Buffer Size Mystery

xylemflo · 2024-09-09T02:02:44+00:00

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Greetings All,

When I use Reaktor in standalone mode, I get consistent noise/crackles at anything less than 1024 buffer size for certain synths (Kontour, Super 8, Mikro Prism). However, if I use Reaktor in my DAW which is set to a 256 buffer size, I have no such issues. Why would this be the case?

Mac M2 Sonoma and Reaper DAW in case it matters….

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Studiowaves

It might be the input output selection. I assume you're using asio but what about midi. It seems possible a midi in overload could cause problems. Not likely but I'd turn that off to see if it does anything. Also see if you are sharing the asio system with another source. It's not possible with pc's but could be with a Mac. In general though I would read about optimizing your mac for audio if you can. Typically I have problems when the internet is connected. I turn it off. All in all though, I suspect something is running along with the standalone because your buffer size at 256 should be plenty with a standalone. Hopefully some one else can help as I don't now much about Mac's and it's possible NI needs to have a look at this problem. I know they are always talking about updates for Mac's. That could be the reason but I'd make sure nothing else is running that shares the asio like mac sounds or some other standalone. I don't thing pc's allow more than one standalone at a time when using asio.

Mark Oxley

I've been experiencing similar experiences with Komplete Kontrol and Maschine. Using the asio driver for my audio interface I can set the buffer to 128 samples in Ableton live but in NI software (KK standalone and Maschine) I still get the occasional pop/crackle with buffer set to 512 samples. Interestingly if I use KK or Maschine inside Ableton as a plugin on a track I have no such issues with a buffer of 128.

Windows 11 intel 12th gen i7 CPU. So it's not just a Mac problem.

PK The DJ

@Studiowaves ASIO is Windows only. There's no ASIO on Macs.

colB

NI have pages on how to optimise your system for audio (mac and PC). Everyone should work through those!

Its important that the OS know to give Reaktor high priority. This is one thing that could explain the difference between a DAW working just fine, but Reaktor having buffer underruns... could be something completely different of course.

Mark Oxley

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/176846#Comment_176846

I've followed many tips on optimising windows for audio on my setup but it hasn't made any difference to the poor programming of NI software when it comes to latency issues. No problems with Ableton Live however.

Maciej Repetowski

NI’s standalone I/O audio engine is probably not very efficient. That’s why in DAW (where audio I/O and buffering is dealt with by the DAW) it works much better.

colB

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/176864#Comment_176864

Did you follow the NI guide?

colB

Always been good for me. I've used Reaktor for years on multiple systems, PC and Mac. Never noticed a significant difference between standalone and DAW in terms of latency or performance generally.

I have noticed dramatic differences between default OS settings, and the settings recommended in the NI optimisation guides.

But hey, the folk who wrote those guides are just industry professionals who developed the software and have a vested interest in it working optimally for their users... what do they know... right?

xylemflo

Thanks for the responses. Just to clarify, I use many NI products without issue, and the computer (Mac M2) does a great job in general. I never have audio processing issues unless I am really taxing the machine. I also use KT, KK, and Maschine standalone without issue. That is why this issue with Reaktor stands out, and prompted me to post here. Even the slider to adjust buffer size in standalone Reaktor has a delayed response. Either I have something very specific going on that only impacts Reaktor standalone, or there is an issue with audio processing on this product/platform combination.

xylemflo

Repetowski, you may be onto something here. Reaktor is a complex piece of kit, and if it is just not as efficient as other NI standalone software, it could act up standalone but behave better in the DAW. Oxley is suggesting something similar on Windows….

We are speculating here, so hopefully one of the NI Devs will weigh in….

Kubrak

I cannot speak for Reaktor, but Maschine for sure is not able to fully load CPU, it loads it at most to 50%. At least on Win. My guess is, that Reaktor might behave similarly, but I haven't tried.

Another reason may be the setup. Reaktor/Maschine standalone may run set differently to its plugin version, where DAW sets it.

Another reason may be struggling with big.little when running standalone. And priorities of threads and so on.

Studiowaves

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/176845#Comment_176845

Thanks for telling me. All I know is the more there is going on the more latency you need.

Studiowaves

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/176952#Comment_176952

Have you tried a clean install. Something isn't right if the slider is sluggish unless the slider has low priority on the interrupt request line.

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