Ableton Live 11 is the latest version of Ableton’s popular digital audio workstation (DAW) software.
With new features like Comping, MPE support, and an improved workflow, Live 11 provides musicians, producers, and DJs with a powerful platform for music creation.
But how much hard drive space does the full version of Live 11 require? Here’s a breakdown of the storage needs for Ableton Live 11.
Ableton Live 11 Editions and Storage Requirements
Ableton Live comes in three main editions, each with different features and storage requirements:
Intro
- The introductory version of Live 11
- Comes with essential instruments, effects, and sounds
- Requires approximately 5 GB of storage space
Standard
- The standard full version of Live 11
- Comes with more instruments, effects, sounds, and features
- Requires approximately 20 GB of storage space
Suite
- The most complete edition of Live 11
- Includes all Standard features plus additional instruments, effects, Max for Live, and more
- Requires approximately 45 GB of storage space
What’s Included in Each Edition?
The varying storage requirements for each Live 11 edition comes down to what’s included in each version:
Intro
- 16 audio tracks and 8 MIDI tracks
- Selection of virtual instruments and effects
- 1.5 GB of cloud sounds
Standard
- Unlimited audio and MIDI tracks
- Large library of instruments, effects, and sounds
- 5 GB of cloud sounds
Suite
- Everything in Standard plus:
- Wavetable, Operator, Sampler instruments
- Extra effects like Guitar Rig, Convolution Reverb
- Max for Live environment
- 35 GB of cloud sounds
So Suite has the highest space requirement since it contains the full complement of Live’s built-in sounds, instruments, effects, and content.
Typical Installation Size on Disk
Here are the typical disk space usage amounts for each edition of Ableton Live 11:
- Live 11 Intro: 8 GB
- Live 11 Standard: 25 GB
- Live 11 Suite: 50+ GB
The installed size is larger than the minimum requirements since Live data is compressed. Additionally, users will likely add more content which adds to the storage usage.
Tips for Managing Ableton Live’s Storage Footprint
Here are some tips for optimizing and reducing the storage impact of Ableton Live 11:
- Use external drives for sample libraries, recordings, and project files. This avoids filling up your system drive.
- Freeze and flatten tracks when possible to reduce CPU load and tidy up project files.
- Delete unused samples, presets, and other content. Regularly clear out older projects.
- Use the “Collect All and Save” function to remove unused samples.
- Turn off “Crop Audio Files” to avoid duplicating samples.
- Choose smaller file sizes for exports (e.g. 16-bit vs 24-bit).
- Use an external drive for Live’s cache and temporary content.
Conclusion
In summary, Ableton Live 11 Intro requires around 8 GB, Standard needs 25 GB, and Suite takes 50 GB or more when fully installed. Actual usage will vary based on your content and workflow. Following the tips above can help optimize Live’s storage impact. With its flexible editions and workflow enhancements, Live 11 provides an inspiring platform for music creators with efficient storage management.
