[PD] performance on osX

[Derek Holzer]

Hi Cyrille,

cyrille henry wrote:

> Derek : do you know if this performance problem happend only with pd, or 
> also with other software?

I didn't take a lot of time to benchmark different applications between 
the two platforms, although I did spend about 3 months (2 years ago) 
seeing how much stuff from the Linux Audio world was or could be ported 
to OSX. I use Ardour quite frequently without noticing a big loss of 
performance from Linux to OSX. But you have to keep in mind how big and 
bloated the Aqua/OSX desktop manager is!!! I'm sure it can account for a 
lot of overhead. But I still saw PD running a surprising amount slower 
than on Linux.

I use JACK almost always on OSX with PD (when I use it on OSX at all), 
and still the speed is quite poor. I'm fairly positive it has to do with 
whether Aqua handles the graphical interface or not. All those brushed 
chrome windows and colorful spinning widgets sure are expensive! Maybe 
do comparisons with "--nogui"? (Although for GEM patches this wouldn't 
help much would it?)

But in general, I've lost interest in using up valuable 
working/performing/recording time in debugging things. I keep a Linux 
partition on my laptop for PD live sets, sound editing in ReZound and 
heavy-duty Ardour/Jamin recording/mastering work these days, and do my 
day-to-day computer business under OS X. That seems like a working 
solution for me.

Sorry not be more helpful...

best,
d.
-- 
derek holzer ::: http://www.umatic.nl ::: http://blog.myspace.com/macumbista
---Oblique Strategy # 103:
"Left channel, right channel, centre channel"