Overwhelmed With Cubase Problems

[antic604]

So,my experience of this is that your Intel graphics act as your primary driver, so that matches what you're seeing there, with the nvidia geforce only kicking in when needed.

It all saves heat and power, but it can cause issues as the switch happens - typically when you've got driver issues with the nvidia - as it can seem like you've got random crashes/slowdowns because you don't see when the nvidia has kicked in.

Well, ain't that curious? Why is it only Cubase that's affected by this? I'm using few other DAWs (Bitwig, Live, S1, Reason) and honestly I never saw any troubleshooting guide for them telling to update the GPU drivers or switch to embedded or dedicated GPU. Whereas this happens at least 6-7 out of 10 times for Cubase. Wonder why that is? I'm aware that GPU drivers are nowadays requiring update for most big games coming out, but for Cubase?

[LeVzi]

It's just the laptop display and, according to Settings, it's being run by the Intel driver.

I've seen this before. My stepsons laptop was hell bent on using the onboard Intel GPU, when there was an Nvidia controller in there.

It was down to nVidia's drivers being crap with windows 10, and it was causing issues everywhere.

I manually updated them and I didnt do the non reboot option, it needs a clean install imo, to stop any possible re-occurance. BUT also, I think you can setup profiles for programs, I know I can in my AMD settings, and I think I have IIRC, when Cubase launches, it loads it's own set of "rules" to optimize for that. Disabling all the bells n whistles you'd use for default for gaming. nVidia used to do this, I havent used them in a long time, but I seem to remember it being the case, and i'm pretty sure I set this up for my stepsons FL Studio.

[fmr]

BUT also, I think you can setup profiles for programs, I know I can in my AMD settings, and I think I have IIRC, when Cubase launches, it loads it's own set of "rules" to optimize for that. Disabling all the bells n whistles you'd use for default for gaming. nVidia used to do this, I havent used them in a long time, but I seem to remember it being the case, and i'm pretty sure I set this up for my stepsons FL Studio.

You can, at least if that's what I'm thinking. I also have experienced some problems with Intel graphics in the past, and I learned this:

1. Go to the NVidia Control Panel (it's called Nvidia Settings, and usually resides in the right side of the lower toolbar in Windows, in the items hidden by the arrow).
2. Select 3D Settings - Manage 3D Settings
3. Then select the tab "program Settings
4. Now there you will a bar at the top with (or without) a program selected, and a button at the right labeled "Add".
5. Click that button. Th usual Windows dialog box appears. Navigate through the list to select Cubase.
6. Choose "Add the selected program".
7. At the "Setting" column, choose the right option to have Nvidia (or the appllication, don't remember exactly, and I'm not near my laptop at the moment) controlling the features.
8. Click "Apply"

Et voilà... Cubase will from now run only with the Nvidia card.

[BONES]

nVidia does indeed have profiles for different applications but when I used to use them, I had to change the preset manually. But it's all moot because whatever I did last night worked.

Well, ain't that curious? Why is it only Cubase that's affected by this? I'm using few other DAWs (Bitwig, Live, S1, Reason) and honestly I never saw any troubleshooting guide for them telling to update the GPU drivers or switch to embedded or dedicated GPU. Whereas this happens at least 6-7 out of 10 times for Cubase. Wonder why that is?

Lots of software these days can utilise the GPU to speed up certain processes so it's not surprising that Cubase would take advantage of it. Or maybe its when certain plugins try to access the GPU - some plugins these days do some serious realtime graphics animation - and it creates a spike?

[Reefius]

Can't you just disable the Intel graphics in the BIOS or in Windows Device Manager?

[antic604]

Lots of software these days can utilise the GPU to speed up certain processes so it's not surprising that Cubase would take advantage of it. Or maybe its when certain plugins try to access the GPU - some plugins these days do some serious realtime graphics animation - and it creates a spike?

Yeah, I'm aware of this but the things DAWs use GPUs for are - compared to modern games or specialised 3D rendering software - very, VERY basic, so one would think they don't change as much and don't require to stay on the bleeding edge of software updates? Certainly it's not necessary with other DAWs and I use the same plugins everywhere so that's not it either. And it's plugins that decide whether GPU is used, not the host (e.g. dedicated settings in Unfiltered Audio plugins, Voltage Modular).

I suspect it's because Cubase adds that extra visual layer from which it runs? Like if you close Cubase you're still left with this top bar with options? That's very unusual for Windows application.

[LeVzi]

I thought it was only CUDA enabled plugins that used the GPU instead of the CPU, and that never really caught on.

Cubase is quite graphics intensive these days, and requires AERO to be on, so its best to keep graphics drivers up to date, as they are always an issue in most problems PC related.

[Psuper]

To be fair and perfectly honest about it -- a properly built PC and OS setup eliminates the vast majority of 'problems' to clear the way for troubleshooting an APP (any app, any industry) specifically if it acted up - this is why I always build my own DAW, and build it specifically for audio alone - I know not everyone can do this but its worth finding someone who can if your time and tools matter.

Regardless I'm glad stuff has been figured out for the most part, these kind of threads tend to just bring out the 'which DAW do you hate' idiots who just use it as a chance to bash something instead of help anyone.

[BONES]

Audio is only a secondary consideration for me, or I wouldn't have spent extra on a laptop with a discrete GPU. Mine is optimised for 3D animation and motion graphics, audio is a comparative doddle for it, although small problems tend to be more noticeable. Where I screwed up was not realising that Windows 10 could auto-switch between them. Previously you had to do that manually.

[Psuper]

Audio is only a secondary consideration for me, or I wouldn't have spent extra on a laptop with a discrete GPU. Mine is optimised for 3D animation and motion graphics, audio is a comparative doddle for it, although small problems tend to be more noticeable. Where I screwed up was not realising that Windows 10 could auto-switch between them. Previously you had to do that manually.

I hear ya Bones I'm just glad you got it worked out. A discrete GPU is mandatory if you plan on doing anything in 4k and don't want every session to feel like a slog -- I equip my DAWS with passive cooling GPUs for silence and its like night and day compared to onboard or shared, just gotta keep it cool too without adding noise.

[BONES]

I don't ever plan on doing anything in 4k. I work in TV and film, 2k is as big as we need. 4k is for amateurs who don't know any better although, to be fair, sometimes we do film work in 4k but that's just to give us more flexibility in compositing, the final output is 2k. HDR is way more important than 4k so we tend to work in half-float most of the time.

[Psuper]

I don't ever plan on doing anything in 4k. I work in TV and film, 2k is as big as we need. 4k is for amateurs who don't know any better although, to be fair, sometimes we do film work in 4k but that's just to give us more flexibility in compositing, the final output is 2k. HDR is way more important than 4k so we tend to work in half-float most of the time.

I'm meaning 4k as in resolution to work in - a good 4k monitor, in a snappy environment (dedicated GPU), really opens up possibilities with just one screen.

I have very little experience in video work outside of me putzing around with family vids, don't wanna apply my words to anything beyond the workstation itself.

[BONES]

I had 2 x 4k monitors at work but they have swapped them for 2 x 2.5k monitors and I am much happier. You can't run a 27" 4k monitor at native resolution, so why waste the GPU power? 4k is a con. They saw how easily the public were duped by Apple and their "Retina" bullshit and fell over themselves to pull the same con on TV buyers. I still buy DVDs, not Blu-Rays, there is not enough improvement in picture quality to justify even an extra $5. I'd buy Blu-ray if I had a 5.1 audio set-up but it's not worth it if you don't. As for streaming, I'd rather watch streaming content in uncompressed SD than highly compressed 4k. With streaming it's about bandwidth, not resolution.

[Psuper]

I had 2 x 4k monitors at work but they have swapped them for 2 x 2.5k monitors and I am much happier. You can't run a 27" 4k monitor at native resolution, so why waste the GPU power? 4k is a con. They saw how easily the public were duped by Apple and their "Retina" bullshit and fell over themselves to pull the same con on TV buyers. I still buy DVDs, not Blu-Rays, there is not enough improvement in picture quality to justify even an extra $5. I'd buy Blu-ray if I had a 5.1 audio set-up but it's not worth it if you don't. As for streaming, I'd rather watch streaming content in uncompressed SD than highly compressed 4k. With streaming it's about bandwidth, not resolution.

Mostly true, which is why I chuckle when people talk about their 4k laptops with 27" monitors better served at 1440p at absolute best, huge waste of money and resources. I run a 43" 4k monitor and its perfect (talked about this subject many times on this forum). Ran 2 monitors in the past for crappy-reso-Reason but got sick of it quick -- one large screen with tons of visible usable real estate is key for me.

And when you're rocking a 67+ inch tv - the 4k matters, it matters a whole lot unless your TV is crap with bad chroma or no 4k HDR @ 60hz.

You're on your own with the uncompressed SD (which is about 1 gig of space per minute so its not exactly low bandwidth), but I know what you mean I'll take lossless on anything... which is why I haven't had Cable in over 10 years the compression on cable is so horrible. My HD antennae is just great for normal shows -- but 4k streams are far far better than 1080p streams by miles on a larger nicer TV - there's no comparison. Regardless I can't be bothered with physical media any more anyway.

Not sure what you mean when you say 5:1 not being worth it if you don't have a blu-ray. As long as your receiver decodes the audio content properly its the same regardless of source - most audio is lossless that is streamed these days if you have the proper sub.

[BONES]

Even with a 67" TV, the resolution isn't that important because you're going to be sitting further from it. That's the thing, when I get up to go to the dunny, I can see the difference HD makes as I walk past the TV but when I'm sitting on the settee, it makes no difference at all. OTOH, no matter how far away I sit, I can always see the compression artifacts on Netflix.