CPU Management Tips for MainStage

MainStage is designed for live performance, but it can place a heavy load on your Mac. If your computer is overloaded, you may experience audio glitches, delayed patch changes, crackling, dropouts, latency, or other performance issues.

Use the steps below to help prepare your Mac for a more stable MainStage performance.

Use the Cleanest Computer Setup Possible

For best results, use a dedicated Mac just for MainStage whenever possible.

If you need to use your personal Mac, consider one of these options:

  • Use a separate partition for MainStage performance work.
  • At minimum, create a separate macOS login account used only for MainStage concerts.

This helps keep performance files, system settings, and background activity separate from your everyday computer use.

Keep Enough Free Disk Space

Make sure your Mac has enough available storage.

For best performance, keep at least 25% of your hard disk space free at all times. Low disk space can affect system performance and may make MainStage less stable during rehearsal or performance.

Turn Off Unnecessary Background Activity

Before using MainStage in rehearsal or performance, close anything that is not needed.

Do not leave unnecessary apps open in the background. This includes browsers, email apps, cloud-sync apps, messaging apps, media players, and other software that may use CPU, memory, internet, or audio resources.

Turn Off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

When possible, turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth while using MainStage.

This helps reduce background activity and prevents your Mac from searching for networks, devices, updates, messages, or other connections during performance.

Only leave Wi-Fi or Bluetooth on if your setup specifically requires it.

Turn On Do Not Disturb

Turn on Do Not Disturb before rehearsal or performance.

This helps prevent notifications, banners, sounds, calls, or messages from interrupting your performance setup.

You can usually find Do Not Disturb in the upper-right area of macOS. Depending on your macOS version, this may appear as Focus mode.

Turn Off Auto Save in MainStage

We recommend turning off Auto Save in MainStage settings.

This helps prevent MainStage from saving unexpected changes during rehearsal or performance. It can also help avoid issues caused by saving while keys, pedals, or controllers are being pressed.

After making intentional changes, save the concert manually.

Disable Spotlight Indexing for Your Home Folder

Spotlight indexing can use system resources in the background. If you are using your Mac for MainStage performance, you may want to disable Spotlight indexing for your home folder.

To do this:

  1. Open System Settings or System Preferences.
  2. Go to Spotlight.
  3. Open the Privacy section.
  4. Click the + button.
  5. Select your home folder.
  6. Click Choose.
  7. Confirm the dialog box if prompted.

The exact menu names may vary depending on your version of macOS.

MainStage’s Perform mode helps reduce background interruptions during performance, including OS-level Auto Save, Spotlight, and Time Machine behavior. For maximum reliability, we still recommend preparing your Mac before rehearsal or performance by closing unnecessary apps, avoiding active background tasks, and confirming your system is stable before you play.

Check MainStage CPU and Memory Meters

MainStage includes CPU and memory meters at the top of the MainStage window.

Use these meters to monitor the health of your concert and help locate potential problems. If CPU or memory usage is unusually high, you may need to simplify your setup, close other apps, increase the audio buffer size, or investigate a specific patch that is using too many resources.

Set a Practical Audio Buffer Size

The audio buffer size affects the balance between responsiveness and CPU load.

A lower buffer size can feel more responsive, but it also makes your Mac work harder. A higher buffer size is easier on the CPU, but may add more latency.

We recommend starting with a buffer size of 128 or 256 and adjusting from there based on how your computer handles the concert.

Avoid using a buffer size below 128. In most performance situations, the benefit is not worth the additional CPU strain.

You can adjust the buffer size in MainStage’s Advanced Audio Settings.

Turn Off the I/O Safety Buffer

In MainStage’s Advanced Audio Settings, uncheck I/O Safety Buffer.

This setting can affect latency and performance. If you are troubleshooting CPU or responsiveness issues, make sure this option is turned off.

Try Low Resolution Mode if Needed

If you are using a Retina Mac and experiencing performance issues, you can try opening MainStage in low resolution mode.

To check this option:

  1. Quit MainStage.
  2. Open Finder.
  3. Locate the MainStage application.
  4. Click once to highlight it.
  5. Press Cmd+I to open the Info window.
  6. If available, check Open in Low Resolution.

This option may not appear on all Macs or macOS versions.

Check Assignments & Mappings

Open MainStage’s Assignments & Mappings page and check for unnecessary or unexpected assignments.

Look for items that are marked Unassigned, especially if they are routed to All Channel Strips. These can sometimes create hidden problems, including latency or unexpected behavior.

Delete or block any unnecessary unassigned items.

Quick Pre-Performance Checklist

Before rehearsal or performance:

  • Close all unnecessary apps.
  • Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth unless required.
  • Turn on Do Not Disturb or Focus mode.
  • Turn off Auto Save in MainStage settings.
  • Confirm that you have at least 25% free disk space.
  • Check MainStage’s CPU and memory meters.
  • Confirm your buffer size is set to 128 or 256 to start.
  • Make sure I/O Safety Buffer is unchecked.
  • Review Assignments & Mappings for rogue or unassigned items.
  • For rehearsal or performance, use Perform mode whenever possible. Perform mode is designed for live use and helps keep the workspace focused on the controls you need while playing.

If You Are Still Having Performance Issues

If you continue to experience audio glitches, latency, dropouts, or slow patch changes, try to identify whether the problem happens:

  • In every patch
  • Only in one specific patch
  • Only after MainStage has been open for a while
  • Only when other apps or devices are connected
  • Only when using a specific audio interface or MIDI controller

This information can help determine whether the issue is related to your Mac, your MainStage concert, your audio settings, or connected hardware.