Reducing the CPU load on macOS
Learn how to optimize performance and reduce CPU load on macOS by adjusting settings in Ableton Live and on your computer. For more tips, visit Learn Live 11: Computer Performance and Optimizing CPU intensive devices. Here are the steps to reduce the CPU load on macOS:
Update plug-ins and software
Adjust audio preferences
Understand Performance and Efficiency Cores on Apple silicon
Optimize computer resources
Prevent overheating and reduce CPU Throttling
Note: Live’s CPU meter measures Live's current capacity to deliver on-time audio processing, not the percentage of your computer’s total CPU capacity being used by Live. To learn how the CPU meter helps you optimize Live, visit Monitoring Live’s CPU usage on your computer.
Update plug-ins and other software
- Update all third-party plug-ins, licensing software, hardware drivers, and control scripts to the latest versions supported on your operating system and processor.
- Install all available security and performance updates for your versions of macOS and Ableton Live. On Macs with Apple silicon, use up-to-date, native Apple silicon builds of third-party plug-ins.
To rule out plug-ins as a source of excessive CPU demand, go to Live's Settings → Plug-Ins and disable the relevant plug-in folder(s). Or, test by removing individual plug-ins that display high impact via Live's Performance Impact meter.
To launch Live with plug-in scanning disabled, hold down [OPTION] on your computer keyboard while launching Live. If this improves performance, check that all plug-ins are up to date and correctly installed. To re-enable plug-in scanning, relaunch Live.
Adjust audio preferences in Live
As of Live 11.3.25, the following guidelines apply to both Intel and Macs with Apple silicon. Please test various settings on your computer to find the best balance for your system.
Buffer Size
Open Live's Preferences → Audio → Latency to set the buffer size.
- Smaller buffer sizes may contribute to higher CPU usage and lower latency
- Larger buffer sizes may contribute to lower CPU usage and higher latency
Sample Rate
Open Live's Preferences → Audio → Sample Rate to select the desired sample rate, if different from Live's default 44100 kHz. Set the sample rate before starting a new project.
- Lower sample rates may contribute to lower CPU usage and higher latency
- Higher sample rates may contribute to higher CPU usage and lower latency
Driver Error Compensation
Outside of certain specific situations in which you’ve measured the precise offset required by your hardware, set Driver Error Compensation to the default value 0.00 ms. Visit the Driver Error Compensation FAQ for more details.
If you’re experiencing latency, follow the steps in our guides to setting up an Audio Interface and How to reduce latency.
Optimize computer resources
- Check the percentage of your computer's CPU in use by open applications in the macOS Activity Monitor (Finder → Applications → Utilities). Learn more about Monitoring Live’s CPU usage on your computer.
- Close other programs such as your web browser to free up processing capability for Live.
- Deactivate Wi-Fi and bluetooth in macOS System Settings or in the macOS menu bar when not needed.
- Clear space on your system drive. As a rule of thumb, we recommend keeping at least 10% of your hard drive's capacity available as free space. Running low on free space affects Live’s performance and the ability to create and save audio files.
Performance and Efficiency Cores on Apple silicon
Because Ableton Live is optimized for performance, as of Live 11.3 audio is processed exclusively on Performance cores, on computers that have them. This ensures that:
Predictable, error-free performance is prioritized.
The same processes can be reliably repeated, without being compromised in favor of reduced energy consumption.
Audio glitches caused by switching work between Performance and Efficiency cores is prevented.
To learn more about Performance and Efficiency cores, visit this external article: How does macOS manage virtual cores on Apple silicon?
An option to revert to the previous behavior for handling Performance and Efficiency cores is available here: Monitoring Live’s CPU usage on your computer.
Prevent overheating and reduce CPU Throttling
Follow the steps in this guide to Recognizing and preventing thermal throttling: