Loading Windows VSTs within Carla

[Vrangor]

Hi!
Lately I played some guitar through Carla and noticed that once in a minute she freezed for about a second, no matter how type of plugin was used.
Log after freeze was
Sun May 25 20:10:03 2014: ERROR: JackEngine::XRun: client = C* AmpVTS - Idealised guitar amplification was not finished, state = Running
Sun May 25 20:10:03 2014: ERROR: JackAudioDriver::ProcessGraphAsyncMaster: Process error
Sun May 25 20:10:06 2014: ERROR: JackEngine::XRun: client = C* AmpVTS - Idealised guitar amplification was not finished, state = Running
Sun May 25 20:10:06 2014: ERROR: JackEngine::XRun: client = Carla was not finished, state = Triggered

Second thing is when i used Poulin LeGion amp plugin loaded as VST it had frequent chokes (exactly as frequent as "dsp load" meter in Cadence was refreshing).
The same plugin loaded as DSSI worked very well. What is the difference between handling WinVST directly and thru bridge?
Also could You explain me what Bridged (32bit) and Bridged (Wine) in Carla`s plugin manager mean?

Greetings.

XRuns and freezes turned out to be Cinnamon`s fault. On a simple setup like Audacious playing music thru JACK to firewire soundcard (44100kHz, 3 periods, 256 buffer) I had 1-3 second sound freezes by simply minimizing and maximizing windows. Even moving a cursor over window shortcut in the panel generated about 1sec freeze.
When I switched to MATE sound became stable as a rock. So it wasn`t Carla`s fault at all!
Although Cinnamon is in fact heavy as hell (almost 10% CPU time only in idle state), is it normal for JACK to be as GUI sensitive?

[AlexTheBassist]

is it normal for JACK to be as GUI sensitive?

Yes, if your system is misconfigured or if GUI is really a resource hog. This becomes times more possible when JACK isn't configured for realtime or if you use non-realtime kernel.

[bazsound]

Hi!
Lately I played some guitar through Carla and noticed that once in a minute she freezed for about a second, no matter how type of plugin was used.
Log after freeze was
Sun May 25 20:10:03 2014: ERROR: JackEngine::XRun: client = C* AmpVTS - Idealised guitar amplification was not finished, state = Running
Sun May 25 20:10:03 2014: ERROR: JackAudioDriver::ProcessGraphAsyncMaster: Process error
Sun May 25 20:10:06 2014: ERROR: JackEngine::XRun: client = C* AmpVTS - Idealised guitar amplification was not finished, state = Running
Sun May 25 20:10:06 2014: ERROR: JackEngine::XRun: client = Carla was not finished, state = Triggered

Second thing is when i used Poulin LeGion amp plugin loaded as VST it had frequent chokes (exactly as frequent as "dsp load" meter in Cadence was refreshing).
The same plugin loaded as DSSI worked very well. What is the difference between handling WinVST directly and thru bridge?
Also could You explain me what Bridged (32bit) and Bridged (Wine) in Carla`s plugin manager mean?

Greetings.

XRuns and freezes turned out to be Cinnamon`s fault. On a simple setup like Audacious playing music thru JACK to firewire soundcard (44100kHz, 3 periods, 256 buffer) I had 1-3 second sound freezes by simply minimizing and maximizing windows. Even moving a cursor over window shortcut in the panel generated about 1sec freeze.
When I switched to MATE sound became stable as a rock. So it wasn`t Carla`s fault at all!
Although Cinnamon is in fact heavy as hell (almost 10% CPU time only in idle state), is it normal for JACK to be as GUI sensitive?

this is why i dont use fancy DE enviroments especially with older hardware.

I have the same issue if i have pidgen loaded, everytime some kind of activity happens through pidgeon i get xruns.

i use LXDE because its super light on resources and just them it so it looks a little nice

[AlexTheBassist]

this is why i dont use fancy DE enviroments especially with older hardware.

You'll be surprised very much, but KDE always performs good with JACK unlike GNOME3 or whichever hardware rapist else.

[i2productions]

I use gnome 3 based cairo-dock session. With a low-latency kernel there are no issues or xruns. My setup runs for months at a time without restart. As far as cinnamon in the original post, it may or may not be gnome 3 based. The original 1.0 was 100% based on Gnome 3. Now at 2.2 there's almost no gnome code left, it's all been rewritten. There's no need to start a desktop flamewar. Everyone's got their desktop of choice and that's what makes linux great. One might be better than another on certain hardware, but in general they all perform (for the most part)equally as well with linux audio stuff.

[Vrangor]

There's no need to start a desktop flamewar. Everyone's got their desktop of choice and that's what makes linux great. One might be better than another on certain hardware, but in general they all perform (for the most part)equally as well with linux audio stuff.

Yeah, but as You see, when it comes to audio work, some of them fail. On my 4core/3GHz/4GB machine cinnamon slashes sound like a butcher, what`s interesting DSP load shows then about 5% Other thing is that i have generic 3.11 Mint LMDE kernel, not RT.
I was wondering why kernel isn`t RT by standard? Windows didn`t need any rt patches, just ASIO drivers for normal audio work.
Is there something that RT kernels do worse than generic ones?

[i2productions]

Like I said. Save very specific hardware situations, desktops as a whole are about equal. ANYTHING in your system has the potential to make audio bad. As for the RT kernel, it's not as essential for linux audio work as it once was. My findings are, the generic kernel is about all you need for 1024 buffer recording and mixing. If you need a lower buffer rate than that for real-time fx, a low-latency kernel is actually what is a huge benefit these days. I've never used LMDE, but I can tell you Mint 13 and 17 cinnamon work very well for me for audio use, both with and without a low-latency kernel. I hope you find a distro/desktop/kernel that allow you to get what you need working. For most people and hardware, this stuff "just works" and for others and certain hardware, it can be a nightmare. GL

[AlexTheBassist]

Other thing is that i have generic 3.11 Mint LMDE kernel, not RT.

So, it's only your fault, not Cinnamon's. You should choose between RT and lowlatency branches since you're into music production.

I was wondering why kernel isn`t RT by standard?

Because only a few people need it.

Is there something that RT kernels do worse than generic ones?

Yes. This includes almost all resource depending processes (i.e. data compression, database handling, games, massive audio/video rendering, transcoding etc), so you should prefer RT only if you need realtime operations. It's better to choose lowlatency kernel since it provides you with smooth audio and responsive desktop at the same time.

Windows didn`t need any rt patches, just ASIO drivers for normal audio work.

But plain desktop Windows still performs the worst in lowlatency or realtime tasks. Windows has CE version which is tailored to be a realtime OS and is based on different kernel than desktop versions based on. Guess why.

[i2productions]

So, it's only your fault, not Cinnamon's. You should choose between RT and lowlatency branches since you're into music production.

Generic kernel's usually work just fine for basic music work. They will produce more xruns if you drop your buffer lower than 1024, but the fact that they're not using a generic kernel should have little to do with the errors being experienced.

[AlexTheBassist]

They will produce more xruns if you drop your buffer lower than 1024, but the fact that they're not using a generic kernel should have little to do with the errors being experienced.

Okay, if you still want to run generic kernel, then you should run JACK with realtime priority at least. It's possible on any kernel. Then check CPU governor. It should be in "performance" state when you're making music. Also, you should set up memory lock properly if needed. LMDE usually requires that, especially if you don't use KXStudio's repos. If you don't, I highly suggest you to do so since those repos provide an enormous bunch of good and fresh music software.

Of course, the best way to make music with Linux is using KSXtudio. It's already properly configured and loaded with killer stuff.

[Vrangor]

Hi!
"Refresh" button in Add Plugin window recently stopped woking

Code: Select all

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/share/carla/carla_database.py", line 1378, in slot_refreshPlugins
    if PluginRefreshW(self).exec_():
  File "/usr/share/carla/carla_database.py", line 1017, in __init__
    self.fThread = SearchPluginsThread(self)
  File "/usr/share/carla/carla_database.py", line 364, in __init__
    self.fToolNative = gCarla.discovery_native
AttributeError: 'CarlaObject' object has no attribute 'discovery_native'

What`s wrong?

Greetngs.

[Vrangor]

Yes! It`s working now:)
Thanks again for the great work Falk. To be honest (don`t get me wrong, I really mean it) in my dreams i see Carla as a part of future Carla-DAW.
Light and simple, non modular DAW like Reaper or Garage Band. Did You ever think about that?
With Your fresh ideas, intuitive solutions, and great (as I noticed) communication with the KX community, it could soon be one of the best linux DAWs
and music tools altogether. Even worth buying I suppose.
But that`s just my opinion:)
Thx again.

Cheers!

[stanlea]

It seems that win vst loading is broken in the last carla-git (or is it dssi-vst ?). An exemple here :

Code: Select all

Using "carla" theme
Carla 1.9.4 (2.0-beta2) started, status:
  Python version: 3.4.1
  Qt version:     4.8.6
  PyQt version:   4.11
  Binary dir:     /usr/lib/carla
  Resources dir:  /usr/share/carla/resources
libjack.so.0 loaded sucessfully!
RemoteVSTClient: all cache files are up-to-date, not running scanner
DSSIVSTPlugin::instantiate(audjoo_helix_32.dll)
DSSIVSTPluginInstance::DSSIVSTPluginInstance(audjoo_helix_32.dll)
Returning file identifiers: 7sjaMhyJBDWed8wupHtq5ghQ
RemoteVSTClient: executing /usr/lib/dssi/dssi-vst/dssi-vst-server.exe audjoo_helix_32.dll,7sjaMhyJBDWed8wupHtq5ghQ
WINE realtime scheduling hack enabled, realtime base priority has been set to 15
wineserver running SCHED_NORMAL
DSSI VST plugin server v0.986
Copyright (c) 2012-2013 Filipe Coelho
Copyright (c) 2010-2011 Kristian Amlie
Copyright (c) 2004-2010 Chris Cannam
Loading "audjoo_helix_32.dll"... p11-kit: couldn't load module: /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/pkcs11/p11-kit-trust.so: /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/pkcs11/p11-kit-trust.so: Ne peut ouvrir le fichier d'objet partagé: Aucun fichier ou dossier de ce type
p11-kit: couldn't load module: /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/pkcs11/gnome-keyring-pkcs11.so: /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/pkcs11/gnome-keyring-pkcs11.so: Ne peut ouvrir le fichier d'objet partagé: Aucun fichier ou dossier de ce type
done
Testing VST compatibility... Initialising Windows subsystem... done
cannot create dummy timer window
DSSIVSTPluginInstance::DSSIVSTPluginInstance(audjoo_helix_32.dll) construction complete
DSSIVSTPlugin::configure(DSSI:SUPPORTS_CUSTOMDATA,)
DSSIVSTPluginInstance::configure(DSSI:SUPPORTS_CUSTOMDATA,)
client sized shm to 16
sized shm to 16, 0 inputs and 2 outputs
dssi-vst-server[1]: reset
Carla assertion failure: "sendOsc || sendCallback" in file CarlaPluginInternal.cpp, line 817
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/share/carla/carla_host.py", line 1072, in slot_handlePluginAddedCallback
    self.fContainer.addPlugin(pluginId, self.fIsProjectLoading)
  File "/usr/share/carla/carla", line 121, in addPlugin
    self.fRack.addPlugin(pluginId, isProjectLoading)
  File "/usr/share/carla/carla_rack.py", line 317, in addPlugin
    pitem = CarlaRackItem(self.fRack, pluginId)
  File "/usr/share/carla/carla_rack.py", line 54, in __init__
    self.createWidget(pluginId)
  File "/usr/share/carla/carla_rack.py", line 59, in createWidget
    self.widget = createPluginSlot(self.fParent, pluginId)
  File "/usr/share/carla/carla_skin.py", line 1455, in createPluginSlot
    return PluginSlot_BasicFX(parent, pluginId)
  File "/usr/share/carla/carla_skin.py", line 758, in __init__
    AbstractPluginSlot.__init__(self, parent, pluginId)
  File "/usr/share/carla/carla_skin.py", line 93, in __init__
    self.fEditDialog = PluginEdit(self, self.fPluginId)
  File "/usr/share/carla/carla_widgets.py", line 465, in __init__
    self.reloadAll()
  File "/usr/share/carla/carla_widgets.py", line 549, in reloadAll
    self.reloadParameters()
  File "/usr/share/carla/carla_widgets.py", line 826, in reloadParameters
    self._createParameterWidgets(PARAMETER_UNKNOWN, paramFakeListFull, self.tr("Information"))
  File "/usr/share/carla/carla_widgets.py", line 1362, in _createParameterWidgets
    paramWidget = PluginParameter(tabPageContainer, paramInfo, self.fPluginId, tabIndex)
  File "/usr/share/carla/carla_widgets.py", line 229, in __init__
    self.ui.widget.setValue(pInfo['current'], False)
  File "/usr/share/carla/paramspinbox.py", line 245, in setValue
    self.fBar.setValue(value)
  File "/usr/share/carla/paramspinbox.py", line 135, in setValue
    vper = float(value - self.fMinimum) / float(self.fMaximum - self.fMinimum)
ZeroDivisionError: float division by zero
sorry, can't map this plugin to canvas client 0 0

[Qualitymix]

How does the landscape look for loading multi-in/output plugins in Carla Rack?
Also, I noticed that it seems like Carla Rack hosting my sfz files uses more resources than straight linuxsampler/qsampler in Ardour.
The setup was 4 midi tracks, each having a carla rack, each hosting a different sfz. I'm wondering if each instance of the rack invoked a new instance of Linuxsampler? My PC was crawling with just 4 instruments, when otherwise it'd be just fine.
Thoughts?
Thanks for your work falktx.
Also, who maintains drumkv1? So that I might request they implement sfz loading into it

[stanlea]

Bridges are back in last git, thanks a lot for that. The midi in is not working for 32bits vstis. And there are crashes too. But obviously, it's not ready yet.