• Registered: 2024-09-26
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Topic: loud noise when cpu reaches 100% in daw

Hey guys! I'm new here in this RME world, I bought a RME Fireface 400, I'm loving working with it. The bad thing is that it makes a deafening noise when it reaches 100% CPU, when the project is loaded with several plugins. I know I should read the manual, but at the moment I would like to resolve this to finish my work as I have a deadline, if anyone could help me resolve this problem I would appreciate it, the noise is very loud, if it were a little quieter I would be able to work. I value and take care of my ears, it worries me to hear something so loud when I'm mixing mainly on headphones. I was thinking that something in totalmix might help reduce this noise.

2 Reply by waedi (edited by waedi 2024-09-26 05:06:59)

  • waedi
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Re: loud noise when cpu reaches 100% in daw

Hi Wagnerschuh

Is this volume-burst visible in Totalmix in the hardware output channel and in the software playback channel ?

Of course, first-aid is reduce the plugins in the project, bounce some tracks together or freeze them if your DAW can do this.
Make the DAW CPU-use below 100%.

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • Registered: 2024-09-26
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Re: loud noise when cpu reaches 100% in daw

Hi!

daw it is normal, in the hardware inputs channel within totalmix it turns red, funny that now I opened the project again and the super loud noise was at normal volume, the same thing had happened before. I consider that I should not use 100% of the CPU and organize my project so that this does not happen, but what worries me is that if I ever reach that level this loud noise may occur

  • Kubrak
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Re: loud noise when cpu reaches 100% in daw

Well, CPU should not be 100% by any means. It means computer is close to point it is not able to do audio calculations on time. Data are not delivered to interface on time and it makes that noise.

You may increase audio buffer, it gives computer more time to do the math. If it does not help, one has to rearange project, freeze what can be frozen and so on. Also optimization of computer (propper setting) may help. Or stronger computer.

Even thought I am in IT for 30+ years I have not anticipated how CPU power hungry audio processing may be. The first computer I have bought for audio went to trash in few weeks. It was i7 laptop, but weak as 10th extract of tea.

5 Reply by mkok (edited by mkok 2024-09-26 12:29:14)

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Re: loud noise when cpu reaches 100% in daw

The loud noise is due to the the overload. That’s what happens, it starts breaking up which causes nasty artefacts. That will happen with any interface. Have you tried increasing your buffer sizes? What about freezing any vsti tracks or committing them to audio.

Babyface Pro Fs, Behringer ADA8200, win 10/11 PCs, Cubase/Wavelab, Adam A7X monitors.

6 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2024-09-26 13:00:12)

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Re: loud noise when cpu reaches 100% in daw

Wrong expectation to think audio processing with Near-Realtime demands would work with 100% CPU load.

At least you can try, as mkok already mentioned, to try bigger buffer sizes, on Windows ASIO buffer size.
But then also your RTL (round trip latency) is increasing.

You need to put this all into balance.

Like driving a car, you can't take any curve at any tempo, it depends on several conditions (weather, surface of street, ...)
With computer, esp. audio processing loads, it is similar.
While we are at it … If your computer should have bad drivers (which lead to higher DPC latencies) then the likeliness for audio drops becomes higher. Then there is a tendency that you need higher buffer sizes because you need to buffer more, if the CPU cores are blocked by other things (drivers) for too long.

This is a known topic, please consider using Google or use forum search + extended search.
Such performance related topics have already been discussed and issues troubleshooted a lot.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
  • Registered: 2024-09-26
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Re: loud noise when cpu reaches 100% in daw

Yes, I understand that it is normal to make noises when the CPU reaches 100%, but not a deafening noise that could compromise my hearing, this is not normal, I understand that I must take care of the CPU and have a computer that can take care of my processing. I would like a solution to this deafening noise because you shouldn't hear something so loud, something is not normal, what's the point of taking care of the CPU and if it eventually reaches 100% I will hear that noise that leaves me almost deaf, is it correct that when it arrives at 100% it makes some light clicks that stay at the volume of the music and not something that is 100x louder than the music you are working on. I will take care of 100% cpu, but I would like a solution so that this super click doesn't happen in the future, I have to find a way to avoid this noise, something is not normal.

  • vinark
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Re: loud noise when cpu reaches 100% in daw

Sounds like a level mismatch between the rme and you amp/speakers! The rme can not and will not output anything louder then 0dbfs. If that is to loud on your speakers then your speakers or amps need to be turned down or the reference level of the rme must be set lower. it can be set at -10db quietest +4db loud and high gain very loud

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9 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2024-09-26 14:03:17)

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Re: loud noise when cpu reaches 100% in daw

Up to now you delivered no information about your setup (which OS, computer, CPU, mainboard, GPU) and which DAW you use.

Also, you did not respond to the proposal to use bigger ASIO buffer sizes, did you try higher up to the highest ASIO buffer size? Does it change something?

You do not even tell with which sample rates or ASIO buffer sizes you are working.
It would be good to describe the setup more verbose.

Can you record the type of noise that you are talking about?
Maybe in a video with view to a volume meter and tool which shows CPU load.
Then induce more and more load up to that point where the noise appears.
Use ear plugs ...

Normally at 100% CPU load you would hear audio drops, but this should not generate a MUCH louder noise compared to your current listening level.

Possibly, your Fireface 400 is simply broken, and the noise indicates that there is something wrong with your (sorry) quite dated hardware.

I would write an e-mail to RME support.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
  • Registered: 2024-09-26
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Re: loud noise when cpu reaches 100% in daw

Today the noise doesn't appear, I thought it was strange, just noises at normal volume levels, if this super noise appears again I'll record the screen... maybe it would be instability in the drivers? I find this very difficult, as I've seen a lot of reviews talking very well about the RME drivers.

Hello Vinarque, how do I do this? Sorry but I'm new, I've never used totalmix before

Ramses, thanks for the answer, I'll leave my computer information here

windows 11
gigabyte b450m h
ryzen 5 5600g
32gb ram
hd ssd
Ableton Live 12

I'm using it at 1024 buffer size, I had a card that went up to 2048 which was where I was working, I migrated to the Fireface 400 RME, I opened the project and came across this super noise. I bought the fireface used and I don't rule out the possibility that it was faulty, but I really trust the person who sold it to me, I talked to her, and she told me that it was 100% working despite being used for years.

  • ramses
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Re: loud noise when cpu reaches 100% in daw

@vinark: I am unsure whether this is a volume mismatch.

I understood him in a way, that the super loud noise comes only at load of all sudden,
in a situation where the audio volume was not that loud.

But uncomfortably noise could be perceived as louder compared to normal music with good harmonics.

Therefore, I asked for a video to get an impression about what noise, how it sounds to get maybe an idea what this could be.

I also understood it that way that it is CPU load related. Not that he touched the output fader by accident or that he loaded another snapshot or workspace where the volume is still turned louder.

But I am not sure about his skill level and whether there are operational issues as he is new with RME.

Another option, FF400 (an old device) might be damaged, but then it would be strange that this noise does not happen randomly but only under computer load.

Vinark: do you remember whether FF400 could be operated by Firewire Bus power? I would have to check the manual.
Do you know it perhaps. Maybe he needs a (or a new) PSU?

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14

12 Reply by Kubrak (edited by Kubrak 2024-09-26 17:14:44)

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Re: loud noise when cpu reaches 100% in daw

I guess, the "noise" of dropouts may be louder than the music. It depends what happens and how the data that "reads" the interface look like. IMHO, there may be big jumps in signal, that have high power and may be reconstructed as strong signals.

And if the sound from loudspeakers is too loud there may be level mismatch. There would not be level mismatch only in case, the interface is defective and outputs stronger signal than it should.... If there is level match (and interface is not defective), the sound would not be too strong under any condition.

  • Registered: 2024-09-26
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Re: loud noise when cpu reaches 100% in daw

I'm thinking that this noise appeared because I opened a project that was working with my old audio card at 2048 buffer size, so when I migrated to the Fireface 400 rme and opened the project it may have caused some incompatibility with the rme's buffer size, I don't know if this is capable of happening, someone with more experience might be able to answer me about this. Today there is no longer this super high volume and the click volumes are at the music volume level. I opened some other projects that were loaded with plugins and the noise volume is normal as it should be. The only thing that worries me is if the super loud noise appears again. I will always work with fear on the CPU hehe

  • ramses
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Re: loud noise when cpu reaches 100% in daw

ASIO buffersize is something which is related to the driver you do not store it with the DAW project.
The smaller the buffersize the more often the OS has to do I/O operation and as a result of this
higher CPU load, interrupt load and more context switches for the CPU.
At a certain point the CPU can not process all tasks fast enough in parallel and you get audio drops.
For benchmarks and applications no problem, but for audio which has realtime requirements.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
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Re: loud noise when cpu reaches 100% in daw

hello! It happened again, I filmed it here so you can understand what happens.
I went to open a project that wasn't so loaded with processing, it crashed and this deafening noise came.
I find this very worrying, when it happens I have a ringing in my ears for a few days, I value my ears,
This kind of thing really shouldn't happen.

I realized that my rme comes in very high, I have to lower it around -21 or -22 dbs to be able to work at a volume
pleasant, maybe this is related to this super noise

video link ->
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RMn6Ka … sp=sharing

  • ramses
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Re: loud noise when cpu reaches 100% in daw

Never heard something like this, maybe RME has an idea.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
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Re: loud noise when cpu reaches 100% in daw

If a phenomenon like this is much louder than your usual listening levels, you might want to look into suitable level matching:
https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.php?id=25399

What kind of FireWire card is there in your PC?
Have you tried another cable? Not exactly sure what is causing this.

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

  • Registered: 2024-09-26
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Re: loud noise when cpu reaches 100% in daw

Hello! I'm going to try another cable, the bad thing is that it will probably take a while for this super volume to happen again, but I'm going to try using another cable anyway.
I use this firewire card model -> Firewire 400 Ieee 1394a Pci-e

I took a look at this topic I mentioned, I decided that I'm going to buy an attenuator for my headphones and for the audio monitors, I'm going to set the volumes very low so I can leave the totalmix at 0db

19 Reply by MC

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Re: loud noise when cpu reaches 100% in daw

This noise is the audio buffer played back repeatedly until the audio engine gets reset. If this happens at overload then there is something wrong. A stuck/hanging interrupt or callback is not typically caused by our driver or hardware, otherwise the forum would be full of reports like yours.

The most logical explanation is that FireWire is on the edge of working correctly, see post #17. Although with a very old and used FF400 (that you use) I can not rule out that the FF400 is defective in whatever way. Even the power supply must be checked.

Regards
Matthias Carstens
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