Synth CPU Usage Comparison

Discussion in 'Samplers, Synthesizers' started by Ankit, Sep 22, 2021.

  1. Ankit

    Ankit Guest

    [​IMG]


    Note - This is just and comparison of cpu usage. It is not about which synth is better.

    Midi input: Basic Chord
    1 Oscillator
    1 Filter (Default)
    Distortion (Default)
    Delay (Default)
    Reverb (Default)

    CPU usage Source: Performance Meter in Reaper (Track)

    Plugin Version: Latest Available
    OS: Windows 10 LTSC
    DAW: Reaper x64
    Processor: Core i3 9100f

    What I did:

    Played a chord in a loop

    Used 1 Oscillator
    Set unison voices to max
    1 Filter
    1 Distortion
    1 Delay
    1 Reverb

    [​IMG]

    Obviously it is not a fair test. Just a quick one to give an idea. CPU usage varies with oscillator modes, filter types, effect algorithms, etc.
    I am on Windows.
    CPU - Core i3 9100f
    DAW: Bitwig Studio.
    Windows Task Manager: CPU usage is from the plugin host process of Bitwig Studio, which is a separate process & we get exactly what a plugin is costing CPU. Unlike Ableton, Bitwig hosts plugins in a separate process.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 23, 2021
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  3. Barry T

    Barry T Producer

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    Very interesting - what DAW did you use?

    Could be cool to try Avenger too, it is rumored to be rather heavy on the CPU.
     
  4. RobertoCavally

    RobertoCavally Rock Star

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    Always an interesting relative comparison. Which DAW?

    Anyway, I have a similar result with Serum (you probably mean TasK Manager), 2-3%. But when I duplicate the track 10 times it goes to 5% "only". And that is in Ableton that, as far as I can usually read here, is not super multicore optimized (but cores do kick in..)

    Can you make a test with 10 instances of e.g. Serum, all armed/played at the same time?
     
  5. Ankit

    Ankit Guest

    I used Bitwig Studio. CPU usage is from the plugin host process of Bitwig Studio, which is a separate process from DAW & we get exactly what a plugin is costing CPU.

    I don't have it. :/

    CPU - Core i3 9100f
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 22, 2021
  6. Ankit

    Ankit Guest

    That's interesting. Sure, I will update.
     
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  7. ArticStorm

    ArticStorm Audiosexual

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    What about Massive 1.5.8?

    Also which versions were used for the comparision?

    Sylenth1 might be on top, but for me it sounds ass. I have maybe also used it over the years to much. 13 years are maybe far to long and often.
     
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  8. RobertoCavally

    RobertoCavally Rock Star

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    Wow.. that's the worst offender on my system - 7%. But again, 10 instances and the percentage barely rises to ~9%. Seams it spreads well across cores..

    Meanwhile, Diva has entered the chat ;)
     
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  9. ArticStorm

    ArticStorm Audiosexual

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    I am not talking about Massive X. I am talking about Massive. I run it always in Eco mode, its perfect, phat sound for a fraction of CPU usage. And just sounds better than Sylenth1.

    DIVA will just rip the ass off, like usually, but u-he did such a great job on emulating things. And emulations just cost CPU usage.
     
  10. Ankit

    Ankit Guest

    Just installed it. On 7 unison voices, it was averaging around 5% in eco mode.
    [​IMG]

    I completely forgot about Massive. I will update it.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 23, 2021
  11. Ankit

    Ankit Guest

    Updated the comparison. This time using Reaper's Performance meter. 10x performance column also added.
     
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  12. junh1024

    junh1024 Rock Star

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  13. odod

    odod Rock Star

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    try Spire with Bellatrix audio patches .. always heat up my CPU :(
     
  14. ArticStorm

    ArticStorm Audiosexual

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    Wow i didnt know Massive is still so cpu heavy compared to sylenth1.

    Now lets try with MX? Shall we?!

    thanks for the tests.
     
  15. Ankit

    Ankit Guest

    I want to do this comparison on different DAWs & I want to include LFO modulation in the test to make this test a little more reliable. It will take some time.
     
  16. ArticStorm

    ArticStorm Audiosexual

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    Sure not a big deal. Thought you also look for suggestions on Synths. In case you might have missed some good ones.
     
  17. clipper

    clipper Producer

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    First of all, thank you very much for sharing your results with us all. Really interesting table.

    Could it be possible to add some more? Such as Diva, Largo, LuSH-101, Omnisphere, Pigments, Repro-5, Spire, Super 8, TAL Bassline-101, TAL J-8.
     
  18. Xupito

    Xupito Audiosexual

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    Berkeley BSD Unix version pleaseeeee
     
  19. Ankit

    Ankit Guest

    I think it will not be fair to compare analog emulation's cpu usage. They are all very different.

    I will add Massive & Massive X in next update which I am hoping to post soon. I will also add omnisphere, cypher, strobe & Icarus v1.
     
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