PODX3 using 33% more CPU than my internal Laptop sound using ASIO4all

When I record guitar, I use my X3 as my audio device.   However, on bigger projects I'm getting glitches because the CPU is about 60-70% spiking up to 80% when using the X3.  With ASIO4ALL and the crappy Sigmatel in my laptop the same song is running 40-50% and no spikes, no glitches. 
 
The CPU usage is the same whether I'm recording or just playing back.  Also, when playback is stopped, the CPU usage stays up at 50% or 60% with the X3, where with ASIO4All the usage drops to maybe 10%.
 
I've got all the latest line6 drivers and use Win7 with automatic updates
 
I've got a thread on the Line6 forum about this but I'm curious to see if anyone on this forum has found the same innefficiencies with the X3??

Thanks Beagle.  You make some excellent points that didn't occur to me.

So if I tried a higher end 24bit audio device, I would find that it would also struggle and spike just like the PODX3?  And when I stop playback the CPU would stay up at 60%?  That just doesn't sound right.  I think when you stop playback CPU usage should go down to minimal.  Does your CPU stay up when you stop playback? 

There is another guy on the Line6 forum using cubase and he is having the same issue with CPU usage staying up when playback is stopped.  Like the PODX3 is polling the CPU unnecessarily.

that is true, it should not stay that high when playback is stopped.  I know the line 6 drivers are very "controlling" and will not play nice with other interfaces.  it may be that it's high in resource use as well.

I'm surprised that your onboard soundcard is capable of 24bit, tho.  that's pretty unusual.

if the buffers on the line 6 are high then it shouldn't be using that much cpu power unless you're running FX in it.

Hi guitarterek,

Have you tried disabling your internal soundcard while using the pod x3 as an audio interface??

That has helped me for sure with other interfaces!!

Hope this help. 

check and see what is using the most memory in windows during this time with taskmanager

Sonico


Hi guitarterek,

Have you tried disabling your internal soundcard while using the pod x3 as an audio interface??

That has helped me for sure with other interfaces!!

Hope this help. 

I want to reiterate Sonico's message. It's pretty obvious that the audio interface in the Pod X3 would be superior to the onboard sound chip.

RogerS -

You make a good point.  I don't use my DAW in a traditional way that most do, where your DAW is stationary and you go to it when you work.  I take my laptop DAW with me to different places.  For example, I record vocals in my vocal booth downstairs using a UX2 device.  When recording guitars or mixing I go into another room with all my guitars and the PODX3 hooked up to my monitors.  I arrange or midi edit or miscellaneous work anywhere I am comfortable with headphones.  I sometimes take it out of town.  This is where I use the onboard Sigmatel.  I don't want to drag the X3 with me all over the place.  It is different work flow for sure.

The PODX3 used to outperform the Sigmatel for a couple years.  Something has changed and I can't pinpoint what it is.  The only thing I can think of besides installing SD2 is a Windows7 update.  I let Windows update itself, and maybe an update goofed things up with the Line6 driver.

Come to think of it I need to test my UX2 and see how it performs.
 
OK - the UX2 is behaving pretty much like the PODX3

I would assume that as long as the audio engine is engaged... the POD as the active interface is going to consume it's full share of CPU whether it has effects patched in it's internal chain or not. I don't use one..... I'm just speculating.

guitartrek


Rbh - yes it seems like that's the case.  The X3 doesn't use the CPU for any guitar processing.  It shouldn't need any more CPU than the Sigmatel.

The weird thing is that the UX2 is not any worse than the X3 even though it does Tone Direct Monitoring using the CPU, whereas the X3 does all processing internally.  Tone Direct Monitoring is a very low latency processing of the guitar amps and effects - and the UX2 uses the CPU to do this.  

if you don't use the X3 for any guitar processing then why did you buy it?  (I'm not trying to be a smarta$$).  wouldn't some other USB based system have been a better match?

ah, sorry.  I misunderstood.  I was not aware that the X3 did no processing on the cpu.

Sonico - I didn't try disabling and rebooting.  I can try that.  I will also turn off the Wireless to see if that has some effect.