Playback issues

[mickg]

I’m having an issue with audio playback. When playing my ekit (2 Drumkats & 1 Trapkat) occasionally I get what appears to be a backup of midi data that stalls and then spits out all the backed up data in one big blast. Sounds like a big explosion of drums. That’s as technical an explanation as I can give.

Here are the details of my rig.

MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016) Running Mojave 10.14.5 (18F132), 16 GB 2133 MHz LPDDR3

Apollo Quad interface w/Thunderbolt 2

OWC Envoy Pro EX 1TB SSD w/Thunderbolt 3 (2500MB/s) for library

2 Drumkats and a Trapkat (MIDI controllers)

Running SD3 as standalone.

Superior Drummer 3 plug-in version 3.1.4 (build 22297) [64-bit VST]
Standalone host version 3.1.4 (build 22297)

SOUND LIBRARIES
N.Y. – ALLAIRE version 1.5.0
N.Y. – HIT FACTORY version 1.5.0
SUPERIOR DRUMMER 3 version 1.1.3
Superior Drummer 3 – Preset Sounds version 1.0.3
Superior Drummer 3 – Percussion version 1.0.0
Superior Drummer 3 – Electronic version 1.0.0

MIDI LIBRARIES
N.Y – Allaire version 1.2.0
Superior Drummer 3 version 1.0.0

Topic

[Bear-Faced Cow]

Do you have any other apps running? As well, are you booting with any CPU hungry extensions (you’d probably have to have to open System Report to find that out). Other things that can affect your MIDI input like that are other USB devices in the same hub.

jord

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Jordan L. Chilcott

Web Site: https://jordanchilcottmusic.com/

[mickg]

No other apps open. Had iTunes open once and that was a huge mistake. I have had Pro Tools Ultimate 2019.5 open and was never a problem before. I don’t run SD3 as a plug-in because there seems to be too much latency with drum plug-ins (playing in real time from my ekit). My Library drive is Thunderbolt 33 (1TB OWC Envoy Pro EX 2500MB/s) plugged directly into my MacBook, my Apollo goes directly in via an Apple TB2-TB3 adapter. The only USB going in to MacBook is my MidSport MIDI-USB adapter and my iLok. I’ve been turn off WiFi but not sure if it makes a difference. My kits usually have 6 Toms and 8 cymbals. I’m loading all sounds in, no streaming (not sure what the mode is called, it’s the top check box).

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly!
Mick

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.1.4
Operating system: macOS Mojave (10.14)

[Bear-Faced Cow]

What’s your CoreAudio buffer size for your buffer? That may be accounting for your latency. I often have the same issues within Reason. I usually keep mine low when I am recording MIDI and some audio since I’m usually using Unison and other plug-ins via the Console. I’ll boost it back up when I am mixing.

I’m willing to bet that something between PT and SD3 is happening, but I could be wrong.

jord

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Jordan L. Chilcott

Web Site: https://jordanchilcottmusic.com/

[Rodney Ferguson]

I had something similar.

I found that setting SD3 to run off 1 Core to be the most efficient. I realised that will help from the forum though.

May be that will help.

Regards

Rodney

2

Thanked by: mickg and Henrik Ekblom

[mickg]

Thanks, I will give that a try. I’ve always wondered how apps split up the duties to different processors. I’m hoping it is not my buffer, I hate to add latency to the system. That’s why I got the Apollo w/Thunderbolt. I’ll let you know how I do.

Mick

[Bear-Faced Cow]

I’m running an Apollo Thunderbolt as well. I only keep the buffer high when mixing.

jord

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Jordan L. Chilcott

Web Site: https://jordanchilcottmusic.com/

[mickg]

My core buffer size is 128. I’d hate to go higher, I’m trying to get it down to 64!

Is there a chart that shows the best prefs for running SD3 on various computers?

I’m running my system @ 48k 24bit. My SSD is really fast.

I’m debating whether or not to replace my MacBook with a new 6 core MacMini (not so much for the cores, but for 64gb of RAM.

First I need to solve the playback issue.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.1.4
Operating system: macOS Mojave (10.14)

[mickg]

Thanks! That did the trick, no dropouts whatsoever. I even am able to get my latency down to the lowest setting. I wanted to wait a while before getting back to you to make sure things are working.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.1.4
Operating system: macOS Mojave (10.14)

[Author]

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