GETTING THE MOST FROM POWERCORE
BUFFER SIZES
For optimal performance, set your audio buffer size (typically adjusted in the I/O setup of your host application) to a value between 256 and 1024 samples. Rule of thumb: The larger the audio buffer size, the lower your PowerCore plug-in’s performance overhead on the DSPs and the CPU of the host computer. PowerCore is optimized for best performance when using a buffer setting of 1024 samples. The minimum I/O buffer size for PowerCore to work properly is 128 samples.
THE DISABLED STATE
When the Disabled State becomes active, the plug-in is bypassed due to a lack of available DSP performance. This can happen when increasing the sample rate or you try to load too many plug-ins. Only the audio processing will be bypassed on a disabled plug-in – all of the parameters and presets updates will still be active, preventing problems later on should you not notice that a plug-in has become disabled.
Let us say that this error occurs when trying to load MegaReverb. In this case, you will receive the following warning: "The following error occurred with the PowerCore Effect ‘MegaReverb’: The PowerCore does not have enough free DSP resources available to load the Plug-in. "
As an additional warning, there will be a status indication directly within the plug-in that is disabled.
Figure 1: Many of the PowerCore plug-ins have a Disabled LED at the bottom of the plug-in that will light-up red when disabled.
Some PowerCore plug-ins, such as EQSAT Custom, 24/7•C or the CLASSIC VERB, will display the Disabled State message directly in the user interface.
Figure 2: The 24/7•C will appear as though the "lights are out” and the disabled message will appear in the VU Meter display.
96 kHz PROCESSING
The included PowerCore plug-ins support 96 kHz processing. The golden rule of DSP performance is: the higher the sample rate, the greater the DSP performance required. So, a plug-in that requires 50% of a DSP at 48 kHz will require 100% of a DSP at 96 kHz, as a doubling of sample rate also doubles the resulting DSP performance required. As mentioned above, a plug-in will enter the Disabled State if it can not handle a certain sample rate. In that case, simply switch back to the supported sample rate.
LATENCY
WHAT IS LATENCY?
PowerCore plug-ins have a slight delay before the processed signal is returned to the host application. The delay can be somewhat disorienting, resulting in an effect that sounds like it is not in sync with the tempo of your song. To accommodate this, most applications have something called Automatic Delay Compensation. Plug-ins report back to the host application with a processing time, and the application offsets the audio so that everything "lines up”.
The COMPENSATOR plug-in, included with your PowerCore, allows you to easily setup delay compensation manually. Check the COMPENSATOR manual-PDF on your installation CD for details.
NO LATENCY MODE
The PowerCore plug-ins offer the No Latency Mode. This mode is an alternative way of communicating with the PowerCore. To enter No Latency Mode, click on the PowerCore logo on the bottom of the plug-in. When enabled, the PowerCore logo will have a red glow to indicate operation.
In most cases, No Latency Mode is not required as this much power comes at a price; No Latency Mode will place a significant load on your host CPU! However, No Latency Mode is ideal for record monitoring with a PowerCore reverb effect or playing a PowerCore synth.
LATENCY IN THE MASTER FADER
When using PowerCore plug-ins in the Master output channel, latency is not an issue as all of the audio is uniformly delayed.
