Hello –
I have a question for you which will expose my ignorance with PC Hardware architecture. I have a music studio and I’m currently getting rid of all of my hardware synths, modules, etc., and start seriously using soft-synths. Moving these functions to a PC platform requires LOTS of processing power, because each soft synth needs to be able to generate sounds in real time, and with multiple synths, multiple effects (EQ, compression, delay, etc.), not to mention vocal tracks which also need to be processed. An average song can easily have 10 simultaneous instruments along with 10 simultaneous vocal tracks (backgrounds, harmony tracks, lead tracks, etc.).
Certain manufacturers (TC electronics, EMU) have hardware DSPs to offload the processing, and although their internal cards are currently PCI, I’m sure they will consider PCI-Express in the future.
Considering what motherboard I should purchase (SLI vs Standard), my question to you is, can I run a hardware DSP in a PCI Express (x16) slot which is connected off the MCH (such as the second SLI supported x16 slot on SLI boards)? Are these slots dedicated for Video only? If I run the DSP card in an x4 slot or an x1 slot, will the bandwidth between the ICH (where the x1 slots connect) and the MCH be enough to handle the I/O requirements of a hardware DSP (keeping in mind that this DSP will generate lots of traffic to it AND from it)?? Thanks for the time and I look forward to your responses.
StarFoxTB
I have a question for you which will expose my ignorance with PC Hardware architecture. I have a music studio and I’m currently getting rid of all of my hardware synths, modules, etc., and start seriously using soft-synths. Moving these functions to a PC platform requires LOTS of processing power, because each soft synth needs to be able to generate sounds in real time, and with multiple synths, multiple effects (EQ, compression, delay, etc.), not to mention vocal tracks which also need to be processed. An average song can easily have 10 simultaneous instruments along with 10 simultaneous vocal tracks (backgrounds, harmony tracks, lead tracks, etc.).
Certain manufacturers (TC electronics, EMU) have hardware DSPs to offload the processing, and although their internal cards are currently PCI, I’m sure they will consider PCI-Express in the future.
Considering what motherboard I should purchase (SLI vs Standard), my question to you is, can I run a hardware DSP in a PCI Express (x16) slot which is connected off the MCH (such as the second SLI supported x16 slot on SLI boards)? Are these slots dedicated for Video only? If I run the DSP card in an x4 slot or an x1 slot, will the bandwidth between the ICH (where the x1 slots connect) and the MCH be enough to handle the I/O requirements of a hardware DSP (keeping in mind that this DSP will generate lots of traffic to it AND from it)?? Thanks for the time and I look forward to your responses.
StarFoxTB
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