whats a safe CPU load?

[bartend7]

Hi,

i have been creating a large set with lots of tracks and effects. my cpu load indicator has really started to get up there. i was just wondering if there's level that i should try to stay under from keeping live or my computer from crashing during a live performance.

i run a Macbook aluminum with 2 Gb ram. right now my cpu load meter is around 55%

thanks for any suggestions.

[Tarekith]

I usually try to keep mine below 50% just to be safe, most of the time my sets these days are below 30% but that's probably overkill. Like anything, just make sure you test the hell out of everything at home before you go live to make sure it doesn't all fall over on stage.

[bartend7]

thanks for the feedback, i also appreciate your articles on mixing.

[reeloy]

....for the stage you should have an average cpu load around 50 % or 60 %.....

If you played a set intensivly for a few times untouched with all effect tricks you want to do and you kept an eye on the cpu peaks, you can go for 70%....

[doghouse]

I've found that CPU usage can be pretty high (over 50%) if you are willing to use larger audio buffers and higher latency.

I typically track at low buffer sized and have to get CPU under 40% to avoid glitches...so I freeze tracks...but when mixing I go for a higher buffer size and can unfreeze the tracks.

So my answer is to experiment and see what works on your computer.