Plugins constantly crash in Reason

Vocalpoint

Your crashes could also be graphics related or have another cause altogether.

Still - that laptop and its CPU are not designed for DAW work - that you are able to do some things and not others - still tell me that this is environmental - especially now that you have confirmed that crashing is now occuring in Studio One.

Studio One (and WINDOWS) are recording detail logs (event viewer) on what the cause is for all of this - and I will be very surprised if it ends up being Kontakt (alone) as I have already mentioned that you and I have the same code/version of Kontakt and I do not crash whatsoever - standalone or in Studio One.

Where we differ is in the hardware department.

VP

Ed M

My previous desktop was an I7 (it was a pretty old one though), also with 12 gb of ram, which is why I am replying here. Although my computer exceeded the minimum specs, as soon as I used more than 4 or 5 tracks things started to work really slow, froze up or crashed. I used to have these problems in Ableton, Maschine 2.0 and FL Studio. I fear your laptop could be the bottleneck here, not so much the software/DAW you use.

After I got a new more powerful laptop everything changed, and I can run anything I want without a single problem.

DrAndy

So what do you class as a powerful laptop?

Vocalpoint

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/86141#Comment_86141

If it's Windows based, and we use Dell as an example - starting right about here would get you something that would be able to stand up against my (workstation) DAW:

XPS 15 Laptop: Dell XPS Laptop Computers | Dell Canada

The i7 (14 core) chip and 32GB of RAM is spot on.

Then of course there are always these:

Buy 14-inch MacBook Pro - Apple (CA)

But as you can see - any laptop that can stand toe to toe with a workstation DAW - will make your wallet bleed - excessively.

This is why I build my own workstations for all my DAW work - pick my own parts and customize as needed. At a third of the cost.

If a laptop is a necessity for you - you will need to come to grips with the cost. There are no cost cutting shortcuts to real power for a DAW.

VP

DrAndy

How essential is the NVIDIA graphics card considering Im not a gamer. Id probably go for a 2TB SSD as well but it sounds intriguing to build a desktop if its that much cheaper and I can still use my laptop for when Im away and want to do stuff. Whats the best way to teach yourself to build a desktop pc?

Thanks

Vocalpoint

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/86282#Comment_86282

I can't speak to graphics in laptops since I do not use one - but I can tell you that in my current custom built DAW - there is no graphics card at all for use with Studio One.

I have my 2009 era Samsung 40 inch plasma TV connected right to the onboard graphics port (HDMI) provided by my Intel i5 Processor. Have never needed anything more for DAW work. It simply is not necessary.

To the builder question - I started in 2002 with no info whatsoever. Bought some parts and went at it. Turned out to be so much fun - I built all of them since then. We do not have a single "retail" computer in the house.

This method is not for everyone, but I liken it to being able to swim or drive a vehicle with standard transmission - it's worth the effort. I dislike e-waste and I really dislike wasting money by discarding any computer part before its useful life has expired.

By custom building - I can wring every last ounce of value from any part by moving it from one machine to the next until the thing either ages out due to technology REALLY moving on (Like say an old school VGA video port) or the thing simply stops working - like a PSU I had here from 2005 recently.

The best part of course is the savings when it is time for something new. Instead of rebuying everything for a new DAW - I can take a case from here, drives from there, a PSU from this shelf, and really only worry about the motherboard, CPU and RAM. And I can build a monster Summer 2023 PC right now for less than a grand. That would last me the next 3-4 years and run circles around anything that I linked from Dell or even Apple.

There are tons of YouTube vids and scads of build guides all over the place now - I literally had nothing to go on in 2002.

VP

DrAndy

i7 16 core 13700k op to 5.4ghz 30mb cache

ASUS Prime B760 Plus D4 Motherboard (LGA 1700 PCLE 5.0 USB 3.2

32GB Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO DDR4 3600 MHz

2TB Samsung Pro M.2 PCLe 4.0 NVMe SSD

Corsair iCue H150i Elite Capellix XT RGB

What are your views on this set up? I've not included case or power supply. Is the cooler system going to be enough?

Its a modified version of the Echo-Elite from a uk company called PC Specialist. They are the company I would use probably as I'll mess it up building it myself. How future proof is this set up?

Thanks

Vocalpoint

DrAndy

Looks pretty rockin to me - but if this was me - I would first take the price the PC Specialist is going to lay on you and then shop that parts list and see what the guts of this really costs.

I would dump the video card (as that is really money wasted - unless you intend to use the machine for more than recording like gaming) and simply use the video onboard the CPU.

ASUS Motherboards rule - that's what I use along with the Corsair RAM. And I use Samsung SSD/NVMe exclusively as well.

You will also need to investigate better colling (highly recommend Noctua in this area).

And as long as the case and PSU are good - and totally accessible - it is as future proof as it gets - since you can swap stull in and out as needed. Unfortunately - the motherboard, CPU and RAM go hand in hand - and once that combo ages out - you will need to seek new options - but the combo you have there for personal recording - should last years without issue.

And do not be afraid of building - the price from the building is significantly more than sourcing the parts yourself - I would pick up all the stuff and give it a go.

It's super easy these days as everything connects into something else by design.

Let us know what you choose.

VP

DrAndy

This is the best cooler they do.

DrAndy

These 5 items come to £958, and thats without the case, power supply,Windows etc which would probably take it up to nearly £1100. I haven't chosen a graphice card for this. The company charge £1268 for my chosen set up, its not worth the time or hassle for what they charge.

Vocalpoint

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/87035#Comment_87035

Only you can decide what's good for the pocketbook. If that price works for you - rock on.

Over here in Canada - that would be around $2100.00. No way I could do that when I could build the identical unit by shoping that parts list for about half.

Again - using my case, my PSU and no video card. But that's me :)

You will have a killer machine compared to what you have now. Good luck!

VP

DrAndy

I remember a mate saying a few years ago it was worth building yourself here as you don't save much. A Dell equivalent would be more expensive!

It ordered si it should be here in a week or so!

Cheers