Audio Dropouts with 1 VST

Hello

If anyone is able to help me, I would be most grateful. This issue is driving me nuts and I can’t figure out what’s causing it.

I’m running Cubase 14 Pro, and recording a few tracks using a Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 for some vocals and guitars, and then I am running one VST (Superior Drummer 3), recorded via MIDI from an electronic drum set.

Let me start by saying my PC should not be the problem, but of course I’m not ruling anything out. I’ll list the full specs below for reference.

I have no problems recording everything, but when I sit down later to play back and edit, the VST drum track spikes as soon as I hit play, but then immediately comes down and sounds fine. If I jump to another place/marker in the recording, it does the same; I’ll click somewhere in the recording, the VST channel spikes and makes a loud sound (which basically sounds like a kick/crash from the drum software at full volume)… but then the level comes down immediately and it will play fine.

This is driving me crazy because I can’t bounce around in my tracks without this happening. Additionally, when I export a mixdown, a lot of the drum hits (i.e. - MIDI notes) are not present, so it’s like those are dropping out too.

I have scoured forums already and tried several of the common suggestions (increasing buffer size, ASIO-guard settings, etc.) but nothing seems to resolve it, and again, this is only with a single VST. I also saw where my CPU (i9-14900k) has been known to have problems with some of the cores, but I downloaded the Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool and ran that, and everything passed just fine. When I watch my CPU performance in Task Manager, it never goes above 10% with this issue occurring.

Your insight would be greatly appreciated. I’d also be willing to do a zoom call/screen share to let a pro take a look if needed. I’m convinced there are simply some settings somewhere that are causing this.

Thank you in advance!

PC specs:
CPU: Intel Core i9-14900K
Cooler: Asus ROG Ryujin III
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX
Memory: Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 128GB
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 3080 Ti
Storage: Samsung 980 Pro M.2 2TB SSD (x1), Samsung 970 Pro M.2 1TB (x2)
PSU: Seasonic VERTEX 1200W

Have you disabled usb power management?
Have you run a Latencymon test?

Hey thanks for the reply. Using a Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 interface, so when I go to Studio > Studio Setup, it shows “Focusrite USB ASIO” in the ASIO Driver drop-down.

I was actually just reading where someone was mentioning the LatencyMon program, so I just downloaded it. Do I just need to hit the Play button and let it run? Should I have Cubase up and try to jump around in my track to cause the issue while it’s running? Not sure what’s recommended there.

Also - Had not disabled usb power management, so I just did that and rebooted. Same issue though - trying to jump around in my track and the VST channel gives an immediate spike before coming down.

Thanks

Run Latencymon with nothing else running first. Give it 15 mins unless it starts failing really quickly.

Ok LatencyMon seems to be picking up on the problem based on the screenshot I am attaching. I will also include the full report text below. Also, I just recently updated my BIOS to the latest version so I’m sure it’s not that. Sounds like it could be some other setting related to power management/CPU throttling. Any insight would be appreciated.

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CONCLUSION


Your system appears to be having trouble handling real-time audio and other tasks. You are likely to experience buffer underruns appearing as drop outs, clicks or pops. One or more DPC routines that belong to a driver running in your system appear to be executing for too long. One problem may be related to power management, disable CPU throttling settings in Control Panel and BIOS setup. Check for BIOS updates.
LatencyMon has been analyzing your system for 0:26:39 (h:mm:ss) on all processors.


SYSTEM INFORMATION


Computer name: MATT-PC
OS version: Windows 11, 10.0, version 2009, build: 26100 (x64)
Hardware: Z790 AORUS ELITE AX, Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
BIOS: FLb
CPU: GenuineIntel Intel(R) Core™ i9-14900K
Logical processors: 32
Processor groups: 1
Processor group size: 32
RAM: 130827 MB total


CPU SPEED


Reported CPU speed (WMI): 320 MHz
Reported CPU speed (registry): 3187 MHz

Note: reported execution times may be calculated based on a fixed reported CPU speed. Disable variable speed settings like Intel Speed Step and AMD Cool N Quiet in the BIOS setup for more accurate results.


MEASURED INTERRUPT TO USER PROCESS LATENCIES


The interrupt to process latency reflects the measured interval that a usermode process needed to respond to a hardware request from the moment the interrupt service routine started execution. This includes the scheduling and execution of a DPC routine, the signaling of an event and the waking up of a usermode thread from an idle wait state in response to that event.

Highest measured interrupt to process latency (µs): 2599.0
Average measured interrupt to process latency (µs): 5.315790

Highest measured interrupt to DPC latency (µs): 728.20
Average measured interrupt to DPC latency (µs): 1.071319


REPORTED ISRs


Interrupt service routines are routines installed by the OS and device drivers that execute in response to a hardware interrupt signal.

Highest ISR routine execution time (µs): 134.057421
Driver with highest ISR routine execution time: Wdf01000.sys - Kernel Mode Driver Framework Runtime, Microsoft Corporation

Highest reported total ISR routine time (%): 0.000047
Driver with highest ISR total time: HDAudBus.sys - High Definition Audio Bus Driver, Microsoft Corporation

Total time spent in ISRs (%) 0.000073

ISR count (execution time <250 µs): 17346
ISR count (execution time 250-500 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time 500-1000 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time 1000-2000 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time 2000-4000 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time >=4000 µs): 0


REPORTED DPCs


DPC routines are part of the interrupt servicing dispatch mechanism and disable the possibility for a process to utilize the CPU while it is interrupted until the DPC has finished execution.

Highest DPC routine execution time (µs): 1156.190461
Driver with highest DPC routine execution time: ntoskrnl.exe - NT Kernel & System, Microsoft Corporation

Highest reported total DPC routine time (%): 0.001641
Driver with highest DPC total execution time: nvlddmkm.sys - NVIDIA Windows Kernel Mode Driver, Version 566.36 , NVIDIA Corporation

Total time spent in DPCs (%) 0.005433

DPC count (execution time <250 µs): 404894
DPC count (execution time 250-500 µs): 0
DPC count (execution time 500-10000 µs): 54
DPC count (execution time 1000-2000 µs): 3
DPC count (execution time 2000-4000 µs): 0
DPC count (execution time >=4000 µs): 0


REPORTED HARD PAGEFAULTS


Hard pagefaults are events that get triggered by making use of virtual memory that is not resident in RAM but backed by a memory mapped file on disk. The process of resolving the hard pagefault requires reading in the memory from disk while the process is interrupted and blocked from execution.

NOTE: some processes were hit by hard pagefaults. If these were programs producing audio, they are likely to interrupt the audio stream resulting in dropouts, clicks and pops. Check the Processes tab to see which programs were hit.

Process with highest pagefault count: msmpeng.exe

Total number of hard pagefaults 3211
Hard pagefault count of hardest hit process: 549
Number of processes hit: 25


PER CPU DATA


CPU 0 Interrupt cycle time (s): 69.777465
CPU 0 ISR highest execution time (µs): 16.661437
CPU 0 ISR total execution time (s): 0.002864
CPU 0 ISR count: 702
CPU 0 DPC highest execution time (µs): 745.665202
CPU 0 DPC total execution time (s): 1.007026
CPU 0 DPC count: 203250


CPU 1 Interrupt cycle time (s): 65.39840
CPU 1 ISR highest execution time (µs): 48.007217
CPU 1 ISR total execution time (s): 0.003123
CPU 1 ISR count: 361
CPU 1 DPC highest execution time (µs): 128.139316
CPU 1 DPC total execution time (s): 0.006110
CPU 1 DPC count: 1778


CPU 2 Interrupt cycle time (s): 46.229733
CPU 2 ISR highest execution time (µs): 94.519925
CPU 2 ISR total execution time (s): 0.011574
CPU 2 ISR count: 6103
CPU 2 DPC highest execution time (µs): 174.526828
CPU 2 DPC total execution time (s): 0.056881
CPU 2 DPC count: 10411


CPU 3 Interrupt cycle time (s): 45.803620
CPU 3 ISR highest execution time (µs): 3.153750
CPU 3 ISR total execution time (s): 0.000013
CPU 3 ISR count: 5
CPU 3 DPC highest execution time (µs): 169.378726
CPU 3 DPC total execution time (s): 0.014711
CPU 3 DPC count: 1746


CPU 4 Interrupt cycle time (s): 69.099719
CPU 4 ISR highest execution time (µs): 8.705366
CPU 4 ISR total execution time (s): 0.000545
CPU 4 ISR count: 208
CPU 4 DPC highest execution time (µs): 181.069972
CPU 4 DPC total execution time (s): 0.026331
CPU 4 DPC count: 3480


CPU 5 Interrupt cycle time (s): 69.260518
CPU 5 ISR highest execution time (µs): 23.056479
CPU 5 ISR total execution time (s): 0.000355
CPU 5 ISR count: 33
CPU 5 DPC highest execution time (µs): 133.831503
CPU 5 DPC total execution time (s): 0.003541
CPU 5 DPC count: 1052


CPU 6 Interrupt cycle time (s): 41.663027
CPU 6 ISR highest execution time (µs): 33.081268
CPU 6 ISR total execution time (s): 0.000960
CPU 6 ISR count: 89
CPU 6 DPC highest execution time (µs): 139.264826
CPU 6 DPC total execution time (s): 0.014501
CPU 6 DPC count: 2844


CPU 7 Interrupt cycle time (s): 41.886162
CPU 7 ISR highest execution time (µs): 3.232507
CPU 7 ISR total execution time (s): 0.000011
CPU 7 ISR count: 4
CPU 7 DPC highest execution time (µs): 129.544399
CPU 7 DPC total execution time (s): 0.017320
CPU 7 DPC count: 4219


CPU 8 Interrupt cycle time (s): 46.425787
CPU 8 ISR highest execution time (µs): 15.088484
CPU 8 ISR total execution time (s): 0.00260
CPU 8 ISR count: 437
CPU 8 DPC highest execution time (µs): 1072.836523
CPU 8 DPC total execution time (s): 0.683784
CPU 8 DPC count: 69262


CPU 9 Interrupt cycle time (s): 72.099346
CPU 9 ISR highest execution time (µs): 45.673988
CPU 9 ISR total execution time (s): 0.005051
CPU 9 ISR count: 487
CPU 9 DPC highest execution time (µs): 274.337622
CPU 9 DPC total execution time (s): 0.208460
CPU 9 DPC count: 17183


CPU 10 Interrupt cycle time (s): 61.458771
CPU 10 ISR highest execution time (µs): 49.725133
CPU 10 ISR total execution time (s): 0.008785
CPU 10 ISR count: 3497
CPU 10 DPC highest execution time (µs): 250.934421
CPU 10 DPC total execution time (s): 0.208964
CPU 10 DPC count: 33275


CPU 11 Interrupt cycle time (s): 73.725092
CPU 11 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 11 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 11 ISR count: 0
CPU 11 DPC highest execution time (µs): 1156.190461
CPU 11 DPC total execution time (s): 0.050526
CPU 11 DPC count: 10177


CPU 12 Interrupt cycle time (s): 58.732221
CPU 12 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 12 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 12 ISR count: 0
CPU 12 DPC highest execution time (µs): 125.353624
CPU 12 DPC total execution time (s): 0.012847
CPU 12 DPC count: 3452


CPU 13 Interrupt cycle time (s): 58.777056
CPU 13 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 13 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 13 ISR count: 0
CPU 13 DPC highest execution time (µs): 132.454346
CPU 13 DPC total execution time (s): 0.003663
CPU 13 DPC count: 540


CPU 14 Interrupt cycle time (s): 42.292458
CPU 14 ISR highest execution time (µs): 22.849388
CPU 14 ISR total execution time (s): 0.000255
CPU 14 ISR count: 343
CPU 14 DPC highest execution time (µs): 177.546282
CPU 14 DPC total execution time (s): 0.015236
CPU 14 DPC count: 3709


CPU 15 Interrupt cycle time (s): 42.412063
CPU 15 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 15 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 15 ISR count: 0
CPU 15 DPC highest execution time (µs): 154.579856
CPU 15 DPC total execution time (s): 0.005976
CPU 15 DPC count: 959


CPU 16 Interrupt cycle time (s): 76.483390
CPU 16 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 16 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 16 ISR count: 0
CPU 16 DPC highest execution time (µs): 250.397553
CPU 16 DPC total execution time (s): 0.065219
CPU 16 DPC count: 4378


CPU 17 Interrupt cycle time (s): 58.598954
CPU 17 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 17 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 17 ISR count: 0
CPU 17 DPC highest execution time (µs): 255.296203
CPU 17 DPC total execution time (s): 0.022511
CPU 17 DPC count: 2043


CPU 18 Interrupt cycle time (s): 52.768190
CPU 18 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 18 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 18 ISR count: 0
CPU 18 DPC highest execution time (µs): 262.401318
CPU 18 DPC total execution time (s): 0.016496
CPU 18 DPC count: 1610


CPU 19 Interrupt cycle time (s): 51.817285
CPU 19 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 19 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 19 ISR count: 0
CPU 19 DPC highest execution time (µs): 152.340446
CPU 19 DPC total execution time (s): 0.013457
CPU 19 DPC count: 1788


CPU 20 Interrupt cycle time (s): 68.099797
CPU 20 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 20 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 20 ISR count: 0
CPU 20 DPC highest execution time (µs): 192.011923
CPU 20 DPC total execution time (s): 0.036437
CPU 20 DPC count: 4659


CPU 21 Interrupt cycle time (s): 59.132281
CPU 21 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 21 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 21 ISR count: 0
CPU 21 DPC highest execution time (µs): 241.854409
CPU 21 DPC total execution time (s): 0.023395
CPU 21 DPC count: 2204


CPU 22 Interrupt cycle time (s): 56.572302
CPU 22 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 22 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 22 ISR count: 0
CPU 22 DPC highest execution time (µs): 253.309068
CPU 22 DPC total execution time (s): 0.026802
CPU 22 DPC count: 1830


CPU 23 Interrupt cycle time (s): 53.979442
CPU 23 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 23 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 23 ISR count: 0
CPU 23 DPC highest execution time (µs): 179.933166
CPU 23 DPC total execution time (s): 0.014302
CPU 23 DPC count: 2518


CPU 24 Interrupt cycle time (s): 37.171393
CPU 24 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 24 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 24 ISR count: 0
CPU 24 DPC highest execution time (µs): 1069.764041
CPU 24 DPC total execution time (s): 0.022593
CPU 24 DPC count: 2515


CPU 25 Interrupt cycle time (s): 27.171516
CPU 25 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 25 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 25 ISR count: 0
CPU 25 DPC highest execution time (µs): 167.600565
CPU 25 DPC total execution time (s): 0.014297
CPU 25 DPC count: 1519


CPU 26 Interrupt cycle time (s): 20.199691
CPU 26 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 26 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 26 ISR count: 0
CPU 26 DPC highest execution time (µs): 144.795105
CPU 26 DPC total execution time (s): 0.008310
CPU 26 DPC count: 1061


CPU 27 Interrupt cycle time (s): 17.130376
CPU 27 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 27 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 27 ISR count: 0
CPU 27 DPC highest execution time (µs): 146.102918
CPU 27 DPC total execution time (s): 0.007956
CPU 27 DPC count: 900


CPU 28 Interrupt cycle time (s): 74.601870
CPU 28 ISR highest execution time (µs): 1.096956
CPU 28 ISR total execution time (s): 0.000143
CPU 28 ISR count: 381
CPU 28 DPC highest execution time (µs): 199.022592
CPU 28 DPC total execution time (s): 0.032908
CPU 28 DPC count: 4234


CPU 29 Interrupt cycle time (s): 62.957674
CPU 29 ISR highest execution time (µs): 134.057421
CPU 29 ISR total execution time (s): 0.001046
CPU 29 ISR count: 4696
CPU 29 DPC highest execution time (µs): 182.782554
CPU 29 DPC total execution time (s): 0.015853
CPU 29 DPC count: 1681


CPU 30 Interrupt cycle time (s): 57.145569
CPU 30 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 30 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 30 ISR count: 0
CPU 30 DPC highest execution time (µs): 184.600565
CPU 30 DPC total execution time (s): 0.009111
CPU 30 DPC count: 1000


CPU 31 Interrupt cycle time (s): 71.702319
CPU 31 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 31 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 31 ISR count: 0
CPU 31 DPC highest execution time (µs): 307.574521
CPU 31 DPC total execution time (s): 0.114581
CPU 31 DPC count: 3674


Just sort the drivers tab by highest execution and post a screencap.

Is windows power scheme set to high or ultimate performance?
Are you using the standard Nvidia driver? Do you know about the required tweak that’s often needed for that (prefer maximum performance)(or use the studio driver)

Power scheme is set to High Performance, with the USB power management disabled (didn’t see an Ultimate performance option). Below is what is shows under “My Rig” in the NVIDIA app. Not sure I know of any other tweaks needed, but happy to do them.

https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3130/~/setting-power-management-mode-from-normal-to-maximum-performance

Just to be sure on the usb power management…what changes did you make exactly??

Ultimate performance needs enabling in the registry I think…But it should be fine on high performance.

Ok NVIDIA setting from the link has been changed to “prefer maximum performance”, and for the USB power management, I went to Control Panel > Power Options > clicked “Change plan settings” for my current High performance mode > Change advanced power settings > USB settings > USB selective suspend setting > Disabled

No change in Cubase playback unfortunately.

USB power management:
Open device manager, right click anything called USB hub and choose properties/power management. Untick turn off this device et etc…

Then rerun latencymon.

Do you use Nvidia Studio or gaming drivers? Studio drivers are prefered

I’d try to disable the motherboard audio in the BIOS - to see if that makes a difference.

Every bodys machine is different but what worked for me

1 Setting motherboard limits as per Intel spec and not relying on Mother board defaults
2 Big cooler
3 Disable core parking
4 Turning off One Drive
5 Disable power saving on Nvidia card

Go to device manager-> universal serial bus controller and right click properties of usb hubs, power management tab and untick “allow the computer to turn off this device to save power”
Do it for the all “hubs”

Also one thing to try, disable network card for session

How to do that?

ParkControl – Tweak CPU Core Parking and More
or Project Lasso
Bitsum. Real-time CPU Optimization and Automation

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