D.A.W Bench : D.A.W Performance Benchmarking

History :.
This project has been a work in progress since around the start of August 2005, I decided to develop a suite of test sessions that were not based on the typical Dyno Run / CPU readout style of benchmarks that have been the norm over the last few years. The Project has evolved over the years to now include dedicated benchmark sessions for Nuendo / Cubase , SONAR and now with the the Universal benchmark , I have included Reaper , and and be easily configured to any DAW application	The tests and ongoing threads have definitely uncovered a large number of variables that can be explored , we have learned a great deal in the process , and I have no doubt that the collective and ongoing discussion can be a benefit to all. The ongoing thread at the Nuendo forum can be read here	The Project was also featured in an article in Sound On Sound in July 2006 Here , and has been featured in several subsequent articles relating to DAW performance. I have configured a dedicated forum for not only the existing test sessions, but all of the future benchmarks that are currently in development Vin Curigliano AAVIM Technology

Universal Benchmarks :.

DAWbench DSP :.
4 x Stereo Tracks of Audio Content 1 x Stereo Track - Monitor 40 x Stereo Tracks of Sine Waves 320 x Multiband Compressors - 8 per Sine Wave track inactive - to be turned on one at a time until session is overloaded. Plugins used: ReaFX ReaXComp ( Freeware ) WaveArts MD5 ( 30 Day Trial ) Download ť : 11.0 MB	This Benchmark is a combination of Low Latency, High Track Count, and Extreme DSP Loadings. Heavily dependant on CPU, Memory and ASIO Efficiency Native Versions for Nuendo/Cubase 4.1 , SONAR 7.0 , Reaper 2.1 - More applications coming soon. The test session can be easily configured in any DAW application.

Steinberg Cubase / Nuendo Benchmarks :.

Blofelds DSP 40 :.
15 x Stereo Tracks of Audio Content 25 x Stereo Tracks of Sine Waves 40 x 4 band EQ's : 40 x VST Dynamics: 1 x Multiband Dynamics : 120 x Magneto's - 3 per track inactive - to be turned on during playback - one at a time until session is overloaded :. Download ť : 6.17 MB	Test Session was created using elements of the original Blofelds Return Demo. This Benchmark is a combination of Low Latency, High Track Count, and Extreme DSP Loadings. Heavily dependant on CPU, Memory and ASIO Efficiency Detailed Instructions and Results: Hereť Native Version for SX3 / N3
Blofelds DSP MK II :.
15 x Stereo Tracks of Audio Content 40 x Stereo Tracks of Sine Waves 15 x 4 band EQ's 15 x VST Dynamics 200 x Multiband Compressors - 5 per Sine Wave track inactive - to be turned on one at a time until session is overloaded Download ť : 6.76 MB	Test Session was created using elements of the original Blofelds Return Demo. This Benchmark is a combination of Low Latency, High Track Count, and Extreme DSP Loadings. Heavily dependant on CPU, Memory and ASIO Efficiency Native Versions for SX3/N3 , C4.0, N4.1 - X86 and X64 : Detailed Instructions in download * Note * Results are still being collated: Instructions, preliminary results and discussion are available in the DAWbench forum . Registration is required. Hereť

L - FACTOR II :.
16 x Stereo Tracks of Audio : 16 x 4 band EQ's : 16 x VST Dynamics: 1 x Multiband Dynamics : 16 x Midi Tracks assigned to individual VSTi's. 48 x A1's - Inactive - to be turned on during playback - one at a time until session is overloaded :. Download ť :2.09 MB	Benchmark focusing on VSTi performance based on a similar methodology of the Blofelds Test Session. The initial template is progressively loaded with added VSTi's elements until the session is overloaded. Detailed Instructions and Results: * Note * Results are still being collated: Instructions, preliminary results and discussion are available in the DAWbench forum . Registration is required. Hereť

Sonar Benchmarks :.

SONARbench DSP R2:.
5 x Stereo Tracks of Audio : 7 x Mono Tracks of Audio : 32 x Stereo Tracks- Sine Waves : 12 x 4 band EQ's : 10 x Sonitus Compressors: 1 x Sonitus Multiband Compressor: 160 x Multiband Compressors- 5 per track inactive - to be turned on during playback - one at a time until session is overloaded :. Download ť : 0.54 MB The original R1 of the test session using the 32 Bit Vintage Channel VC-64 is available Here ť	Test Session was created using elements of the original Back And Forth Demo. This Benchmark is a combination of Low Latency, High Track Count, and Extreme DSP Loadings. Heavily dependant on CPU, Memory and Driver Efficiency Detailed Instructions and Results: * Note * Results are still being collated: preliminary results and ongoing discussion is available in the DAWbench forum . Registration is required. Hereť or The Sonar Forum Hereť

Reference Audio Hardware :.
It became evident very early on during the development stages that there was enormous variance in the referance cards that were being used. The variances would range from inconsistancies in the results on consecutive runs, varied peformance issues at lower latencies , to playback issue when the sessions were re-opened at the loaded settings.	There has been a lot of discussion on the forums in regards to the possible causes, and continues to throw up numerous interesting area's of investigation and analysis. No definative answers have been forth coming as yet, but it is evident that this style of testing is heavily dependent on ASIO Driver efficiency, and the subtleties of the respective driver / buffer implementation.	The tabulated results in that respect have been presented in numerous ways to reflect the variances that have resulted across the respective audio cards and also the type of audio interface being implemented. i.e: Firewire Interfaces add an extra buffer to the set latency setting to compensate for the inherent design of the the Firewire protocol.

Future :.
I am planning on expanding the testing to not only include further benchmarks specifically developed for Nuendo / SX , but also similar styled test sessions for Sonar / Protools , Samplitude/Sequoia , Reaper, etc. In this way we can have a viable, collective and ongoing data base that as it develops and expands , will be a valuable referance and a benefit to all.	I am asking for volunteers in helping me to develop the Benchmark suite for all of the applications listed. Basic Testing Guidelines need to follow the criteria of adding elements to progressively load the sessions until the systems are overloaded CPU Dyno Styled Benchmarks will not be acceptable.	If you can contribute in any way, please feel free to contact me via email, or register and post in the forum.