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Dec.19
2009

Is That A Metaphor Or An Analogy?

While I'm all for the latest and greatest, there are certain aspects of upgrading a music computer that might merit some consideration. I've recently received several letters that, when put in a blender to make a nice smoothie, look something like this:

ZOMG! I upgraded to 64-bit Windows 7 and all my word processor shit works fine, but your plug-ins don't work in Sonar 64! PLEASE FIX THIS AS I HAVE A SESSION THIS AFTERNOON!!11111!

Sincerely,
UpgradeDude

I've said it before and I'll say it again: when you use a computer for music-making, you need to approach any major operating system upgrade with extreme trepidation.

Since that won't sit with the people that are having this problem, here's something that will: if DAWs were girlfriends, think of 64-bit DAWs as vegetarian girlfriends, and 32-bit plug-ins as meat. Sure, they can eat it. They might even do it just because they love you. But they're not gonna be fucking happy about it, and they'll resent the hell out of you for it, and probably puke.

Seriously. Check your shit before you upgrade. Hardly anything in the plug-in world is "64-bit ready."

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It's an anthology.

posted December 19, 2009 by meeglosh

in this competitive world those producers have to run the latest 64 bit everything (and record at 24/192 no doubt) in order to get the big clients because clients know what's up and want a "pro sound" and they know they can't get that w/o a 64 bit system... so it leaves producers no choice but to be on the bleeding edge if they want to stay in business and make the hits.. dawg! you know what i'm sayin?

;)

posted December 19, 2009 by boobs

How far out are we from having a legitimate expectation that our plugins will work in a 64bit Windows environment?

I'm still on XP, so I am by no means an upgrade junkie, but I'd like to buy a new PC next year and it will almost definitely be a Windows 7 machine (I actually just bought a Windows 7 PC for my parents for Xmas). I imagine there's a lot of people who will begin making the transition in the next year or so as well.

At what point would it not be unreasonable as an end-user to want to start seeing 64bit support without having to run the plugins in a "bridge" type program? Isn't Snow Leopard entirely 64-bit at this point? And Windows 7 64 bit seems like the way to go if you're building an audio PC if only for the extra RAM usage. It seems like 64 bit computing will in fact be the mainstream in audio in the immediate future (i.e. it's no longer the distant reality it was when Vista was released).

posted December 19, 2009 by Funkybot

Snow Leopard is a long, long ways from "entirely 64-bit." But that said, it really has very little to do with the operating system itself, as long as the operating system will run 32-bit apps. It's more a function of the DAW.

(Noting, at this juncture, that Logic is most assuredly _not_ 64-bit.)

It wouldn't be unreasonable to expect plug-ins to be 64-bit when there are no 32-bit top-line hosts (read: Logic, Live, Cubase, FL Studio.) Until then, you're basically SOL. Some of the bigger companies are offering 64-bit plugs, and one or two of the ones our size, but the vast, vast majority are 32-bit, and will be for some time.

-CR

posted December 19, 2009 by Chris Randall

All the AD plugins are workin fine for me ón Ableton, Audiomulch and Reaper under win7 64bit,... Spamtastically in fact!

posted December 19, 2009 by oniwe

As well they should, since those are all 32-bit hosts. The problems arise when you try to use them with Sonar 64-bit or Cubase 5 x64 without putting them in their proper homes.

-CR

posted December 19, 2009 by Chris Randall

early adopters get guillotined by their own eagerness.

posted December 19, 2009 by boobs

Reaper can be 64 bit as well Chris, I've been using that with some plugins for a while now, though it seems like a particularly strict vegetarian, as the 32 bit plugins don't seem loadable at all. I have, overall though, gone back to using mostly 32 bit apps on a 64 bit OS which works nicely.

posted December 20, 2009 by IanB

Should have been a little more clear. I'm using the 64bit version of Reaper... and the entire AD line, as well as NI Komplete works like a charm in that host. Otherwise there would be little point in using Kontakt 4.

Then I rewire Ableton and Audiomulch... and proceed to record totally acoustic music (coz you know, plugins...man, they suck the soul outta music)

posted December 20, 2009 by oniwe

One issue coming is that almost all the new computer you buy with windows on it are shipping with the 64 bit version installed. Therefore, anyone who gets a new computer and is not in the mac world is going to be likely to have 64 bit. When they go to install sonar and the like, I wonder if it gives the choice of installing 32 or 64 bit versions? I honestly dont know, but i know that if it does its probably going to default to 64 bit and everyone is going to just take that.

We arent far away from plugins needing to go 64 bit. Already a most of the hardware and many of the DAWS are running 64bit. And RAM is coming down in price where its actually worthwhile to buy scads of it (my development machine at work has 32GB of RAM in it, and until you have run windows with that much headroom, you have no idea what your missing).

I take your point that users shouldnt upgrade until they know that all they need is going to be compatible, but I dont quite agree that everything out there is 32 bit still. Maybe in the plugin world, but thats because the plugin world is lagging a bit behind other sectors of the music software market.

posted December 20, 2009 by noisetheorem

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