Insane CPU usage

[Chris Wickens]

First of all, I realize this is a presale forum but I guess Toontrack doesn’t like having an actual support form even though this software costs over $500 (Canadian).

On my brand new iMac, 27″, 5k, 4.0ghz i7, 8gb ram, 512 internal SSD, external sample SSD (256gb) not loaded with EVERY sample library, just the basic ones. Running a MOTU 8pre USB interface at 44.1khz.

ANY time I insert SD3 into a project the CPU usage spikes to over 300%, then up to 600%+ when I open the SD3 GUI.
Blank project or a barely even started mix of a project (torpedo wall of sound on about 10 tracks and that is NOT a CPU hog by any means).
Even running in stand alone mode it goes over 300% easily. I have tried running a kit with a SINGLE drum on it and the results are the exact same.

This is totally ridiculous, this Mac is literally less than a week old so this is NOT a hardware issue.

Any time I open a project with SD3 inserted already it runs with a few clicks and pops around 150% cpu usage, then when I open the SD3 GUI one cpu core spikes and the hardware monitor built into OSX reports an excess of 300% cpu usage instantly then I get nothing but clicks and pops. I can run my projects at 1024 samples with less clicks and pops but I’d rather not because that is just insane that I would need to do that and there are still clicks and pops.
On top of the clicks and pops I also get errors regarding the audio and midi syncing at weird sample rates.

Apparently telling SD3 I am using an SSD in it’s settings is broken as that makes the issue even worse. Cache mode or 16bit mode yield even more digital noise and pops and clicks.

I would like to know how I go about getting a refund for this, or if there is a fix for this issue.
I am currently downloading my copy of SD2 to use instead, since my band mate can run that on his 12 year old MacBook with zero issues.
Please don’t try to tell me this is a hardware issue because it simply is not, unless the recommended system requirements are beyond wrong.

I’ve attached a couple images of this.

Topic

[Henrik]

Are you using any external MIDI devices to play Superior Drummer 3 in real time (e-drums, keyboard etc)? If not, I suggest that you increase the buffer size and see how that works out. When I mix my songs I use something like 1024 buffer size, since the latency isn’t a problem in that scenario, and the CPU load is decreased…

Superior Drummer 3 is using slightly more CPU than SD2, but it shouldn’t be nowhere near several 100% of your computers CPU – if nothing drastic is going on (say you are using 100 EQ plugins and have them all opened, or similar)… Note that the CPU usage will increase while the Library and Drums and Mixer Presets are loading (as it is in your first screenshot). The CPU usage should decrease when it has finished the loading.

“First of all, I realize this is a pre sale forum but I guess Toontrack doesn’t like having an actual support form…” – there is a Superior Drummer 3 help forum at https://www.toontrack.com/forum/superior-drummer-3-support. Can’t you access that?

I am sorry that you are having these problems, but I assure you that we will try to help you to fix these issues!

Henrik Ekblom - User Experience Designer
Toontrack

[Brad]

Does your new iMac really only have 8gb of RAM?
Can you screen print memory utilization?

Mac Studio M1 Max, RAM 64 GB, 1TB Drive, OSX 12.x/13.x and Windows 10 (VM)
DAW: Studio One 5/6, Pro Tools Studio
DTX Express III (Extreme triggers), Nektar LX88
OWC Thunderbay Mini (4 X 1TB Sata SSD), Express 4M2 (4 X 2TB M.2 SSD), Envoy Express (1TB M.2 SSD)
Presonus Quantum, Faderport & Faderport 8
Black Lion Sparrow Mk2 A/D, FMR-RNP-RNC, MIDI Xpress 128, BM5A, KRK VXT4, Equator D5
2020 Macbook Pro 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD Audio(mobile rig)

[Chris Wickens]

@Henrik said:
Are you using any external MIDI devices to play Superior Drummer 3 in real time (e-drums, keyboard etc)? If not, I suggest that you increase the buffer size and see how that works out. When I mix my songs I use something like 1024 buffer size, since the latency isn’t a problem in that scenario, and the CPU load is decreased…

Superior Drummer 3 is using slightly more CPU than SD2, but it shouldn’t be nowhere near several 100% of your computers CPU – if nothing drastic is going on (say you are using 100 EQ plugins and have them all opened, or similar)… Note that the CPU usage will increase while the Library and Drums and Mixer Presets are loading (as it is in your first screenshot). The CPU usage should decrease when it has finished the loading.

“First of all, I realize this is a pre sale forum but I guess Toontrack doesn’t like having an actual support form…” – there is a Superior Drummer 3 help forum at https://www.toontrack.com/forum/superior-drummer-3-support. Can’t you access that?

I am sorry that you are having these problems, but I assure you that we will try to help you to fix these issues!  

Access denied to that forum. I have zero midi devices connected, this is being programmed from midi tracks created on a track.
I know that this software takes some time to load samples but as I said this happens even with only a single drum being used.

Buffer size makes no difference, I guess you didn’t even read my post just glanced at it.
What is the process to get my money back?

Brad, this software recommends 8gb. My ram usage is not an issue.

[Henrik]

I read your post but while I tried to see if I could get Superior to behave like it does for you on my 6 years old Macbook, I forgot that you had tried higher buffer sizes… You seem to have the view of us as trying to rip you off, which we don’t. If we didn’t have happy customers we wouldn’t survive, so we will help you!
– 16 bit mode will actually increase the CPU load since the samples will be recalculated from their original bit rate.
– Have you tried to increase the nr of CPU cores in Settings/Performance?
– What is the load of your CPU when you load the Default preset in standalone, using the built in audio interface? I would like to compare the CPU load to my Mac to see what difference we have in a similar scenario…

Henrik Ekblom - User Experience Designer
Toontrack

[Chris Wickens]

@Henrik said:
I read your post but while I tried to see if I could get Superior to behave like it does for you on my 6 years old Macbook, I forgot that you had tried higher buffer sizes… You seem to have the view of us as trying to rip you off, which we don’t. If we didn’t have happy customers we wouldn’t survive, so we will help you!
– 16 bit mode will actually increase the CPU load since the samples will be recalculated from their original bit rate.
– Have you tried to increase the nr of CPU cores in Settings/Performance?
– What is the load of your CPU when you load the Default preset in standalone, using the built in audio interface? I would like to compare the CPU load to my Mac to see what difference we have in a similar scenario…  

I’ve tried increasing the cores in logic and in sd3 with no different results, using auto or user defined core count. Constant spiking on one cpu core no matter what.
The cpu usage is no different with the default kit. It has high CPU usage immediately and the CPU spikes even worse as soon as I open the GUI. Stand alone is spiking immediately.
Using my interface or the built in audio has the same results.

[Boaz Segev]

I would like to point out that I’m using SD3 as well as orchestral libraries and intensive plugins…

However, SD3 is – by far – the most CPU intensive virtual instrument I have. I keep freezing the track in order to manage CPU loads (which is something I usually don’t have to do on pop projects).

My Google search led me to this thread, but none of the solutions offered so far have resolved my issue.

I love SD3 and I can only assume it’s CPU usage would be naturally higher than other plugins (what with the inner mixer, plugins etc’). However, the fact that the CPU load concentrates on a single core (although I set up multi-core support), leads me to believe there’s a performance bottle neck somewhere and that there’s an actual software issue to be resolved.

I guess I can only hope the Development team reads this and comes up with a solution soon.

I’m uploading two screenshots, playing the same segment in my arrangement, once with the Drum track live and the other with the drum track frozen – this is a big thing.

[Stefan Branberg]

Hi! Thank you guys for reporting your issues. I notice in your screenshots that you both have the channel that has superior 3 on it selected in Logic. If you unselect it, does the issues go away (or get any better at all)? When selecting a channel in Logic it goes into “Live Input Mode” and forces all rendering of that channel to the last thread, that might already be used for other stuff (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201838). Maybe you have already tried this, but I figured that I would check with you at least. On my macbook pro it makes a lot of difference (I know that it’s a bit of a hassle keeping track of what channel that you have selected but Apple does write “It’s a good idea to keep a track that uses an Audio channel strip selected in the Arrange window, unless you’re actively playing or recording to a Software Instrument”).

You might also try to change the number of CPU cores used by superior, using only one core seems to work better for me with Logic’s “Live Input Mode”.

The CPU load when loading the “Djent Style”-preset that is loading in the screenshot that uses standalone will be very high while loading the sounds, and that does take some time on that one, but after that is done it should calm down.

Stefan Bränberg - Toontrack
Coder

1

Thanked by: NotJohnDenver

[Chris Wickens]

@Stefan said:
Hi! Thank you guys for reporting your issues. I notice in your screenshots that you both have the channel that has superior 3 on it selected in Logic. If you unselect it, does the issues go away (or get any better at all)? When selecting a channel in Logic it goes into “Live Input Mode” and forces all rendering of that channel to the last thread, that might already be used for other stuff (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201838). Maybe you have already tried this, but I figured that I would check with you at least. On my macbook pro it makes a lot of difference (I know that it’s a bit of a hassle keeping track of what channel that you have selected but Apple does write “It’s a good idea to keep a track that uses an Audio channel strip selected in the Arrange window, unless you’re actively playing or recording to a Software Instrument”).

You might also try to change the number of CPU cores used by superior, using only one core seems to work better for me with Logic’s “Live Input Mode”.

The CPU load when loading the “Djent Style”-preset that is loading in the screenshot that uses standalone will be very high while loading the sounds, and that does take some time on that one, but after that is done it should calm down.  

I had to uninstall SD3 to use my band mates account copy of SD2, but I will reinstall it tonight and see if this helps. Thanks for the suggestions!

[Stefan Branberg]

One more thing worth noting is that Logic seem to restart all plugins when changing audio settings. This causes the preset chosen in Superior 3 to load its sounds again, so when trying different buffer sizes (and other audio settings) you will have to wait until Superior has loaded the sounds for it to play efficiently.

Stefan Bränberg - Toontrack
Coder

[Chris Wickens]

@Stefan said:
Hi! Thank you guys for reporting your issues. I notice in your screenshots that you both have the channel that has superior 3 on it selected in Logic. If you unselect it, does the issues go away (or get any better at all)? When selecting a channel in Logic it goes into “Live Input Mode” and forces all rendering of that channel to the last thread, that might already be used for other stuff (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201838). Maybe you have already tried this, but I figured that I would check with you at least. On my macbook pro it makes a lot of difference (I know that it’s a bit of a hassle keeping track of what channel that you have selected but Apple does write “It’s a good idea to keep a track that uses an Audio channel strip selected in the Arrange window, unless you’re actively playing or recording to a Software Instrument”).

You might also try to change the number of CPU cores used by superior, using only one core seems to work better for me with Logic’s “Live Input Mode”.

The CPU load when loading the “Djent Style”-preset that is loading in the screenshot that uses standalone will be very high while loading the sounds, and that does take some time on that one, but after that is done it should calm down.  

Well after reinstalling and leaving every setting alone, de-selecting the SD3 track seems to clear any problems up.
Thanks for the help!

[ALEXIS VALACHIS]

This seemed to do the trick for me as well. Switch to one core and you can still have the Superior Drummer 3 instance track selected

[Greg Oke]

So, I can do this fix which is great,, but is there a way to not have this happen and keep SD3 as my live track, are you guys working on afix.
I love your products and have ezi sup 2 and sup 3

[winston444]

I wanted to say that I solved this problem utterly and completely by reducing the number Cores to 1.   I went from having a total crisis every time I added a SD3 track to my mix, to there being no problem whatsoever.

The path is Settings > Performance > CPU Usage.  Set the Number Of CPU Cores to 1.  No more problem.

[john white]

I think it’s because when a buffer size is changed plugins buffer size does to? So when a buffer is changed the pkugins they have to re-boot and change toothats where you have older plugins go——$;$(?&&(!((!

[jimbo_21]

I’m not sure if this is my problem. The Mac guy on the phone was useless yesterday. I wanted him to analyze the performance on my MB pro. Anyway I’m just starting to learn this impressive device, but……Clicks pops slowing down and sounding like crap. It does it with groves dragged down to SD3 or up to Logic X. So I’m spending hours trying to fix a problem. Not hours learning and creating. Usually Apple provides better service than yesterday. I am now spending time trying to analyze things that have words and phrases that I don’t know. More time……. Learning that… If and when this pile is straighten out I probably will never need the info that I will have spent HOURS learning. So please tell me what it is, what it it means and where it is for me to click on so I can have fun and stop being ANGRY… 🙂 Happy Hollidaze…. Jim. 🙂

• This post was modified 5 years, 5 months ago by jimbo_21.

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