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CPU Usage bar is spiking
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CPU Usage bar is spiking

Product
ITCH
Version
1.1
Hardware
Numark NS7
Computer
PC
OS
Platform
-
DJ Richie Rich210 5:10 PM - 9 November, 2009
Product: itch
Version: 1.1
Hardware: numark-ns7
Computer: pc
OS Version: vistasp1
---

I'm having the same problem. It started on halloween night. I've been using the ns7 for three months now and never had this problem. The status bar keeps on going up and down for no reason. So i opened up the task manager to see if anything else ins running and found nothing. The task manager shows me the cpu usage going up and down when using the ns7. It reads 13% then 64% back down to 27% then 72% etc. This caused my audio to cut in out every five minutes and was djing live in the club very embarrassing. I've tried everything, unstalling the itch from my laptop and reinstalling, switching usb cords, and ports, made sure norton was diabled and wireless turned off. I evened try another laptop and still does the same thing. I tried turning off both motors and that seemed to drop the cpu usage from spiking so high. When I turned them back on it would spike up again. So I left them off for my saturday and Sunday gig. I was very nervous the whole night because I dj three nights a week at a night club and can't have any problems. The only thing after about an hour the music would hesitate for about two or three seconds. Also when I press play the music will stop after one second. It will one drum beat then stop. Inoticed it before with the motors on but thought this would stop with the motors off. Another thing after about two hours of mixing the platters would drag start even though I had I had the drag start function off. Also, sometimes when I load deck b with a different song than deck a it does an instant double of deck a and I don't want a double i want a diferent song in deck b. Do you recommend usb powered externals or ac powered externals when using itch. I use WD Passport 320 Gb portable. The laptop I am using is a toshiba satellite L505D, AMD Anthlon Dual Core, 3GB SD Ram, 250GB HDD. I now AMD Anthlon is not recommended but never had that problem before with the cpu usage spiking and once again I've been using it three times a week at a night club for a couple months. So I tried using another laptop and did the same and this one was an HP intel core duo 2, 3GB ram, 250GB HDD, and Vista 32 bit. So I know it's something with the Ns7. I guess the NS7's motor is working to hard that is why the cpu usage is going up and down. As a said before turing off the both motors seemed to help. Sorry so long, if you can help me it would be really appreciated. Also if I send it in to Numark how long does it usually take because I really really need the NS7 for the club? Thank You
Numark, Support
sbangs 5:57 PM - 9 November, 2009
Hi,

It sounds like you have another service or piece of software if interfering with your systems performance.

Have you tried these steps to optimize your performance?

www.serato.com

Do you know if your chipset uses Intel speedstep?

This is a form of selective overclocking which when enabled allows your CPU to be overtasked when needed by apps. With this enabled it would perform in a similar way to you describe.

On preferences on hardware try setting the platters to 33 RPM does this help?
DJ Richie Rich210 10:30 PM - 9 November, 2009
Yes I tried everything to optimize my performance with Itch technical quickstart. Also I have my platters at 33 RPM and my usb latency set at 10.
DJ Richie Rich210 10:32 PM - 9 November, 2009
Also I don't know what Intel speedstep is
Numark, Support
sbangs 11:09 AM - 10 November, 2009
Hi DJ Richie

I would recommend using the DPC latency checker.

It is a diagnosis tool which will look for any potential conflicts and will produce a bar graph of your systems performance and details any thing which may interrupt.

www.thesycon.de

To use it download the above tool, run Itch and play back audio with the NS7 connected.
DJ Richie Rich210 8:13 PM - 11 November, 2009
Ok, now I am using an HP Pavillion dv6-1030us- Intel Core Duo 2, 4GB Ram, 320 HD, and running Windows 7 32bit and it is still doing the same thing. I don't know what it might be. Could it be the n ns7 is working to hard with the motors on?
DJ Richie Rich210 8:30 PM - 11 November, 2009
I just upgraded my HP laptop to windows 7 with 32 bit because I thought you couldn't use windows vista 64 bit or windows 7 64 bit. My HP laptop came with Vista 64 bit and upgraded to Windows 7 32 bit.
DJ Richie Rich210 7:04 PM - 16 November, 2009
Any info yet on the motors being the problem?
Numark, Support
sbangs 9:17 PM - 16 November, 2009
Did you try the DPC tool?
DJ Richie Rich210 12:19 AM - 20 November, 2009
This is the results with the DPC Latency checker : Toshiba Satellite, AMD Anthlon Dual Core, 3GB Ram, 250GB HD and running Windows 7 32 bit now.
Test Interval: 1000us
Current Latency: 1328us
Absolute Maximum: 1621us
I wrote down ten seconds of my computer usage results: 61,37,21,36,34,59,40,27,30,47,59,36,24,57
DJ Richie Rich210 12:20 AM - 20 November, 2009
Those results are with the motors and and playing one song
DJ Richie Rich210 12:20 AM - 20 November, 2009
motors on
Numark, Support
sbangs 11:48 PM - 20 November, 2009
It sounds like you have a driver issue, which is causing a increase in latency.

Have you checked the windows update for any device drivers or software drivers?
DJ Richie Rich210 3:03 AM - 21 November, 2009
With windows i always check that I am up to date because I run a comprehensive scan every other day to check if everything is working fine so I don't have a problem when I am mixing.
DJ Richie Rich210 5:29 PM - 27 November, 2009
Any other ideas? I called guitar center to see if I can send it in and they told me to call numark and call them back with a RA # because I have the replacement warranty with them. But before I send it in I want to know if it's my computer or the NS7.
Numark, Support
sbangs 8:50 PM - 28 November, 2009
Hi,

Have you spoken to support directly CPU issues point to the computer more than the hardware.

I would suggest speaking to support directly or sending me a PM with your contact details and for me to take a look at your PC remotely.
DJ Richie Rich210 7:36 PM - 29 November, 2009
My contact info: Richard (210)334-5766
DJ Richie Rich210 4:21 PM - 4 December, 2009
is that what you meant sbangs?
DJ Richie Rich210 9:56 AM - 7 December, 2009
I need help, 911! My ns7 is injured!!!
Numark, Support
sbangs 10:15 AM - 7 December, 2009
Hi Richard,

Do you have an instant messaging account I can contact you on?

Please send it to me in an email my email is sbangs@numark.com
DJ Richie Rich210 10:41 AM - 7 December, 2009
i just did it with yahoo.
.dedrick. 3:25 PM - 7 December, 2009
A note on Intel SpeedStep. It will UNDERclock your CPU and change its Core voltage when the processor is idle to save energy but once its under load it will go up to full speed. It is possible to disable it via the BIOS but in turn you will consume more power when idle.

Now I will say. I took a look at my CPU usage while playing in ITCH and mine too spikes but its in a very precise pattern, very steady constant almost symmetrical peaks and valleys. I'm almost positive this is due to my buffer setting betting at 1. At 20 its a similar pattern but the CPU usage only goes up to 60% instead of 95%. No sound drops though.
DJ Richie Rich210 11:00 AM - 14 December, 2009
sbangs: Did you get my yahoo email ?
Numark, Support
sbangs 12:23 PM - 17 December, 2009
No sorry I did not.

Please can you give our support line a call they can put us in touch.

The number is (401) 658 3131
DJ Richie Rich210 6:40 PM - 21 March, 2010
Ok I updated to 1.5 and I am still having the same problem with my cpu usage spiking up & down with the motors on. I dont know what else to do, please help!
Numark, Support
sbangs 7:03 PM - 21 March, 2010
Quote:
No sorry I did not.

Please can you give our support line a call they can put us in touch.

The number is (401) 658 3131


Please can you give us a call we can guide you via remote control support.
DJ_Flair 12:14 AM - 22 March, 2010
dude i've had the same problem on my lap top too....EXACT things youve tried, i've tried.

and it gets better.

i just went out and bought a brand new laptop which WHIPS my old one's butt and still having the same issue. the new one has 64 bit and i have read a few posts that it can cause issues, but ive read just as many saying that 64 works fine.

it's time i stop reading how it's our computer's fault and have someone give an honest answer. check out the specs below.

OLD LAPTOP
-2.0 GHZ
-3 GB of RAM
-250 GB Hard drive space
-Windows 7 32 Bit
Toshiba brand

NEW LAPTOP
-2.66 GHZ
-4 GB of RAM
-500 GB Hard dirve space
-Windows 7 64 Bit
Gateway Brand
Pancho_DJ 2:09 AM - 28 April, 2010
I have the same problem, what i did is I turn the motor off, the plater stop spining and the cpu usage goes to minimum, to get the cue points i have to turn it on but after that again i have to turn it off... this hapens with itch and VDJ.
I`ve seach this topic, and i found there is a problem with the controller, numark should think in a solution about this, i`m very disapointed, I`m loosing money
Numark, Support
sbangs 8:32 PM - 28 April, 2010
Quote:
Please can you give our support line a call they can put us in touch.

The number is (401) 658 3131


Please can you give us a call we can guide you via remote control support.