what's needed for
track/plugin usage). So my comment about PT and cores were in response to
that. My point is, that ANY PT core setting and ANY VEP setting made
accordingly gives me no different performance. I still hit the same wall
at CPU spikes, clicks and garbles dropping the PT buffer below 512 and using 1 instance of VEP withonly a few channels and Kontakt on each. I get vitually the same results using Reaper or Logic, instead of PT. I get the same results if using VEP locally or networked, with either the 8 core Mac or the quad core PC as slave or master. So I feel I've got some computer issue somewhere, but honestly, I'm just dumbfounded and don't know what else to try.

Yes. PT always runs best when set to 1 less processor than the number of CPU. I've tried all settings though just for the heck of it. Everything from 1-8. No difference.

As for drives, they're streaming from an internal SATA. 7200RPM dedicated to only the samples. System on it's own internal drive and any other audio on it's own dedicated drive. There's a fourth drive internally setup as a BootCamp drive (runs Windows on the Mac). I tried taking that out just out of curiosity. No difference.

Hi all,

I had to get away from this for awhile and do other things. But now it's time to try and sort this mess out again. To the best of my noob ability, I've tried to follow the suggestions already given. I now have a Quad core PC running Windows XP that can be put into use. However, as someone previously suggested, I should try and get better performance using VEP locally on the 8 core Mac and therefore rule out networking issues.

For clarity sake, bare with me as I go back over where I currently am. I'm desperatly confused here. So have patience with me. And yes, I've studied the manual and have the most current versions downloaded and installed.

Mac 8 Core - 8GB RAM - Kontakt 4.2.2  - Pro Tools 9.03 (native) - 002r I/O - Yamaha S90 (used as a usb midi comtroller to the Mac)

Basically, my big problem is I can not stop the CPU glitches using Kontakt at anything under a 512 buffer setting, which is completely unplayable, especially for drum sounds. I realize I'm having trouble grasping the usage of VEP. As suggested, I tried installing multiple instances of Kontakt on multiple channels of 1 instance of VEP......rather than my previous method of 1 Kontakt with all the various sounds running within that. I really see no difference. Also, I'm sure I'm confused about the preference settings in the server as they apply to "threads". But in the manual, it suggests that a setting of 1 would be nice for an 8 Core setup. But I've tried it all. No matter what I do, the CPU runs at over 50% at under a 512 buffer for just 3 channels with Kontakt installed; 1 sound in each Kontakt.This is with the mutlicore settings in Kontakt off. Although there isn't any difference with it on. I also get this terrible performance using the Vienna Epic Strings. And I also get the same terrible performance using the same things respectively in the quad core PC.

So could someone be so kind as to suggest, based on my setup, how they would use this? I've just never had this level of confusion and frustration before. Being the same on both computers, I feel I'm doing something wrong and not having hardware issues. But at this point I'm desperate and open to all suggestions.

I tried Epic Orchestra and I definately get further with it than I do Kontakt. While I still wasn't getting what it seems like I should be getting based on many other users reported usage, I've had to look at the differences in what I may be using compared to others. While I'm only trying to run a modest 16 Kontakt instruments, they're all large sections of orchestra and brass. I feel like many of the users who are getting large instances and usage are using things that are a lot more interrmitten as far as polyphony and notes. For example, drum kits rarely if ever hit more 3-4 notes (drums) simultaneously. Pianos are anywhere from 1-6 note chords, mostly. Loops, grooves and such are well........you get the idea. Orchestrations however get pretty heavy as far as polyphony. Especially when done to realistic standards where there are tracks per instrument or section.

I realized that 2 of the string and brass sounds I had been using had convolution reverb settings enabled in Kontakt. Turning those reverbs off gave me a HUGE gain in power. This also seems to relieve some of the CPU spiking problems when using Kontakt directly in PT. In fact, I really see no benefit to using VEP in local machine mode if Kontakt continues to behave on it's own in PT. However, this has me excited again at the prospect of putting a 4 core PC into use that's been sitting idle for a year. That coupled with some experimentation as far as how intensive the sounds that I use are may finally get me the orchestra I've been dreaming of.........where I can just import tracks from a template that are set to use the sounds I like and use frequently and go to work!

I'm hesitant to say my problem has been solved. I'm going to see how much further I get and post back here later.

Thanks Martin,

I had actually came to somewhat that idea myself. I guess I've just sort of had the attitude that, since the libraries I already own are for Kontakt, that using anything else is pointless. However, I suppose at this point I'd just like to narrow down the trouble no matter what the culprit is.

I really thought I had stumbled onto something awhile ago, even though I wasn't sure how it would apply to just using a local host. I realized that not only did I need to use a fixed address, I had to go deeper into the advanced settings and change the 100Tbase setting to 1000Tbase. When this did not work I realized my cables were old Cat 5. I got a Cat 6 cable and viola!......Gigabit connection established........directly between computers; no router. I even turned the other ethernet connection on the 8 core offjust so there was no internet or confusion. Just the Macs networked direct.

However, launching everything once again brought me no joy. It seems to have changed nothing. I suppose I'll try someting other than Kontakt next. The only other AU or VST software that I have of any consequence is the Epic Orchestra. I've not used it yet since it came with my recent VEP purchase. So it's a bit daunting trying to find my way around a new program while troubleshooting.

As for CPU spikes in Kontakt, this seems to be a widely documented problem especially with Pro Tools. However, I get no further with Logic or Reaper. Maybe the problem IS Kontakt. But I read where other users are doing fine with it and my problems start long before I reach the size usage they claim to get on setups similar or identical to mine. I just can't accept that an 8 core Mac isn't powerful enought to run a modest instance of Kontakt with 16 orchestral instruments loaded and only 4-6 midi channels playing out of those 16 at any given time. I CAN accept that there's an issue somewhere that I need to work out. I'm just completely baffled where else to look for that issue. And I've got work coming up soon. I'm going to need to sort this out.......

I tried changing the address to fixed. It made no difference in any situation.......either single machine or slave. I'm completely baffled. I guess at least to my knowledge it seems like if there were performance issues that would cause this, they would cause problems elsewhere. But I can run huge sessions with very intense plugins that don't cause the 8 core to break a sweat, even at a low buffer. And other people with similar setups can apparently do better with multiple instances of VEP than I cam with just 1 and 1 track of Kontakt.. I'm just completely lost as to what the difference is with my setup.