@Chuck Green said:
Just some additional info using EW PLAY observations with Logic 8. If used as a instance (1 instrument) in Logic 8, 1 core is used. Add a second, 2 cores are used... etc. If you use it as a multi (16 channels) only 1 core is used. EW recommendations are to use multiple instances rather than a single multi in order to spread the workload across all cores. I've tested this and it appears to be the case when viewing the Logic CPU meter which by the way doesn't agree with the OS CPU meter which appears to be spreading across all cores regardless whether I use multiple singles or a multi. In Cubase it seems to spread but I reach a point where my fans Kick in on High Speed indicating that the CPU is really being task even though the OS Meters are only at 60%.
I know you are working with VSL and the reason I bring this up is there seems to be some inconsistency between sequencer CPU meters and the OS meters and how cores are being utilized. Maybe this additional info may help shed some light on your situation.
I guess the CPU sees a new task with a new instance.
I am using something called Menu Meter, and comparing. It says I'm getting up to using around 18% of 16 cores, but right now is describing 'load average' shared three ways (BTW, using 5 active vstis and 13 instances of Vienna Suite). Activity monitor indicates slightly less, 85% idle. Cubase VST Performance indicates up to 50% and brief spikes above that; which makes me think that monitoring of the situation is host-specific, ie., the CPU which is available to it, ie., that what Logic tells you is more or less in line with what Cubase tells you per 'Performance'.
When you all say that you see 60%, what is the actual performance? If I get over 50% reading via 'Vst Performance', chances are good that the audio will suffer.