BeatStation Uses Excessive Resources

[m687bc]

Hello,

I’ve just installed BeatStation on a Dual Boot Computer. Aside from installing a Daw~Reaper~ this is the only other audio app thus far.

This PC is
Intel P4 2.40
Windows XP pro SP3
2GB Ram
250 GB HD (Partitioned ~ 7200)
Motu 828 MK1 IO Device

However, BeatStation will barely operate and is causing  90% CPU hits and thus the PC becomes totally unstable. I have also run this inside of Reaper as a VSTi and still the same problem of excessive CPU usage and instability. Could anyone tell me what is reasonable resource usage or an corrective actions that I may undertake. I have un installed and re installed to no avail.

Thanks in advance/Bob

Topic

[John]

Are you updated to version 1.0.2?

From what I can tell, your PC is a bit on the lower side of the requirements, so high CPU usage will most likely be but it should be operable.

BR,
John

John Rammelt - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[m687bc]

Hello John,

Thanks for your reply. Right, this is a Backup and Portable System. Yes, I installed all the updates that are available. By High CPU usage do you have a percentage or average as to what this machine should run at? Currently, when BeatStation is running it is not what I would deem usable. It becomes so unstable that little else is usable. Granted this PC is dated but, it still meets or exceeds the minimum install requirements that Toontrack publishes.

I would be glad to try any suggestions that you may have.

Thanks again/Bob

[Rogue]

CPU usage will depend on many factors. On a machine that is at the bottom of the spec requirements I would expect that nothing but a fairly large buffer size will ensure good operation. So that would be the first aspect to check, and should not be a concern for sequencing your tracks (playing live is another matter, but that would be expected from a P4).

One thing to note btw is that the default ‘preset’ loaded on startup is fairly CPU intensive so it would be worth comparing CPU usage on a variety of presets as opposed to the default if you haven’t already. The difference may or may not be significant.

Rogue Marechal - Toontrack
Configuration Manager

[Scott]

Here’s the specs of my studio rig:

– Intel D865PERL Motherboard
– P4 3.0 Ghz
– Windows XP Home SP2
– 2GB RAM Dual Channel DDRAM
– RME Digiface (latest drivers)

Not the newest rig but I can run Beatstation without issues. Of course, I can’t run it at a 64 sample buffer all the time (I run 128 samples for MIDI input) or run a bunch of internal effects, but it does work/playback without glitching.

Scott Sibley - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[m687bc]

I’ve got this under control finally. Beatstation is now running at an acceptable performance level. I took the Bull by the horn and re installed the OS for the Music Sys to the C: Partition were as I had the original install on a back D: Partition,

Thanks to John, RM, Scott for your suggestions as I applied all them to the re install. By changing the Beatstations’s Defaults it loads now very quickly. The CPU load is still a bit heavy but is now manageable.

It was certainly worth the effort as Beatstation looks to be a nice sound replacement program for Superior and EZD amongst others.

Thanks again for your time and info.
Bob

[Author]

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