Adjust your DAW‘s hardware buffer size before you mix. Since your computer’s CPU determines the amount of audio tracks, plug-ins, audio instruments, and automation data you can use for a session, it’s necessary to make adjustments for optimal performance.
The hardware buffer determines the amount of audio data in samples that the computer’s CPU takes and processes for recording and playback. Smaller buffer sizes mean less latency, which is good for recording, but it also means more processing is needed and therefore less plug-ins become available. Larger buffer settings mean more latency (not as big of an issue once tracking is completed), but more plug-ins can be handled. It follows that larger buffer sizes are more useful for mixdown. Make it a habit to set hardware buffers before recording and reset them before mixing. Depending on your system, we’ve found a good rule of thumb to be 128-256 samples for recording and 512-1,024 for mixing.