Studio One (6) Users Out There – Troubles with Drop Outs/CPU Drain?

[sakendrick]

I’ve used Studio One Superior Drummer 3 for 2 years with no problem what so ever… since the beginning of 2025, I’ve had nothing but problems… SD3 basically choose up about 40% of CPU and I can’t mix or playback my songs at all. My only hope is to convert instruments to audio, which I don’t like doing until I know the drum track and instruments are locked and solid. But what I dont’ understand is why this just became a problem? I’m about ready to switch DAWs because I haven’t seen this issue with other DAWs. I’ve had countless tickets with PreSonus but they just point to Superior Drummer – wondering if there’s something I’m missing, maybe and SD3 Setting that makes it more efficient.

ANy advice is welcome as the time of not being able to listen to my mixes in real-time and troubleshooting issues is just sucking the life out of me. Thanks!

Operating system: Windows 11

Topic

[drumjack52]

Have you updated your Windows install by any chance? What other programs do you have running besides Studio One? Antivirus? Anything wireless? Do you have a separate drive for your samples? Is your computer overheating by any chance? Have you tried changing the number of cpu cores used in SD3?

Jack
aka musicman691 on other forums
Superior Drummer 3.4.0
Area 33 1.0.0
Death and Darkness 1.0.1
PT 2021.6
OSX 10.13.6
3.46 GHz hex core 2012 MacPro 48 gig ram

[sakendrick]

I try to shut down/end task anything that looks like it’s chewing up CPU or memory. Some of the antivirus I can’t (domain policy), but I shut down things like OneDrive, Dell Services, etc. My Samples sit on an SSD connected by USB – but this is always the way it has been with no issue (before). WIndows updates are frequent – I typically stay up to date. I JUST found that setting you mentioned- changing CPU cores and it was set at 1. So I am going to try bumping that up to see if it helps (really limited first test, it seemed to help). That’s the only performancing setting I saw but not sure if there’s any internal buffer settings or anything like that in SD3.

Processor 11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-11800H @ 2.30GHz, 2304 Mhz, 8 Core(s), 16 Logical Processor(s)

32 GB Ram

I have also heard nVidia can sometimes interfere with audio processing – I haven’t looked into or tried anything there, but done tons of other stuff, like making sure my CPUs aren’t parked, turning off power efficiency settings in the BIOS, etc.

Scott

[drumjack52]

Scott: sounds like you have a good handle on debugging things. Those Windows updates are probably what screwed up your system. It’s never good to stay on the bleeding edge as living there can get one cut-up pretty bad. I understand it’s not all that easy to prevent Windows from updating. That and that antivirus running that’s another thing that will mess one up. When you say domain policy in reference about stopping you from shutting it down – I don’t understand – is your computer on some kind of network or what? Please explain as if this is your personal computer you should be able to do what you want with it.

I used to run a Windows machine for music but gave that up due to all the headaches involved. Mac here and an old one at that. But it serves my purpose without headache. I feed it good power and don’t update anything unless I absolutely have to.

Jack
aka musicman691 on other forums
Superior Drummer 3.4.0
Area 33 1.0.0
Death and Darkness 1.0.1
PT 2021.6
OSX 10.13.6
3.46 GHz hex core 2012 MacPro 48 gig ram

[sakendrick]

It’s a work computer and our IT requires us to run antivirus – I can’t shut the task down. I’ve also been thinking about switching to MAC for my personal media production work – but it’s a big investment, and to be honest, I find Macs incredibly hard to use, but that’s because I’ve been a windows (and android) user my whole life.

I just worked a session for about an hour with two instance of SD3 running, setting my SD3 cores to 4 and no drop outs. I was even running on battery power. This is feeling very positive.

[Korken]

Processor 11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-11800H @ 2.30GHz, 2304 Mhz, 8 Core(s), 16 Logical Processor(s)

32 GB Ram

I run Windows 10 and Cubase 14 with my 12 or 13 years old notebook, an i7 too, but third or four generation, and 32 GB RAM. SD3 runs well in standalone mode and within Cubase, so it should be something with your system or your DAW. But you are getting better results now, I see.

[drumjack52]

sakendrick wrote:

It’s a work computer and our IT requires us to run antivirus – I can’t shut the task down. I’ve also been thinking about switching to MAC for my personal media production work – but it’s a big investment, and to be honest, I find Macs incredibly hard to use, but that’s because I’ve been a windows (and android) user my whole life.

I just worked a session for about an hour with two instance of SD3 running, setting my SD3 cores to 4 and no drop outs. I was even running on battery power. This is feeling very positive.

That’s good to hear – in part. What’s not good is hearing that you’re in a corporate setting and that limits what you can do to get a stable repeatable system. Hate to say it but you’re screwed unless you get your own computer. Macs (once you make the jump) are not  that much of a problem. If I were you I’d save up and get your own computer (PC or Mac) and jump off that situation you’re in. That you’re doing this on a work computer doesn’t bode well for your music future. Is your employer cool with what you’re doing?

Jack
aka musicman691 on other forums
Superior Drummer 3.4.0
Area 33 1.0.0
Death and Darkness 1.0.1
PT 2021.6
OSX 10.13.6
3.46 GHz hex core 2012 MacPro 48 gig ram

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