Yeah that's true.
I said that so just in case if we ever run out of CPU we have an option it to 4096 buffer for more performance only when we need. Other times we are good with low latency.

Thanks for the tips! I am copying these settings to my notes app cause sometimes I try other DAWs and don't know the best settings.

 

@saccamano Remove "/file" from that link! tip by @clone

 

Last edited: May 28, 2025

Thanks for IRL tests @blinkitspenguin @Dom_Perignon. rly helpful for getting the big picture
I'm building a new AMD desktop (mandatory for my other work) but planning to get a MacBook (will post a separate thread for that). Just two quick questions for now:

Which MacBook model would be closest to these Mac minis (16/512 config), more on that Pro version side?

Why is the Overall Latency showing 9 ms @64 samples? (on my 6 y/o desktop* I get ~3-4 ms @64, ~6.6 ms @128,..)

Tnx
*5900x, rme BF Pro

 

Macbook air M4 with 512GB should be similar to my M4 Mac Mini. Macbook pro with M4 Pro Chip is double the cost of Macbook Air M4 but also has double the performance. But being a laptop it'll heat up a bit more than a mac mini imo.

I think, The overall latency is higher because of my 7 year old scarlett solo audio interface but can't say for sure. Wait, I will try switching the I/O settings and i'll let you know if I am able to reduce the latency or not.

 

I was using a scarlett 18i20 2nd or 3rd gen, from around the same 2017/2018 time frame and it was nothing but problems for me, due to the software. I do not remember latency being so much of an issue, when compared with the others I had with it. The MK number I had was when you went to look for the installation software on their website, the gen right before mine was the Focusrite Mix Control software, and the newer gen I had was the first one with Focusrite Control software. I specifically remember this, because of how frequently I had to reinstall it. It would randomly disconnect from usb, then not reconnect. Sometimes even after a full reboot. By the time I sold it, I was about ready to throw it in a dumpster.

Maybe they have improved their Mac software over the years, idk. Just a word of caution.

Motu 828ES in Logic at 32 samples shows this, not that I'd ever run it like this. Just to show you that the RTL reported is due to the interface latency more than the Mac. The real thing of importance is how is performance with such a small buffer setting.

 

Last edited: May 30, 2025

I'm assuming that if the interface SW is decently coded, I should be getting under 6–7 ms at 128 samples, which is what I'd typically use. Planning to get a "utility" MacBook, still solid enough enough to act as a live sound source for my keyboard.
I’ll keep the rest of my questions for another thread.. kind of going offtopic here

Thanx