mrdrennanI know this is a topic of VSTs that is as old as time, but I’m truly stumped and looking for thoughts.
I have a 2021 M1Max MacBook Pro with 64 GB RAM. One of the reasons I forked over the extra cash was because I wanted this machine to be able to handle anything I could throw at it with “live” VST performances. The loading times are incredible; all of my Toontrack libraries are on the local SSD and force cached mode is off. I can load even the largest kits with all articulations in just a couple of seconds; it’s fantastic.
For months I have finally been able to enjoy “real-time” performance with e drums, routinely running my buffer size as low as 32 samples in a host like Gig Performer. I’ve been using the Behringer Wing console as my studio interface. I have had zero complaints since I got the laptop about this time last year.
Suddenly, and without warning, annoying little audio clicks have begun to appear. For reference, most of my testing over the last couple of days has been with the “Cross stick One” preset front the core SD3 library. Nice big open kick with room ambience. I especially notice the clicks when I perform quick double strokes on the kick. I am running into an IConnectivity Mio XM interface through a Pearl Mimic module. The Mimic sounds great but doesn’t compare to SD3 in flexibility and ease of use.
At first I thought it was maybe a USB bus problem. I switched cables. Same. I switched ports. Same. Ran the VST in Studio One, Ableton, Gig Performer. Same, same, same. Then I bypassed the Wing completely. Opened SD3 standalone, monitored through headphones plugged directly into the 1/8” output on the laptop. Same result.
The question is why? Nothing has changed, except maybe a required SD3 update when I bought Hitmaker SDX recently. Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts or ideas beyond the old “raise your buffer” when my machine has proven over time that it can handle SD3 at 32, or at worst, 64. For information, I’m now hearing clicks up to 256 samples. Other thoughts?
Thanks in advance.
I know this is a topic of VSTs that is as old as time, but I’m truly stumped and looking for thoughts.
I have a 2021 M1Max MacBook Pro with 64 GB RAM. One of the reasons I forked over the extra cash was because I wanted this machine to be able to handle anything I could throw at it with “live” VST performances. The loading times are incredible; all of my Toontrack libraries are on the local SSD and force cached mode is off. I can load even the largest kits with all articulations in just a couple of seconds; it’s fantastic.
For months I have finally been able to enjoy “real-time” performance with e drums, routinely running my buffer size as low as 32 samples in a host like Gig Performer. I’ve been using the Behringer Wing console as my studio interface. I have had zero complaints since I got the laptop about this time last year.
Suddenly, and without warning, annoying little audio clicks have begun to appear. For reference, most of my testing over the last couple of days has been with the “Cross stick One” preset front the core SD3 library. Nice big open kick with room ambience. I especially notice the clicks when I perform quick double strokes on the kick. I am running into an IConnectivity Mio XM interface through a Pearl Mimic module. The Mimic sounds great but doesn’t compare to SD3 in flexibility and ease of use.
At first I thought it was maybe a USB bus problem. I switched cables. Same. I switched ports. Same. Ran the VST in Studio One, Ableton, Gig Performer. Same, same, same. Then I bypassed the Wing completely. Opened SD3 standalone, monitored through headphones plugged directly into the 1/8” output on the laptop. Same result.
The question is why? Nothing has changed, except maybe a required SD3 update when I bought Hitmaker SDX recently. Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts or ideas beyond the old “raise your buffer” when my machine has proven over time that it can handle SD3 at 32, or at worst, 64. For information, I’m now hearing clicks up to 256 samples. Other thoughts?
Thanks in advance.
KenJord
Would you be a scholar and explain it all clearly to everyone in the digital audio world.
All these fun terms like bit depth, sample rate, samples, etc.
Thx
Cheers Ken
SD 3.3.6 on Windows 10 | Cubase 11 Pro DAW
expansions : N.Y.Avitar | Latin percussion
Yamaha multi 12 | DTX 450k | Trigger IO (x2)
Super stupid fast computer with i9 and 18 speed double clutch gearbox
5. Audio interfaces.
JohnHi all,
the samples are 44,1kHz/24bit in the soundbunches but that really doesn’t matter, since the internal engine upsamples on-the-fly to the rate of the host (or audio interface).
If you are low on RAM (usually not a problem these days), there’s a setting that can cut the bit depth to 16 to save RAM but it increases your loading time.
If you are using a very high sample rate, you should get a lower latency but it also increases the CPU taxing. Running @48kHz instead of 44,1kHz really *shouldn’t* have any impact, especially on a new MBP. I have the same MBP and haven’t experienced what you are describing. I am running SD3 in hosts with UAD interfaces, though.
BR,
John
John Rammelt - Toontrack
Technical Advisor
Bear-Faced CowVery rare is the computer the issue as far as upsampling goes. Most people take care of that with the thinking that the faster computer will solve all of their audio issues. The problem is they don’t think beyond it, quite often in the case of the audio interface and even drives. USB interfaces are narrow in bandwidth and have a harder time keeping up under lower buffer rates. You might say that it is trying to push Niagara Falls through a sewer pipe. Something is going to give.
I’m also running a UAD interface through Thunderbolt. My audio production system is also spread out over a number of drives. There’s lots of bandwidth at any sample rate.
jord
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