Source
r/Guitar•
grnat

[QUESTION] Why does my ipad give me better BiasFX performance than my (relatively) high performance PC?

QUESTION

I can play any set of amps/ FX pedals I want on my ipad without popping and the latency is quite acceptable but if I play some of the same ones on my PC I get popping etc unless I set the amount of samples to something like 450 at 44.1KHz. I'm using the presonus AudioBoxUSB96 for input. Any ideas of why I have to work with such high latency on my machine or tips for optimising latency. I've tried both the PreSonus drivers and ASIO4ALL. Cheers.

Edit: Specs for PC: 32 GB RAM, I7-6700 CPU @3.4 GHz, 64bit system and using SSDs. I made the PC for photo editing.

Edit2: I also use the AudioBox for output to monitors.

Edit3: One of my mates sent me these links:

Optimisations for Win10

Measure where the latency is coming from

Posted Nov 19, 2017, 6:35 AM UTC · edited

1118
pigz•

I'm using the presonus AudioBoxUSB96 for input.

You have to use the interface for both input and output, otherwise all the advantages of using ASIO drivers are lost. As soon as you add WDM/DirectX drivers (i.e your internal soundcard for output) you add lots of latency, and buffer inconsistencies can add popping... especially when you're trying to tune out the latency.

Use the interface for outputs as well, and just plug in headphones if you can't get powered monitors yet, and you'll notice the difference.

11
grnatOP•

Sorry, I'm using it for output too with Yamaha HS5 monitors.

5
space_toaster•

Then either the Presonus ASIO driver is crap or your PC's USB ports/drivers are crap. You may also have some crap running in the background slowing things down, but that's less likely.

To take extra steps here, make certain that there is no other audio device enabled (disable the built-in soundcard in BIOS), and no other audio driver running, except for your Presonus.

I've been running audio on PC (and Mac) for 20 years, my current PCs are 3-5 years old and run low-latency audio (64 sample buffer size/48khz sample rate) consistently. I have a Focusrite Scarlett 18i20, Focusrite Scarlett 6i6, and I've used other Scarlett interfaces. I've also used Mackie interfaces, Roland interfaces, and Steinberg interfaces.

I still have a Layla 24 (PCI card only interface) that's at least 15 years old and gets down to a 32 sample size buffer @48khz.

3
grnatOP•

This is what I was looking for. Will try this tonight. Thanks heaps cause I suspected my machine should be able to run this plugin without blinking.

2
space_toaster•

Also, check your motherboard manufacturer's support page for your model, and ensure that all of the chipset drivers, any USB drivers, and firmware/BIOS are all up to date on your system.

1
AvedasKeys to the Lamborghini•

I have a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 that I've got very acceptable results even while paired with a major garbage laptop (moved across the planet, had to leave the desktop behind). Like this thing has Windows 10 and it has trouble even using the basic desktop functions it's so slow. But I used Bias FX with it for a while with zero issues thanks to the 2i2.

1
grnatOP•

Alright, something is obviously fighting against performance here so I'll check it out when I get home tonight. Thanks

1
alfaalex101•

I too use the AudioBox USB and yes, you've got to use the ASIO drivers and even with my laptop's 2012 i7 I can't make BIAS Amp Pro stutter. It's only when I start adding reverb convolution stuff and multiple amps coupled with tube amp saturation that I max out the CPU usage.

3
joycampRevstar, JTV-59P•

Windows OS fanbois hate to hear this but coreAudio and coreMidi are light years ahead.

Lots of possible reasons why a high spec machine might have problems.

Firstplace to look is at your USB implementation.

6
smgtn•

Looks like Linux blows both both M$ and Overpriced Fruit Corp out of the watter when it comes to audio recording, especially when you want to get more serious - customization and flexibility is unparalleled. Open source, folks 😎

https://www.learndigitalaudio.com/how-linux-audio-works-vs-windows-audio-2017

http://jackaudio.org/faq/comparing_jack.html

3†
entr0pe•

You're getting downvoted, but it's true.

JACK > ASIO in every way.

On Windows, I can't use Guitar Rig and play youtube/winamp at the same time with different soundcards. ASIO is trash, same as windows.

On Linux, I can run Guitar Rig with wine (with wineasio), and route pulseaudio through JACK, and run the program better than on Windows, while listening to anything else I want.

The windows world is pathetic.

2
jvin248•

.

Easy to try for OP: ubuntustudio.org
You install the iso to a flash drive then boot your pc from the flash drive. Then plug in another usb flash drive or external USB hard drive to save any data. Then reboot back to your PC without the USB when you want to do other tasks on your PC install. If you end up liking this you can buy a second hard drive for your computer, put the Windows drive on a shelf and install UbuntuStudio on the new drive in the PC.
This is a typical program to use after you download the .iso file
http://unetbootin.github.io/

The reason to go this way is you completely remove slow-running Windows OS from the picture.
You might try running Virtualbox on the Windows machine and then UbuntuStudio inside the virtual machine but that may be more problematic (audio ports) and and a harder path if you have not done it before.

.

2
red_is_best_trainerRiffs>solos•

Shame there aren't Linux drivers for my interface. Thanks Line 6.

1
grnatOP•

I'll check this out. Never heard of coreAudio. Cheers.

Edit: I see why windows people don't like to hear this now..

Core Audio is the digital audio infrastructure of iOS and OS X

2
becomearobot1975 Hagström•

There’s a reason they are the industry standard. People hate it but having control of the hardware and software really gives tangible advantages.

2
ketaminetacos•

in the real world, people use both everyday and no one really cares about the difference.

0†
ketaminetacos•

Bias plugin is coded like garbage and runs like crap on all my machines.

1
AvedasKeys to the Lamborghini•

Bias runs much better in its app form. The desktop and plugin are pretty ass.

1