1 / Analyze your Set
Add Stress Test to a temporary audio track in a rehearsal copy. Analyze Set prepares the active audio-input and instrument routes and reports targets it cannot prepare.
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Max for Live · session tools
Stress Test
Can your computer handle the whole session?
Stress Test sends test audio through your live-input effects and MIDI notes to your software instruments while the Arrangement plays. By making them work together, it measures average and peak CPU load so you can judge whether your computer has enough headroom for the show.
One device on a temporary track
Analyze → Run → Check the headroom
2 / Run the workload
Choose Quick Scan for selected windows or Full Rehearsal for the complete Arrangement. Test tone and held MIDI notes keep the prepared live tracks working alongside your clips.
3 / Read the CPU peaks
Review average and peak CPU usage and export the results as JSON. Use the measured peaks to judge your headroom and identify whether the Set or computer setup needs attention.
A practical load test helps identify CPU-overload risk before the show. It measures the workload actually exercised—not an absolute worst case or a guarantee against glitches, dropouts or crashes.
Setup & safety
Ready to test your Set?
Use a rehearsal copy and safe output levels: generated audio and MIDI follow your Set’s routing and can reach speakers or headphones.
Routing, safety and current build limits
- Requires Ableton Live with Max for Live. Use the monitoring and audio settings intended for the show; the tester does not arm tracks or change monitoring.
- Up to 31 stereo live-audio targets. MIDI targets are prepared instrument tracks, not every MIDI-only track. Missing routes or blocked MIDI monitoring prevent an incomplete run.
- MIDI starts targets in rapid succession and holds their notes together. Rack selectors, automation and key/velocity zones remain in control; not every stored preset is forced on.
- Quick Scan samples selected windows; Full Rehearsal plays the whole timeline. Neither reproduces every performer action or failure mode.
- Abort stops the test, releases generated notes and silences its tone. Cleanup restores the original transport position and loop state, leaving playback stopped.
- The current automated/nested-rack extension is code- and package-tested; Live host acceptance remains pending.