1 Topic by Rualark (edited by Rualark 2018-03-25 16:18:49)

  • Registered: 2018-03-25
  • Posts: 3

Topic: RME Babyface Pro: Pops and cracks with 56 virtual instruments

Hi!

I experience severe pops and cracks when playing back in Reaper 20-56 virtual instruments loaded even with 2048 buffer. If less than 20 virtual instruments, sound is ok. CPU, RAM and SSD are not loaded to 100%.

Hardware: RME Babyface Pro, Intel I7-8700K, 64Gb RAM, SSD.
Software: Windows 10 x64, Cockos Reaper, NI Kontakt, other VST plugins/instruments

DPC Latency Checker: Passed
LatencyMon: Passed

Please see videos with problem recorded and screenshots here:
https://github.com/rualark/MGen/issues/2073

2 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2018-03-25 16:02:54)

  • ramses
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Re: RME Babyface Pro: Pops and cracks with 56 virtual instruments

As you use Win10, maybe this problem is related to these issue in Win10.
https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ind … ing-EN-DE/

On top it might be that a certain driver may block a CPU core for too long.

If you use Spectre and Meltdown patches you might loose a little bit performance as well, shall Windows might have upgraded the microcode of your CPU. On Win10 less impact as on Win7. https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ind … tre-EN-DE/

You mention HDD .. waiting for i/o can be critical .. you should better use a SSD instead especially if you use a lot of virtual instruments.

That LatencyMon doesnt complain doesnt mean anything. Before the tool complains the performance can already be bad enogh that the cores have simply too much to do and can't process audio in time. You must have a feeling for good and bad values, this only comes over years when comparing and comparing ... I know it now well for my system and Win7, Win10 is another story .. other measurement methodology and surrounding conditions, see my blog articles above.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub13
  • Registered: 2018-03-25
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Re: RME Babyface Pro: Pops and cracks with 56 virtual instruments

ramses, thank you for your reply.
I use SSD for most of instruments. SSD and HDD do not seem to be an issue (see video results that I posted).

Do you mean that there is no solution to this problem? If I could use larger buffer up to 1 second, I think this would not be an issue. Is it possible with RME or other soundcards? I use M-Audio C400, it allows up to 4096 buffer, but it is also not enough for 56 virtual instruments.

  • vinark
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Re: RME Babyface Pro: Pops and cracks with 56 virtual instruments

If possible try win7

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
BFpro fs, 2X HDSP9652 ADI-8AE, 2X HDSP9632
  • ramses
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Re: RME Babyface Pro: Pops and cracks with 56 virtual instruments

Rualark wrote:

ramses, thank you for your reply.
I use SSD for most of instruments. SSD and HDD do not seem to be an issue (see video results that I posted).

Do you mean that there is no solution to this problem? If I could use larger buffer up to 1 second, I think this would not be an issue. Is it possible with RME or other soundcards? I use M-Audio C400, it allows up to 4096 buffer, but it is also not enough for 56 virtual instruments.

Maybe try other USB card, which uses a more efficient driver model (MSI's), this needs a PCIe socket with 4 PCIe lanes:
Sonnet USB3-PRO-4PM-E
Smaller variant is available, but then 1 USB3 controller is being shared for all ports.

I know you only require USB2, but maybe the drivers are the tie breaker here in USB2 compat mode.
You could also check whether perhaps some of your virtual instruments need more resources than other.

Maybe its also related to the problem with 200ms audio hangs, see one of my articles.

You need to try try try .. something is wrong there, but most likely not the RME driver or interface.

I would do a Win7 parallel installation to be able to check out whether there you can see a difference to Win10.

Sorry, but its difficult to solve things like this, very time consuming, why some people buy turnkey systems.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub13
  • Registered: 2018-03-25
  • Posts: 3

Re: RME Babyface Pro: Pops and cracks with 56 virtual instruments

Thank you for your answers. My question is: does someone manage to have good realtime playback with more than 50 Kontakt virtual instruments?

What I already tried:

- Other USB3.0 port (does not help)
- Other USB2.0 port (does not help)
- M-Audio C400 USB interface (does not help)

I would not like to use Win7, because it becomes end of support in year 2020, but I will try.

I see that Sonnet USB3-PRO-4PM-E uses Fresco Logic controllers. I do not need separate controller for each port, because I have only one audio card and I do not need additional ports. I have these cards available from local stores, which are 6 times cheeper:

1. Espada PCIe4USB3.0 with VLI VL805 controller: https://www.via-labs.com/product_show.php?id=48
2. Orient NC-3U4PE OEM (NEC D720201)

Shall I try them?

7 Reply by vinark (edited by vinark 2018-03-25 19:33:39)

  • vinark
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Re: RME Babyface Pro: Pops and cracks with 56 virtual instruments

First win7 maybe?And try Disabling hyper threading

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
BFpro fs, 2X HDSP9652 ADI-8AE, 2X HDSP9632

8 Reply by Timur Born (edited by Timur Born 2018-03-27 13:23:36)

  • Registered: 2008-01-01
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Re: RME Babyface Pro: Pops and cracks with 56 virtual instruments

How are your instruments spread over tracks and (more importantly) CPU cores?

Windows 10 has issues with CPU thread priorities since "Creators", this was not fixed with "Fall Creators". It can affect Reaper (and other software) in situations where single CPU cores are maxed out even when most other cores stay unused.