Hello again. Hope you're all good.
My computer specs are:-

Processor: AMD(tm)-4350 Quad-Core Processor 4GHz
Installed Memory (RAM): 32 GB
Windows 7 (64 bit)
Sound Card: Onboard Realtek
Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti

Hi

Thanks for the specs.

. . . . I'm only using 3 instruments at a time, so I don't think it's a memory issue. In all I have 15 instruments loaded up ready to go, . . . .

I suspect that there is either a buffer size issue, try adjusting these both up and down, in the program settings, or the PC is not powerful enough to handle the number of loaded instruments.

To test the latter, try a new project with only the three instruments loaded - is the play back OK?

HTH

John EB

Ok, I've tried everything, different sound sources, samples and buffer numbers. I find it hard to believe my machine isn't powerful enough as it's less than 6 months old and designed for c.g. the only thing I can think of now, is the onboard sound card. I don't think it can hack it, so it might be I need to install a card. They're expensive, so my music making days are put back on the shelf for a few months.
Another thing I wondered was my cpu speed. I've got it running at normal speed. Maybe if I zazz it up a bit, it might help.

Hi

. . . . I find it hard to believe my machine isn't powerful enough as it's less than 6 months old and designed for c.g. . . . .

What is the make and model of the PC?

Can you confirm that the processor is an AMD FX-4350.

It will be capable of very good performance for CG which relies heavily on graphics card performance and the GTX 1050 Ti is a powerful GPU.

However the GPU is not used for playback of music so you are reliant on the CPU for performance.

For comparison I have an i5-4670K, 16GB RAM and Realtek HDA audio onboard, MMM 2018 with default buffer settings, and can play 14 tracks, each with a different instrument, simultaneously without crackling or stutter - RAM limits the number of instruments I can add to the timeline to 14.

HTH

John EB

Hello again.
My CPU is indeed FX.
I know what gpu can and can't do. ( not said with an attitude :) )
Now you got me wondering lol. I've been looking into sound cards. Not sure which is best, internal or external.
But if it's cpu a problem, then, going by your specs, maybe I should look at that instead.

Hi

. . . . I know what gpu can and can't do. ( not said with an attitude :) ) . . . .

No problem - it is difficult to know where to pitch responses without knowing a users IT/software skill levels and, in this case, musical knowledge.

. . . . . But if it's cpu a problem, then, going by your specs, maybe I should look at that instead. . . . .

Ideally you should test before committing money to upgrading the CPU, if you know someone who has a PC with an i5 or i7 processor, preferably gen 6 or later, who will let you install MMM and test then that would be a bonus.

Out of sheer curiosity I have tried to overload MMM with a mashup/cacophony of 14 different MIDI instruments, I can only load 14 before running into memory errors, 13 of which had various effects applied to see what would happen, effects were chorus, reverb, vibrato, filtering, dual voicing, panning etc.

The result surprised me - I thought it would overload and glitch however it played smoothly as you can see below

HTH

John EB

Hi,

MusicMaker is a 32 bit program, which I presume means that it cannot address more than 4 GB of RAM. Is this so?

@orion-diaram

In your first message, you mention 3 instruments at a time is ok, but you have 15 loaded. Is there a possibility that 1 (or more) of the instruments is the cause? Are all of your instruments provided my Magix? If not, which third party ones are you using?

I too, have difficulty at times, but it seems to depend on which instruments are loaded. However, I have not done any proper testing.

John CB

@browj2

Hi John CB

. . . . MusicMaker is a 32 bit program, which I presume means that it cannot address more than 4 GB of RAM. Is this so? . . . .

It is - when I hit the memory limit with 14 instruments, in the overload test, the total memory used by MMM was about 1.7 GB and CPU usage between 17 and 21%, adding in all the effects made very little difference to the amount of RAM used.

If you look at the overload test instruments used - there are many third party VST's and several of them are quiet complex with multiple oscillators, filters and effects.

@orion-diaram

What is your PC's hard drive configuration and free space on the system drive?

Has the Windows page file size been changed?

HTH

John EB

@browj2
All of the instruments I've got have come from Magix, and I've been testing in case there's a problem with them. they work fine.

@johnebaker 

I've got a new 1tb HD and have used only 10% of it so far.
I was so close at getting it sorted, being able to play 5 instruments simultaneously, but as it passed the chorus, it started glitching again into the following verse. I looked into the program settings within Realtek to find it was using all this:-
Realtek HD Audio output
Realtek HD Audio Line input
Realtek HD Audio Mic input
Realtek HDA SPDIF Optical Out
Realtek HDA SPDIF Out

I turned off all but Realtek HD Audio output and it improved until the verse after the chorus.
The page size remains the same.
I checked out the benchmark for my cpu. It was 5336, which I think is pants I think.

@orion-diaram

Hi

I do not think the Realtek is contributing to the issue - AFAIK everything is mixed down to stereo, or 5.1 surround sound if you are using that option, before it hits the audio card.

. . . . I checked out the benchmark for my cpu. It was 5336, which I think is pants I think. . . . .

For gaming or CG the CPU is OK as the GTX does the brunt of the work, however as you have found out it is at the lower end of the performance tables for speed.

John EB

It's degrading to think I got a rubbish cpu. (that's what happens if you don't do your homework.)
I've been looking in to them and seen slower Ghz, but at more than triple the score.
I'm hoping this won't effect the c.g I do.

Getting back to the mmm problem, Since taking the piano (which was never used) and the orchestra, things seem to be running fine. Strangely enough, I've brought back the orchestra and introduced an extra instrument and again, all seems to be fine..... Watch this space ....