For best results, use a modern, powerful computer
The ARP 2600 is a complex instrument, and this software model is designed to deliver both unprecedented accuracy and stunning audio quality. Together, this complexity, accuracy, and audio quality require a significant amount of CPU processing power. The factory sounds are stored with lower polyphony settings and/or lower oversampling settings in order to play well on a broad range of systems. Modern, relatively powerful computers should be able to play up to 16 voices per instance at the default 4x oversampling.
If you encounter CPU performance limitations, such as clicks, pops, or noise, try the following steps.
Close unnecessary applications
If applications are running which aren't being used for your music project, close them.
Reduce Poly # Notes
If the sound is polyphonic, reduce its Poly # Notes parameter in the lower right corner of the window. This number is stored separately for each Performance. Each set of four voices (1-4, 5-8 etc.) allocates a block of processing power, and increments in-between (5, 6, 7 etc.) add a smaller amount of processing.
Important: since some 2600 patches don’t require any note-ons to make sound, the specified number of voices runs all the time, and uses CPU resources regardless of whether or not notes are being played.
Adjust per-Performance or global Oversampling settings
If CPU load is too heavy with a specific sound, due to a higher Poly # of Notes setting for instance, you can reduce the CPU load by setting its Oversampling Trim Pot to 2x. This is stored separately for each Performance.
If the CPU load seems heavy in general, open the Settings dialog and set the Oversampling Mode to Always Use 2x.
Adjust audio buffer sizes
If you are using a plug-in host, increase the buffer size in the host application. If you are using the stand-alone version, go to the Audio/MIDI Settings window and increase the audio buffer size. Note that this will also increase the latency (the delay before you hear sound).
Set sample rate to 48 kHz
The ARP 2600 will work well with a range of sample rates, but is most CPU-efficient at 48 kHz. Specifically, 44.1 kHz is less efficient than 48 kHz.
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