Ableton Forum

I have a 1.67 Ghz Powerbook with 2 gig RAM. I recently created a session that has the following midi tracks:

Track 1 - I only have one clip with anything programmed and it is using IMPULSE with 5 samples from the drum library that came with Ableton. There is just a simple beat programmed. No Effects.

Track 2 - One clip with midi programming using SIMPLER (Monobass). There is an EQ Four effect on the Vocal OE factory preset.

Track 3 - One clip with midi programming using SIMPLER (Monobass). The Ableton Compressor is added.

Track 4 - One clip using Simpler (Clicky). There is a compressor and chorus. I also used the pitch bending envelope, but very minimally.

Buffer Size - 515 Samples
Sample Rate - 44100

When I play all four tracks at one time the CPU meter jumps up to 76% usage at certain points. This seems way too high. Anyone have an idea about why this is happening all of a sudden? Thank you

Ryan

Same sort of problem here on a PC...

Been using live since its release and with version 5 something serious has been changed that shouldn't have been messed with. Live got it reputation through releasing stable and efficient software but whats happened with Live 5?

Running bog standard sets which use to work fine in Live 4, now in 5 the CPU meter jumps all over the place, between 20% to 80% in a second then back then forth then back then forth... get the picture...

Whats going on? Its been a couple of months since Live 5 was released and this hasn't been fixed, where have all the Live programmers gone?

Is this a known problem or should we just accept a huge drop in performance?

Takacs wrote:I have a 1.67 Ghz Powerbook with 2 gig RAM. I recently created a session that has the following midi tracks:

Track 1 - I only have one clip with anything programmed and it is using IMPULSE with 5 samples from the drum library that came with Ableton. There is just a simple beat programmed. No Effects.

Track 2 - One clip with midi programming using SIMPLER (Monobass). There is an EQ Four effect on the Vocal OE factory preset.

Track 3 - One clip with midi programming using SIMPLER (Monobass). The Ableton Compressor is added.

Track 4 - One clip using Simpler (Clicky). There is a compressor and chorus. I also used the pitch bending envelope, but very minimally.

Buffer Size - 515 Samples
Sample Rate - 44100

When I play all four tracks at one time the CPU meter jumps up to 76% usage at certain points. This seems way too high. Anyone have an idea about why this is happening all of a sudden? Thank you

Ryan

what type of sequencing is in your simpler midi clips?
i've recreated your set on my iMac 1.8ghz and with the simpler clips being even polyphonic (3 notes always happening at the same time), my cpu meter is hitting between 29-34%, and i know my mac isn't over twice as fast as yours

So, lets trouble shoot it.
1) What audio device are you using?
2) Do you have any additional inputs, outputs activated in Live's Audio preferences. Even when not in use, these consume CPU
3) Have you made absolutely sure that your processor is set to "HIGHEST" performance in System Preferences / Energy Saver / Options ?
4) What plug-ins are installed on your system? Are any of them freeware or (no disrespect intended) cracks?
5) Are any other applications running in the background?
6) Do you have any applications that use Unsanity's "Ape" Application Enhancer, such as Audio Hijack ?
7) Are you positive there are no other devices/plug-ins in your .als? Perhaps you have some in there that aren't activated but you use them in your Live Template?

and if after answering these,
If we still cant get this figured out, perhaps you can email me your .als and i can see if it behaves the same on my machine.

also, i seem to remember alot of folks having these issues and the concensus was to close Live and then trash your live preferences file.

located in user/library/preferences/com.ableton.live.plist

it will rebuild itself upon opening Live again.

are there any side effects to trashing the preferences file?

Johnisfaster wrote:are there any side effects to trashing the preferences file?

That you have to set all your preferences again.
I had live not wanting to start on me some weeks ago, trashed the preferences, good to go again.

It's true that Live likes a fast computer but...
The things it does that other apps don't!

AdamJay wrote: 6) Do you have any applications that use Unsanity's "Ape" Application Enhancer, such as Audio Hijack ?

Why do you ask that ?