What is the best recording software for Toontracks?

[theojkett]

Hey gang,

My brother and I both use Toontracks plugin’s; EZ Drummer, EZ Bass and he uses EZ Keys as well. Both of us are currently using Sonar Artist, a product of Cakewalk. As you all know, Cakewalk is no longer in business but Sonar is now supported by BandLab.

While we are not having too many issues between Sonar and the Toontracks Plugins, the issue we are having we are having are baffling. Issues include EZ Keys not playing back while the others will, EZ Bass crashing while the others work, EZ Drummer crashing while the others still work and intermittent latency to name a few.

We’re not sure if it is Sonar that is causing these issues or if it is computer or codec related. The odd thing is that while both my brother and I have the same software (including updates on all), his computer is driven by an AMD processor, with a Radeon graphics card and Sound blaster, while I am Intel, nVidia and on-board sound. We both use the same codec. Here is where it is interesting, he has more issues with the software than I do.

So, the question here is; Is it the recording software or is it the CPU/GPU/Sound card? If it is the software, what would you recommend? What are you using? What CPU/GPU are you using?

I’d like to hear your thoughts. Thanks in advance for your input. (no pun intended)

TK

Topic

[Shootie]

You didn’t list any specs, just brands. Meeting TT’s minimum requirements is good, I personally think you should be above them.

But to change the subject, I think anyone would be better off using the cheapest Audio Interface out there as opposed to a sound card. Seems to be the standard for any type of audio production. I haven’t used a sound card for 20 years, only audio interfaces.

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[theojkett]

Computer specs? Well, we’re way above the specs. We’re both at 32 gig of Ram, Oodles of hard drive space (SSD), 6-gig video cards (He’s Radeon, I’m nVidia), I’m an i7 Intel cpu, I don’t know what his AMD cpu is, I’m using on-board audio and he’s using a Sound blaster something or other. We are both using a Alesis multimix 8 USB Mixer as our codecs. Again, he’s getting latency and more issues with TT than I am. My stuff works like a champ most times but I do get the occasional crash, but my computer is old and dying a slow death. That will be remedied soon enough, but we both like Sonar and we’re used to it and aren’t fond of the idea of learning new software.

So you think it’s the sound card? What recording software are you using?

TK

[Shootie]

EZ needs a good CPU and good audio playback device. Video cards do not matter, modern amounts of ram will do, hard drive space doesn’t matter unless your Cdrive is full.

If Sonar is hosting EZD, then I would see what the audio buffer size is and decrease it’s value for latency. This is an assumption because I can’t test it myself. You may want to increase the buffer size, which would introduce latency, but possibly get the bugs out. If you’re using a sound card but with an different audio interface’s driver, that doesn’t seem optimal to me. The Alesis multimix 8 USB Mixer is an audio interface, maybe just use that instead of the sound card, or at least test it out. If you’re going to use your sound card, most people do not in this case, use it’s own, or a windows driver. Maybe you’ve tested this already though.

If you’re suspecting Sonar, try the Reaper trial since it has no limitations. Just load up your TT products for a quick test. I get it, learning a new DAW is a pain in the butt. I don’t remember anyone ever talking about AMD compatibility, hence me not addressing it at all.

That’s the best I have unless you’ve missed any details on your end.

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[theojkett]

Shootie,

Thanks for your feedback and input. I have long thought that that might be the problem. Since the only three variables in this scenario are the CPU, GPU and sound card between us and the GPU/CPU may not matter, the only deduction then is the sound card.

I’ll look into HOW to increase the audio buffer size, since I’ve never had to do that, this will be a learning experience.

I don’t mind learning a new DAW, they are basically all the same, but Sonar is my second one and my second Cakewalk product. My brother was on Voyetra many years ago and eventually moved to a version of ProTools that he felt was far too complicated. He went onto Sonar about a year after I did and likes it. So here we are.

We’ll try a couple of things, first of which would be to remove the sound card and see what happens.

Thanks,

TK

[Shootie]

Don’t remove or uninstall anything. Just switch things.

Check this out. Just select a similar Alesis product. If Buffer Size isn’t mentioned, you should at least see it as you go through the settings.

https://www.cakewalk.com/Support/Knowledge-Base/Audio-Hardware-Setup-Guide?productId=CSAR100&audioDeviceId=74

EZD3 Tutorials | EZK2 Tutorials | Toontrack themed FB Group | Toontrack themed Discord Group

[theojkett]

Shootie,

Thanks man. We’ll try this out and see what happens.

tk

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