How to reduce the RAM load

What uses up RAM?

• Live devices or 3rd-party plug-ins that use lots of samples are very memory intensive. Ableton's Latin Percussion is a good example, but also plug-ins like Omnisphere or Kontakt are memory intensive when used with large sample libraries.
• Enabling clip RAM mode loads the audio file referenced by a clip into the memory instead of reading them from disk in real time.
• An extremely large number of clips might also lead to problems, even when the RAM button is not enabled.
• All other processes run both by Live and elsewhere on your system need memory.

Why do 'Out of Memory' crashes occur?

• Live doesn't know how much of the memory reserved for its operation is already in use. With the scenarios described above - having RAM mode enabled for too many audio clips and/or working with large sample libraries - it's very easy to reach the limits.
• Performing any action in Live that needs more memory than is currently available could result in a crash. These actions might be:
  • Editing operations on clips and tracks (e.g. Copy, Cut, Duplicate)
  • Adding more samples
  • Adding devices or presets

Live Set RAM optimizations and workarounds

• Flatten tracks containing memory hungry devices or clips
  • First, freeze the tracks.
  • The Flatten command then replaces any original clips with the audio files created by the freezing and then removes the devices and the samples from the Set.

• If a Set containing memory consuming devices already crashes on loading, it can be restored like this:
  • Open an empty Live Set.
  • Locate the problematic Live Set (*.als file) in Live's browser.
  • Unfold it by clicking the little arrow on *.als file - all the tracks contained in this Set are now shown.
  • Import one track of the Set via double-clicking or dragging and dropping into the empty Live Set.
  • Now, freeze and then flatten the imported track.
  • Proceed with the next and following tracks.

• If a Set containing many (large) audio clips with enabled RAM mode crashes on loading, it can be restored like this:
  • Open an empty Live Set and unfold the problematic Live Set in Live's browser as described above.
  • Import a track containing clips via double-clicking or dragging and dropping into the empty Live Set.
  • For all audio clips, turn off the RAM switch in their Sample display.
  • Proceed with the next and following tracks.
  • Save the new Set.