LIVE 8 PERFORMANCE TEST - Results Here

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Tarekith
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LIVE 8 PERFORMANCE TEST - Results Here

Post by Tarekith » Fri Apr 03, 2009 1:02 am

Ableton Live 8 Performance Test

This test was created to let users compare the performance of Ableton Live version 8 on different computer set ups. Prior to Live version 8, this was done via the test located here:

http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic. ... highlight=

and here:

http://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php? ... rmance+7+6

However, Live 6 was then optimized to take advantage of the fact that many computers were coming out with dual or quad processors, and the test project above was not truly set up to take advantage of this. Thus the test would not yield consistent results, nor was it always taking advantage of the the enhancements made to support newer Operating Systems or Intel versions of Mac's. This test does take those factors into account however, based upon the following guideline from Ableton:

- Processor load is split between even and odd-numbered tracks and sends. I.E. Track 1 is run on CPU processor 1, Track 2 is run on CPU processor 2, Send 1 is calculated by processor 1, Send 2 is calculated by processor 2, etc.

In addition, the potential CPU load was increased in this project to take advantage of the faster CPU's available today. Many thanks to Globalgoon on the Ableton forums for helping me work out some of the details of this test.


Instructions for the test:

1. Download the test project here:

http://nickstutorials.com/LivePerformanceTest.zip

2. Set your audio buffer to 512 samples in the Audio Preferences window in Live. The easiest way to do this is to select this field with your mouse and press the Delete Key. (The default is 512 samples).

3. Set Audio Input Device to "No Device", Sample Rate to "44100", and Driver Error Compensation to "0.00ms" in Live's Audio Preferences window. Also, make sure that only one pair of Outputs is active if your soundcard has multiple outs.

Image

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4. Begin playback at Locator 1 - "8 Tracks". Allow 16 measures of playback for your Live CPU meter to stabilize. Write down the reading you get after the meter has stabilized.

Image

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5. If you computer is not fast enough to play back the full 8 tracks in this test, stop playback, wait a second, and then start playback from Locator 2 - "6 Tracks". Continue trying less and less tracks until you are able to playback for at least 16 measures without drop outs or interruptions to the audio. Make sure to note how many tracks you were playing back if you need to do this step.

6. Post the results of your test on the Ableton Forum in this thread:

http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic. ... 945#593945

Please use the following format, fill in as much information as you can to make the test as worthwhile as possible for others:

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter % (if it bounces around, please list the peak)
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model?
3) Operating System?
4) Ableton Live version?
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed?
6) Amount of Ram?
7) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)?
8) Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)?
9) Number of playback tracks?

Thanks, and I hope that you find this test useful for comparing different computers!

Tarekith

http://tarekith.com
Last edited by Tarekith on Sun Feb 07, 2010 11:56 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Tarekith
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Tarekith
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Re: LIVE 8 PERFORMANCE TEST - Results Here

Post by Tarekith » Fri Apr 03, 2009 1:05 am

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter 61%
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? MacBook Pro
3) Operating System? OSX 10.5.6
4) Ableton Live version? 8.0b23
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? 2.16gHz, c2d.
6) Amount of Ram? 2GB
7) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? MOTU Ultralite, v1.4.9
8) Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 5400 RPM
9) Number of playback tracks? 8
Last edited by Tarekith on Fri Apr 03, 2009 4:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
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parma
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Re: LIVE 8 PERFORMANCE TEST - Results Here

Post by parma » Fri Apr 03, 2009 1:20 am

1. Ableton Live CPU Meter 31%
2. Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? Mac Pro
3. Operating System? OSX 10.5.6
4. Ableton Live version? 8.0.1
5. CPU Make, Model, and Speed? 2 x 2.66 Dual-Core Intel Xeon
6. Amount of Ram? 4GB
7. Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? Internal
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 7200 RPM
9. Number of playback tracks? 8

astar
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Re: LIVE 8 PERFORMANCE TEST - Results Here

Post by astar » Fri Apr 03, 2009 1:57 am

1. Ableton Live CPU Meter 55%
2. Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? ASUS A8Js
3. Operating System? Windows XP SP3
4. Ableton Live version? 8.0.1
5. CPU Make, Model, and Speed? Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 2GHz
6. Amount of Ram? 2GB
7. Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? M-Audio Fast Track Pro
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 5400rpm SATA
9. Number of playback tracks? 8

locojohn
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Re: LIVE 8 PERFORMANCE TEST - Results Here

Post by locojohn » Fri Apr 03, 2009 2:11 am

1. Ableton Live CPU Meter 51%
2. Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? Apple MacBook (13" Black)
3. Operating System? Mac OS X 10.5.6
4. Ableton Live version? 8.0.1
5. CPU Make, Model, and Speed? Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 Ghz
6. Amount of Ram? 4 GB
7. Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? Internal
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 7200 RPM
9. Number of playback tracks? 8
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koranek
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Re: LIVE 8 PERFORMANCE TEST - Results Here

Post by koranek » Fri Apr 03, 2009 2:40 am

1. Ableton Live CPU Meter 75%
2. Desktop: 2.3G Dual G5
3. Operating System? Mac OS X 10.4.11
4. Ableton Live version? 8.0.1
5. CPU Make, Model, and Speed?
6. Amount of Ram? 2,5 GB
7. Soundcard Maudio Delta 88
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 7200 RPM
9. Number of playback tracks? 8

Wahhh, that's sad
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otnooishphoo
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Re: LIVE 8 PERFORMANCE TEST - Results Here

Post by otnooishphoo » Fri Apr 03, 2009 2:50 am

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter % (if it bounces around, please list the peak)

58%

2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model?

Aluminum Macbook (NOT PRO)

3) Operating System?

10.5.6

4) Ableton Live version?

8.0.1

5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed?

Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz

6) Amount of Ram?

4GB DDR3 running at 1067MHz

7) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)?

Built in ( i will try again later with Rig Kontrol 3, I don't want to reboot right now)

8) Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)?

stock 320GB 5400rpm

9) Number of playback tracks?

ALL OF THEM BABY. (8)



for fun i ran it at 256ms and 48Khz, and it was 67% (i usually run at 128-256 on the rig kontrol at 48Khz)


looking pretty good to me.

infiniteloom
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Re: LIVE 8 PERFORMANCE TEST - Results Here

Post by infiniteloom » Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:22 am

1. Ableton Live CPU Meter % (if it bounces around, please list the peak): 47%
2. Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model?: Apple MacbookPro 15"
3. Operating System?: OSX 10.5.6
4. Ableton Live version?: 8.0.1
5. CPU Make, Model, and Speed?: 2.8Ghz core 2 duo
6. Amount of Ram?: 4 GB
7. Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)?: Apogee Duet
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)?: 7200 RPM
9. Number of playback tracks?: 8

vs. (on same hardware)

1. Ableton Live CPU Meter % (if it bounces around, please list the peak): 44%
4. Ableton Live version?: 7.0.14

fragmentated
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Re: LIVE 8 PERFORMANCE TEST - Results Here

Post by fragmentated » Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:40 am

1. Ableton Live CPU Meter : 57%
2. Laptop : Macbook Pro
3. Operating System : Mac OS X 10.5.6
4. Ableton Live version : 8.0.1
5. CPU Make, Model, and Speed : C2D 2.2
6. Amount of Ram : 4 GB
7. Soundcard : Internal
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know) : 7200 RPM
9. Number of playback tracks : 8

Same computer using Motu UltraLite is 37%

McQ714
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Re: LIVE 8 PERFORMANCE TEST - Results Here

Post by McQ714 » Fri Apr 03, 2009 4:30 am

1. Ableton Live CPU Meter: 27-28%
2. Desktop: Custom Rackmount DAW with Asus M3A79-T Deluxe mobo
3. OS: Vista Ultimate 64
4. Ableton Live version: 8.0.1
5. CPU Make, Model, and Speed: AMD Phenom 9950 overclocked to 3.0GHz
6. Amount of RAM: 8 GB
7. Soundcard: RME HDSPe Multiface 2 and PCIe card with 3.07.7 drivers
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed: 10K rpm
9. Number of playback tracks: all 8

at 256 samples, meter read 29-30%
at 128 samples, meter read 30-31%
at 64 samples, meter read 34-35%
at 32 samples, meter read 42-43%

Rerun
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Re: LIVE 8 PERFORMANCE TEST - Results Here

Post by Rerun » Fri Apr 03, 2009 4:35 am

1. Ableton Live CPU Meter 21%
2. Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? MacPro 2x2.66 GHZ QuadCore
3. Operating System? Mac OSX 10.5.6
4. Ableton Live version? 8 b28
5. CPU Make, Model, and Speed? 2 x 2.66 GHZ QuadCore Xeon
6. Amount of Ram? 12GB
7. Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? Focusrite Saffire
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 7200rpm SATA
9. Number of playback tracks? 8

Nikos T
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Re: LIVE 8 PERFORMANCE TEST - Results Here

Post by Nikos T » Fri Apr 03, 2009 4:55 am

Tested this on both my PC and Mac:

PC:
1) Ableton Live CPU Meter - 25%
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? - Custom built PC
3) Operating System? Windows Vista 32bit
4) Ableton Live version? 8.0.1
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? Intel Q6600
6) Amount of Ram? 2gb
7) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? M-Audio Fast Track Pro
8) Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 7200RPM
9) Number of playback tracks? 8

Mac:
1) Ableton Live CPU Meter - 55%
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? - 17" MacBook Pro unibody
3) Operating System? 10.5.6
4) Ableton Live version? 8.0.1
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? Intel C2D 2.66ghz
6) Amount of Ram? 4gb
7) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? M-Audio Fast Track Pro
8) Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 5400RPM
9) Number of playback tracks? 8

nowtime
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Re: LIVE 8 PERFORMANCE TEST - Results Here

Post by nowtime » Fri Apr 03, 2009 5:32 am

McQ714 wrote:1. Ableton Live CPU Meter: 27-28%
2. Desktop: Custom Rackmount DAW with Asus M3A79-T Deluxe mobo
3. OS: Vista Ultimate 64
4. Ableton Live version: 8.0.1
5. CPU Make, Model, and Speed: AMD Phenom 9950 overclocked to 3.0GHz
6. Amount of RAM: 8 GB
7. Soundcard: RME HDSPe Multiface 2 and PCIe card with 3.07.7 drivers
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed: 10K rpm
9. Number of playback tracks: all 8

at 256 samples, meter read 29-30%
at 128 samples, meter read 30-31%
at 64 samples, meter read 34-35%
at 32 samples, meter read 42-43%
8O
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m:o
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Re: LIVE 8 PERFORMANCE TEST - Results Here

Post by m:o » Fri Apr 03, 2009 5:47 am

1. Ableton Live CPU Meter: 25%
2. Laptop/Desktop?: Custom Desktop PC
3. Operating System: Win XP SP3
4. Ableton Live version: 8.01
5. CPU Make, Model, and Speed: Intel Q6600 4x 2,4 Ghz
6. Amount of Ram: 3GB
7. Soundcard: RME Multiface 1 via Card Bus; 3.076 Driver
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed: 7000rpm
9. Number of playback tracks? 8

8O
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Re: LIVE 8 PERFORMANCE TEST - Results Here

Post by 8O » Fri Apr 03, 2009 6:20 am

1 ) Ableton Live CPU Meter % - 56-57
2 ) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? - Laptop, Apple MacBook Pro
3 ) Operating System? - OS X 10.5.6
4 ) Ableton Live version? Live 8.0.1
5 ) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? - Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.2Ghz
6 ) Amount of Ram? - 2GB 667Mhz
7 ) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? - MOTU Ultralite
8 ) Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 5400 RPM SATA
9 ) Number of playback tracks? 8
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