Vienna Ensemble Pro + DP (these days)?

[revi]

One tip about VSL in Mojave is it may not load if Synopsis is not checked for Vienna in automation under Security and Privacy. Actually both DP and Vienna must be checked. This will slow graphics but it allows VSL to load.

This is new to me...I'd not heard of "Synopsis". Where is this located? I looked at Security and Privacy in System Preferences but didn't find anything called Synopsis. The only apps located there were ones that needed access to "mail" and the like. I checked "cmd-I" for the apps themselves but didn't find anything there either.

I'm also looking to streamline matters myself.

My "main machine" is an 08 Mac Pro that's got a UA card and 24GB RAM. I'm looking to do the arranging on a new iMac, burn the tracks to disk, and then mix down on the Mac Pro (which is connected to my essentially-legacy MOTU interfaces which feed a mixer). So I'll do my writing/arranging on an iMac and then move the project over to the Mac Pro for mix down.

But you like Vienna Ensemble Pro on your machine?

By the way, is that a Grommes pre-amp in that picture?!?

[revi]

just really getting into this myself, but the VEP MAS plug in makes it easy, one instance of the VEP instrument in your setup and however many MIDI and aux tracks you want.

It's all pretty cool how easy it is, it's always easy to overthink this stuff. The VEP instance in the V-Rack allows you to use plain MIDI in your sequences which allows for great fluidity with Chunks. Of course if you're fine with one sequence then it's easier to use the plug in in the sequence.

I'm sold on the idea - it sounds like this is exactly what I'm looking for: a consolidated environment for (in particular) orchestral instruments.

If VE Pro 7 will run in DP 9.52, I'm onboard!

Thanks for the info!

[Timeline]

One tip about VSL in Mojave is it may not load if Synopsis is not checked for Vienna in automation under Security and Privacy. Actually both DP and Vienna must be checked. This will slow graphics but it allows VSL to load.

This is new to me...I'd not heard of "Synopsis". Where is this located? I looked at Security and Privacy in System Preferences but didn't find anything called Synopsis. The only apps located there were ones that needed access to "mail" and the like. I checked "cmd-I" for the apps themselves but didn't find anything there either.

Only starts up in Mojave, not HS. It's in the Security/Privacy section of OS 10.15.6

http://www.eirec.com/1.png

[revi]

Ah...10.15.x is Catalina, Mojave is 10.14.x. That'd explain that part.

Well, I made the plunge. The current deal for essentially $175 includes a copy of the so-called "Epic Orchestra" (72GB installed!) which was too tempting to pass on (i.e., one gets VE Pro 7 + Epic Orchestra for $175).

Everything downloaded and installed without a hitch.

However, I'm experiencing some errors which I can't tell are independent or related. As this is now a troubleshooting matter, I'll open a new thread in that section (I'm glad I caught myself in time...I sure wouldn't want to incur the ire of Steele! )

[added later] ...ah, I've made some progress...and did run into a (transient) error as regards the "Synsopos.app". But this error went away after a restart.

"Computers"...gotta love 'em.

Thanks again for your suggestions!

[mhschmieder]

Oh, and all this time I thought Synopsis was related to eLicenser, and saw the frequent error messages as more red herrings related to eLicenser issues that come and go (but mostly persist). It's a horrible implementation; iLok has progressed in leaps and bounds while eLicenser remains burdened by bugs that never really go away completely. This of course is why it's being relegated to the dust bin of history at some point this year.

At any rate, I can't remember having problems as a result of ignoring Synopsis errors. But I have indeed had the eLicenser seen as not connected, in the middle of a session, and sometimes have to reboot (a 15+ minute train-of-thought-wrecking rathole for me, due to how I bootstrap my studio).

[revi]

Oh, and all this time I thought Synopsis was related to eLicenser, and saw the frequent error messages as more red herrings related to eLicenser issues that come and go (but mostly persist). It's a horrible implementation; iLok has progressed in leaps and bounds while eLicenser remains burdened by bugs that never really go away completely. This of course is why it's being relegated to the dust bin of history at some point this year.

At any rate, I can't remember having problems as a result of ignoring Synopsis errors. But I have indeed had the eLicenser seen as not connected, in the middle of a session, and sometimes have to reboot (a 15+ minute train-of-thought-wrecking rathole for me, due to how I bootstrap my studio).

"Synsopos.app" does appear to be related to e-licenser. Ignoring the errors does indeed appear to be the best route!

@mhschmieder: Thanks for the corroboration on e-Licenser. I've never felt they were particularly robust and have wondered why people use them.

Consolidating on iLok is fine by me!

I'll even get over having a spare e-Licenser that may never get used. I do have a chunk of stuff on that platform though (VSL, Vengeance Sound, etc.).

[mhschmieder]

VSL is moving to iLok and will support any way you choose (dongle, computer, cloud). I think Steinberg is going soft-protection vs. iLok but don't know for sure. I didn't realize Vengeance is still on eLicenser; most other vendors gradually abandoned it over the years.

Of all the vendors, VSL is the most helpful when a problem arises, even though it isn't their fault. They care very deeply about their customers.

[Altauria]

I have found that DP 10.13 runs far better when hosting VIs in itself, rather than relying on VEPro. This was not the case with previous versions of DP, in my experience.

System Specs: macOS Catalina 10.15.7, 9900k, 128GB RAM

This discovery was by accident. Some time last year I brought up a blank session just to test a few audio plug-ins to see how they react to VIs (and to up my "audio" game and learn some things...). After testing new instruments, adding one at a time, it had gotten to the point that I basically had almost a full orchestra loaded - and DP was still purring like a kitten. Each channel had a few Waves plugins on them as well.

In the past with both DP and Cubase, when VEPro reached a RAM load beyond 40GB it was very questionable whether or not it would crash upon attempting to connect to the servers once the DAW is launched. (VEPro project opens first, then DAW project). Often it would crash even just trying to open the VEPro file.

I'm not sure where this light-years ahead improvement came from. Maybe DP's newer Pregen feature? Or the six years between my old 3930k and 9900k processor is really that significant?

If anything, I'd rather use VEPro exclusively for external audio FX processing - like sends/returns, or MIR, etc. For VIs - only on satellite computers.

I didn't realize Vengeance is still on eLicenser; most other vendors gradually abandoned it over the years.

Vengeance uses the kext file, CodeMeter Runtime. They may have used eLicenser in the past, but no longer.

[revi]

Interesting point on DP 10!

I more-or-less have to use DP 9.52 as my "main machine" is a "legacy" 2008 MacPro (I kind of wince thinking it's legacy) which is connected to my main (legacy!) MOTU interfaces that feed the mixer.

That rascal is very stable (Mavericks!) and running DP 9.52. I'm not messing with it!

In the past, DP has long been (along with Photoshop) one of the apps that just never seemed to crash...ever. On Mojave with this newer iMac, it's been much more delicate.

Thus far, VE Pro 7 seems to be working well. I want to use the iMac for the arranging tunes for which the ol' Mac Pro simply can't keep up.

Also, on the iMac with Mojave, DP 10 was flat-out unstable. It was pretty much unusable for me, believe it or not. I contacted MOTU support and they couldn't figure it out. I do have third party (OWC) RAM in it but I haven't had problems with other apps (e.g., numerous Adobe products, WAVELAB, etc.). As such, given that I don't want to change the ol' Mac Pro, it's probably just as well that I didn't try much with DP 10.

Last, correction understood: the Vengeance products that are licensed on the e-Licenser are not the Vengeance Avenger app but a number of their effects: TapeStop, EFX Bundle, Stereo Bundle and Metrum which are part of the "Producer Suite". The Avenger app is license separately.

[HCMarkus]

TL;DR: I bought Vienna Ensemble awhile back... I've never needed it, so never installed it.

Yeah, there is little doubt MOTU revamped DP's audio engine when it was announced that changing buffer size would no longer require DP to re-load all VIs. I"ve noticed DP 10.13 just keeps going, and going, and going when adding/enabling VIs. On my aging 12-core 5,1, editing gets a little slow once a bunch of audio tracks are added, but much of my stuff is predominantly VI, so no worries! (Although I'm excited to see what Apple unveils as its ARM CPUs mature.)

One nasty bug I've encountered causes DP10.13 to output full-code white noise every once in awhile when I change that buffer. I've learned to mute audio when I do, but forget every once in a while. Ouch.

[dewdman42]

anyone know if there is any chance of ever seeing VePro work in pregen mode?