CPU overload/Crackling Audio with Structure and Kontakt

[jdk11211]

Using Structure 1.1 and Kontakt 3, this system craps out and starts crackling and I even get CPU overload error messages with very few instruments - like one horn, bass and piano. (On Logic with a laptop and an 003 I can do a full orchestra without issue).

Is this just the world of Pro Tools and virtual instruments? I followed the optimization instructions in the HD forum sticky- moved samples to a dedicated drive, but still getting some crackling. Any ideas?


Pro Tools 8.0.3 HD/192 I/O
(Recently went back to 8.0.3, b/c 8.0.4 was causing some problems)
OS 10.6.4
2.66 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon
3GB RAM 1066 MHz DDR3

[jdk11211]

When I get an error it's: -9128

Also, FWIW, I installed Kontakt 4 as advised here, but that makes the problem WAY worse.
http://duc.digidesign.com/showthread.php?t=263546

[Eric Lambert]

That computer should have no problem playing Kontakt and Structure.

What is your buffer set to in ProTools? Try a larger buffer and see how that affects the overload.

But honestly, with an Intel Quad you're not asking for much -- it should play swimmingly.

One possibility is that your samples hard drive is fragmented, so when you ask it to play three instruments it's having to run all around the drive to fire those samples and it can't keep up. It's a possibility, though I suspect this is really a software configuration issue.

Also, the very latest version of ProTools might do you some good.

[gives]

Originally Posted by jdk11211

Using Structure 1.1 and Kontakt 3, this system craps out and starts crackling and I even get CPU overload error messages with very few instruments - like one horn, bass and piano. (On Logic with a laptop and an 003 I can do a full orchestra without issue).

Is this just the world of Pro Tools and virtual instruments? I followed the optimization instructions in the HD forum sticky- moved samples to a dedicated drive, but still getting some crackling. Any ideas?


Pro Tools 8.0.3 HD/192 I/O
(Recently went back to 8.0.3, b/c 8.0.4 was causing some problems)
OS 10.6.4
2.66 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon
3GB RAM 1066 MHz DDR3

Running Komplete 6 with 8.0.4 with no problems. You should move to Version 4 of Kontakt at least. I think it fixes some buffer issues from what I remember. Check out the forum on NI. G

[jdk11211]

Thanks guys-
Eric, I agree, seems silly that my home laptop set up would be more stable than this. Just moved all samples to a new, empty drive, so doubt it's fragmentation. I'll tinker with the buffer, but it seems like I shouldn't have to to do this. Any other ideas are much appreciated.

I had moved up to 8.0.4, but just downgraded- too many other issues. For one thing, Structure was clearly not compatible- weird graphics issues and the Plug-In input on all tracks was grayed out, making it impossible to route output from one instance of Structure to multiple midi tracks (which I can now in 8.0.3)

Also, I tried Kontakt 4, per that note by Avid and NI- MUCH worse, one instrument crackles like hell, just on input, no playback.

BTW- in the system usage window, under the HD Core and Accel PCIs, the HD 6 engine bars are all always maxed to 100%- that's not a problem, right, it just means there's a chip in use and it would read either 0% with no chip or 100% with one right?