CPU Performance At Lowest Possible LatencyĪt this lowest possible latency, we measured the CPU usage (with the CPU workload meter built into the applications) on both machines: Apple M1 Apple M1(Rosetta) Intel
MAC CORE AUDIO VS ASIO MAC
On the Intel Mac however, while the average CPU usage was still quite low, audio dropouts would occur at latencies lower than 3.2 ms.
![mac core audio vs asio mac core audio vs asio](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/a7deb17795f0e0c6da82e4fad0278b1e-1024-80.jpg)
On the Apple M1, we actually reached the limits of the audio interface (it would not offer lower latency) before any single dropout would be heard, which means that the machine is not the limit! Lowest Latency Without Dropoutsįor our first test, we have loaded a “standard” Axiom preset (with an amp and a few effects) and reduced the latency until audio drop outs started to occur: Apple M1 Apple M1(Rosetta) Intel In order to record or play music live with a computer, you want to be able to process audio at low latencies (with no audio dropouts).
MAC CORE AUDIO VS ASIO SOFTWARE
So it is not optimal but lets you run older software that was not rebuilt for the new architecture. In this case, the Rosetta 2 software translates the Intel instructions into ARM instructions that can be understood by the new processor.
![mac core audio vs asio mac core audio vs asio](https://www.scan.co.uk/images/3xs/infopages/asio-interface.png)
On an M1 Mac you can either run native Apple Silicon applications optimized for this processor, or run applications that were originally created for an Intel processor. The latest previews also offer a multicore mode, so both single and multicore performance could be tested.Ībout the Apple M1: the new M1 processor (“Apple Silicon”) has an entirely new architecture based on ARM cores, using different instructions than the Intel x86 processors. They both contain a wide variety of built-in effects with very different algorithms, so they are good candidates for such performance tests. Note: no third party host application nor plug-in was used during these tests: we have been running PatchWork or Axiom as standalone applications or loaded as plug-ins inside of of them.
MAC CORE AUDIO VS ASIO MAC OS
Intel Core i7 MBP with 32 GB RAM (Late 2020), with 4 CPU cores & Hyperthreading.īoth machines are running the latest versions of the system they were delivered with: the M1 is running the latest iteration of Mac OS Big Sur, while the Intel is running the latest iteration of MacOS Catalina.Īll tests were performed at 44.1 kHz, with an RME Babyface Pro FS audio interface (that provides native Apple M1 drivers).Apple M1 MBP with 16 GB RAM (2021), with 4 “high perf” CPU cores, and 4 “high efficiency” cores.The machines used for the benchmark are top of the line 13 inches MacBook Pros: Let’s see what the tests revealed! Hardware Configurations & Test Conditions We have tested for you the latest previews of two of our flagship products, Axiom and PatchWork, optimized for both Intel and Apple Silicon (M1) processors. Raw CPU performance is one thing, but what’s up with these new machines for real time audio? Do they really perform better than Intel Macs?
![mac core audio vs asio mac core audio vs asio](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/to6-avlAdKQ/maxresdefault.jpg)
The new Apple M1 Macs have been available for a few months now, and the new M1 processor has been reported to bring huge performance gains for multiple CPU benchmarks.