Plugin load balance between cores

[Emi]

I just realised using multimono plugins instead of multichannel for stereo instances balances the load better between cores.

[s.d. finley]

interesting, good to know!

[priorytools]

Originally Posted by Emi

I just realised using multimono plugins instead of multichannel for stereo instances balances the load better between cores.

Really?
That’s a fantastic discovery.
Gonna check that top tip out tomorrow.
Noice.
Thanks.

[crizdee]

Originally Posted by Emi

I just realised using multimono plugins instead of multichannel for stereo instances balances the load better between cores.

Hi,

Cores or virtual cores?

Some computers have say 12 cores but 24 virtual cores! I don’t know what’s changed in recent versions of PT but a mixer channel/ track could only access one core (but this could be 2 virtual cores stemming off the same core)

Chris

[Darryl Ramm]

What I suspect is going on here is what Chris refers to above, the core affinity/binding of a signal chain. When you add a stereo plugin I suspect the normal core affinity of processing a signal chain binds both sides of a stereo track to run on the same core, with multi-mono the both sides are independent as far as processing goes and their processing can be on different cores, or to a greater extent on different cores.

---

Remember that hyperthreading is the work of the devil. It can help but it's far from being just another core. The other "core" only gets to use parts of the actual hardware if workload if its twin is leaving them idle. I expect Pro Tools just throws thread workload at each pair of hyperthreaded cores (and that keeps instructions and data local on the shared L2 cache). Wether you see equal distribution across each hyperthreaded core or not might not mean anything, but you sure should not expect to see both pairs of hyperthreaded cores near 100% utilization.

[Emi]

Originally Posted by crizdee

Hi,

Cores or virtual cores?

Some computers have say 12 cores but 24 virtual cores! I don’t know what’s changed in recent versions of PT but a mixer channel/ track could only access one core (but this could be 2 virtual cores stemming off the same core)

Chris

Cores. I have hyperthreading deseabled with great results in stability.

[Emi]

Originally Posted by Darryl Ramm

What I suspect is going on here is what Chris refers to above, the core affinity/binding of a signal chain. When you add a stereo plugin I suspect the normal core affinity of processing a signal chain binds both sides of a stereo track to run on the same core, with multi-mono the both sides are independent as far as processing goes and their processing can be on different cores, or to a greater extent on different cores.

Looks like...