Compiling synths

stefan · 10 May 2005

Nu Audio Science wrote: Does SM compile the synth as it is being loaded by the host ? It just seems to tak a long time to load SMplugs ?

The exported vst is basicly synthmaker without the editing features automatically loading one specific schematic, so the answer is yes 🙂

Nu Audio Science · 10 May 2005

Aaaah so its exactly the same as SE in this instance, Anybody know why the load times are so high ?

stefan · 10 May 2005

Nu Audio Science wrote: Aaaah so its exactly the same as SE in this instance, Anybody know why the load times are so high ?

Might be due to the tested schematic? What kind of schematic did you try? Something with lots and lots of stuff or with very little stuff? 🙂

Nu Audio Science · 10 May 2005

The example synth 🙂 Iguess this is something that will get faster with later versins 😉

Shifrin · 10 May 2005

Could be due to the time needed to calculate the wavetables for the oscs (they are DSF based aren't they?).

Shif.

stefan · 10 May 2005

Shifrin wrote: Could be due to the time needed to calculate the wavetables for the oscs (they are DSF based aren't they?).

Shif.

I don't know what DSF is, but they do calculate the wavetables upon loading, yes.

Tom7777 · 10 May 2005

It seems like SM probably includeds lots of things from the program, i think when it reaches version 1 a lot of work should be made on making it use as less stuff as possible making the exported vsti/vst smaller in file size and memory use ect.

Sk · 10 May 2005

I noticed the same thing too. I exported the example synth and a simple synth I made up (with 3 oscillators and the 4wheel drive organ; actually not so light 🙂 ). Both take lots of time to load in Cubase. More specifically: the first run after compiling them, the loading of cubase was slower itself; next openings were faster. But when I actually use the synth (open it in VST instruments), it takes again a tenth of seconds or so.

Shifrin · 11 May 2005

stefancrs wrote: I don't know what DSF is, but they do calculate the wavetables upon loading, yes.

I thought 'Discrete Summation Formula' was the 'technical' way of saying 'adding up lots of sine waves' - to make a bandlimited sawtooth, for example.

If I've got that wrong let me know 😉

Shif.

stefan · 11 May 2005

Shifrin wrote: stefancrs wrote: I don't know what DSF is, but they do calculate the wavetables upon loading, yes.

I thought 'Discrete Summation Formula' was the 'technical' way of saying 'adding up lots of sine waves' - to make a bandlimited sawtooth, for example.

If I've got that wrong let me know 😉

Shif.

It's probably right 🙂

infuzion · 11 May 2005

I wonder if having multiple layers of sub-modules could slow things down. In my Float_IF-OP-THEN-ELSE , by simply expanding the NOT ops (un-making them sub-modules) I saved 25% filesize.

Also, I imagine loading BMPs will increase file size...

ake · 13 May 2005

Why is that so ? Why not compile when generating the VST ? Just curious.

Åke

Shifrin · 13 May 2005

infuzion wrote: Also, I imagine loading BMPs will increase file size...

I'm wondering about this, if I have a knob module with a bitmap inside it does that bitmap get replicated in memory for each knob module I use? Or can SM recognise it is the same resource, and share it across all of the knob modules? Does this depend on whether the knob module is 'synchronised' or not? Just curious 🙂

Shif.

stefan · 14 May 2005

ake wrote: Why is that so ? Why not compile when generating the VST ? Just curious.

Åke

Because you want to relink the schematic when disabling components etc. What to be compiled is basicly a dynamic set of components, in a synth that is.

malc · 14 May 2005

Two issues have been raised here: file size and load time. Both we know we can reduce significantly.

As Shif suggests, each bitmap you use is replicated on disk and in memory - there is no clever stuff going on here. We have some ideas on how to sort this out so don't worry too much about it.

The biggest thing affecting load time is the calculation of the wavetables for the standard oscillators. We can get round this problem and make things much faster. Recompiling does occur too but it's pretty quick.

Tom7777 · 14 May 2005

Good to hear Malc 🙂

infuzion · 16 May 2005

Thanks for keeping these tweaks in mind malc!

Tom7777 · 26 May 2005

Uh, bump, basically becuase with the latest versions of SM this has got much worse to the point i cannot edit a schematic so i either have to start new projects or not use SM.