Pausing the audio engine when taking a break

rank13 · February 15, 2020, 5:47am

I like to do this when taking a break from practice, specifically as it reduces the CPU usage. Is the only way to do this in GP by going into the Preferences window? Otherwise I guess having a blank rackspace would achieve something similar. Does anyone else do this?

simon · February 15, 2020, 8:15am

I use a blank rackspace for this

keyman · February 15, 2020, 10:10am

empty rackspace

rank13 · February 16, 2020, 12:30am

If it’s common to use an empty rackspace, would a dedicated audio power button be useful?

David-san · February 16, 2020, 7:24am

It could be the global trim level when it is at 0?

rank13 · February 16, 2020, 9:17am

That would work for me.

pianopaul · February 16, 2020, 9:25am

The CPU is consumed most by plugins and not by Audio processing.
What about an option to bypass all plugins in the current rackspace?

rank13 · February 16, 2020, 9:28am

What I meant was what happens when you go into the Preferences: audio stops and CPU goes to 0%. I assumed that was the overall audio processing (including plugins) gets stopped/paused.

pianopaul · February 16, 2020, 9:29am

Then we have a solution, just open preferences window

rank13 · February 16, 2020, 9:31am

Touché

David-san · February 16, 2020, 12:35pm

To tell the truth, I never stop the audio engine, it seems that my PC survives quite well my (many) coffee breaks without that.

dhj · February 16, 2020, 1:20pm

Yeah, that was my reaction too.

djogon · February 17, 2020, 12:54pm

I use an empty rackspace as well just to make sure nothing comes out and the CPU usage goes back to almost 0, but a global trim pulled down can be used as well - double clicking on it will brin it back to 0dB instantly.

edm11 · February 17, 2020, 4:34pm

No, that’s a workaround, as is creating a blank rackspace. Far from elegant solutions.

The solution is as proposed, and audio engine power button.

pianopaul · February 17, 2020, 5:39pm

@edm11 Why do you need such a function?

dhj · February 17, 2020, 6:48pm

That’s why I’m wondering - I just leave my laptop on whatever rackspace was last opened - sometimes leaving for the rest of the day/night.

rank13 · February 17, 2020, 8:29pm

I’ll concede that there may be some element of OCD about cpu usage that I’ve developed from years of using laptops!

I still find it interesting if others are commonly using blank rackspaces.
The concept of the power button I got from Cantabile, but I’m sure I’ve come across it elsewhere. I have my workaround by using the Preferences window and I may start using a blank workspace.

djogon · February 18, 2020, 1:59pm

While GP can survive even if you pull a cable from your audio interface out and plug it back in without you having to do anything - I prefer if I don’t have to do something like “stop the audio engine”. Just sounds dangerous.

keyman · February 18, 2020, 2:11pm

Spot on; no messing around with “main-audio-business”.

edm11 · February 18, 2020, 4:54pm

Here’s where your logic fails me.

It sounds ‘dangerous’ to you to create a function to do such a thing…yet using a workaround of opening the preference menu (which ends up having the same effect) is ok. If the workaround has the same effect without issue, the process is already happening and obviously its not dangerous.

I have to ask, why would you prefer the less elegant solution?
The request is for a button that more directly and clearly does what the proposed workarounds do.
So, when asked why someone would want such a feature, yet it’s clear that multiple people use the workaround to accomplish the task, it should be obvious why someone is proposing a more elegant and clear solution.

It’s more elegant and clear is the answer.
Why is that a problem?