Nick Blanc

I'm just gonna pretend this topic didn't escalate. Craig N put me on to something. I did a benchmark test with a program he recommended. https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/50103348 And it said I was throttling. I THOUGHT I turned everything to 100%. I did. But there was some dropdown I missed which still said I was saving energy. Here's the thing with Windows 11 (or me, the user). You can change energy profiles at different locations and they seem to not communicate. That, or I'm a bit of an idiot. And since I once wasted days/weeks of Focusrite support for audio dropouts while I had my Scarlett plugged into a USB hub which I forgot I did, I think I know the answer. Anyway, I changed it and my idle problem is entirely gone. CPU usage is waaaay down. I ran the test again and it sill says I'm throttling. https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/50104211 ok..... So the situation is way better, but maybe it can be even betterererer.

I'm convinced it is the right choice, but my guess it the problem is with Ableton. I have run several test (similar to Craig N who PM'ed me, thanks!) and there seems to be very weird behaviour. Ableton has this neat feature where you can see which channel uses the most CPU. If I load a project with let's say 70 tracks. Only roughly 7 tracks exhibit extreme CPU usage and the rest are just cruising by. I can delete those channels and the problem moves to another set of channels. So if I begin a project with a couple of channels, the CPU usage is too high in my opinion. But if I keep adding channels, the problem doens't seem to get that bigger. Of course there is a limit but it's like it idles at 8-10%. Every channel up to 7-8 adds 10% and after that every new channel adds almost nothing. I just relayed al this info to Ableton support and I will wait for their reply. Again, seems weird that I'm venting on a cakewalk forum, but I like you guys better than the Ableton forum 😋

Well, I don't really see a solution to the driver problem. Apart from buying a new interface, which is not going to happen. And weird that I did'nt have those issues with my old PC. And I already connected the interface to a dedicated USB connection on the motherboard. First thing I did.

Yeah I basically changed everything on my new PC. Went from Windows 10 to 11. Installed the latest Ableton version (so that didn't change), changed the sample rate from 44.1 to 48, changed the buffer size from...ehm 256 or 512? to 128. I did disable wifi and bluetooth yes. I'm not unplugging the peripherals (external SSD and synths) because those will be connected in daily use. I'm setting myself up for a test weekend. Running all kinds of similar projects between my old and new PC. Checking every setting. Not the greatest of weekends, but hey, at least I have some female companionship coming over looking pretty while I'm cursing at machines.

I've used Latencymon once when I had issues with my Focusrite interface cutting out. Was baffled by this sudden problem for weeks. So support (which was very helpful and quick to respond) helped my through all the steps. I was at the end of my options until, unrelated, I was shuffling some USB connections. I noticed I put the USB plug from the Focusrite into an USB hub. Probably needed a port for something else and didn't bother to check what USB cable I was moving. So there's my IT skill level for ya 🤪 I excused myself for being an idiot and thanked them for all their patience.

I will dive into my power settings some more this weekend. I followed all the usual steps which are reconmended (found it on the Sweetwater website). Ableton support sent me a link to follow, so I will do that as well. And I will doublecheck throttling. Running 100% doesn't really matter for me, I have the PC switched off when I'm not making music, so I'm not driving up my utilities bill. See, your "150 track with 100 plugins" was what I was expecting with my setup, but I don't even have near half that. With a PC that was more expensive than my car (granted, it's a crappy one). But I'm not going anywhere near the registry.

At some point I think support would have me make a latency mon (or whatever the application is called) report. Which I cannot understand. But I recognise DPC. I already disabled everything I don't need. I'm running a clean ship.

You are right that the meter in Ableton is not corresponding with task manager. When I'm idleing (is that a word?) at 8-10% in Ableton and the meter is all jittery, the task manager cruises at 1-2% max. So I'm not stressing thát much. But there is so much weird behaviour. The first 30 seconds or so after I launch Ableton, the CPU meter hovers at 1%, which it should (and which my old i5 does!). But the moment I start doing anything (checking VST list, loading a sample, creating a track, whatever), it shoots up to 8-10%. I'm running Windows 11. Like it's waiting, like a predator, and as soon as I make a move, it strikes! So I decided to test it with Massive X, some Native Instruments EQ's, audio at 48k en 128 buffer. Playing the same apreggio on 50 tracks. CPU shot up to 98%. I was expecting something better. Same thing with Kontakt and Alicia's Keys playing an arp, some EQ, reverb and distortion, 60 tracks and the whole thing starts to crackle at 80%. I've seen youtube clips of people running twice this on an M1 and Cubase with no problem. I'm starting to suspect Ableton vs. Windows 11 vs. I9 12th gen is not a happy marriage yet. But first I have to convince Ableton support of this, and that requires me updating my graphic drivers... I know I'm ranting in a Cakewalk forum, but I'm a bit bored at work soooo....😋

Just to jump on this topic since I happen to have an i9 12th gen. I have a brand new PC, no bloat, everything up-to-date (I think, I'm checking the grapics drivers tonight). I'm an Ableton user. So I was thinking I will blast through everything I could throw at it. The f**% idles (!) at 8% CPU load (on Abletons meter). Throw in a plugin or 2 and I'm running at a 25%. My old and crappy i5 did better than that. Support from Ableton is slow and the first thing they want me to do look at everything OTHER than Ableton. Sure, I will update my drivers. I already did the power plan thing. Here's the weird thing which support ignores (besides my old i5 performing better): when I do something else similtaniously (like installing a plugin or installing an Ableton extension), whatever needs some CPU, the usage DROPS to a cosy 1-2%. Needless to say I'm very disappointed right now. I'm guessing it has something to do with the new CPU structure, but I'm no expert. I just know it's different.

This is a huge plus for Cakewalk. It ignores double VST's. Image my shock when I changed to Ableton. Now I'm walking on eggshells. But still, it forces me to make a choice and save disk space.

Ok, maybe it is the wodka talking (it's thursday so almost weekend), but goodbye. I am installing everything from scratch and I hate all those installers where yo first have to specify where you want to install your 64 bit plugin, only to find out later that you can opt out of VST2 and just continue with VST3. It is EVERY plugin. 🤬 Just go with one format and I don't care which one. Developers should be busy with the most new version...

Faster for 1 plugin maybe yes. But installing everything...well still maybe yes, but it is more manual work. And I guess the download speeds are not that great compared to a direct download or just copy and locate. But still, I had a full re-installation of Komplete Ultimate. I rather just let NA do its thing while I do other things (installing other plugins). I made an exception with some large Kontakt libraries. But I just let it run through the night and in the morning everything was done. And yes I noticed some odd behaviour at times, the status one is familiar. But at the end it did install everything. The thing is, I'm not just talking about NI. That was an example. A clean system install with a lot of plugins is a lot of time consuming work. I'm not even half way through and I've been at it for a week now. So thank god I didn't had to install every Waves, PA or IK plugin manually. I guess my position is: I dislike installation managers for seperate plugins. Its another piece of software I have to install and delete afterwards. When it comes to a full re-install, just give me installation managers and they can crawl their way through every plugin while I'm at the gym.

I don't know about this. All NI plugins can be easily uninstalled seperately. I ran into a problem once wih the SSD installation of Komplete and Native Access fixed the whole issue. Plugin Alliance has the option to do everything manually or use a installation manager. Mostly when changing computers or similar situations I like those managers. I don't have to install 30 plugins seperately but everything in 1 go. This saves me hours of tedious work. This is the cakewalk forum with Larry, we got hundreds/thousands of plugins 😉

I'm in the process of switching to a new PC where the old one is Windows 10 en the new one is Windows 11. As far as i know it is just the same application which works the exact same way. iLOK seems to work fine and I haven't run into issues yet (except for remembering my password). The only PITA is the vendors who give you 1 license. I prefer to install and authorize my plugins first on the new PC, test to see if I run into problems and only then disable the license and uninstall on the old PC. But they force me to deactivate the license first (and luckily my old PC still works) and hope for the best.

Indeed, I thought it was a good deal. But I have to agree with you and Fleer. I dont'need it and I have at least 5 different versions of this kind of instrument.

Awesome! This genre is the reason I got piano/keyboard lessons when I was a kid. Loved 2 Unlimited, so I wanted to play it. I have a Youtube playlist with hundreds of Eurodance tracks. An instant hit at party's. I'm getting this!

Instant buy. 1) Audiority. 2) Reverb. 3) Echo. 4) This combination.

I'm saving up all the Originals I want to put it towards the black friday deal next year.

Yes indeed. I got it. Also with some rewards, my total came down to € 6. And the Beatgrader freebie.

Seems to be a mistake? PB now lists it at €33. I saw it for €8 a brief moment on some overview page. But in my cart it immediately said 33 and now all I get is the 33 price.

You were right, no check at all. I just got my serial and that was that. Now I'm curious as to test my luck to go for the Smart EQ 3 crossgrade, if there is any 😇

That's a considerable save from the €65 at Plugin Boutique. But I only have a Sonible product through PB (a freebie). How will I qualify for the crossgrade? Do I need te register it somewhere else?

I have no immediate use for this, but I have some things in the pipeline for some time now (stop motion thing) where this is perfect. Is has been on my wishlist for a long time. Instant buy.

Please don't. Don't do this to me...

I will just leave this preset pack here as an extra consideration for Abyss. https://www.thesoundgardxn.com/store/p/abyss-dark