Having UI performance problems? Try this
Moderator: James Steele
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This forum is for seeking solutions to technical problems involving Digital Performer and/or plug-ins on MacOS, as well as feature requests, criticisms, comparison to other DAWs.
This forum is for seeking solutions to technical problems involving Digital Performer and/or plug-ins on MacOS, as well as feature requests, criticisms, comparison to other DAWs.
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- Posts: 56
- Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2013 1:56 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Having UI performance problems? Try this
I had very laggy UI performance (changing tabs, moving splitbars) on my shiny new iMac Pro, on both DP 9.5.2 and 10.01. Both worked better on my old quad core iMac retina.
The easy way to tell if you have this problem is to grab a splitbar and move it around while looking at activity monitor CPU - when you have the problem, doing this can use (way) more than 1 core (100% cpu). On this 18-core machine dragging a splitbar could consume 600-900% or more.
Go to System Preferences -> Display -> Color and choose a different display profile. For me, pretty much any profile other than the default cleared up the problem. Now switching tabs is snappy and dragging splitbars and other UI moves never use more than 1 core (100%)
Thanks to Robert Randolph for the tipoff!
The easy way to tell if you have this problem is to grab a splitbar and move it around while looking at activity monitor CPU - when you have the problem, doing this can use (way) more than 1 core (100% cpu). On this 18-core machine dragging a splitbar could consume 600-900% or more.
Go to System Preferences -> Display -> Color and choose a different display profile. For me, pretty much any profile other than the default cleared up the problem. Now switching tabs is snappy and dragging splitbars and other UI moves never use more than 1 core (100%)
Thanks to Robert Randolph for the tipoff!
Re: Having UI performance problems? Try this
Very interesting. I've always used a calibrated profile and never had a lag problem.
828x MacOS 14.7.5 M1 Studio Max 1TB 64G DP11.34
- mikehalloran
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Re: Having UI performance problems? Try this
Can't duplicate it on my 14 core iMP. Does changing it back make it misbehave?
DP 11.34; 828mkII FW, micro lite, M4, MTP/AV USB Firmware 2.0.1
2023 Mac Studio M2 8TB, 192GB RAM, OS Sequoia 15.4, USB4 8TB externals, Neumann MT48, M-Audio AIR 192|14, Mackie ProFxv3, Zoom F3 & UAC 232 32bit float recorder & interface; 2012 MBPs (x2) Catalina, Mojave
IK-NI-Izotope-PSP-Garritan-Antares, LogicPro X, Finale 27.4, Dorico 5, Notion 6, Overture 5, TwistedWave, DSP-Q 5, SmartScore64 NE Pro, Toast 20 Pro
2023 Mac Studio M2 8TB, 192GB RAM, OS Sequoia 15.4, USB4 8TB externals, Neumann MT48, M-Audio AIR 192|14, Mackie ProFxv3, Zoom F3 & UAC 232 32bit float recorder & interface; 2012 MBPs (x2) Catalina, Mojave
IK-NI-Izotope-PSP-Garritan-Antares, LogicPro X, Finale 27.4, Dorico 5, Notion 6, Overture 5, TwistedWave, DSP-Q 5, SmartScore64 NE Pro, Toast 20 Pro
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Re: Having UI performance problems? Try this
This is good to know... unfortunately I just sold my 4k display because it had such UI lag with my MacBook Pro 2018... this might've been a fix..
MacBook Pro 2021 (M1 Ultra) with 64 gigs RAM. DP 11.23
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- Posts: 56
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Re: Having UI performance problems? Try this
It does for me. Although apparently if you edit a profile, calibrate etc it removes the 10-bit-ness which is supposedly the root of the problem.mikehalloran wrote:Can't duplicate it on my 14 core iMP. Does changing it back make it misbehave?
It also might be OS-version specific (I'm on Mojave, 10.14)
- HCMarkus
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Re: Having UI performance problems? Try this
Interesting info... I'm on Sierra, but will see what I can see in this regard, as I would love to speed up the UI on my 4k 40" monitor.
- HCMarkus
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Re: Having UI performance problems? Try this
The solution proposed has worked well for several MOTUNation members now. Kudos, and Thank You Mr. Hickey!
In my case, moving from Sierra to Mojave and dumping the previously required DisplayPort to HDMI active adaptor brought responsiveness to my 4k display... excellent performance on my 5,1 with RX460 GPU. Not sure if it was losing the adaptor or the updated AMD GPU driver in Mojave that did the trick.
What, me worry?
R.I.P Alfred E.
In my case, moving from Sierra to Mojave and dumping the previously required DisplayPort to HDMI active adaptor brought responsiveness to my 4k display... excellent performance on my 5,1 with RX460 GPU. Not sure if it was losing the adaptor or the updated AMD GPU driver in Mojave that did the trick.
What, me worry?
R.I.P Alfred E.
Re: Having UI performance problems? Try this
Helped here too. I didn't have a problem with sluggish refreshes, but I was reacquainted with the display preferences and calibration and was able to make big improvements in the visibility of the DP GUI with the calibration process, and by backing off from the default contrast setting. With built in Apple displays, none of this makes a difference, but it was worth spending a few minutes with the Mac using other displays.
2018 Mini i7 32G macOS 12.7.6, DP 11.33, Mixbus 10, Logic 10.7.9, Scarlett 18i8, MB Air M2, macOS 14.7.6, DP 11.33, Logic 11
Re: Having UI performance problems? Try this
Who, sadly, does not feel welcome at this site anymore.richhickey wrote: Thanks to Robert Randolph for the tipoff!
828x MacOS 14.7.5 M1 Studio Max 1TB 64G DP11.34
- James Steele
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Re: Having UI performance problems? Try this
Says who? I certainly don't remember anything about that.cuttime wrote:Who, sadly, does not feel welcome at this site anymore.richhickey wrote: Thanks to Robert Randolph for the tipoff!
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Mac Studio M1 Max, 64GB/2TB, macOS Sequoia 15.5 Public Beta 2, DP 11.34, MOTU 828es, MOTU 24Ai, MOTU MIDI Express XT, UAD-2 TB3 Satellite OCTO, Console 1 Mk2, Avid S3, NI Komplete Kontrol S88 Mk2, Red Type B, Millennia HV-3C, Warm Audio WA-2A, AudioScape 76F, Dean guitars, Marshall amps, etc., etc.!
Re: Having UI performance problems? Try this
I didn't mean to speak for Robert. I apologize if I was being too presumptuous. I was echoing sentiments he shared on his own website.James Steele wrote:Says who? I certainly don't remember anything about that.cuttime wrote:Who, sadly, does not feel welcome at this site anymore.richhickey wrote: Thanks to Robert Randolph for the tipoff!
828x MacOS 14.7.5 M1 Studio Max 1TB 64G DP11.34
- MIDI Life Crisis
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Re: Having UI performance problems? Try this
I'm not surprised. He called MN a "horrible place." Whatever... but let him speak for himself...
And this was waaaaay back in 2010...
https://www.gearslutz.com/board/music-c ... ation.html

And this was waaaaay back in 2010...
https://www.gearslutz.com/board/music-c ... ation.html
And this:Robert Randolph;5615796]Yeah, it's a pretty horrible place. Is this really new info? confoosed
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_lawRobert Randolph;5615866]
This is an excellent place to invoke godwin's law.

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- Michael Canavan
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Re: Having UI performance problems? Try this
The four music forums I visit the most all have terrible reputations, at the other music forums!MIDI Life Crisis wrote:I'm not surprised. He called MN a "horrible place." Whatever... but let him speak for himself...
And this was waaaaay back in 2010...
https://www.gearslutz.com/board/music-c ... ation.html
And this:Robert Randolph;5615796]Yeah, it's a pretty horrible place. Is this really new info? confoosed
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_lawRobert Randolph;5615866]
This is an excellent place to invoke godwin's law.

To be fair I think all of us as humans change our opinions about places, things and people depending on whether or not everyone agrees with us or not! I think all of you are fantastic when you back up my opinions, and annoying sycophants when you do not!


I'm also willing to cut anyone slack for what they said almost two years ago, who does a good job of pointing out how great DP is on his DAW comparison website.
[edit] spelling..
Last edited by Michael Canavan on Sun Sep 15, 2019 7:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
M2 Studio Ultra, RME Babyface FS, Slate Raven Mti2, NI SL88 MKII, Linnstrument, MPC Live II, Launchpad MK3. Hundreds of plug ins.
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Re: Having UI performance problems? Try this

2013 Mac Pro 2TB/32GB RAM
OSX 10.14.6; Track 16; DP 12; Finale 28
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OSX 10.14.6; Track 16; DP 12; Finale 28
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MIDI LIFE CRISIS
Re: Having UI performance problems? Try this
Hi! Switching DP to low resolution mode was helped me ( 27-inch iMac, Retina 5K )