I always assume rendering and playback are two separate "problem spaces". It doesn't take much processing power to play back and mix 8 tracks of prerendered audio, for example. But playback has to take place in real time regardless of the processors involved, otherwise reality is suspended. I think I've read that BiaB may render RealTracks into memory buffers in chunks, so playback can start before the whole song is rendered. And I think BiaB provides the same audio quality from a rendered RealTrack song regardless of CPU speed. DAWs provide options for freezing virtual instrument tracks so that a slower computer can still play back a high quality result, regardless of whether that computer can drive all the virtual tracks in real time.


Chuck Wiggins

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