ProTools DSP based synths

kensuguro · Post by **kensuguro** » Tue Dec 10, 2002 9:36 pm

Read in SOS today:

The polyphony issues arise because SynthSpider is a pretty DSP-hungy plug-in. Each instance takes up half of a Mix card DSP chip, or the whole of an old DSP Farm chip. An entire Mix card will thus give you a maximum of eight notes of polyphony, while an old DSP Farm will provide only four — and not all SynthSpider patches will load if the plug-in is runing on a DSP Farm. DUY explain that TDM DSP load can't be allocated dynamically according to which patch is loaded, so SynthSpider always has to claim enough DSP power to run the most complex possible synth. They also say that they've sacrificed some efficiency for better sound quality.

So much for synthesis on ProTools...

choW housE · Post by **choW housE** » Tue Dec 10, 2002 9:58 pm

I don't know about Synth Spider... It looks like a kluge to me anyway. I do know with Access Virus on my PT Mix3 rig, I have never worried about polyphony. The amount of DSP per instance of Virus is quite small. I have run 8 on my system with no problem. Of course considering the cost, I would expect this. Also, I own Minimax, Vectron and many other Creamware synths. Virus stacks up well against them. IMHO if Creamware could launch an editing platform like PT has (integrated with the hardware, automation and MIDI), they would have the platform of choice period. It would be a monumental undertaking however. I agree with Ken's suggestion though... SFP is the platform of choice if synthesis is your bag - Just don't think that PT can't do it. PT's real strength is it's editing capabilities.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: choW housE on 2002-12-10 22:00 ]</font>

kensuguro · Post by **kensuguro** » Tue Dec 10, 2002 10:43 pm

yeah, you're right... PT is a recording package after all. I thought they were heading somewhere when the Virtual Virus was released.. but it seems they still do have a long way to go in terms of synthesis.