Ableton Forum

..i suppose as a starter, would you expect the performance from the below to be pretty swift?

MacBook Air M1 8 core/8 core GPU
16GB RAM / 1TB SSD
Mac OS X 11.0.1 Big Sur
Ableton 10 Suite 10.1.30
Core Audio, 512 sample buffer, no input device, built-in speaker output

BASE: 16 tracks
CPU meter maxes ~36%
(I should note that Ableton seems to show CPU meter ~35% using Rosetta/on M1, even with just a single track of MIDI Grand Piano. This is my new baseline of CPU use on my M1 machine.)

MAX NO GLITCHES: 64 tracks (4 copies of original 16)
CPU meter maxes ~80%

MAX WITH GLITCHES: 80 tracks (5 copies of original 16)
Glitches start around CPU meter ~95% in busy sections
CPU meter maxes ~104% in busiest sections

No thermal issues or throttling noticed so far although I don't expect to see that with Ableton. This computer is FAST.

Ableton runs more or less fine. Some VSTs don't work, and there are occasional crashes when entering plugin serial numbers, trouble accessing preset folders, etc. But for the most part basic Native (e.g. Kontakt), u-he (e.g. Zebra), FabFilter, Valhalla, D16 plugins seem to be working adequately. Looking forward to natively recompiled versions of everything.

merges wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 20, 2021 9:22 pm

MacBook Air M1 8 core/8 core GPU
16GB RAM / 1TB SSD
Mac OS X 11.0.1 Big Sur
Ableton 10 Suite 10.1.30
Core Audio, 512 sample buffer, no input device, built-in speaker output

BASE: 16 tracks
CPU meter maxes ~36%
(I should note that Ableton seems to show CPU meter ~35% using Rosetta/on M1, even with just a single track of MIDI Grand Piano. This is my new baseline of CPU use on my M1 machine.)

MAX NO GLITCHES: 64 tracks (4 copies of original 16)
CPU meter maxes ~80%

MAX WITH GLITCHES: 80 tracks (5 copies of original 16)
Glitches start around CPU meter ~95% in busy sections
CPU meter maxes ~104% in busiest sections

No thermal issues or throttling noticed so far although I don't expect to see that with Ableton. This computer is FAST.

Ableton runs more or less fine. Some VSTs don't work, and there are occasional crashes when entering plugin serial numbers, trouble accessing preset folders, etc. But for the most part basic Native (e.g. Kontakt), u-he (e.g. Zebra), FabFilter, Valhalla, D16 plugins seem to be working adequately. Looking forward to natively recompiled versions of everything.

I get the same result on my 2012 mac mini quad core. that's really not impressive. It's definitely usable but I'm starting to wonder if a retina 15" second hand from 2015 or so or a 2018 13" would do better. worth waiting for a native version but that's gonna be at least 6 months to get there.

grrrz wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 30, 2021 12:56 am

I get the same result on my 2012 mac mini quad core. that's really not impressive. It's definitely usable but I'm starting to wonder if a retina 15" second hand from 2015 or so or a 2018 13" would do better. worth waiting for a native version but that's gonna be at least 6 months to get there.

Absolutely. It's really impressive given that it's interpreted/not optimized for the ARM architecture. I expect that performance will be excellent when parts of the code are rewritten for the new architecture. Optimized/native apps perform really well, though—much snappier than on my high-end i7 machines.

NOTE: I used Live 11 (as Live 10 was in the middle of updating, so I tried Live 11 instead)

1. Ableton Live CPU Meter % with the Live Set for the Lesson:

42% at 512, 48 at 32 buffer! I was using my Push 2 to manipulate lanes of Vocal takes, on the fly, and was able to play the Live instruments while the song was playing back. This setup seems very snappy and quick and the CPU avg along with CPU Current (new for Live 11) showed a very stable metering.

Doubled up to 58 (reduced all track volumes to not hit red), 65% max on CPU @512, 75% max on CPU @128. Note 64 was playable one click during playback, avg low 80% but the mini spike caused the click sound.

2. Maximum number of playback tracks: 29
3. Laptop/Desktop: MacBook Air M1
4. Operating System: macOS Big Sur; 11.2.1
5. Ableton Live version: Live 11 Beta; 11.0b29
6. CPU Make, Model, and Speed: M1, 2020
7. Amount of Ram: 16gb
8. Soundcard: RME Babyface 1st GEN; TOTAL FX Version 1.70 MAC OS X; Fireface USB Settings window Firmware: v225 Driver: v3.24, internal clock only, Optical out not used but set at SPDIF.
9. Hard Disk type: M1 1st GEN

1. Ableton Live CPU Meter: 37%

2. Maximum number of playback tracks? 256 CPU 95%

3. Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? Desktop HP Z820 Workstation v1 (2012)

4. Operating System? Windows 10 Pro 20H2 (Build 19042.804)

5. Ableton Live version? Standard (10.1.30 Build: 2020-10-27_fc0fea66dc)

6. CPU Make, Model, and Speed? 2 × Intel Xeon E5-2690 (8 core 16 thread) @ 2.9 GHz

7. Amount of Ram? 64 GB (8 × 8 GB) DDR3 @ 1600 MHz 8 Channels

8. Soundcard? Focusrite 6i6 (2nd gen) Driver Version: 4.65.5.658

9. Hard Disk type? SSD Samsung 860

These old HP Workstations can give a pretty big bang for the buck. Server RAM is cheap and the v1 Xeon E5-26xx series CPUs are as well.

1. Ableton Live CPU Meter: 64%

2. Maximum number of playback tracks? 96 CPU 91%

3. Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? Laptop HP EliteBook 8570w (2013)

4. Operating System? Windows 10 Pro 2 Version 10.0.18363 (Build 18363)

5. Ableton Live version? Standard (10.1.30 Build: 2020-10-27_fc0fea66dc)

6. CPU Make, Model, and Speed? Intel Core i7-3720QM (4 core 8 thread) @ 2.6 GHz

7. Amount of Ram? 16 GB (4 × 4 GB) DDR3 @ 1600 MHz 2 Channels

8. Soundcard? IK Multimedia AXE I/O Driver Version: 1.2.0.24545

9. Hard Disk type? SSD Hitachi HTS7725050A9A364

After the initial test result I thought my laptop wouldn't fare very well. But the CPU Meter stayed about the same through the 48 track test, then started creeping up. It almost made it through the 112 track test. I'm a fan of these old HP machines.

merges wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 03, 2021 6:44 pm

grrrz wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 30, 2021 12:56 am

I get the same result on my 2012 mac mini quad core. that's really not impressive. It's definitely usable but I'm starting to wonder if a retina 15" second hand from 2015 or so or a 2018 13" would do better. worth waiting for a native version but that's gonna be at least 6 months to get there.

Absolutely. It's really impressive given that it's interpreted/not optimized for the ARM architecture. I expect that performance will be excellent when parts of the code are rewritten for the new architecture. Optimized/native apps perform really well, though—much snappier than on my high-end i7 machines.

Ableton says the latest 10 betas have much better audio performance on the M1. I haven't tried it yet, but I will when I next get down to the office. I don't know exactly how Rosetta goes about things, but I have heard that the translation may not be performed on all code depending on how it's compiled or called from within the program. Especially if it's in a secondary module.

1. Ableton Live CPU Meter % 21%
2. Maximum number of playback tracks? 256
3. Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? Laptop, NHx0DB,DE, Scan Computers Int
4. Operating System? Win 10 home, 1904.804
5. Ableton Live version? 10.1.30
6. CPU Make, Model, and Speed? i7-10750H @2.60GHz, 2.59GHz
7. Amount of Ram? 16
8. Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? RME BabyfacePro fs, v10.0.19
9. Hard Disk type (SSD or HDD) and Speed (if you know)? SSD Samsung 500gx2

1. 32%
2. 96
3. MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012)
4. MacOS Sierra 10.12.6
5. Live 10
6. 2.6 GHz Intel Core i7
7. 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
8. MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012) with Komplete Audio 1 interface
9. 256GB Samsung SSD 840 PRO Series

1. Ableton Live CPU Meter % 21%
2. Maximum number of playback tracks? 400+ (25 groups)
3. Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? Windows 10 Desktop Custom
4. Operating System? Windows 10 Pro 20H2
5. Ableton Live version? 10.1.30
6. CPU Make, Model, and Speed? i9 9900k 3.6/4.8ghz
7. Amount of Ram? 32GB 3000Mhz
8. Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? RME FF 802 USB 1.168
9. Hard Disk type (SSD or HDD) and Speed (if you know)? Sabrent Rocket 2Tb

Is there anywhere that Live 10 can be purchased?
I only see 11 available, but I'd like to upgrade from 9 to 10, not 9 to 11.

YataForLuda wrote: ↑

Tue May 11, 2021 3:35 am

Is there anywhere that Live 10 can be purchased?
I only see 11 available, but I'd like to upgrade from 9 to 10, not 9 to 11.

Ask support@ableton.com
Any reason you don't want L11?

supsip wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 10, 2021 6:15 pm

NOTE: I used Live 11 (as Live 10 was in the middle of updating, so I tried Live 11 instead)

L10 and L11 don't use the same demo set, so this is quite useless to post the results here (but thanks for the taking the time do it of course );

Maybe we should set up a L11 performance test, what d'you think everyone?

1. Ableton Live CPU Meter % with the the Live Set for the Lesson. Max 27%
2. Maximum number of playback tracks? Max 66 on a full play through, but I did manage to get around 80-90 tracks at times by just playing a loop at what seemed to be the most CPU intensive section around bar 37.
3. Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? Macbook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)
4. Operating System? macOS Big Sur v11.3
5. Ableton Live version? 10.1.35
6. CPU Make, Model, and Speed? 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7
7. Amount of Ram? 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
8. Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? Built-in Output (changed to build-it output for the purpose of this test. I normally use a Schiit USB Audio Gen 2 but I get less CPU head room)
9. Hard Disk type (SSD or HDD) and Speed (if you know)? 1GB SSD PCI-Express Drive