Poor performance on M1 Max with Ventura 13.3.x and DP 11.2x

[Dark Goob]

I have a 2021 MacBook Pro with M1 Max and 64 GB RAM, a maxed-out system. Before macOS 13.3, I was able to record 17 channels of input at 44.1khz and a single stereo bus in real-time mode with 1 to 3 plugins per channel, and a 64-sample buffer and plugin latency compensation ON, and get no audio glitches.

However after updating to macOS 13.3, and then the subsequent versions, now I get really poor performance with frequent CPU clipping causing crackles during recording. If I set the input buffer to 128 samples, then it's fine, but I shouldn't have to do that.

This machine should be more than capable of handling this task as even my prior Intel-based system could do it.

Does anyone have any similar experience or idea of why this might be happening? I tried updating DP to 11.21 and 11.22 to address the issue, but no dice. This is really frustrating, overall the payoff of Apple Silicon just doesn't seem to be worth it, at least for DP... thanks for any tips.

[cuttime]

Why are you still on Big Sur? It seems like a jump at least to Monterey woud be in order? Is DP running in Rosetta mode? It sounds like some Intel only plugs may be holding you back.

[Dark Goob]

Why are you still on Big Sur? It seems like a jump at least to Monterey woud be in order? Is DP running in Rosetta mode? It sounds like some Intel only plugs may be holding you back.

Sorry I meant macOS Ventura 13.3.

[James Steele]

If you don't mind me suggesting it, you might want to put the DP version you're using in your signature. I'm assuming it's 11.22. I wish I had some suggestions. I'm using an M1 Max Mac Studio and not having issues with Ventura 13.3.1. Actually which makes we wonder... you say you're on 13.3. Are you on 13.3 or 13.3.1. Might want to update if you're not on 13.3.1.

[cuttime]

What does the Effect Performance window say?

[chokobo99]

Hey DG,

I have seen this behavior, and I've posted a bit about it here.

From what I've been able to test it seems to be an interaction of DP with Ventura. Other than your post though I've only seen this with an M2. So maybe it's a portable issue, because that's another connection.

What I have seen is that when I do tests with Logic or Reaper that I don't suffer poor performance the way I do with DP on the same machine.

As for current work arounds the best seem to be using either a different machine, or different app. You can get some work done in DP by very careful selection of plugins, and reducing the number of plugins used. But that's a pretty big compromise. I have noticed that people running Mac Studios don't seem to have these issues, at least not to the same level.

If you have Logic, Reaper, or some other app give that a try, and see how it compares. It totally sucks to have to be forced to use those other apps, but right now that's likely the best alternative.

Oh, and you actually do have another option with the M1 that folks with M2's don have, you could go back to Monterey. That might be the way to go for now.

[chokobo99]

What does the Effect Performance window say?

This can be found by going to the DP menu command:

Studio > Effect Performance

It will open a side panel with a list of the plugins, and a meter illustrating how much cpu they are using.