Offloading audio processing and other questions

[Breex243]

So I've gotten into DJing a bit, and I'm using Torq with my Midi controller. I've noticed a bit of latency when browsing my music database (25K songs, nothing too unreasonable for a DJ, right?). I'm wondering what's the best option for offloading sound processing to speed up my software.

Right now, I have a Creative Audigy 2ZS Platinum, and I'm getting an X-Fi Fatal1ty Champion (might actually sell). The poor performance I reported was using on-board sound. Oh, and CPU = 3.4Ghz OCed e6750.

Here's a few questions I have:
1. Does the X-Fi mean better sound processing in terms of it being a faster chip?
2. Does the 64mb of x-RAM actually help in non-gaming situations? From some old articles I read when initially choosing between my Audigy2 and x-fi, it didn't seem to make a difference, and sound only used up like 3% of a CPUs processes, although I've found that going a bit heavy on the effects causes a noticeable lag with my dials.
3. Will a PCI-E sound card offer faster processing? From the looks of it, PCI is now being relegated to low-end sound cards, but is it enough of a bottleneck for non-uncompressed 7.1 HD sound (yes, I know, double negative)?
4. Anyone use Torq and find that it takes forever to load? I'm talking about 10/20/30min here. I'm going to ask M-audio's forums, but just wondering...

 

[TheInfernal]

I'm not sure, but isn't sound processing dependent on the CPU?

 

[Breex243]

I'm not sure, but isn't sound processing dependent on the CPU?

http://www.auzentech.com/site/products/x-fi_prelude.php

Under "Why x-fi" they boast a 15% boost to gaming by offloading sound processing, but in most reviews I've read, it's like 2-3% CPU cycles, tops. I'll see if I can dig those reviews up.

 

[criccio]

What music library software are you using? If you are noticing slowdown during browsing, its with that software.

You have a 3.4GHz dual core CPU, its not the sound card that is the issue here.

 

[TheInfernal]

http://www.auzentech.com/site/products/x-fi_prelude.php

Under "Why x-fi" they boast a 15% boost to gaming by offloading sound processing, but in most reviews I've read, it's like 2-3% CPU cycles, tops. I'll see if I can dig those reviews up.

I meant with sound processing its encoding. Sorry for the typo. I should have read the OP more carefully.

 

[Nenu]

To reduce audio latency, there is a standard already in wide use called ASIO.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Stream_Input/Output

When selecting the audio device in your mixing program, select ASIO.
If there is no ASIO, check to see if there is a driver that does.
If not, try ASIO4All
http://www.asio4all.com/

 

[Breex243]

First time using multi-quote, so here goes:
Criccio--will going back to RAID 0 for music storage speed up library browsing? Kind of related--WMP only loads like 5K songs in my library until I scroll to the bottom, and it's still quite slow. Also, I don't think Torq is multithreaded, and I'm leaning more towards an e8400 than going quad, as the only time I could use 4 cores is when I'm exporting 200 jpegs from RAW files. Also, this is technical detail that I'm going to ask the Torq team--when loading my DB, my CPU stays at like 3-4%, so I'm thinking that it's a hard drive I/O issue--what do you think?

TheInfernal--no biggie, but yeah you are correct about encoding. (aside--haven't kept an eye on wether or not foobar is multithreaded when it comes to conversions--I keep both FLACs and 320MPs on hand, and conversion is a pain)

Nenu--I actually think I was using ASIO configuration on my Sound Blaster in Sound Forge when I was using that for some editing, but taking out my SB was probably mistake #1 in this whole mess. This configuration will only help with I/O response, and not database loading, right?

 

[Nenu]

Nenu--I actually think I was using ASIO configuration on my Sound Blaster in Sound Forge when I was using that for some editing, but taking out my SB was probably mistake #1 in this whole mess. This configuration will only help with I/O response, and not database loading, right?

Reducing audio latency only affects how long it takes to get sound from point a to point b.

Browsing a database is not a sound function, it is dependent on the software used, speed of processing (CPU/Ram), storage speed and configuration.
To speed up database browsing, you need to determine which of those is the major bottleneck.

 

[phide]

Does the X-Fi mean better sound processing in terms of it being a faster chip?

Not necessarily, no.

Does the 64mb of x-RAM actually help in non-gaming situations?

No. X-RAM is only exposed in OpenAL.

Will a PCI-E sound card offer faster processing?

Nope.

haven't kept an eye on wether or not foobar is multithreaded when it comes to conversions--I keep both FLACs and 320MPs on hand, and conversion is a pain)

It's not technically. foobar2000 just spawns additional encoders on separate threads.

 

[Breex243]

No. X-RAM is only exposed in OpenAL.

FFFFUUUCCCK. Exactly what I thought originally (back in '06 I was going to get the non-Fatal1ty, x-RAM-less version). Oh well, looks like it's going on the selling block soon (boy do I have a bunch of junk piled up).