Should I install Windows XP 64-bit ?

medea · 01-14-2007, 08:38 PM

Does it have any sense to install Windows XP 64-bit for working in Reaper?

My config is:

mb: asus p5b
cpu: intel core 2 duo e6300
1 gig ram
sound: ESI Juli@

hansdampf · 02-28-2007, 04:05 AM

If you have to ask maybe you shouldn`t.... :-)

malcolmj · 02-28-2007, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by medea

Does it have any sense to install Windows XP 64-bit for working in Reaper?

It depends why you want it. You won't get any benefit from REAPER itself by running x64 as REAPER is a 32 bit application.

I run x64 and it works fine, but I am lucky enough to have drivers for all of my hardware.

If you don't have any 64 bit applications I would recommend sticking with XP. I doubt there will be any more development of x64 by Microsoft now that Vista is here.

Cheers,

Malcolm.

hansdampf · 02-28-2007, 08:13 AM

Yeah well, a 64bit-Version of Reaper would really rock....

Justin · 02-28-2007, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hansdampf

Yeah well, a 64bit-Version of Reaper would really rock....

so would having 64 bit versions of tons of VSTs, which we don't...

hansdampf · 03-01-2007, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin

so would having 64 bit versions of tons of VSTs, which we don't...

well, you are able to influence 64bit-versions of the reaper-included plugins at least, don`t you? ;-)))
Seriously, AFAICT one big problem may be the integration of 32bit-plugins into a 64bit-host. Am I right?

chip mcdonald · 03-04-2007, 12:13 AM

..but what about the deal with running two instances of Reaper, one for FX/VSTi, to utilize getting past the 2 gig XP 32 memory address limit?

Wouldn't there be some advantage...?

Art Evans · 03-14-2007, 06:08 AM

According to a current post on KvR, Reaper is by implication lacking in this department -

Quote:

here are some good words from the editors of this month's Recording Magazine about 64-bit Sonar:

"While being able to mix and produce audio in double precision is a notably advanced capability, the combination with full compatibility with a 64-bit OS (including Microsoft's forthcoming Vista) represents a force that is unmatchable by any competing DAW product. For the purpose of writing this review I decided to take the plunge and upgrade my OS to XP x64, which takes full advantage of the dual 64-bit cores of the CPU. To say that the results were dramatic would be somewhat of an understatement. In the 64-bit environment, SONAR is capable of accessing the full memory complement of my DAW (in actuality it would be able to access 128 GB of RAM if I had that much) in 64-bit words."

"SONAR is also code optimized to take full advantage of every pipe and nuance of current multi-core CPUs, so even in double-precision SONAR 6 runs more quickly using its 64-bit audio engine in the 64-bit OS than it does using a 32-bit engine in 32-bit XP Pro. I have found that I am able to nearly double my active plug-in count in the 64-bit environment. This latter improvement has been significant enough for me to drastically reduce my dependence on networked co-processing of plug-ins using FX-Teleport
----
Max Hodges
Publisher
White Rabbit Press
www.whiterabbitpress.com

Justin · 03-14-2007, 11:13 AM

Quote:

To say that the results were dramatic would be somewhat of an understatement. In the 64-bit environment, SONAR is capable of accessing the full memory complement of my DAW (in actuality it would be able to access 128 GB of RAM if I had that much) in 64-bit words.

Heh this guy doesnt actually know what he's talking about.. I say this, due to the "in 64-bit words"..

We will do an x64 version of REAPER someday, for people who have a lot of x64 plug-ins that need a lot of RAM, and for people who need access to more than 3GB ram...

Justin · 03-14-2007, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hansdampf

well, you are able to influence 64bit-versions of the reaper-included plugins at least, don`t you?

Yes, but none of our plug-ins use very much RAM anyway..

schwa · 03-14-2007, 01:03 PM

XP 64 is an orphan OS. Don't install it.

I have a funny feeling Vista is going to catch on faster than people expect. Once mind blowing windows apps that actually use 10GB of RAM at once, everybody will want the newest bestest shit. In the music world, somebody will release the drum sampler to end all drum samplers or something.

schwa · 03-14-2007, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chip mcdonald

..but what about the deal with running two instances of Reaper, one for FX/VSTi, to utilize getting past the 2 gig XP 32 memory address limit

That's a good trick but it could only help if you have multiple effects that are each eating huge amounts of RAM. But if you are hitting a RAM ceiling it's most likely you have a single effect eating it all up. Also, Reaper's own RAM usage isn't huge, and the FX-Reaper-instance would still need to contain at least some RAM overhead for Reaper, which means Reaper itself is using more (up to 2x as much) physical memory on your machine than if it were running in a single instance.

LEX · 03-20-2007, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin

Yes, but none of our plug-ins use very much RAM anyway..

Justin,

The reason for 64 bit is the memory addressing. For audio only guys, and synths it wouldn't be of help.

But for guys who use Sample Libraries (libraries that load samples into RAM) it is a big deal.
I believe Sonar has a "bit Bridge" for 32 bit plugins, and people are getting much more on the sample side.

Something to think about if you care about the midi side of things and want those users to come on board too.
It will be here before you know it.

Currently, I need 7 separate machines to load everything I want up. But, when 64bit is all around, I can slim it down to 4 or 5 hopefully.

LEX

inthepipeline · 03-21-2007, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chip mcdonald

..but what about the deal with running two instances of Reaper, one for FX/VSTi, to utilize getting past the 2 gig XP 32 memory address limit?

Wouldn't there be some advantage...?

I've been using the /3GB switch on my dual athlon with 4GB of ram for some time now. It forces the OS to work using the uppermost gig of ram and leaves about 2.8 free for plugs.