Now I've made some tests. The replacements of the vst´s by internal synths is indeed a game changer. The distortions disappear. But I also made a comparison between Reaper and Mulab, which is quite interesting. I created a similar project in Reaper like in Mulab with the same vst´s (without internal plugins). The result is quite obvious. Reaper has no problem with the same combination of plugins, Mulab gets distorted.
Afterwards I tested a similar project with Studio one 5.5. The result was that the cpu usage is higher then in Mulab and Reaper, but there are no distortions.
Distorted sound in Mulab
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- KVRAF
- 5381 posts since 25 Jan, 2014 from The End of The World as We Knowit
But why?
You need to simplify, not add more complexity.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 68 posts since 27 Feb, 2017
For simplification I've tried it with 2 vst´s instead of 3 and the distortions are gone. At least it seems to be a limitation of Mulab, that it cannot handle as much plugins as Reaper or Studio One do with the same computer configuration.
This is not something, which I was expecting.
This is not something, which I was expecting.
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- KVRAF
- 5381 posts since 25 Jan, 2014 from The End of The World as We Knowit
Ha ha, no.
We all use more than 2 plugins!
Good that your distortion is gone.
Try adding a different plugin next time.
Best of luck!
We all use more than 2 plugins!
Good that your distortion is gone.
Try adding a different plugin next time.
Best of luck!
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- KVRAF
- 13863 posts since 24 Jun, 2008 from Europe
Wibem, maybe you're using a different audio setup / multi-core setup in the other DAWs.
From your previous post it seems you're using MuLab with a single core setup. Maybe your other DAWs are setup to use multi-core processing. You have to carefully compare each and every aspect of all DAWs so to make sure you compare apples with apples.
From your previous post it seems you're using MuLab with a single core setup. Maybe your other DAWs are setup to use multi-core processing. You have to carefully compare each and every aspect of all DAWs so to make sure you compare apples with apples.
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- KVRist
- 118 posts since 20 Feb, 2013
So, what is the best audio setting for my system (Mac, double core i5, 8GB ram)? Actually I have buffersize =2048, audiothreads=1 (with audiothreads =2 it's even worse). In Reaper I have audiobuffer =2048 and audiothreads =automatic. In Studio One its the same. So, what can I do to get a better performance with Mulab (compare apples with apples) ? I can't believe that I can't load more than 2 VSt's, even with my poor system.
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- KVRAF
- 13863 posts since 24 Jun, 2008 from Europe
First of all: Optimizing an audio setup for a specific system often needs some experimenting so to feel what's suits best to your specific system. That's both on Mac & Windows. Also surf the web for this topic as it's a special topic.
That said, based on the info you gave i'd recommend:
MuLab -> Audio Setup -> Num Audio Processor Threads = 2.
Then in the control panel of your audio device set the audio buffer size large enough. (experiment)
A 2048 samples buffer size certainly sounds large enough.
You can check the effective buffer size via right-click on MuLab's CPU meter.
In MuLab for Mac it's not yet possible to change the buffer size from within MuLab. That's on the wishlist. MuLab relies on the audio device control panel. (your Mac -> Preferences)
Zooming out from the above:
If you're serious/passionate about making music on a computer, and if your budget allows it, please also consider buying a (much) more powerful computer. If budget is tight possibly a refurbished one. Also consider a Windows setup.
That your creativity is limited by your CPU is not ideal.
Yolo.
That said, based on the info you gave i'd recommend:
MuLab -> Audio Setup -> Num Audio Processor Threads = 2.
Then in the control panel of your audio device set the audio buffer size large enough. (experiment)
A 2048 samples buffer size certainly sounds large enough.
You can check the effective buffer size via right-click on MuLab's CPU meter.
In MuLab for Mac it's not yet possible to change the buffer size from within MuLab. That's on the wishlist. MuLab relies on the audio device control panel. (your Mac -> Preferences)
Zooming out from the above:
If you're serious/passionate about making music on a computer, and if your budget allows it, please also consider buying a (much) more powerful computer. If budget is tight possibly a refurbished one. Also consider a Windows setup.
That your creativity is limited by your CPU is not ideal.
Yolo.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 68 posts since 27 Feb, 2017
Ah, thanks. That helps a lot. But still I don't understand the buffersize, which obviously has a big impact for the audio performance. IMO there is no possibility for Mac to change the audiobuffersize in the system settings. So, how do I change the size for the purposes of Mulab?
Therefore most of the daws do have a possibility to change the audio buffersize. Do they change the buffersize of the audio interface generally or just for purposes in the special daw? So, e.g. if I set the buffersize in Reaper to 2048, is this afterwards the buffersize for Mulab too?
If no, it would of course explain why Mulab is performing worse for me, because it's working with a smaller buffersize ( but which?).
If yes, I don't understand where the differences between the audio performances between Mulab and Reaper come from. That means, why do I get a better performance with Reaper than with Mulab with exactly the same settings and tbe same vst's loaded.
Another question for me is the number of audio threads. You recommend audiothreads =2, but when I choose this, the audio performance with Mulab is much worse. There are a lot of stuttering effects, especially if I drag some windows around or do other operations during playback.
Therefore most of the daws do have a possibility to change the audio buffersize. Do they change the buffersize of the audio interface generally or just for purposes in the special daw? So, e.g. if I set the buffersize in Reaper to 2048, is this afterwards the buffersize for Mulab too?
If no, it would of course explain why Mulab is performing worse for me, because it's working with a smaller buffersize ( but which?).
If yes, I don't understand where the differences between the audio performances between Mulab and Reaper come from. That means, why do I get a better performance with Reaper than with Mulab with exactly the same settings and tbe same vst's loaded.
Another question for me is the number of audio threads. You recommend audiothreads =2, but when I choose this, the audio performance with Mulab is much worse. There are a lot of stuttering effects, especially if I drag some windows around or do other operations during playback.
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- KVRAF
- 5381 posts since 25 Jan, 2014 from The End of The World as We Knowit
I think MuLab for Mac does not yet allow for control of buffer size, but you can see the buffer size if you R-click on the MuLab cpu meter (Show Audio Engine Stats). I believe Mu4Mac uses the buffer size of your audio interface, so to change you would need to open your interface's control panel app and go up to its menu to the driver settings.
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- KVRAF
- 5381 posts since 25 Jan, 2014 from The End of The World as We Knowit
What is the make and model of your interface?wibem1 wrote: Tue Feb 08, 2022 8:52 am My audio buffersize, which is indicated in Mulabs cpu meter, is 512 and it can´t be changed, because there is no control panel app for my interface. So bad!
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- KVRAF
- 13863 posts since 24 Jun, 2008 from Europe
Besides a possible different buffersize, i remember that Reaper uses some kind of pre-rendering which also smoothes cpu performance, but adds latency.wibem1 wrote: Tue Feb 08, 2022 5:16 am I don't understand where the differences between the audio performances between Mulab and Reaper come from.
That's what i meant with "system specific".There are a lot of stuttering effects, especially if I drag some windows around or do other operations during playback.
If 2 threads gives you stuttering then this seems to be related to the graphics driver.
In any case, when comparing MuLab and Reaper make sure to use scientific testing methods ie. only change 1 single parameter at a time and make sure all the rest is 100% equal.
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- KVRist
- 118 posts since 20 Feb, 2013
My USB audio interface is Behringer UCA 222, which is quite simple and cheap, but good enough for my purposes. I don't know any USB interface, which has a controll app for Mac to set the audiobuffer. On Mac computers the interfaces use the internal driver, so that no software is delivered with the hardware.
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- KVRAF
- 5381 posts since 25 Jan, 2014 from The End of The World as We Knowit
Mine does, as do many others.wibem wrote: Tue Feb 08, 2022 10:57 amI don't know any USB interface, which has a control app for Mac to set the audiobuffer.
You might consider an equipment upgrade to improve your Quality of Life
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