optimise-for-audio-win
A collection of scripts for optimising Windows 10 for real-time and network audio.
Warning: these scripts edit values in the registry. I recommnend backing up your registry first.
optimise.bat
Warning: running this script will remove your existing Power Configurations.
To optimise Windows for real-time audio, simply run 'optimise.bat'.
start_realtime.bat
To automatically start a process with real-time priority, run:
start_realtime.bat <path_to_app_without_quotes>
For example:
start_realtime.bat C:\Windows\notepad.exe
If you don't have administrator priviledges, you will recieve a prompt.
What does the script do?
The script provided is designed to automate some of the actions that improve performance of real-time and network audio. The optimise.bat script performs the following actions:
Power
- Add a custom, high performance power plan
- Set sleep and hibernation options to 'Never'
- Disable hard disk and USB suspend
Performance
- Set processing scheduling to 'Background Services'
- Disable Visual Effects
- Turn off paging
Network
- Disable all WiFi adapters
- Disable Flow Control and Interrupt Moderation
- Disable Nagle's algorithm
Miscellaneous
- Disable system sounds
- Disable Windows background apps
- Disable User Account Control
- Disable Bluetooth adapters
- Disable automatic Windows Updates
- TODO: Disable 'Windows updates from more than one place'
What else can I do?
Some of the steps to better audio performance can't be automated. You can perform the following changes manually to try and improve performance:
BIOS
- Disable Fast Boot/Fast Startup
- Disable C-state transitions
- Disable Turbo Boost
- Disable SpeedStep
- Disable hyper-threading
- Disable spread sprectrum
Audio drivers
- Set buffer size to the highest possible value (with acceptable latency)
Network audio (i.e. Dante) drivers
- Set the ASIO latency to the highest possible setting
- Set the network audio driver latency to the highest possible setting
Further reading
The recommend changes here are based on the following resources:
- Serato - PC Optimization Guide for Windows
- Focusrite - Optimising your PC for Audio on Windows 10
- Universal Audio - Windows Optimization - Optional Settings
- Ableton - Optimizing Windows for Audio
- Avid - Windows 10 Optimizations and Troubleshooting
- Audinate - How can I tune a windows PC for best audio performance?
- Cantabile ‘Glitch Free’ guide