Old 04-21-2018, 08:12 AM   #1
lexaproductions
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Default smaller buffer = Less CPU???

I've been having a lot of stuttering in complete mixes and I thought it was because my computer was taxed too much. So my reflex was to change the buffer to a larger value (1024 instead of 512). But I just realized that it makes it worse. But If I choose a very small buffer, the playback is smoother.
I always thought it was the other way around? Maybe I don't understand how the "request block size" value works in reaper?

Please somebody enlighten me???
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Old 04-21-2018, 08:12 AM   #2
EvilDragon
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Smaller buffer = more CPU, since CPU needs to put out those buffers faster. Of course, a lot depends on ASIO drivers etc...
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Old 04-21-2018, 08:15 AM   #3
lexaproductions
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Well that's what I always thought.
But WHY do I get less stuttering with a smaller buffer value.

I should add that the plugin triggering the stuttering is Wave's "L3-LL Ultra Stereo"

1024 = a lot of stuttering
128= No stuttering at all
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Old 04-21-2018, 08:43 AM   #4
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I guess some plugins might not like too large buffers?
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Old 04-21-2018, 09:32 AM   #5
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The buffer size doesn't affect the overall-average amount of "work" the computer is doing...

Usually the audio recording* isn't the problem... It's the other multi-tasking that the computer is always doing. A bigger buffer allows more time for the other tasks to finish.

Usually the problem is a too-small buffer. The buffer overflows before the background tasks are completed and you get a glitch. It's not the total CPU utilization, it's just that a background operation is "hogging" the CPU for a few milliseconds too long.

A more powerful CPU finishes those tasks faster and you can get-away with a smaller buffer. A faster hard drive (or SSD) can read-empty the buffer faster.




* Of course, real-time effects eat-up CPU time, and mulit-tracking or high-resolution audio is more data to deal with.
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