New, Updated SonarTest

This one is more applicable to Sonar 3.x. It uses the track EQ and full Lexicon Reverb, and so requires Producer Edition to run. In an effort to isolate the CPU, front side bus, and memory, the file consists of purely input-monitored tracks with various plugins/softsynths. The layout represents one possible mixing/tracking scenario.

Here it is:

Sonar3Test

The file contains:

19 audio tracks
3 DXi audio tracks
3 MIDI tracks (routed to the DXis)
5 Busses (3 setup as auxes)

19 Track EQs (4 bands enabled for each)
6 Sonitus Gates
6 Sonitus Compressors
1 Sonitus Delay
1 Sonitus Multiband
1 Sonitus Reverb
2 Lexicon Pantheon Reverbs

2 Dreamstation instances (each setup for 16-note polyphony)
1 Cyclone instance

Testing is simple...

Open Sonar... Set default sample rate to 44.1KHz (important to do this). Set latency to, say, 46.4ms (For consistency's sake, try to use ASIO drivers if you have them available... otherwise, WDM is okay)... and then open the test file. Make sure the audio engine is active, and note the CPU meter reading. Do the same at 23.2ms, 11.6ms, 5.8ms, 2.9ms, and 1.5ms. Keep in mind that on many systems, the audio engine may refuse to engage at the lower latencies. Make a note of that as well.

If you have a Dual-CPU system... or one with Hyperthreading... or both... post results with Sonar's Multiprocessor Engine both on and off.

Along with your results, post detailed system specs, and I'll try to put together some detailed charts mapping out the performance of various CPUs at various latencies.

Thanks ahead for all of your help with this!



Now... this is a nice bonus to having a web-based forum. I can update this top post at will in order to keep updated results readily available to all. Here's what we have so far (this will be updated as new data comes in):

CPU Chart
CPUs are listed in order of low-latency performance.
Blue Lines represent Intel systems.
Green Lines represent older-generation single-CPU AMD systems.
Red/Pink Lines represent new-generation single-CPU AMD systems.
Yellow Lines represent multi-CPU systems.
Dotted lines represent multi-CPU systems with Sonar's MP capabilities disabled.



-Scott