The score I'm working on starts with just a few voices, then adds until all voices are playing together. When all of the voices enter (coincidentally, when the battery also first enters), some of the sounds clip out and the playback won't play the entire score. Only part of the keyboards playback.

There are fifteen staves in the score I'm working on.

I've tried adjusting volume settings in the mixer, the volume setting for my computer and adjusting the actual dynamic level in the score, but nothing has yet to work. I'm starting to worry that this is a memory thing. Does that sound correct?

Any help you can offer will definitely be appreciated!
ER

Big question, how much memory does your computer have? It sounds like you're trying to play back too many instruments at one time and when it overloads your memory, you'll have drop out.

On these types of questions, it's really pretty essential to include your hardware and software specs. Otherwise there's a lot of guesswork involved.

As Bill mentioned, RAM may have something to do with it, but it's hard to know without some details on your system and software settings.

I've also just posted a kind of overview on DFD, RAM, and CPU in the [url=https://www.tapspace.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=13][b]Helpful Hints[/b][/url] section.

Keep in mind that clipping can sometimes result from your DFD settings or your instrument polyphony. Also, if you're routing several staves to one channel, it's possible that could be causing you to max out polyphony. Each instrument has a polyphony settting that can be adjusted up or down. It looks like a couple little notes and a fraction (0/32). By clicking on the second number and draggin up or down, you can raise or lower the allocated polyphony for that instrument.

It might be a good idea to try playing back the score and watching this polyphony meter on instruments that are cutting out to determine if you need to raise it. Only raise this setting if you've observed that you're maxing out polyphony on a particular instrument. Otherwise raising this value can waste valuable RAM.

[quote=";Jim Casella";]On these types of questions, it's really pretty essential to include your hardware and software specs. Otherwise there's a lot of guesswork involved.[/quote]

My RAM is one gig. My processor speed is 1.50 Ghz. I'm running Windows XP.

[quote]>>Keep in mind that clipping can sometimes result from your DFD settings or your instrument polyphony. Also, if you're routing several staves to one channel, it's possible that could be causing you to max out polyphony. [/quote]

What should I look for on my DFD settings?

[quote]>>By clicking on the second number and draggin up or down, you can raise or lower the allocated polyphony for that instrument. [/quote]

How extreme do you think I should increase the polyphony? And should I do this for all instruments or just ones where I am routing multiple staves to a single channel?

[quote]>>It might be a good idea to try playing back the score and watching this polyphony meter on instruments that are cutting out to determine if you need to raise it. [/quote]

The light to the right of the instrument name is very often yellow and the sounds are clipping when it goes red.

[quote]>>Only raise this setting if you've observed that you're maxing out polyphony on a particular instrument. Otherwise raising this value can waste valuable RAM.[/quote]

On the marimba channel, for example, I've seen the right polyphony number go up to about 45 or 46 on some passages. This was after I raised the left polyphony number to 50. Should I expect to raise it some more, or is it okay?

Thanks for all of the help, Jim. It's VERY appreciated!
ER

That helped me. I have a new 1.4 Ghz Mac Mini, 1GB RAM, and I was running Bidule, two instances of VD2, and Finale 2005 and I was getting cut outs and freezing until I lowered the right number. Totally cleared out any popping I had. I lowered it to 8-10 on my vibes, glock and marimba. I guess that would differ based on different writing styles and how much polyphony you have, correct? Although - it still has isues when I try to do all my percussion and then the band score at the same time. Probably just to much for the little ole mac mini to handle? :)

Thanks!! :D

Okay,

So you lowered your polyphony settings? I guess I was under the impression that I needed to increase the polyphony. Or are you talking about another setting?

I'll give it a shot and see what I can do!

Thank you!
ER

[quote=";erath";]Okay,

So you lowered your polyphony settings? I guess I was under the impression that I needed to increase the polyphony. Or are you talking about another setting?
ER[/quote]

If there are instruments that you know won't be maxing out the polyphony, it's OK to lower them. On instruments that demand more polypyhony (like your marimba), then raising that one would be best.

Regarding some of your other questions:
DFD settings will vary for each user and configuration. There's some helpful info to read at: https://www.tapspace.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=636

[quote=";erath";]How extreme do you think I should increase the polyphony? And should I do this for all instruments or just ones where I am routing multiple staves to a single channel? [/quote]

It just depends on how much you're asking from each instrument. Do a playback and watch polyphony meters, and adjust acordingly. Generally, it's best to avoid using the same instrument for multiple channels, but of course sometimes you may find the need to do this if you've run out of channels.

[quote]The light to the right of the instrument name is very often yellow and the sounds are clipping when it goes red. [/quote]

Yellow light shows that DFD is being called upon. When it goes red, it means your CPU can't keep up with what you're asking it to do via DFD.

Hope this helps.

[quote author=Jim Casella link=topic=633.msg2413#msg2413 date=1117701443]
[quote=";erath";]Okay,

So you lowered your polyphony settings? I guess I was under the impression that I needed to increase the polyphony. Or are you talking about another setting?
ER[/quote]

If there are instruments that you know won't be maxing out the polyphony, it's OK to lower them. On instruments that demand more polypyhony (like your marimba), then raising that one would be best.

Regarding some of your other questions:
DFD settings will vary for each user and configuration. There's some helpful info to read at: https://www.tapspace.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=636

[quote=";erath";]How extreme do you think I should increase the polyphony? And should I do this for all instruments or just ones where I am routing multiple staves to a single channel? [/quote]

It just depends on how much you're asking from each instrument. Do a playback and watch polyphony meters, and adjust acordingly. Generally, it's best to avoid using the same instrument for multiple channels, but of course sometimes you may find the need to do this if you've run out of channels.

[quote]The light to the right of the instrument name is very often yellow and the sounds are clipping when it goes red. [/quote]

Yellow light shows that DFD is being called upon. When it goes red, it means your CPU can't keep up with what you're asking it to do via DFD.

Hope this helps.
[/quote]


Jim,

This single answer has helped me more than you can ever know!  MAN it pays to just simply read through these forums from time to time.

Thanks!!!!!

Dave