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Parametric EQ: Smooth Automation

Posted: Fri May 02, 2014 5:52 pm
by Father
I don't know if this has already been discussed, but i didn't see anything about it so I'm submitting a new post.
Automating standard Parametric EQ controls (Gain, Freq or Q) in host application (FL Studio) is not smooth, and causes major CPU usage and sometimes fatal crashes.
Any solution to fix this is much appreciated.

Re: Parametric EQ: Smooth Automation

Posted: Fri May 02, 2014 7:28 pm
by tester
Prims "redraw limiter" on green side, "de-zipper" on blue side may help. Second - reduce amount of green triggers (not needed ones) wandering around. Third - maybe (just maybe) some issues in filter design; best way is to keep min/max ranges (on all inputs), non-zero inputs (filters don't process zero's well), and filter construction at all.

Re: Parametric EQ: Smooth Automation

Posted: Fri May 02, 2014 11:02 pm
by Father
Yes thank you. limiting triggers on green side for each control (Gain, Freq and Q) did it. CPU usage is much better and it automates smoothly. Still not ideal, but at least it works OK.
One more thing to do is to connect both Freq and Q to redraw; Because the original EQ only reacts to gain automation.

Re: Parametric EQ: Smooth Automation

Posted: Fri May 02, 2014 11:33 pm
by tester
Yes, but you can use either redraw limiter, or - ticker25 (depends on design) - and use common single redraw routine for all knobs, to lower the gui redrawing rate amnd total amount of triggers.

Re: Parametric EQ: Smooth Automation

Posted: Sat May 03, 2014 11:23 am
by Father
I get the idea how to deal with this kinda problems now. But i didn't expect to see it in standard modules.
Is this the right way to do it?
limit.jpg
limit.jpg (27.75 KiB) Viewed 15674 times

Re: Parametric EQ: Smooth Automation

Posted: Sat May 03, 2014 11:40 am
by tester
Ticker and redraw limiter are used to drive the redraw and redraw area prims (which are responsible for gui refreshing). Not there (although you could use redraw limiter your way too in some situations). Note that you must connect triggers to redraw limiter too.

The difference between ticker and redraw limiter would be - redraw limiter acts only when triggers are sent, while ticker sets constant refreshing rate for gui or area. Downside of ticker is - if you use it on editboxes, then your values may disappear/blink during editing.

Re: Parametric EQ: Smooth Automation

Posted: Sat May 03, 2014 12:33 pm
by Father
I wanted to limit the triggers when a value is constantly changing, like a De-Zipper for green. I used the redraw limiter like that and it kinda worked. I don't know if that's logical or not! And i am paranoid about using tickers, they tick a lot! Beside when there is no change in value they are still sending triggers.
I guess i have to experience more on this. But my original problem is solved.
Thanks for your time, really appreciated.

Re: Parametric EQ: Smooth Automation

Posted: Sat May 03, 2014 12:48 pm
by tester
Father wrote:I wanted to limit the triggers when a value is constantly changing, like a De-Zipper for green. I used the redraw limiter like that and it kinda worked. I don't know if that's logical or not! And i am paranoid about using tickers, they tick a lot! Beside when there is no change in value they are still sending triggers.
I guess i have to experience more on this. But my original problem is solved.
Thanks for your time, really appreciated.


Just play with it, and post schematics with problems you may encounter.