Softube Model 77 - CPU hog?

Plugins
1

So, I’ve just started the task of recreating a studio-album into a live-setting. Last time I did this was 2 years back when I started with GP. At that point, I was basically only using the Roland D-50 VST and a few other VSTs. Obviously, I’ve bought a bunch of new soft synths that I used on the album and now, when starting to recreate all of this live, I ran into a huge CPU-usage problem yesterday. Had made two rackspaces, with about 15 different VSTs spread on two midi-controllers everything mapped out nicely with all needed splits. Assigned my usual “next” and “previous” part buttons to start rehearsing. When switching between two rackspaces I hear really bad noice and crackling and check the CPU-usage and see that I’m at 65-80%. In all my previous rackspaces I’ve normally been at 25-35%.

I thought initially that the problem may come from using the Korg M1 vst, especially running several instances of it in “combi” mode. Started bypassing vst:s/plug-ins to see if I could easily spot the problem and it became apparent that the big CPU hog, was Softube’s Model 77. I had three instances of that in one rackspace and 2 instances of it in the next rackspace I was switching to. When I bypassed all the Model 77’s CPU usage went down from 65-85% to 20-25%…

Has anyone else experienced this problem?
Obviously, this is a live rig, I will find similar sounds in other VSTs so I can work around it. I can obviously also try, minimizing the voices used in the Model 77 to see if that helps.

Main question: anyone had similar problems with Model 77 and/or have any other ideas of what could cause the CPU spikes?

ATB
Johan Berlin // Daytona

2

All Softube Synths seem to use a lot of CPU, even when not played.
With VST3 it should be possible for the plugin developers not to use CPU when not played.
But some of seem like to simulate noises of the original hardware.

You are talking about that?

Bildschirmfoto 2026-03-20 um 8.42.35 AM
Bildschirmfoto 2026-03-20 um 8.42.35 AM1066×510 78.6 KB

3

Yes @pianopaul - that’s the one I’m talking about!

4

OK, there are some alternatives:
Arturia CS80 V4
Cherry Audio GX-80 (not a real CS-80 but the previous version, sounds very good)

What you always can do, resample it using the Auto Sampler in Gig Performer.
I did that very often for complex patches and use Kontakt to play them.
Bet effect like Reverb or Delay you have to use after the Sample Player.
Chorus, Flanger etc can work to be resampled.

Or another option you be use separate instances as each instance uses its own Core.

5

@pianopaul I have the GX-80 so I may try to find a substitute there. I have Arturia’s V-colllection as well, so I’m sure I can find some similar CS-80 sounds there as well.

1 Like
6

Did you already try to run Gig Performer in several instances? Just for testing one instance with the Model 77…

7

@tripleB actually I never tried running GP in multiple instances. May be worth a shot?

8

That is more than worth :wink:

2 Likes