Cubase performance test results

I compared the performance of Cubase playing 8 MIDI tracks of Omnisphere in various conditions and here are the results.

Test:
8 MIDI tracks sending to/playing the first 8 patches in “All Category” in Omnisphere. All tests produce the same audio (i.e. all 8 midi tracks are playing in all test cases). After each test is complete, the entire track/instrument is deleted and the next test starts from scratch, in the same project without a computer restart.

Testbench -
Primary: i7 2600K, 16 GB RAM, Win 7x64, Cubase 7.5.4, Omnisphere 2.2.0g, RME HDSP-128 buffers.
Slave: i7 920, 16 GB RAM, VEP


The takeaways are:
1). It is wiser to run 8 separate instances of omni vs. 1 multi of omni.
2). VEP running locally under 0 buffers has the same performance as Cubase BUT since the buffers are flexible, you can reduce CPU power on the fly by just increasing VEP buffers.


RESULTS (sorted from best to worst):

Resting/Baseline (i.e. nothing loaded, nothing playing):
Cubase Realtime: 23-30%
Taskmanager: 10-16%

VEP 1x rack instr., 2 buffers, 32 outs/16 enabled, 1 midi port, Omni 1x with 8 parts multi, separate outs
Cubase realtime: 25-35%
Taskmanager: 10-21%
Slave Taskmanager: 9-12%

VEP 1x rack instr., 2 buffers, 32 outs/16 enabled, 1 midi port, Omni 8x in VEP, separate outs
Cubase realtime: 25-35%
Taskmanager: 10-21%
Slave Taskmanager: 15-22%


8x VEP instr. tracks each 2 buffers, stereo out, 1 midi port
Cubase realtime: 25-30%
Taskmanager: 12-20%
Slave Taskmanager: 16-25%


VEP running LOCALLY 1x rack track, 2 buffers, 32 outs/16 enabled, 1 midi port, Omni 1x with 8 parts multi, separate outs
Cubase realtime: 25-40%
Taskmanager: 21-28%
Cubase avg: 25%


8x Omni instrument tracks in Cubase:
Cubase Realtime: 45-55%+
Taskmanager: 25-33%


VEP running LOCALLY 1x rack track, 0 buffers, 32 outs/16 enabled, 1 midi port, Omni 1x with 8 parts multi, separate outs
Cubase realtime peak: 75-100%
Taskmanager: 21-27%
Cubase avg: 70%


1x Omni rack playing all 8 parts in Cubase:
Cubase Realtime: 75-100%, hovering near 100
Taskmanager: 16-28%
Cubase avg: 70%