how to stop plugins from processing muted/unsoloed track

[dhaworth]

So, like most everyone probably, I usually get to the point where I am using more plugins than my cpu can handle. I noticed that even when I mute some tracks in DP 4.52, the plugins on that track are still being processed...ie meters are reading, etc, and I don't seem to get any performance improvements by doing this (or by soloing just the tracks I want to be adjusting before freezing/bouncing). Does anyone know if this is possible in DP 4.52? Or have an alternate solution? Basically what I want to do is when I have overtaxed my system, mute every track but the ones I am futzing with, then bounce, then unmute the other tracks and be able to play them all (minus the effected tracks that I now have bounced).

[Twinner]

In the Setup/Automation Setup there is an option called "Mute frees system resources". This will cause muted tracks to let go of the CPU completely. The trade off is that if you mute a track in playback, all audio playback will cut out for about a second and a half. I personally have this on almost all the time. It's great to be able to get all the CPU back just by jumping into Solo mode with no tracks enabled. Edits, bouncing, and doing other computer tasks are MUCH faster this way.

[dhaworth]

EXACTLY what I was looking for. Haven't tested thoroughly yet, but if it works the way it should I will be a happy mixer. Thanks a ton.

P.S. why does DP keep its preferences scrambled all over the menus? it seems like each mew version they take one step in the right direction by consolidating a few more in the general preferences menu, why not just go all the way, man??!! It's worse than FCP and its 2 pref menus that I can never remeber where the pref I need is...