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I'm using SX with an RME Hammerfall and a UAD 1 card. I've got a Pulsar 1 card installed with SFP 3.1c, all in XP. How do I get the Pulsar effects to show up as VST plugins, as inserts to the Cubase mixer?

welcome Nickdrums9,

there's a questionmark in the SFP Livebar, click on manual, chapter, xtc and have a look - they've put some efforts in the doc...
The thing is not that simple that it can be covered by a single sentence.
I confess that I discovered the manual quite late too

cheers, Tom

Astroman,

Thanks. The SFP manual shows screen shots for the XTC card, which doesn't really help me because my "Settings" options are different (Pulsar 1 Hardware). I know I installed SFP with XTC componants though, but the manual isn't making sense because it's referencing Cubase 5 with XTC hardware. I'm good with manuals if everything corresponds to what I'm using.

hi,

the manual I was referring to (the online pdf) doesn't even show a pic of the hardware. It's about the XTC software mode (the last 'chapter' menu entry) and starts with 'the XTC Mode...', how to include modules in your sequencer, rendering to file, software settings and latency.
I guess it covers exactly what you want to know - maybe the name was misleading or another doc for the hardware exists under that title too.
Anyway, the software handling is identical on all boards.
I didn't intend this as a kind of RTFM answer, but in this case it really pays off to understand the concepts and a little background. On the CW forum are frequent posts of users complaining about (and insisting on) features which are impossible according to the manual for technical reasons. The thing can be confusing if misinterpreted.

cheers, Tom

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: astroman on 2003-05-14 20:49 ]</font>

Yeah, I know the chapter your referring too. I've read it over and as I said earlier, they are showing screen prints of software settings for the XTC hardware card with Cubase VST, neither of which I am using.

The examples they show are for the XTC card specifically. When you compare the "settings" screens for both hardware cards you will notice they are completely different. For example, Pulsar 1 routing is done manually in the routing window, and I understand the routing concepts of Pulsar for MIDI, ASIO, VST Link, etc, but XTC routing is done in it's "I/O Settings" dialogue box (Not so for a Pulsar 1 card). I appreciate what your saying, but it's not quite that transparent.

Let me clarify this. I'm using the I/O's from my Hammerfall card, and the manual says I can use the Pulsar as a DSP board for it's effects, but it doesn't get into detail about it. It talks about using the CW card for I/O, which I'm not interesed in anymore. Do you use SX? Are you using CW effects as plugins? ANYBODY?

To use XTC mode, it pretty simple at first.

In pulsar setting page, there is a 'enable XTC' checkbox... Activate this, and close SFP completely, the software. You shouldn't see the small sfp icon in the taskbar...


Then start Cubase, or Nuendo, or whatever ASIO seq you're using, then, you HAVE to select the ASIO SCOPE driver, if not, the XTC mode won't start.

One this is done, if you ask your seq to display the asio control panel, you'll see the XTC setting dialog (with I/O etc...) like in the manual...

From there, i can't help you cuz i don't have a second asio driver like you from your RME... So, well, do your own research from there.

Hope this help.

I see. Well thast explains some of the confusion. Thing is that now I don't have any output from the RME card. I'll have to work on that. The Latency will only be as low as the Pulsar 1 card then, huh? Hmmmm, I may have to can this idea.

Thanks guys

well, if you want the Pulsar just as an fx unit and record with the RME you might connect it via Adat on a cheap (I mean really cheap) 2nd PC. Some outdated office box from 300 MHZ on for $100 from eBay will do

cheers, Tom

Yeah, I've played with that concept a little bit with a snare track. I have both audio cards in one PC, and I can route cubase tracks to discrete RME hardware buses (ADAT 1-16), ADAT out to Pulsar and ADAT back into RME, so I can monitor through Hammerfall, but it was a pain in the ass. I guess I'd be better off sending everything out to pulsar and probably monitor through it (connects to my A16) in order for this to be pratical? Latency is only an issue when you send the audio back to the recording software correct? Also, the Cubase tracks are 32 bit Float, and Pulsar 1 is only 16 bit (ADAT). Is this going to be an issue going ADAT to ADAT?

Pulsar 1 ADAT is 24bits, like every ADAT devices

LOL.. OK, Sorry, it's my A16 that is 16 bit.

Are you sure you're good with manuals?

imho the A16 uses 18-bit converters but of a very high quality - I still dunno the brand though.
My idea with the 'external' Pulsar, which is functionally indentical to the setup you mention, was to remove the SFP surface load from the recording machine at relatively low costs.

cheers, Tom