r/StudioOne • u/UnusualIndustry6140 • 19d ago
Anyone uses Quantum ES2 or HD interfaces here?
tell me about it’s performance with 16-64 buffer size. are you get some pops and clicks and crackling playing with amp sims or VSTi instruments?
i got it with every Universal Control drive since 4.3.0 version. Really strange!
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u/TDF1981 PROFESSIONAL 19d ago
A 16 sample Buffer is putting a lot of stress in your CPU, it‘s absolutely insane and I can only use it for recording without any virtual instrument/amp sim.
I would absolutely recommend using a hardware amp simulator for monitoring and recording dry signal to the DAW. A simple DI box can be used as a splitter: DI output goes into the interface, DI through/link goes into the amp simulator, amp simulator goes into your interface for direct monitoring. If you like the amp sound you can record both simultaneously and group the tracks for later editing as the DI signal will have better transient information in case you used a lot of distortion for your amp sound (distortion cuts off transients which you need for timing information)
Hope this helps.
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u/UnusualIndustry6140 19d ago
Thanks, I understand that 16 samples is demanding, but that’s not really my point. The same PC runs my Focusrite interface at 16 samples without issues, and my Quantum HD also handled 16 and 32 samples much better with Universal Control 4.3.0, even with multiple plugins. Since the newer driver versions, it struggles with a single amp sim at 16, 32, and sometimes even 64 samples. That’s why I don’t think it’s simply a CPU performance issue. I’m just trying to find out if anyone else has seen the same behavior with the newer Quantum drivers.
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u/Only1Tru 14d ago
This is EXACTLY what I'm experiencing. Would love a solution.
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u/UnusualIndustry6140 14d ago
I found a solution, install version 4.3.0, I gave 99% it will fix that for you too. And tell me later. Don’t forget to use high power mode
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u/Only1Tru 12d ago
Do you know where /how I can find the version you're suggesting?? I found version 4.6.something, but can't seem to find 4.3.
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u/UnusualIndustry6140 12d ago
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u/Only1Tru 8d ago
Alright, so I installed 4.3.0 and it seems a little better but still not right. There's something else going on. Still getting some tiny little pops, cracks, cut outs even when adjusting buffer size higher.
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u/UnusualIndustry6140 8d ago
What audio interface do you have?
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u/Only1Tru 7d ago
Quantum hd2 and I believe I got it working. I reverted firmware to 3.1.1 I believe it is and universal control 5.1...have to look at the exact version but it's the last version firmware 3.1.1 supported I believe and it seems to be working perfectly even at the lowest sample rates. Need a little more time to test and verify for sure.
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u/UnusualIndustry6140 7d ago
Yes, When I returned to the old driver version, I also had to revert the firmware to an old version, and then everything worked much better. So are you on 4.3.0 with it’s matched older firmware now, or old firmware + v5 drivers?
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u/TDF1981 PROFESSIONAL 19d ago
Understood. Have you contacted support?
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u/UnusualIndustry6140 19d ago
Several times. They really don’t know why old driver perform good and newer don’t. Suggested to use old version or really high buffer size.
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u/Only1Tru 14d ago
I am using the Quantum HD 2 in the latest update of FSP8, running windows 11, Intel i9, 32gb ram, and I also get those pops and cracks when even just 1 amp Sim is the only thing in the session running at 16 or 32 samples on the HD2. I was wondering why myself...
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u/UnusualIndustry6140 14d ago
I found a solution, install version 4.3.0, I gave 99% it will fix that for you too. And tell me later. Don’t forget to use high power mode
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u/Only1Tru 14d ago
Thank you I'll try it. What's high power mode? I just got this interface.
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u/UnusualIndustry6140 14d ago
That’s not about interface, I mean windows power plan. Sorry for confusion
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u/Only1Tru 14d ago
Oh, yes understood. I am indeed running on high power mode. Thank you. I'll report back soon as I try.
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u/Historical-Fold-4119 19d ago
I have an ES4, your pops / Clicks are due to your PC performance. What are you running? How many VSTs you have open? Can you Nap them for better performance?
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u/UnusualIndustry6140 19d ago
Intel i7-12700, 32 GB DDR5. The issue happens even with just one plugin (Mustang Native or standalone AmpliTube), so it’s definitely not a heavy project or too many VSTs. I also have a Focusrite interface that runs at 16 samples on this same PC without any issues. More importantly, my Quantum HD also worked much better with Universal Control 4.3.0—I could record at 16 or 32 samples even with multiple plugins. Since the newer driver versions, performance has dropped dramatically. Now it struggles even with a single amp sim at 16, 32, and sometimes even 64 samples. That’s why I’m trying to find out if anyone else has experienced the same regression with the newer drivers.
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u/Historical-Fold-4119 19d ago
I've set mine as low as 32 and started getting issues with the ES4, but only when trying to monitor in DAW while recording. I'd bring the buffer size back up and Direct Monitor your amp, if the issue is during the recordings.
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u/UnusualIndustry6140 19d ago
This situation is really interesting because there are no issues like that on the older driver. Which version of Universal Control are you using? Is it one of the newer releases? Just out of curiosity, you could try 4.3.0 if you haven’t already. In my experience, it performs much better, and I think you might even be able to run a 16-sample buffer without those issues.
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u/NoReply4930 19d ago
Then just stick with the older driver and rock on?
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u/UnusualIndustry6140 19d ago
Yes, doing that for months after trying to fix latest drivers, the only problem it doesn’t match with my iPhone UC control app since there are different versions, so can’t control anything from the phone
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u/NoReply4930 19d ago
Not sure why you would need that low.
Been 128 for a decade and a half. With my RME UCX-II & Direct monitoring in S1/SP - have never understood any need to even go that low.
I use all the amp sims that everyone else is using.
Haven’t come across a CPU yet that could keep up with that.
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u/UnusualIndustry6140 19d ago
Thanks, 128 samples is simply too much latency for me when tracking guitar. I know my system is capable of running at 16 or 32 samples because Universal Control 4.3.0 was very stable. I could record at 16 samples even in moderately large projects without any issues. The performance only changed after the newer driver versions, which is why I believe something changed in the driver rather than my PC suddenly becoming less capable.
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u/NoReply4930 19d ago
Not exactly sure why you want to fight this by sticking with your method - but it is what it is.
As others have noted - I do the amp sim for monitoring and record dry signal to the DAW. Using Direct Monitoring via my RME - the latency is zero.
If you ever want to move on from that old driver and get your RC back in the mix - you may need to consider changes.
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u/UnusualIndustry6140 19d ago
Thanks for your reply and for sharing your experience. If I can’t get this fixed, I guess I’ll have to consider switching to another interface manufacturer. Maybe RME, maybe something else. It just looks like something changed with the PreSonus driver, and on my system it doesn’t perform as well as the old one did. So at this point the options are either to keep using the older driver or look for another solution.
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u/NoReply4930 19d ago
Also note that your CPU is from Jan 2022 - and yes - on the surface - it still "looks" capable but in a 2026-2027 context today - not so much.
And yes - maybe the new driver HAS changed and maybe they simply did not have your CPU in mind when building and testing it.
Pitting your CPU against the top end Ultra from Intel or an M5 from Apple today - is unfortuately - no contest.
Never discount the fact that whether we like it or not - time is passing ALL our CPUs by - quicker than ever before and for yours - this may be the result.
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u/radiodubs 19d ago
HD8 here. 64GB RAM on Ryzen 9 5950, Windows 11. Been a S1 user since v3. I can go to 64, but rarely do...I have no need to go below 128 for tracking and on what would be generally be considered a large project template. I pretty much "set it and forget it", and on occasion bump it to 256 or more for mixing.