Sound Distortion after inactive computer

Gig Performer on Mac OS X
1

After a period of inactivity on Mac, Gig Performer 5 sounds become distorted. The only cure is to close GP5 and re-launch. Clearly this means that GP is not useable live until the problem is resolved. Any advice? Support have directed me to this forum.
An example of the distortion can be found here: https://thejamestownbrothers.co.uk/index.php/private

2

I do not face the issue you describe.
I am on Mac Intel with Gig Performer 5 and RME UFX II

What do you mean by inactivity?

I just listened to the sound.
Maybe in the Audio Options the sample rate has been changed?

Is Gig Performer the only running software which uses the Audio Interface which is also used by Gig Performer?

3

I am also on Mac - M1 with apple chip.
By inactivity I mean that the Mac is running but I make no input for 30 minutes or more - I usually leave the Mac running overnight in sleep mode and the problem ALWAYS occurs on re-opening, but also occurs without going into sleep mode if I make no input for 30 mins or more.

4

When that happens and you play Audio with a different software, is it also distorted?

5

I can use MainStage without any issues. Ditto Logic. It only occurs with GP - and only after upgrading to GP5 from GP4. Can’t see how the sample rate could be changed without intervention, which I haven’t made. Thanks for following this thread and commenting.

6

So with GP4, which can be used in parallel, this does not happen?

7

Never tried using GP4 and GP5 in parallel! Will give it a go over night tonight.

8

I would not run in parallel.
Just run GP4 and check if the distortion also happens.

Does this happen with a very simple gig, only 1 Rackspace and only 1 plugin?

Maybe this is a fault by a plugin.

9

Yes, with a very simple gig. 1 Rackspace, 1 Plugin - Modart Pianoteq. I’ve tried it with other plugins from different makes. Everything points to GP5 issue.

10

[1] Are you using:
a) a dedicated audio interface or
b) a built-in sound card?

If a) is it USB or Thunderbolt?

[2] Additionally, do you have any sleep or hybrid sleep features enabled?

[3] Review also your power options. Useful article: [blog] Optimize your Mac for a gig

[4] Next step: does this happen when you try built-in templates in Gig Performer?

11

Thanks, Npudar

  1. No. Everything is done inside the Mac Mini. I use SL88 Grand as my midi keyboard controller, and the output is the headphones plug direct to my powered monitors. I don’t input audio from external sources into GP or Logic so don’t see the need for an additional sound card.
  2. Yes, Mac Mini will sleep after a period, and I can put it to sleep at the end of the day. Common practice, so shouldn’t be an issue.
  3. Useful article reviewed: I have a dedicated 2023 MacBook Pro that I’ve screened for optimal Gig work - no wifi, no bluetooth, no non-music clutter. No Sleep. No fizzy drinks. Etc. But the issue is occuring on my studio computer which is a workstation for everything. Bottom line, there’s nothing unusual being run, and I can’t risk using GP for live gigs if this is going to happen.
  4. Yes. It happens regardless of what’s being run.
12

I see this happens in Logic as well: https://www.reddit.com/r/Logic_Studio/comments/pe7dgq/problems_with_distorted_audio_if_logic_is_left/

On Windows, Gig Performer runs on a high-priority thread an if it has focus, computer never enters into idle mode.

My guess is that your computer goes into idle mode and that something happens then:

  • due to power settings some devices are suspended (integrated sound cards, etc)
  • some tasks scheduled to happen when a computer enter idle mode are triggered, possibly causing sound to be distorted.
13

On. my M1 Mac Book Pro I just put it into sleep mode and then after wake up gig performer sound was fine.

So I cannot reproduce what happens.

14

So, the issue occurs on your Mac Mini studio computer… but it sounds to me as if you haven’t tested if that issue also exists on your dedicated Gig-machine, a 2023 MacBook Pro (which you most probably will never set into sleep mode, while performing on stage)?

15

It’s very rare to hear of users not using a dedicated audio interface. It’s something to consider.

There’s also possibility of issues if the MacBook is automatically switching graphics cards when idle. In the System Settings and Battery, there is an option to prevent automatic switching.

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