audio preset (top right corner of Ableton audio %) Crackling

Hi Steve,
I find when I use serum that my audio can't handle it, I tried changing the sample rate but it still persists on cutting and crackling.
Does this make sense? Do you have any reccomendations?
thanks

You could search CPU in the forum.

Typically lowering POLY in the lower-right or unison counts will resolve it. Freezing the track would be the best way to free up CPU.

The amount of CPU Serum uses depends on a lot of factors, you should look at the voice count fraction in the lower-right corner. I would recommend keeping that fraction below 64 or so by lowering poly and/or unison settings as needed. Of course the power of your machine will matter a lot, but other synths will cap preventing poly from exceeding 64 even if you want it to. I did not impose such a limitation in Serum, but you should have awareness regarding voice count and this number., e.g. if Unison settings are set crazy high (e.g. above 7 or so) and you want to play chords, you're asking a lot from your computer potentially.

Also I would recommend to check your sound card settings in the DAW preferences, make sure your latency isn't set too low (I'd suggest 512 or 1024) and also make sure your computer is plugged in/charging and perhaps freeze tracks as needed.

Hope this helps,
Steve

Thanks so much!
I had asked deep in thread in another forum if it was my computer that was the potential issue. (funny because I thought it was a ridiculous question after asking it, evidently this could be the main reason however). Awesome, I'll be sure to try these other suggestions too.