Ableton Performance Slow / Low CPU Usage

[tillman]

Hi, I'm having problems with my Ableton Live performance since I moved to my new computer:
* The more complex the session layout gets, the slower are the GUI updates (e.g. volume bars, Spectrum analyzer, etc)
* Live uses only 5%-10% of one core of my Intel i5 750, which is a 4-core 2.66 GHz processor, regardless of complexity/workload
* The sound output is smooth in general

It's obvious that a more complex layout might slow things down, but I'm not trying anything too fancy (~5-8 layers, some MIDI, some effects). Besides, the setups I'm working with have been running smooth on my old laptop which was an Intel Core Duo 1.4GHz. My key concern here is that Live is using so little CPU while struggling to perform, when there is clearly much more available.

Here's some things I've already tried, which were unsuccessful:
* Disable multiprocessor support in the Live preferences
* Elevate the process priority of Live (although there is nothing else running, so nothing is really competing for CPU cycles with Live)

Specifications:
* Ableton Live 7.0.18 (the latest 7.*)
* Windows 7 64bit, although Live is running in 32bit
* Intel i5 750
* 4GB DDR3 1333MHz RAM
* Gigabyte GA-P55-UD4
* Line6 TonePort UX2 (I've tried different soundcards with the same result and I don't see how this would be a soundcard issue)

Thanks in advance for any help!

[jok]

Hi Tillman,

please contact [email protected], make sure to attach your log.txt as described here:

http://www.ableton.com/pages/support/co ... al_support

Best,
Jörg

[11olsen]

i sucessfully enhanced the gui performance on my system by lowering the live process priority. hmm

[tillman]

Hey, I have solved this problem (it appears it's solved) by running Live 7 in Vista compatibility mode.

Here's an excerpt from the support response:

this is a known problem with Live 7 running on certain Windows 7 machines. There is unfortunately no solution right now.

Live 8 contains optimizations for better GUI handling on Windows 7, but this code is not implemented in Live 7 and it is currently not clear if there will be another Live 7 update.

You could try to run Live 7 in Windows Vista / XP compatibility mode.

As I said, Vista compatibility mode appears to have done it for me. Unfortunately you have to type in your serial number again after enabling compatibility mode, so make sure you have activations left.

[epjl2000]

Hey tillman,

Glad you got that fixed.

Just wondering.. now that ableton is running smooth on your new computer.. how does it run on the core i5 processor compared to your old computer? Notable differences?

Cheers,
Just