{"id":1780028,"date":"2024-01-05T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-05T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/?post_type=articles&p=1780028"},"modified":"2025-11-28T15:55:23","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T20:55:23","slug":"macos-audio-optimization-guide","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/macos-audio-optimization-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"macOS Audio Optimization Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Apple Mac is a popular platform for music, audio, video, and content creation. As the Mac is a general-purpose device, it needs some optimization to give the best performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This guide was written for macOS Sequoia (macOS 15), released on September 16, 2024. However, this guide incorporates best practices from across the industry that are relevant to all the versions of macOS from recent years, including both Intel-based Mac and Mac with Apple silicon computers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting the best performance from your Mac depends on your use case and workflow; we hope you will find helpful tips here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Mac with Apple silicon vs. Intel-based Mac<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
  2. Turn off Time Machine, iCloud Drive, Cloud-based Storage, and Backup Apps<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
  3. Quit Unneeded Apps and Restart Your Mac<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
  4. Connect Your Audio Interface Directly to Your Mac<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
  5. Using a MacBook? Plug It In<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
  6. Bluetooth<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
  7. Network and Internet Connections<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
  8. Optimizing to Reduce Network Activity<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
  9. System Settings<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
  10. Get to Know Activity Monitor<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
  11. macOS Support Resources<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Mac with Apple silicon vs. Intel-based Mac<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    In 2020, Apple introduced the first Mac with Apple silicon computer and began to phase out the older, Intel-based Mac platform. The last Intel-based Mac was discontinued in 2023. So far, Apple has released new Mac models with the M1, M2, and M3 series of chips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you have a Mac with Apple silicon<\/strong>, you will see much better performance if you update to third-party apps and plug-ins that are Apple silicon native<\/strong> rather than using the older apps with Intel-based<\/strong> code running in the Rosetta<\/strong> emulation mode. We explain this in our SweetCare guide Mac with Apple Silicon vs. Intel-based Mac: What You Need to Know<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>

    Mac with Apple silicon vs. Intel-based Mac: What You Need to Know<\/p>

    <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a>\n\n\n\n

    You will want to check with the developers of each piece of software you use to see about updating and installing the newest versions that are Apple silicon native. Sweetwater provides up-to-date information on compatibility from 180 manufacturers and developers, with links to the support website for each, at our SweetCare macOS Sequoia Compatibility Guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>

    MacOS Sequoia Compatibility Guide<\/p>

    <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Turn off Time Machine, iCloud Drive, Cloud-based Storage, and Backup Apps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Backup apps, whether local or cloud based, are essential to protecting your work. However, when backup apps are running, they can cause glitches in recording, editing, and rendering audio and video. These apps constantly search your hard drive for new data, which they then read off the hard drive to make backups. If you are tracking or rendering audio or video, you are writing large amounts of data to your drive continuously; a backup app will interfere, and that\u2019s where glitches arise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Before you begin each session, turn off all backup apps. When your session is finished, remember to turn the backup apps back on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Turn off Time Machine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    At Sweetwater, we recommend that you use Apple\u2019s Time Machine<\/strong> to keep a local backup of your Mac to a connected external hard drive. However, you must turn it off during your sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Go to System Settings > General > Time Machine<\/strong>.<\/li>
    2. Select your Time Machine backup disk. Click Options…<\/strong>.<\/li>
    3. Under Backup frequency<\/strong>, pull down the menu and select Manually<\/strong>. This will interrupt the regular backup process.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      When your session is done, go back to the settings. Change Backup frequency<\/strong> to Automatically Every Hour <\/strong>so it can resume incremental backups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      For more information, check out ourSweetCare macOS Time Machine Backup Guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>

      MacOS Time Machine Backup Guide<\/p>

      <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a>\n\n\n\n

      Turn off iCloud Drive<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      When you set up a new Mac, you are prompted to enable Apple\u2019s iCloud Drive<\/strong> to back up your Documents folder and other locations on your Mac to the cloud. However, like Time Machine, iCloud Drive will interfere with recording and editing audio and video. If you decide to use iCloud Drive, you must turn it off before every recording session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1. Go to System Settings<\/strong>. Click the icon next to your Apple ID.<\/li>
      2. In the pane on the right, click on iCloud<\/strong>.<\/li>
      3. You will see the various settings for iCloud Drive and other apps that share data through iCloud.<\/li>
      4. Click on iCloud Drive<\/strong>. Click Turn Off<\/strong>.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Consult Apple\u2019s support pages. This Apple Support article explains how to disable iCloud Drive<\/a> and get your Desktop and Documents folders back to your startup disk.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Turn off Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive, or Splice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        If you use one of these file-syncing services, you must turn it off during a session. Consult the service\u2019s instructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        More importantly, you should never save your working audio and video project files in one of these service\u2019s folders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Turn off Cloud-based Backup Services<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        If you use a third-party cloud-based backup service such as Carbonite, IDrive, or Backblaze, you must turn it off during a session. Consult the service\u2019s instructions. Turn it back on when your session is done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Quit Unneeded Apps and Restart Your Mac<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        The most important thing you can do to maximize your computer\u2019s resources while working with your DAW is to quit all the apps you are not using. Apps you leave running take up space in memory and take away from your system\u2019s computing power. They may also run background processes that interfere with recording and rendering audio and video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        TIP: Before each session, restart your Mac. When you give the Restart<\/strong> command, you\u2019ll see a dialog box that asks: \u201cAre you sure you want to restart your computer now?\u201d Uncheck<\/strong> the box next to Reopen windows when logging back in<\/strong>, then click Restart<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Connect Your Audio Interface Directly to Your Mac<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        You should always plug an audio interface directly into your Mac, not through a USB hub or a Thunderbolt dock. Audio interfaces require the greatest bandwidth, so they function best when connected directly. You can connect your other peripherals through a powered hub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Using a MacBook? Plug It In<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        MacBooks are configured to reduce computing power when run from the battery. When you are running a session, plug in the power supply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Bluetooth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        If you don\u2019t use Bluetooth devices while working in your DAW, turn Bluetooth off. It constantly sends signals that take up a small part of your Mac\u2019s processor overhead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        1. Go to System Settings > Bluetooth<\/strong>.<\/li>
        2. Click the button to turn it off.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Network and Internet Connections<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          If you don\u2019t actually need to have your Mac connected to the Internet when using your DAW, you will get higher performance by disconnecting altogether. However, many users need to remain connected for software authentication (for example, products that use iLok Cloud).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Learn more at iLok Support: FAQ \u2013 iLok Cloud<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Many apps and background processes constantly create network traffic. We will discuss tips for reducing this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Use Ethernet Rather Than Wi-Fi<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          Regardless, you will get better performance if you use an Ethernet cable connection to your Mac and turn Wi-Fi off. Wi-Fi generates additional network traffic that may interfere with recording and playback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          If possible, position your Mac in your home or studio so that you can run an Ethernet cable between your Mac and your router.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Recent Macs don\u2019t have Ethernet ports, but you can connect an Ethernet to USB-C adapter dongle, an Ethernet to Thunderbolt adapter dongle, or a USB dock or Thunderbolt dock that has an Ethernet port built in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          To turn off your Mac\u2019s Wi-Fi:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          1. Go to System Settings > Wi-Fi<\/strong>.<\/li>
          2. Click the button to turn it off.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

            Optimizing to Reduce Network Activity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

            Quit Web Browsers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            Leaving your web browser open, with multiple tabs or windows, takes up memory and processing power. Open web pages may constantly fetch data from the Internet, creating more network traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Quit Email<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            Quit the Mail app or any other email app you use. They continuously check for new emails and download them, creating more network traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Quit Widgets<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            Quit all music streaming apps and widgets like News or Weather. They create network traffic, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            System Settings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

            There are a number of settings you can change in System Settings<\/strong> (or System Preferences<\/strong> in macOS 12 Monterey and earlier versions).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Some of these settings are suggestions you may wish to try if you encounter problems. Others offer specific benefits. Please check them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n