Preset Cpu Limits - Fractal Audio FX8 Owner's Manual

PRESET CPU LIMITS

Each block you place in a preset contributes to the total CPU load. You can check the current load
at any time by pressing UTILITY and switching to the STATUS page. A thermometer-like meter
on the right side of the screen shows the CPU % usage (and provides a specific numeric readout
above). Load is also displayed in the upper right corner of FX8-Edit.
As the load enters the high 90s the FX8 can become unstable or unresponsive, so there are
safeguards to prevent this. First, you are stopped from inserting any block which might cause an
overload by the message "INSUFFICIENT CPU". The FX8 assumes that a block will be used to its
limits when making this determination.
If you are prevented from inserting an effect, you can make changes to reduce the current CPU
load and try again. You might remove an effect that is less important. Adjusting certain parameters
can also help. Here are a few of the common block parameters whose settings have a measurable
effect on CPU usage:
ƒ Reverb:
QUALITY
ƒ Phaser: (Lower = less CPU)
STAGES
ƒ Filter: and
ORDER
ƒ Multi-Delay:
TYPE
ƒ Setting
LOOPER POSITION
ƒ Modifiers also affect CPU usage.
AUTOMATIC BLOCK DISABLING
As a second safeguard, the FX8 may disable one or more blocks if load gets too high due to
changes after a block has been inserted. Changing Reverb to HIGH QUALITY, for example, pushes
CPU Usage up considerably. If the preset can't handle this, you will see an error message:
CPU & USB
The FX8 dedicates a small percentage of CPU resources to USB processing. Large presets may run
fine while USB is disconnected, but a USB connection may push them over the limit. In this case,
try to reduce CPU load or avoid using these presets while USB is connected.
and (Lower = less CPU)
ECHO DENSITY
(Lower = less CPU)
Q
(Different types have different requirements)
to "NO LOOPER"
When this happens, you'll need to take steps to get
back below the limit. The most likely solution will be
to change back whatever setting you had just made,
but it is also possible to remove or edit other blocks to
address the issue.
Disabled blocks blink on the Stompbox Mode display
and show DISABLED (upper left) in the EDIT menu.
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5 : creatInG preSetS