Slow Computer = Bad Sequencing? Possible?

[Arteom]

Today is only 11 days before Christmas and I just got around to finally plugging the show in and... its not looking good.

On my main computer (where I do my sequencing), in testing the sequences are spot on, and look really nice, same with the visualizer. My old Windows XP computer which I put in the closet and designated as my Christmas Show computer, doesn't seem to have the power to run the show. It seems to get off sync even when its running the show in the background with the control panel.

Is this possible that the show is 'lagging' because of the computer, of is it just bad sequences?

Info:

Basic Software License

1 - 16CH controller

2,600 Lights on the controller

Communicating with computer through 50' of RJ45

[Surfing4Dough]

Very unlikely that just a single controller is straining your computer that much. If it can run XP, it should be able to run such a simple show with ease.

I think this might apply: "a fine musician never blames his instrument."

Ironically, you might want to revisit this thread:

Apparently this whole sequencing thing isn't as easy as it looks. The great sequencers that are out there deserve a lot of respect. Study their videos and learn from them.

[GaryM]

How much other crap do you have running on your show computer? What are specs..processor and RAM?

Strip it to the minimum..no internet connectivity, remove anything unimportant to LOR-related activities. If you're not connecting to the inetrnet, remove AV, firewalls, etc.

My old machine, running a (and I just upgraded it.) 3 ghz proc and 2 gb of ram, does fine with both E131 and LOR. But..thats all that runs on it. It never breaks a sweat.

And...I agree with Surf...it may not be a hardware issue..but start there.

[Orville]

I've run tests from OLDER systems than the OP has, an old 512MB 500Mhz system running 5 controllers/80 channels and it never lagged either, So I agree I doubt it's the computer, but may be other options running in the background ON that sytstem creating issues. Or it could very well be just bad sequencing. As others said, remove ALL unneccesary hardware and running software on the show computer, also disable any automatic updates as that can really SLOW a machine down, especially OLDER systems. Even if the internet is disabled from the show computer, still disable automatic updates as Windows WILL still try to do an update if enabled.

Best of luck on getting it all to work together.

[Guest wbottomley]

Today is only 11 days before Christmas and I just got around to finally plugging the show in and... its not looking good.

On my main computer (where I do my sequencing), in testing the sequences are spot on, and look really nice, same with the visualizer. My old Windows XP computer which I put in the closet and designated as my Christmas Show computer, doesn't seem to have the power to run the show. It seems to get off sync even when its running the show in the background with the control panel.

Is this possible that the show is 'lagging' because of the computer, of is it just bad sequences?

Info:

Basic Software License

1 - 16CH controller

2,600 Lights on the controller

Communicating with computer through 50' of RJ45

You having problems?

[Max-Paul]

I agree with the comments about what is that computer doing. No internet, No anti-virus, make sure the power options do not allow sleep or hibernate and that the CPU is 100% and the disk drive does not spin down. I think that the monitor can blank out after an hour of non use. With the exception of the LOR control panel, everything else needs to be unloaded. Oh and so you have XP, how much memory do you have on it? I would want minimum 512MB, but would prefer 1GB of ram.

[Arteom]

I agree with the comments about what is that computer doing. No internet, No anti-virus, make sure the power options do not allow sleep or hibernate and that the CPU is 100% and the disk drive does not spin down. I think that the monitor can blank out after an hour of non use. With the exception of the LOR control panel, everything else needs to be unloaded. Oh and so you have XP, how much memory do you have on it? I would want minimum 512MB, but would prefer 1GB of ram.

It only has 512mb. I have a newer laptop running windows 7, Ill test out the sequences tonight with that computer.

The XP is slow and has a bunch of junk on it, sequence editor caused the computer to lag, crash and shutdown, I was supposed to get it reformatted but I lost the disk.

Very unlikely that just a single controller is straining your computer that much. If it can run XP, it should be able to run such a simple show with ease.

I think this might apply: "a fine musician never blames his instrument."

Ironically, you might want to revisit this thread:

http://forums.lighto...a-controller-r/

Apparently this whole sequencing thing isn't as easy as it looks. The great sequencers that are out there deserve a lot of respect. Study their videos and learn from them.

I opened my mouth too soon, and made judgments I shouldn't have... as I've mentioned numerous times before... I'm sorry... I now fully understand the patience, time, ($), and skill that goes into one of these displays, even a simple one.

But as mentioned before in testing the sequences all looked good? Ill try to run the RJ45 from my main comp outside and see if that changes anything.

Another thing that might be causing this problem, My XP computer doesn't run Windows Media Player due to a technical error that it got a while back, I had to download VideoLan, maybe this could be the issue?

[-klb-]

In that case, I'm surprised it works at all. LOR is deeply tied to WMP for all audio/media support.

[TJ Hvasta]

Borrow someones Windows XP disk, reformat, reinstall, using the licence key that is on the sticker on your computer NOT THEIR KEY.

[Tim Fischer]

Lor requires WMP, period.

I ran my show for 7 years on an old, circa 1999 Win98 box. At the end, I had about 180 channels on it. I only switched because we started using video, and that machine didn't support multiple monitors.

I seriously doubt you lack the processing power to run 16 channels.

[LORisAwesome]

Just a reminder -- the audio files need to be at a constant bit rate. I think LOR recommends 128k.

Jerry

[Arteom]

Just a reminder -- the audio files need to be at a constant bit rate. I think LOR recommends 128k.

Jerry

Yeap, I did that from the beginning. I used Audacity do create contact bit rates.

[AlanD]

I'am running a single 16 channel box off a Dell mini 9. A four year old netbook. "Original intel atom processor" with a 16 gig solid state drive 2 gig of ram and Windows XP.. Before you spend any money get Ccleaner from Piriform? It is a free download just request a donation. You can clean your registery, delete unused programs and delete programs automaticlly starting with windows. It makes all the difference in the world.

[GaryM]

It only has 512mb. I have a newer laptop running windows 7, Ill test out the sequences tonight with that computer.

The XP is slow and has a bunch of junk on it, sequence editor caused the computer to lag, crash and shutdown, I was supposed to get it reformatted but I lost the disk.

I opened my mouth too soon, and made judgments I shouldn't have... as I've mentioned numerous times before... I'm sorry... I now fully understand the patience, time, ($), and skill that goes into one of these displays, even a simple one.

But as mentioned before in testing the sequences all looked good? Ill try to run the RJ45 from my main comp outside and see if that changes anything.

Another thing that might be causing this problem, My XP computer doesn't run Windows Media Player due to a technical error that it got a while back, I had to download VideoLan, maybe this could be the issue?

In one post, you summarized why you are having your problems. Your show computer is a mess.

Upgrade the RAM to 2 gb, and reload windows. With 512 mb, I'm surprised it even loads XP and is usable. and without working WMP, forget it.

You may be further ahead to pick up a very basic machine, used or new, and give this thing to charity, or the junkman.

[Arteom]

In one post, you summarized why you are having your problems. Your show computer is a mess.

Upgrade the RAM to 2 gb, and reload windows. With 512 mb, I'm surprised it even loads XP and is usable. and without working WMP, forget it.

You may be further ahead to pick up a very basic machine, used or new, and give this thing to charity, or the junkman.

I bought this machine around 11 years ago... It was still running 98 at the time, Its ancient and worth thousands.

Edited December 16, 2012 by Arteom

[Dale W]

Convert your music to a wave format. You will not have anymore problems due to computer bugs

[k6ccc]

I bought this machine around 11 years ago... It was still running 98 at the time, Its ancient and worth thousands.

With that computer, I would not even both trying to "fix" it. It's place is the E-Waste bin. I recently bought a computer as a show computer (and nothing else). It's a 3GHz Pentium 4 with 1GB of RAM and Windows XP SP3. It was a lease return refurb that I bought from TigerDirect.com. I paid a whole whopping $120 for it. The only thing I have on it other than the LOR installation is RealVNC (Virtual Network Control). That let's me operate it remotely from another computer. Although currently it's one foot from my desktop PC, there is no keyboard, mouse or monitor on it. It will get moved out to the garage one of these days.

For a while I was running an old laptop that had a whole bunch of junk on it, and it really could not keep up. Had all kinds of issues that all were resolved with the new computer.

[George Simmons]

I have to admit that I laughed out loud the first time I saw the title of this thread.

To the OP I say: sorry, but you can't blame bad sequencing on the PC, no matter how much you might wish it was the case. Unless, of course, the PC actually did the sequencing without any human intervention. But other than that, the only known cause of bad sequencing is bad sequencing.

Lots of people, including me, had an old slow computer when starting this hobby. Somehow most of us prevailed, ran our shows just fine, and some of us even got pretty good.

Fact is, there are no shortcuts. But there are minimum equipment requirements you'd benefit greatly from learning about. Don't believe what you see on TV - reading is a good thing.

[caniac]

in this case it is most likely all the TSR programs in the system tray, as others have stated you need to disconnect it from the internet, turn off anti-virus, turn off automatic updates, go to power settings and set all the "plugged in" settings to "never". I have an old XP laptop that I use for the show ONLY, nothing else.

Now for sequencing I use a new W7 dual monitor setup, 8gb ram, 2tb disk. I took the advice of MANY on this message board and when I started just got the cheapest basic laptop I could find for the show, it only needs to run the control panel and allow you to build the show and schedule it - nothing else.

[George Simmons]

If your LOR program is hanging up and you are using MP3, converting to wav allows the programmer to see the cells without delay. Surely, experienced programmers know this and as one, I was sharing a work around for the OP.

Experienced programmers also know that converting variable bit rate MP3 files to constant bit rate MP3 also solves any timing issues. I don't understand what benefit there would be to the OP with an already overwhelemed PC to saddle it with the huge .wav file sizes.