CPU Usage On My New 6 Core Mac Pro

[jaminjamesp]

I was just curious if these numbers looked right. I'm on the most recent version of Pro Tools 11, on Yosemite 10.10.5 My 6 Core nMP has 12GB ram, which I know I need to upgrade.

With my buffer set to 64 samples, I can barely run the session in the attached photo. The session is at 48/24. When I drop it down to 256, It's still running at about 40-45% overall. I can't track anything without printing my VSTs, and I'm get constant errors.

The two instances of Kontakt are an NI piano, "The Gentleman" and a synth in Retro Machines. There quite a few plugins on each channel, I realize, but I can run nearly as many plugins on each channel in a session with 40 or 50 tracks of just audio, and at a really low buffer, 128 or even 64, without any errors.

Recording midi is hard because the samples in Kontakt are constantly cutting out, the sustain pedal usually cuts out. I know I can print them, yes, but part of the reason I bought this computer was to allow for less immediate printing so I could have a little more creative freedom.

Any suggestions?

[propower]

I have the same nMP with 32G ram. I only use 96kHz and last I tried Kontakt was unusable for me on this machine at anything less than 256 (though I haven't checked this in a few months). How much does the usage go down when not in record and what exactly are your other plugins.

[jaminjamesp]

Originally Posted by propower

I have the same nMP with 32G ram. I only use 96kHz and last I tried Kontakt was unusable for me on this machine at anything less than 256 (though I haven't checked this in a few months). How much does the usage go down when not in record and what exactly are your other plugins.

It goes down to about 16% when the track is not armed. My other plugins are Wave J37, which I'm assuming is CPU hungry, Pro Q2, Decapitator, PuigTech Eq, Native Instruments SSL bus comp, and Maxim. I can run a session of just audio with all those plugins on each channel and do like 35-40 tracks at 128 samples just fine.

I see screen captures of dudes with TONS of instances of Kontakt running. I can only run two with a fairly competent computer?

[JuanPC]

A MaxedOut 12-core/24-threads E5-2697v2 @ 2.7GHz gives 1570cb n Cinebench R15
http://youtu.be/HfsFmekRgy4

A 6-core/12-threads E5-1650v2 @ 3.5GHz makes 955cb.
http://youtu.be/DDJVynSa9tk

E5-2697v2 is 64% more powerful, for multi-core applications.

Try open a new session with the sample rate & buffer size settings usually used.

Then create lots of stereo or mono tracks, depending on your SampleRate .
Insert the same plugin in each channel, look the PT CPU meter.

In the 1st channel or last, insert a mono or dual mono signal generator only.
Set to pink noise.
audio levels to comfortable.

Insert in the other channels the same plugin "j33 for example" until you hear clicks & pops, then remove plugins until you hear flawless.

Save and do same with all other plugins you are interested.
New session for each.


But CPU hungry plugins usually need 1x core each.
If you have 12-cores/threads, you can only insert 12 plugins, if the plugin eats 50% of a core/thread you can insert 24, etc...
Depending on buffer size, and other variables.
For example: your E5 @ 3.5GHz , each core should be more powerful than E5 @ 2.7.
But if your single core is not 100% more powerful, won't be able to insert 2 CPU hungry plugins in a single core.
PT CPU meter will never reach 100% in that scenario without clicks & pops. With flawless audio.
Bigger buffer size usually allows more plugins, but will add more latency.

test:
Eleven Mk2 v12.4
Mono
Lowest buffer size you can "usually 64"
Create another track and insert the signal generator set to pink noise.
If you hear clicks & pops, save quit, increase buffer size, and re-open the session.
Re-peat until you hear flawless.


Dynamic CPU Load will try to disable plugins after 1minute of inactivity.
Dynamic process can be disabled, for the test.

[jaminjamesp]

Originally Posted by JuanPC

A MaxedOut 12-core/24-threads E5-2697v2 @ 2.7GHz gives 1570cb n Cinebench R15
http://youtu.be/HfsFmekRgy4

A 6-core/12-threads E5-1650v2 @ 3.5GHz makes 955cb.
http://youtu.be/DDJVynSa9tk

E5-2697v2 is 64% more powerful, for multi-core applications.

Try open a new session with the sample rate & buffer size settings usually used.

Then create lots of stereo or mono tracks, depending on your SampleRate .
Insert the same plugin in each channel, look the PT CPU meter.

In the 1st channel or last, insert a mono or dual mono signal generator only.
Set to pink noise.
audio levels to comfortable.

Insert in the other channels the same plugin "j33 for example" until you hear clicks & pops, then remove plugins until you hear flawless.

Save and do same with all other plugins you are interested.
New session for each.


But CPU hungry plugins usually need 1x core each.
If you have 12-cores/threads, you can only insert 12 plugins, if the plugin eats 50% of a core/thread you can insert 24, etc...
Depending on buffer size, and other variables.
For example: your E5 @ 3.5GHz , each core should be more powerful than E5 @ 2.7.
But if your single core is not 100% more powerful, won't be able to insert 2 CPU hungry plugins in a single core.
PT CPU meter will never reach 100% in that scenario without clicks & pops. With flawless audio.
Bigger buffer size usually allows more plugins, but will add more latency.

test:
Eleven Mk2 v12.4
Mono
Lowest buffer size you can "usually 64"
Create another track and insert the signal generator set to pink noise.
If you hear clicks & pops, save quit, increase buffer size, and re-open the session.
Re-peat until you hear flawless.

Thanks for all that!! Definitely a good starting point.

[SpinningDisk]

Or get PT 12.4. Freeze or commit. I know that's not what you wanted but you will have plenty of power.