Hi
Sorry for coming back to this topic but something seems really wrong in Cubase audio engine.
it’s beyond reasonable doubt at this point.
I’m so frustrated and upset when I write - this is my third attempt to rewrite in a better descriptive way.
And I emphasize Cubase Pro - since Cubase Elements is not a real problem.
The root of problem is an hourly uptime event in windows - and Cubase Elements run through this just fine - but not Pro.
So back to investigations.
Good part
I’ve been running test applications like Thread Racer - occupying all 8 cores, and running 100% cpu on all - and Cubase is fine - no dropout on recording, just serious bitnoise on playback, but it does not affect recording one bit.
This really good performance - even with audio priority on Normal.
Bad part - how to reproduce
While Cubase Pro is recording - run mmcss_test application found here:
You have to set Cubase Pro not to release audio driver when loosing focus(Studio Setup).
Test #1(Audio priority Normal):
Just start mmcss_test while Cubase Pro is recording(this create 128 mmcss class threads).
It will create a dropout in Cubase Pro.
Test #2(Audio priority Boost):
Just start mmcss_test while Cubase Pro is recording(this create 128 mmcss class threads).
It will not create a dropout in Cubase Pro.
Test #3(Audio priority Normal):
Make a shortcut to mmcss_test.exe and set a parameter with a blank after “…exe”.
So it looks “,_test.exe 1” - meaning just create on mmcss class thread.
It will create a dropout in Cubase Pro. so you just create one thread, basically initializing mmcss - and Cubase Pro dropout.
Test with other applications
I’ve ran the same tests in Reaper - you can select audio priority - MMCSS Pro Audio Time critical and MMCSS Time Critical.
These both correspond to Cubase Boost and Normal.
Does not create a dropout.
Sonar - I can only MMCSS or not - but it does not create a dropout - no matter what you do.
You can run both Reaper and Sonar with as much as 512 mmcss class threads with mmcss_test - and there is no issue.
You do that with Cubase Pro - and just initializing one mmcss class thread with test program - and Cubase Pro dropout on normal audio priority.
I write Cubase Pro - because it does not happend every time in Cubase Elements 7 or 8.
Comment on my hourly uptime event in my machine
I have some event on hourly uptime in my computer - not sure what yet - but this create dropouts in Cubase Pro - all day long every hour.
I’ve tested on Cubase Elements 7 and 8 - no dropouts on this hourly windows uptime event.
A tiny pop you can hear - but does not affect recording.
Cubase Pro 8.0, 8.5, 9.0 and 9.5 - always dropout on recording while this hourly uptime event.
Sonar and Reaper - not a sign of a pop or recording problem at all - not ever.
I can run video editors like PowerDirector with audio - and does not create dropout or pop or anything.
I can run video players like MPC HC over this event - and no issue.
Final comments and conclusion
Cubase Pro audio engine is overly sensitive?
Thank you for reading.