New Mac Mini with M1 chip using Logic Pro x - Constant cpu overload

Check the plugins that you are using are the most up to date before anything more radical.

Check that you have the latest drivers for the Scarlett

If all up to date and same issue, try using the internal core audio rather than the Scarlett and see if that still exhibits the same behaviour.

If still persisting we have to look elsewhere.

I thought it was 10.6 and above that were optimised for Big Sur and M1. I run 10.5.1 on Mojave!

Did you ever get a solution to this? I too have been experiencing extremely vexacious CPU problems with my M1 Mini, with a very light load. Even just trying to live process two separate Noise Gates (native) right now is giving me that nasty CPU crunch. I first noticed the problem with my Waves plugins, but I figured that was a rosetta/compatibility issue, and the price we pay for early adoption. This is just bizarre - this M1 chip with 8gb isn't able to handle a task that my 2012 Mini could handle with both hands tied behind it's back. Where else are you looking for solutions?

I too am having this issue with Native Instruments plugins and Omnisphere, Keyscape. One sound loaded up and click and pops and cut outs? Anyone have a solution. Everything seemed to be working well until recently and now none of the pluggins are playable unless they are a native logic plugin. Tried starting in Rossetta mode..no help. Same issues in Mainstage, Komplete Kontrol and Logic.

It actually just started working fine with no changes on my end. And that was before the update that came out today. So who knows. But hopefully that gives you some hope.

The ram will still struggle past 16 gb, no matter the cpu.

I can load about 23 omnispheres before the cpu maxes out