Hello, I got an rme babyface pro fs (updated), the i9 14900k, the buffer is set to 1024 samples, and cubase spam "cpu overload" pop-up during the playback of a 4 voice strings chord progression played by an ensemble patch.

my cpu is at 15%, any ideas ?

Thanks

The meter shows the overall average of the CPU. It's very possible because of the way audio works, whatever instrument you are using is overloading its own assigned core. An i9 is great, but audio tracks CANT be spread across cores, all it takes it the right combo of plugins on one channel to overload the core its running on and stop the whole session. Say you've got a 24 core CPU. If one core is at 99%, and the rest are at 0, the cpu meter isn't going to show you 99%, it's going to hover around 4%.

Are there any plugins aside from the instrument on the track? Try a smaller buffer while you're at it, that might actually help. If I can play 40 tracks loaded with UAD channel strips and comps and whatnot at a 32/64 sample buffer on my M2 Pro Mac mini, surely the i9 beast can do it.

Make sure the track isn't armed for recording too, as that puts the track in 'live' mode which will also jack up the CPU use.

Try increasing the buffer size to 2048 samples and disabling unused plugins. Check ASIO Guard settings in Cubase and make sure the RME Babyface Pro FS driver is up to date. If the problem persists, consider closing some background applications.

Which OS version do you have?

Some people have used some 'latency checker' software (I haven't) so maybe do a search here on Gearspace and find out where to get it. It will allow you to see what processes are causing latency to spike to the point that you get overloads and dropouts.

a buffer of 2048 on VST instrument will make it unusable in real time. 1024 is already kinda crappy timing & very difficult to play in time.

if the buffer is at 1024 then I would change ASIO guard to High.

otherwise try audiogridder.