# Strange CPU spikes from convolution reverb

**URL:** <https://qa.fmod.com/t/strange-cpu-spikes-from-convolution-reverb/14862>\
**Category:** FMOD Studio\
**Created:** [July 16, 2019, 1:24pm UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/strange-cpu-spikes-from-convolution-reverb/14862 "2019-07-16T13:24:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 13\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Koca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@Koca](https://qa.fmod.com/u/Koca)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2019, 1:24pm UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/strange-cpu-spikes-from-convolution-reverb/14862/1 "2019-07-16T13:24:31Z")

</div>

Hello, what are these CPU spikes on Master bus that are visible on this pic from profiler?  
The red part is the Convolution reverb and the yellow part is when i bypassed it and inserted a “regular” fmod reverb. Is this normal behaviour for conv?  
Thank you

 ![Convolution%20rev](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fmod/original/1X/4ac946dbb02059056565f35491b536aaa8ccfadd.png)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![richard\_simms](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/qa.fmod.com/richard_simms/32/261_2.png) [@richard\_simms](https://qa.fmod.com/u/richard_simms)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 6:23am UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/strange-cpu-spikes-from-convolution-reverb/14862/2 "2019-07-19T06:23:09Z")

</div>

The convolution reverb is significantly more expensive to use than the standard FMOD Reverb, so it is expected to see a difference in CPU usage. The performance also depends on the IR file used - longer IR files and ones with more channels will use up more CPU.

Spikes like what you are seeing aren’t to be expected, however. Can you provide some more information:

1. What platform are you on?
2. What IR file are you using (file size, length, channel count, etc. If possible to share that would make reproducing this issue easier)
3. How many convolution reverbs are in play at once? Is this one convolution reverb in a group bus or are these placed on individual events?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Koca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@Koca](https://qa.fmod.com/u/Koca)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 1:51pm UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/strange-cpu-spikes-from-convolution-reverb/14862/3 "2019-07-19T13:51:53Z")

</div>

Hello,

1. I am on Windows and building for Windows
2. IR File is 2sec long, 6 channels, 48Khz, 16bit, i will upload it here
3. At the time of the test 1 convolution was playing.

![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/fmod/original/1X/8ee38407e4c86501a0357c9f1a361aa3370c8aeb.png)  
Reverb is inserted on the return bus and sent from sfx bus using sends,

Here is the file:

> **[2sec surround impulse.wav](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z2aEJNII0wjWzdUS_3qxZ949svnDUKDR/view?usp=sharing)**
>
> Google Drive file.

Thank you

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![richard\_simms](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/qa.fmod.com/richard_simms/32/261_2.png) [@richard\_simms](https://qa.fmod.com/u/richard_simms)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 12:09am UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/strange-cpu-spikes-from-convolution-reverb/14862/4 "2019-07-24T00:09:03Z")

</div>

Thanks for sharing the IR file. I’ve been able to reproduce the problem and sent it over to our dev team to investigate further.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Koca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@Koca](https://qa.fmod.com/u/Koca)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 8:05am UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/strange-cpu-spikes-from-convolution-reverb/14862/5 "2019-07-24T08:05:25Z")

</div>

That`s great, thanks. Looking forward to see what`s up.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![richard\_simms](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/qa.fmod.com/richard_simms/32/261_2.png) [@richard\_simms](https://qa.fmod.com/u/richard_simms)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 1:09am UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/strange-cpu-spikes-from-convolution-reverb/14862/6 "2019-08-02T01:09:55Z")

</div>

It seems that the convolution reverb has some performance issues, particularly when there’s some upmixing and/or downmixing involved. We will be looking into improving this performance for a future release.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Koca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@Koca](https://qa.fmod.com/u/Koca)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2019, 5:42pm UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/strange-cpu-spikes-from-convolution-reverb/14862/7 "2019-09-23T17:42:38Z")

</div>

Hello, any news on this issue?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![richard\_simms](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/qa.fmod.com/richard_simms/32/261_2.png) [@richard\_simms](https://qa.fmod.com/u/richard_simms)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2019, 4:11am UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/strange-cpu-spikes-from-convolution-reverb/14862/8 "2019-09-30T04:11:11Z")

</div>

It’s still in our backlog and we don’t have a fixed date for when it will be looked at as it’s a bit complicated. Please keep an eye on future releases.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![brett](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/qa.fmod.com/brett/32/261_2.png) [@brett](https://qa.fmod.com/u/brett)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2019, 5:39am UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/strange-cpu-spikes-from-convolution-reverb/14862/9 "2019-10-29T05:39:20Z")

</div>

Hi Koca,  
I’m working on this issue now

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Koca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@Koca](https://qa.fmod.com/u/Koca)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2019, 8:55am UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/strange-cpu-spikes-from-convolution-reverb/14862/10 "2019-10-29T08:55:54Z")

</div>

Great, thanks for the update.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Skaven252](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/qa.fmod.com/skaven252/32/63_2.png) [@Skaven252](https://qa.fmod.com/u/Skaven252)\
**Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 12:04pm UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/strange-cpu-spikes-from-convolution-reverb/14862/11 "2019-11-04T12:04:01Z")

</div>

> [@brett](#):
>
> I’m working on this issue now

If the Convolution Reverb goes through an optimization pass, could this optimization be integrated to older versions of FMOD Studio (1.10.x) as well?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![brett](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/qa.fmod.com/brett/32/261_2.png) [@brett](https://qa.fmod.com/u/brett)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 3:56am UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/strange-cpu-spikes-from-convolution-reverb/14862/12 "2019-11-11T03:56:23Z")

</div>

It will be going into the new 2.01 performance branch, but for custom requests of this nature, they can be done via a support agreement at [sales@fmod.com](mailto:sales@fmod.com)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Koca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@Koca](https://qa.fmod.com/u/Koca)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 10:28am UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/strange-cpu-spikes-from-convolution-reverb/14862/13 "2019-11-12T10:28:02Z")

</div>

So it will be out five minor versions from now?  
And share some info about what you found and fixed and what can we expect from Conv Rev after this.  
Thank you
