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