huge CPU problem

[fractalist]

My new workspace is almost finished for the next gigs, however an unexpected issue arose :
the CPU overload is huge as soon as I use a VSTi in Kontakt.. and I rely on VSTi pretty much (playing them + looping them on pianoroll).

it is REALLY weird.
For example + comparison :
On my mac, a VST plug-in that uses X% of CPU in Ableton Live, uses approximately the same CPU in HH.
Now, a VSTi loaded in kontakt that requires, says 1-3% of CPU in Ableton live, can require more than 10%, sometimes even 20% of CPU in HH, even with quite simple drum libraries (it can be very high even with just a hi-hat triggered by a metronome !) !!

this makes my set totally unplayable with HH :-/
any idea where that can come from ? this strikes me as really weird no ?

thanx !

[secretkillerofnames]

Whan you say

a VSTi loaded in kontakt

do you mean when you load Kontakt in HH?
Kontakt is a sample player, not a VSTi host.
So not sure I understand what you are saying.
What are your computer specs?

[secretkillerofnames]

Just out of curiosity I loaded Kontakt with the Synergenesis library in the latest public build of Ableton Live (64Bit) and Usine HH2 (32Bit).
Both consistently registered between 10 and 20% CPU usage.
This is on my Mac MINI from 2010 with a 2.4ghz Core 2 Duo and 8mb ram.

[fractalist]

yep I meant : when I load a sample library.

I have a mac book pro from 2013, with 16giga of RAM (but HH is only 32-bit so..), I7, 2.6 Ghz.

in ableton live, cpu can't be that high for me : sometimes I use up to 20 libraries in like 5/6 kontakt instances and a lot of plugin, with no problem.
but most of the sample libraries I use in kontakt almost crash Usine..

[secretkillerofnames]

yep I meant : when I load a sample library.

I have a mac book pro from 2013, with 16giga of RAM (but HH is only 32-bit so..), I7, 2.6 Ghz.

in ableton live, cpu can't be that high for me : sometimes I use up to 20 libraries in like 5/6 kontakt instances and a lot of plugin, with no problem.
but most of the sample libraries I use in kontakt almost crash Usine..

I'm going to guess that is because of the 32bit limit on RAM usage for Kontakt causing the CPU to freak out. Can't imagine what else might be causing those issues.
I've never used that many instances of Kontakt in a project but I recall that being one of the main reasons for going 64bit.
I'd heard Mac HH2 is going 64bit later in the year. Maybe try it then?

[senso]

you should read the article http://www.sensomusic.com/wiki3/doku.ph ... lyhock:faq

The CPU in Usine reflect the real life, unlike most of cpu indicators in other soft. It's a choice, as always Usine tells you the truth, not what you would like to see.
For example a Kontakt bank on my system use 18% in Usine, which is the real power needed (in time %) in the audio chain, not an average which means nothing.
If now with the same patch I open the resources monitor to watch the global consumption I can see, like in Ableton, only 4% of CPU, which is, no more no less than a joke, or a big fake.
It's obviously more marketing friendly, but its a lie.
senso++++

[Jules.W]

Hi,

I reopen the topic because I'm wondering pretty much the same thing.

I'm working on my next set up.
In a few words, it's a kind of electro-acoustique drums.

I start to work on it with Live and Battery 3.
There were no problem.

Then, I wanted to transfer all my setup on Usine.
To use all wonderful possibilities of this software.

I do it this week on my principal computer:
(IMac OSX 10,6,8 / 3Ghz i7 / 8Go DDR3)
It was really cool and I was pretty satisfied about the result.

Then, to making a rehearsal with my musicien, I've exported the workspace and import it on my laptop.
(Macbook / OSX 10,6,8 / 2,3Ghz i5 / 4Go Ram)

And.... nothing worked.

Battery3 was not recognised by Usine and the workspace crashed all the time.
(I write another topic about that).

This situation decided me to try to use a non-cracked version of drumming VST.
I've decided to try several software by demo.
I've uploaded two of them: Addictive drums and BFD3 which are all very good.

Then I've tried to insert it inside my session and each time, my workspace crashed.
Or some time, it froze, lagged...
Obviously, it's because of CPU overload because when I play them alone in Usine, they worked pretty well...

The question is why Usine need as much CPU proccesing?
What it is preferable, to use VST or AU? Is it matter?

I do the comparaison with Live, for the same session, Live is running very well.
I would love find a solution to this problem, if not, I will be contraint to switch my set in Live unfortunatly...

Any Idea?
Thanks a lot.

Jules.

[Trogluddite]

Hi,

Couple of things that may be important, especially for running on a laptop.

- Audio hardware. The quality of the drivers for an audio interface can make a difference to the CPU load - especially when using a small buffer size to keep the latency low. For example (sorry, I'm Windows only!), using my USB audio hardware with native ASIO drivers sits around 3% CPU on a new "bare" project on my i5 1.8GHz laptop and 128 sample buffer. Using the laptop's built in hardware, the baseline CPU load is more like 12% for the same latency (using the ASIO4All wrapper). So, audio hardware with efficient drivers can make quite a difference, even before adding any patches.

- It is always worth checking the "power saving" settings on a laptop - especially if running off batteries. A typical way that laptops save power is by "throttling" the CPU - this can sometimes cause audio drop-outs, and can massively skew CPU load readings. When power saving, the computer will either lower the CPU clock speed, or reduce the number of CPU cores being used. When the CPU is throttled, many audio apps will show much higher CPU load readings as there is less total processing power available. When the load rises, the clock speed or available CPU cores may be restored - however, there can be nasty side-effects sometimes if the CPU is switching in and out of power-saving, especially for time-critical data such as audio.

None this is specific to Usine - it is true for any software that uses real-time streams of data at low latency. Even when running from the PSU, many machines will have some of the power saving features enabled by default. I always set up a "no power saving" preset on my machines, so that I can be sure to get peak (and reliable!) performance from my music software when I need it - and switch back to normal when I prefer to have long battery life!

[Jules.W]

Hi Trogludidite,

Thanks for your advices.

Audio hardware: You're right. That's the reason why I make my test with the RME UCX plugged.

About "power saving", I understand theoritically your proposition but how can you set this kind of option un osx 10.6.8?

" I always set up a "no power saving" preset on my machines, so that I can be sure to get peak (and reliable!) performance from my music software when I need it - and switch back to normal when I prefer to have long battery life! "

I'm not sure to understand, could you explain a bit more please?

What about the difference between VST and AU?

[Trogluddite]

Hi Jules,
Unfortunately, I have only ever used Windows machines, so I have no idea where those settings will be on OSX, and never used AU plugins. Possibly a good first move will be to try running Ursine first with the PSU connected, and then using the battery, to see if you can see a difference with the CPU readings - that should at least tell you if power saving is making a big difference.
Hopefully, a Mac user will be along soon with some better advice!

[sephult]

Have you checked Kontakt properties and made sure multiprocessor support is enabled to the max cores your CPU has?

-s

[Jules.W]

Hi,

I would like to give you some news about the problem I had.
The problem was only an informatic problem...
The only reason was that BFD3 is need a lot of Ram to work well...
I was under OSX 10,6,8 64bit and Usine run in 32 bit.
So It can allow only 4Go to run all the programme and it was not enough.
I've decided to improve the capacity of my laptop. I've take 16 Go of ram and I've installed an SSD harddrive.
Then I ran BFD3 in stand alone with 64bit and Usine in 32 bit on the same time and make connection between them in jack with my RME sound card.
I've tested it and its work pretty well!

BFD3 need 4Go ram alone!
And my usine workspace need 2Go of ram.

So now it's fine!

Thank you for all your advice.
See you soon on the forum

[sephult]

Glad to hear you came to a solution!!!



-s

[r.erorr]

"Like" from me for truth

Ableton, only 4% of CPU, which is, no more no less than a joke, or a big fake.
It's obviously more marketing friendly, but its a lie.