DP10 Spiking and causing interface to cut out on Stop

[dreamuse]

Hi there,

This is strange: On certain files, even if everything plays just fine (with the CPU meter not spiking), when I stop the sequence, the CPU meter will spike, and all audio going to the interface--both within DP (if i'm playing a VI), as well as other audio sources (like Quicktime), will momentarily cut out. I'm running a MOTU M4, but believe I also saw this with an Apogee duet.

I have background processing set to Wait until DSP analysis is needed. Additionally, I'm not seeing other programs freeze or lag when the CPU meter spikes and audio cuts out.

Huh...

TIA for any ideas on this.

[mikehalloran]

Hi there,

This is strange: On certain files, even if everything plays just fine (with the CPU meter not spiking), when I stop the sequence, the CPU meter will spike, and all audio going to the interface--both within DP (if i'm playing a VI), as well as other audio sources (like Quicktime), will momentarily cut out. I'm running a MOTU M4, but believe I also saw this with an Apogee duet.

I have background processing set to Wait until DSP analysis is needed. Additionally, I'm not seeing other programs freeze or lag when the CPU meter spikes and audio cuts out.

Huh...

TIA for any ideas on this.

Plug-in? Preferences? Buffer? Not nearly enough info.

Many plugs will keep generating audio after Stop. iZotope RX comes to mind. Are your plugs current? I had some issues with RX 7 in Catalina.

If using old templates, time to create new ones. Very easy: open, make sure that any plugs are up to date. Save as a DP 10 template and rename. This has fixed a number of issues for many of us and MOTU recommends this.

Increasing WTD speed should help. Have you updated the SSD in your trash can? If not, you can triple the Write to Disk speed by replacing the original AHCI SSD with an NVMe 3 x4 blade —also increase your storage to 2TB. Takes about 5 minutes plus the data transfer —Migration Assistant from Time Machine is fine. Although the OWC blade has the correct pin-out, a Crucial P2 with an inexpensive adapter is a lot less expensive and works just as well. Your PCI bus has 2 lanes and cannot utilize the extra speed of the OWC or a 970 EV0.

This problem is intermittent. Yay.

When I save a file, at times the metronome will start playing. This seems to be regardless of whether I have metronome on or not.

An similar experiences/solutions?

TIA,

Len

[dreamuse]

Thanks for your reply, Mike.

I'm getting this no matter how high a buffer setting. Good point on plugins continuing to create audio. I've double-clicked the performance monitor, and not seeing any pegging plugs this way. I may have to disable them to see if it helps. Still strange that audio outside of DP cuts out, and I'm wondering if this is actually DP having trouble staying in touch with the interface.

I've got all SSD, though as it's a trash can, there's no blades other than what I'd put in externally. Perhaps I don't understand this point.

Len

[mikehalloran]

Thanks for your reply, Mike.

I've got all SSD, though as it's a trash can, there's no blades other than what I'd put in externally. Perhaps I don't understand this point.

Len

Len,

Blade is a generic term for an SSD that is not the 2.5" form factor. Your 6.1 has a PCIe 2 lane bus and has an AHCI blade installed. AHCI is ridiculously slow compared to any NVMe 3 x4 SSD (again, a blade because of its shape). There are fast and slow NVMe blades, the x4 refers to the number of Lanes but your MP has only a 2 Lane bus. In real terms, though a fast NVMe is about 5–6x faster than AHCI, the extra speed is unavailable to you so no reason to spend the extra money. Slow blades cost a lot less and are still faster than a 6.1 can handle.

Some of your problem will be solved by maximizing your WTD speed. The Crucial P2 runs around 2000MB/s in your Mac, about 3x faster than the typical 650MB/s of the AHCI that Apple installed.
https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-500GB-NA ... r_1_1_sspa
A pin-out adapter is required.
https://www.amazon.com/Sintech-Adapter- ... ref=sr_1_3
A heat sink isn't absolutely necessary but not a bad idea—top only; no room at the back
https://www.amazon.com/icepc-DIY-Heatsi ... r_1_2_sspa

Installation takes less than 5 minutes. You will need to install your MacOS (a few ways to do this) and then run Migration Assistant from your old SSD or a Time Machine backup.

This turns your old AHCI blade into a portable USB 3 drive. It is incompatible with anything else. If your original blade is small, I wouldn't bother.
https://www.amazon.com/OWC-Portable-Bus ... ref=sr_1_6

[dreamuse]

Much thanks for all of this info, Mike. I'll definitely look into doing this, though it's still a curious thing that this isn't a consistent problem.