Building your own sounds – Main considerations - Powered by Kayako eSupport Help Desk Software

Excessive gain staging resulting in digital clipping
Digital clipping sounds terrible and is definitely something to be avoided. Preset sounds created without proper gain staging consideration can result in digital clipping in the V-Machines output converters. Gain staging is the art of setting multiple gain controls in the signal path to achieve the cleanest possible resulting signal. Too much gain in the signal path prior to conversion at the DAC (Digital Audio converter) results in digital clipping.

Possible gain stages in signal path when creating Presets in the VFX Application;

Plug-in output gain settings (plug-ins can clip within themselves, check the plug-in GUI)
VFX application Individual channel Gain controls
VFX application FX 1&2 Bus Gain controls
VFX application Main channel Gain control

Adding plug-ins in chains and layers can often build up excessive gain in the overall preset thus overdriving the V-Machine’s DAC. Set your levels according to the maximum velocity you will be playing the preset sound from your MIDI keyboard. This allows for dynamic playing without clipping.

Quick Tip: Put a limiter plug-in on the master output channel!

Use the presets wisely
Try to use presets as much as possible rather than building up layers of sounds in the Mixer. This is a powerful way to get the most out of the V-Machine. You can quickly toggle between sounds whilst keeping the CPU and latency performance under control. The more you load into a single preset the more likely you are to reach the CPU performance ceiling.

Managing resources

CPU considerations
The V-Machines firmware is purpose built for high performance operation and optimized to ensure most CPU cycles are dedicated to processing audio. However, just like any standard computer, there is a performance ceiling where the processor will have reached its maximum performance capability.
The performance ceiling of the V-Machine with regard to CPU power is dependant on many factors. It is only by using the V-Machine you will learn to appreciate how to obtain the best possible performance results. The main thing to remember at all times is that any active feature/function consumes CPU calculation power.

Optimizing presets
Some of the following tips are worth considering to help make the best use of the V-Machine’s CPU:

Be mindful that all Gain adjustment calculations consume CPU cycles. As such, if you can set mixer faders to zero dB efficiencies can be made. It can be useful to keep the master fader at zero dB and adjust the channel volumes accordingly to reduce gain calculations.
Adjust each Presets Audio Buffer Parameter to achieve the best balance of performance latency and CPU usage. The Audio Buffer Parameter setting can be configured on a per Preset basis. See section 11.2 for more information.
Setting Pan settings hard left, hard right, or absolute centre in the Mixer reduces the quantity of stereo field calculations demanded of the CPU.
Select a mono input if appropriate. There is no need to process a stereo input signal for a mono source such as an electric or bass guitar.
If you only want to run a single plug-in in a particular Preset, it is advisable to load the plug-in into Plug-in Slot A in channel 1 of the Mixer. The V-Machine recognises this state and passes audio directly though the Mixer enabling efficiencies.
Utilize FX sends rather than inserting a dedicated effect plug-in on each channel. This way you can share the effect resource between multiple channels.
Setting an audio channels FX send parameter to set to zero will not use any CPU resources. As such, if a plug-in is using very small amounts of a particular shared effect in the FX bus it may be advisable to switch it off entirely!
Switch off plug-ins that you can hardly hear. They are using up precious resources!
Shorten the length of release tails for VSTi’s if at all possible. Long release tails can build up polyphony (the number of notes playing simultaneously) during performances placing a burden on the CPU. Release tails can often be reduced without being detrimental to performances.
Reduce plug-in polyphony if supported by the plug-in. Many VSTi plug-ins offer the ability to reduce polyphony. Every extra note consumes CPU cycles.
Every single feature you turn on and off impacts CPU performance. Think efficient and program wisely!

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