Ableton Live 10 user here. My MacBook Pro Retina mid-2015 (macOS 10.14.6) is experiencing problematic processes during audio processing/recording that result in heavy glitching and breakup of audio signal and high readings on the CPU meter in Ableton live (up to 80%ish). Processor is a 2.5GHz Intel i7 (quad core with turbo boost/4 virtual cores), RAM is 16GB…I really think it should be able to handle what I’m throwing at it and it usually does — until it doesn’t.

Jun 01, 2017  Once again: you can have CPU usage as low as one or two bars, but Macbook cracks like hell. This is no case with Ableton Live or Studio One. Another problem on Mac - I can't get buffer size lower than 64. Next is 128, no half-way. On Ableton Live you can adjust as much as you want, so it's possible to find CPU-latency sweet spot.

The background processes I can identify as problematic are:
  1. Dec 29, 2014  I have a problem when I try to make low sounds in ableton. There is a popping or crackling sound at the beginning of every note. I noticed the same. Cracking / popping sound in ableton when playing low sounds. If you mean Ableton's CPU meter, that never exceeds 30-50%. Massive's master level is also fine, I never let it turn into red.
  2. Processor options when buying a Mac are usually condensed to high-performance Intel-based chips, but in with PCs the options are considerably broader. Generally, multi-core Intel-based processors are considered among the best in the market, the most powerful being in the Intel i5 and i7 families.
  3. Dec 20, 2015  CPU Saving Ableton Instrument Racks! - Duration: 4:28. Seed to Stage 17,809 views. New Way to Save CPU in Ableton! 2 Minute Ableton Tip #5 - Duration: 2:44. Brian Funk 32,213 views.

Ableton Mac Crackling Cpu Windows 10

-Ableton Index — CPU readings up to 90% but usually only for 20 seconds after starting Live 10;
-backupd-helper/mediaanalysisd/photoanalysisd/Photos Agent — I assume these are related…they can be running anywhere from 30% up to 140% according to Activity Monitor;
-kernel_task — I’ve seen it reach 350% twice and 800% twice in Activity Monitor — it only happens when running Live 10 — I think this is the main problem.
Some other things:
-I had a 2011 iMac connected as an external display via Thunderbolt. Removing it seems to have temporarily improved the situation today but I've also had problems without it being connected;
-I do use a complex aggregate device consisting of 5 or 6 audio devices that operate at different sample rates (either 44.1 or 48kHz)— but they work together fine — until they stop working fine;
-I’ve had problems in the past with Automatic Graphics switching activated…it’s off now.Ableton mac crackling cpu 10
In my tests I was playing in realtime 4 VSTs on individual MIDI tracks: Syntronik, Audulus, Ableton's External Instrument tool, Studiomux (w/ iPhone). This doesn't seem like a big ask considering what I've seen people do on older machines.
It’s killing my creativity. Right now with nothing but Activity Monitor open and all other apps closed the system is 98-99% idle. I really hope somebody can give me some advice here. Thanks in advance.

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