LIVE 4 PERFORMANCE TEST

[rand]

Wow... I really don't see where I was being negative.
I even gave the G5 iMac as a reasonably portable & cool option. If ya want to use something else... then cool. (I guess I should stay out of 'performance' threads.)
cheers
rRand

[polyslax]

Ouch... thanks for taking the high road and bringing the negativity to an end!

Rand, i think you may have misunderstood the point of the test.

The point was to compare the broad capabilities of Ableton Live 4 as a Standalone application across a variety of computer configurations and platforms. So that folks can gauge how well different computers perform wtih Ableton Live 4 and Ableton Live 4 alone.

If this were a test of Ram allocation, Memory Bandwidth, and integrity of a given platform - then yea i suppose one would want to know if they could still keep their high track count and Reverbs while burning a DVD, playing Chess, and updating their stock portfolio.

I won't speak for everyone else, but i personally don't check my email, surf the net, and tinker within Final Cut Pro whilst performing on stage. I've got music to worry about. I'm glad you can do all of that stuff, you should be able to, you paid enough money for the machine. And we all want to get what we paid for.

The fact of the matter is people ARE buying laptops these days for the sole purpose of performing live. And this test is for them.

I don't think anyone was getting "high and mighty".
I was impressed that the thread went 8 pages before any negativity, and i would love to keep it that way.

cheers.

[AdamJay]

Wow... I really don't see where I was being negative.
I even gave the G5 iMac as a reasonably portable & cool option. If ya want to use something else... then cool. (I guess I should stay out of 'performance' threads.)
cheers
rRand

oh no, i wasnt saying you were being negative... only that the thread was heading that direction. sorry that i didn't make that clear.

no worries.

[rand]

Cool.
All's cool.
Peace on earth good will towards all...
rrRand

[AdamJay]

thats what im talkin about !!!

it feels like christmas in this thread again!!!

[atom_b]

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter: 20-22%
2) Laptop/Desktop: Sony VAIO A197XP
3) Operating System: XP Pro SP2
4) CPU Make Model and Speed: Centrino 1.8GHz Dothan
5) Amount of Ram / Speed of Ram: 1Gb
6) Soundcard: RME Multiface (PCMCIA)
7) Hard Disk Drive Speed: (7200)

[filarion]

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter 80-84%
2) Powerbook G4 800
3) OSX 10.3.5
4) G4 800 Mhz
5) 1GB
6) Novation X-Station / Hammerfall DSP Multiface/Cardbus (same results)
7) 4200 rpm

[MarkH]

Is it the same with Cubase and Logic etc..

Just a question, not a diss toward Macs.

I did a Live 4.01/Logic Pro comparison today using a 4 bar loop.

1) Ableton Live 4.01 CPU Meter: 35-38%
2) Instruments - Battery (Trance Kit), Atmopshere (70's Solo Synth)
3) Live Reverb, Live Delay
4) Operating System: OSX.3.5
5) Powerbook 1.5, 1.5GB, 7200 RPM Hitachi, Built In Sound


1) Logic Pro CPU Meter: 10%
2) Instruments - Battery (Trance Kit), Atmopshere (70's Solo Synth)
3) Platinum Verb, Stereo Delay
4) Operating System: OSX.3.5
5) Powerbook 1.5, 1.5GB, 7200 RPM Hitachi, Built In Sound

[toyo]

1) 51% (peak@57%)
2) Apple powerbook 15"
3) Mac OS 10.3.5
4) G4 1,25 GHz CPU speed
5) 1 G ram (DDR SDRAM PC27oou-25330)
6) m-audio FW-410 (almost same result with built in core audo)
7) 4,200 RPM

[j]

Thanx Mark for doing that Logic/Live test.

Thatz very informative.

j

[rand]

Aaaaand, if ya look at TOP in the Console in OSX you'll see that LIVE4 is actually using more cpu then what it says in the LIVE ap...

(I was planning to stay out of this thread but I found the following very interesting..)
I did 'this test' again on my 2x2.5 WITHOUT the other 3 HUGE media aps running simultaneously, just ran Live4.... And it was exactally the same, 20%. That just shows (I believe) that LIVE4 doesn't take advantage of the extra processing potential on my Mac even when there clearly is more available(?)... Oh well, it works fine still but sheeesh.
Peace,
rRand

[AdamJay]

Aaaaand, if ya look at TOP in the Console in OSX you'll see that LIVE4 is actually using more cpu then what it says in the LIVE ap...

(I was planning to stay out of this thread but I found the following very interesting..)
I did 'this test' again on my 2x2.5 WITHOUT the other 3 HUGE media aps running simultaneously, just ran Live4.... And it was exactally the same, 20%. That just shows (I believe) that LIVE4 doesn't take advantage of the extra processing potential on my Mac even when there clearly is more available(?)... Oh well, it works fine still but sheeesh.
Peace,
rRand

the discrepancy between the % in Live and the % in Console (OSX) and Task Manager (XP) has to do with the Live meter displaying audio strain. There is more processing power used to render the video as well. For instance, Live reads 24% on my machine... Task Manager shows the Live app itself using 27%, if i minimize Live so that the video doesn't need rendering, Live in Task Manager goes back to 24%. Overall CPU% will also go down if you hide the track level vu meters. Your mileage may vary.

And yes, Live 4 isn't taking advantage of your 2nd processor outside of using it for more than the video rendering. The same applies for Dual Opterons, and Hyperthreading enabled systems.

both topics have been discussed before, in length, on this very forum.

[rand]

I know...
I'm not trying to beat these issues into the ground but to keep perspective on 'bench marks'...
cheers
rRand

[StompyJ]

1) 24%
2) Desktop, Custom-Built
3) WinXP Pro SP1
4) Athlon 2700+ XP w/ ASUS A7N8X-DX
5) 1gig / 2700
6) Echo Layla24 (PCI)
7) 2 Internal 7200 HDs, One external 7200 FW Drive (samples in question were on internal drives)

[j]

Performed said test again with all samples etc. on 7200 rpm external, no difference at all 58-60%. Powerbook 17in. 1.33 mhz.

Guess this means swapping out the stock drive for one of those Hitachi 7200 rpm drives isn't gonna help much?

j