In Podcast 258, we addressed a question from community member Garrett Miller about CPU Spikes And Errors In Pro Tools. As a result community member Laurence Teixeira has been in touch to tell us about his experiences which shed some light on this issue. But back to the original question where Garrett Miller asked....
Sep 16, 2019 studio one 4.5 unsable due to CPU spikes with one instrument. IMac 27' 3.3 GHz Intel Core i5, 32 GB Ram, Mojave OS 10.14.6, 64 bit, Studio One 4 Professional 4.6 (always the latest), Reason 11, Melodyne 4.2.3 Editor. 2017 iMac 27' i7 4.2ghz 16Gb Memory Mac OS Mojave Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen Studio One 4.5 Pro / Waveform 10. Jun 19, 2017 Studio one even on version 3.5 has insane CPU spikes. I tried to load the same project on other DAWs like Ableton or Reaper with 6 instances of SERUM vst, they worked fine. On Studio One though even with one instance i started having cpu spikes going up to 100%, while the other daws stayed at max 70% and I didnt hear any cracking/distortion.
Hi, I've got 2 problems plaguing me at the moment and I'm hoping you can help! I've been having a lot of CPU spikes and errors in Pro Tools lately. Even on sessions with less than 5 tracks - I'm not sure how long it's been happening, but definitely since version 12.6.1 and now 12.7. Looking in Activity Monitor I've noticed it often shows 'Pro Tools Quicktime Server not responding' in red. Is that the culprit? Can I just quit that process? Do I need it? I don't remember ever seeing it before…
My other problem is Kernel_Tasks. Sometimes when my CPU starts spiking randomly (just sitting idle with a session open, not playing) I check the Activity Monitor and it shows Kernel_Task and the CPU keeps growing up to more than 400%. I've found out that if unplug one of my extra displays the kernel task CPU immediately goes back down to under 100%, usually around 10-20%. What's the deal?? I have run a macbook in clamshell mode driving 3 displays for a couple years now. Most of the time that's fine. On heavy sessions I unplug one and it drives 2 just fine, but lately I've had to use just 2 and sometimes just 1 (even on small sessions). My technical details are below.
- Pro Tools Version 12.7
- 2013 Macbook Pro 15' retina 2.7 GHz i7 16 GB RAM 512 GB SSD
- Mac OS 10.10.5 Yosemite
- Apollo Quad Thunderbolt interface (latest drivers and UAD software)
- 3 displays all 1920x1080 (2 minidisplay port to DVI and 1 HDMI)
Thanks for your time and help!
Mike replied with the following....
There may be a bug in PT 11 or PTHD 11.1.2 as there are numerous people reporting this on the DUC.. Pro tools Quick Time Server not responding / show in red in the Mac Activity Monitor
There doesn’t seem to be a fix for this. There are 5 pages of a thread on the DUC with no response from Avid. However I would recommend always using Avid DNX codecs and also consider a 3rd party product like Video Slave Pro from Non Lethal Applications to handle your video playback duties.
You may be pushing the video card a lot with three 1920x1080 monitors, as there is precious little dedicated VRAM on a MBP video card. On my Mac Pro I have upgraded the graphics card to get a better performance but you cannot do that on a laptop.
As to your kernel_task issue, I have done some digging around with Google and found an article and a video. If you are not comfortable digging into your computer then don’t go here, but it seems that people have resolved their kernel-task issues, but we have not tested it so cannot offer any guarantees as to if it will fix it or mess up your computer further.
Then we received an email from community member Laurence Teixeira entitled PT 12.7, EuCon and External Display CPU issue and confirmed bug. Laurence writes...
Just writing to give you my input into the Pro Tools 12 CPU spike and external display issue brought up by a listener on the most recent podcast. I have a similar issue but in my case it is specifically related to EuCon.
EuCon 3.5 and 3.4 drivers are using enormous amount of CPU power with Mac OS Sierra - from between 50% and over 100% in Activity Monitor - even when idle (as in no Pro Tools or Artist hardware attached). This causes my MacBook Pro fans to kick into overdrive and slow my entire system down, which is a very capable 2015 3.1Ghz i7, 16gb machine. It also causes CPU spikes and errors on empty PT sessions. I have unfortunately not been able to use the EuCon software and therefore my Artist Control, which of course is detrimental to my audio-post workflow and business.
After some troubleshooting I realised that ANY external monitor is the culprit. I have been in back and forth contact with Avid customer care and have performed a number of tests for them with different external display configurations with results as follows. They gave confirmation that this is indeed a bug and have logged it as such (reference GWSW-10515).
The results of my tests are as follows.
External Thunderbolt Display connected - EuCon CPU % goes way up. It hits over 100%, then cycles down to around 20% over the next 20 - 30 seconds, before spiking up again to 90-110%. It repeats this process again and again. (Screenshots attached).
HDMI Display connected - Exactly the same as Thunderbolt display. Issue still persists.
Different resolutions - do not change this behavior at all. The issue still persists.
Closing all full screen apps (in fact no apps open at all - just the Desktop) does not affect behaviour at all. The issue still persists.
NO external display connected the EuCon and the process hovers around 2 - 4% usage.
Cpu Spikes Windows 7
To summarise - EuCon cycles enormous CPU usage only MacBook Pro 2015 and Sierra with ANY external monitor attached. Perhaps it is a video card issue, or a PT bug, but Avid are now aware.
Possible Workround?
I managed to minimize CPU spikes in PT 12 by enabling each plugin one-by-one and weeding out some problematic ones (I found a few Waves plug-ins were a problem for me). Hopefully this can help other listeners!
Studio One 4 Cpu Spikes Macbook Pro
Thank you Laurence for sharing your experience, it is work that this that helps the whole community.
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| I am running studio one professional version 2.65.30360 and my computer specs are as follows: AMD 9590FX 8-core CPU Gigabyte 990FXA-UD5 motherboard Kingston 240GB SSD Kingston HyperX Fury 16GB ddr3 memory Sapphire Radeon R7 270 Video Card Win 10 64bit OS Newly Installed from Win 7 Home Premium ___________________________________________________________________________ I have been recording, editing, and mixing for almost a year now with these specs on Win7 with no issues. I also use EZDrummer 2 and Superior Drummer as well as FaderPort and Firestudio Mobile. Recently I upgraded to Win 10 and was nervous of compatibility issues but everything seemed to be working as intended. A few days ago in the middle of mixing my CPU monitor red-lined and the sound started crackling out of control. I restarted the computer as I became really nervous something had gone terribly wrong. Upon reopening Studio One the Performance Monitor was yet again displaying CPU usage spikes from 30 - 100% I opened the device tab below and noticed that, while the ProEQ and Limiter channels were jumping around sporadically, EZDrummer was jumping the most reaching 80 percent or higher. So once more I restarted my computer and opened Studio One. This time, I started a new blank song and the CPU usage is still bouncing from 30 to 100 percent??? If anybody can help it would be greatly appreciated as I am lost at the moment and have no idea what could've caused this or how to fix it. I was thinking of purchasing Version 3 but now I'm hesitant. |
| There have been previous posts about this same thing but with version 3. Many users (including myself) haven't had said issues in v2 or v3... while others have. We all have a unique computer that is loaded with various programs, apps, etc. and then we all have different settings via the control panel, device manager, etc. So... Try opening the 'Task manager' (Ctrl-Alt-Delete, and select it). Click on the 'Processes' tab then below that, 'CPU'. This will list to the left the programs and processes by order of CPU use. So, is Studio One first? Did you know that Windows 10 updates are automatically pushed onto your system without any permission/recourse on your part. So with that, it's possible that an update to another program or process is now causing this. Also another thing to do is ensure is that 'Visual Effects' is set to 'Adjust for best Performance'. To do this: Open 'Control Panel', System', select the 'Advanced' tab and select it.* You can search these forums for said issues and see what others did. You can search the web and find out how to optimize your PC for 'Audio recording'... and what you change to get there should be verified now and then since Win10 may change your system without you being aware of it. *I'm at work referencing to Windows 7 so Win10 may be a bit different in syntax as to how to exactly get to those places. If you've not already done so... Please add your Signature & Gear Spec's to your Profile Here. ASUS Laptop, i7 3820QM; 16GB; 2 Samsung 840 SSD's; NVIDIA GTX 670MX; Win 8.1. S1 Pro 4.6.1; EZD2 2.1.8. Behringer UMC404HD USB A/I. Synths: Alchemy, Air Tech Music Suite. Melodyne Studio 4.2.4. Ozone 5, (all 64bit). Akai MPK249. 6 guitars. Scuffham S-Gear, Eleven Rack, two Line 6 POD's & an E-bow. Fluid Audio FX8 monitors; Dual 28' Displays. Rode NT1; SM58. Faderport; -My Band: '2GUYZINABASEMENT' -Just Me |
| It's happened to me on both versions but very, rare. Try Scottyo7's advise with the Task Manager and sort by CPU and see if some programs are draining resources, or are even necessary. Turn them off and see if results are better. If your computer is backing up, or running other utilities, is it necessary? let us know if your not sure. It's really the best way to understand further what's running in the background. Also check when S1 is running, what effects are causing more of a CPU drain than others, by viewing your CPU resources and again sort by CPU. Turn off, those heavy load effects. At least until things settle. They'll be there to be switched on again if necessary. If that doesn't prove successful, it could be the audio driver is currupt so try varying the buffer number. Even plugging the audio device to another USB port may prove helpful. Re install the latest drivers. Vary those type of things and definately re load your audio driver. The glitchy noises, and high CPU noise should settle down. You also may want to avoid any bit bridging and introduce the drum modules later when things have settled. I'd like to point you to something more direct, but I can tell you it happens, but with a little system checking, see when it does settle what series of things contributed or agrivated the occurrence. Let us know, so that you're back in action. Optimize. S1 Pro 4.5.x, Laptop: VAIO i7, 8 core, Win 7 64x. Audio Interface: Audiobox 22 VSL, Audiophile 192 Controllers: Arturia Keylab 49 MkII, Novation SL25 MKII, Faderport 8, Roland JV-90, Roland GR-50, Roland Octapad, Akai MPD-18. MIDI Patchbay: MOTU 8x8, Monitors: Mackie HR824, Yamaha HS-7, Mixer: Yamaha Promix 01. Other hardware/Plugins and Libraries, contact me. Latest Album: Amber & Blue My music On Bandcamp On YouTube |
| Hopefully you sorted out the problem by now. After Reading this post i remembered i had these issues after upgrading to SOv3 and running W10. The case was i had my buffer set to 3ms. After adjusting this to 10/15ms (when mixing) the spikes were all gone. As for the automatic update in W10, i found a work around on the internet to disable this and make ik manual again. That would have been a real show stopper for me. Bert Home Studio Connection --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Studio One 3.5 Pro - Win 10 X64 ( i7 6700k, 16 GB Dual 2400) - Focusrite 6i6 Focal Alpha 50 - Softube Console 1 - Faderport - Monitor Station v2 |
| I have spikes occasionally on v3. For whatever reason, if I go to 'Audio Device' and make any change (usually check or uncheck 'lock' )the spikes go away for a while. Studio One Pro 3.3.1 Windows 8.1 |
Cpu Spikes With Game Only
| Hi Guys, same where. Mac Pro 2013 - 12 core / 128 GB Ram. Studio One empty and nothing running uses 8-17%!!!! CPU. No other programs open, not even Wifi. I went back to Logic Pro X until this is fixed. Logic works amazingly in that regard. I love many features of S1 but I can't work this way.... very frustrating. HH |
| HitzHits wroteHi Guys, Your audio/latency buffer is more than likely set too low in Studio One, you need to raise it higher. Studio One isn't like some other daws in how this is handled currently. Without anyone actually looking at your computer, it's impossible for anyone to rule anything else out that may be causing it, but this is a likely cause. THE INTRANCER- Digital 2D & 3D GUI / Music Artist |- Full Orchestral -Trance - Ambient - Film Scores27 on S-Cloud 7000+genuine plays | 16 on S-Click | Studio One 3 Concept Re-Designs - Sample One XT | Reason X | S-O-3 Pro | Reaktor 6.0 | Reason 7 | C4D | CS6 |Win 7 64 Bit-Intel I7 920@3.57GHz,Focusrite Pro 14, ATH M50's, Casio XW P1&G1 Producer 20+ years - FOH - UK Stadium / Festivals)>>Studio One 3D GUI's<< |
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