Working with what you have - Hardware Restrictions

Sep '24 • General

Has anyone ever felt like their creative process is being held back by their equipment and tools? Do the latest gadgets, synths, and controllers actually make you a better artist, or do they just speed up your workflow?

After adding new software synths like Diva, my projects have become more MIDI-based and less loop-driven, with more channels involved. Unfortunately, my laptop’s CPU is struggling to keep up, which is making it harder to finish songs.

How are you all maximizing the use of your current gear? So far, I've tried the following:

Increasing buffer size
Closing unnecessary background processes in Windows
Setting project files to 44.1kHz at 24-bit
Freezing tracks
Avoiding processor-heavy synths/plugins
Using an external audio interface

My studio time is limited, and when I end up spending more time troubleshooting than making music, it really kills my motivation. I plan to build a dedicated music PC eventually, but for now, I’m trying to make the best of what I have. Has anyone else faced similar issues, and how have you dealt with them?

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