Optimization Tips?

The place for general discussion of Cakewalk Pro Audio.
HDB

Post by HDB » Fri Feb 06, 2004 11:58 am

Howdy. Just wondering if it would be a good idea to have an "Optimizing the PC" section? Especially for the newer users, it may be helpful to have one spot where they can link to several sites that offer tips and tweaks for optimizing their computer for audio, maybe with the Windows versions (98,XP, etc.) subcatagorized. Some folks may not realize that an off the shelf pre-configured computer is so far away from serious recording-ready without them taking control vs. the manufacturer. The average computer is so loaded with services and garbage running in the background, and configured for home or game use, that they are nearly unusable for serious recording. It will make you hair stand on end when you discover how much GARBAGE these companies put on there, not to mention all the junk that lurks around from downloading and surfing.....this junk eats up resources that digital audio needs.
It must be stated also, that since nearly every one of our computers are different by some degree, (the hardware, software, settings), that no one combination of tweaking the computer and the software can apply to everyone. But, there are certain tweaks that are a must to squeeze out the most horsepower and assure a more stable system.
This can be time consuming. I can spend a long weekend starting on a fresh computer. It all starts even before the operating system gets installed. I will tweak as I go, one peripheral, and one program at a time.
A fresh system, properly tweaked, is the absolute BEST way to go, although there are still ways to liven up a system without nuking it first.
For those who say "Yeah, but I don't wanna screw around with the hassles of all that...I just wanna make music on this stupid thing"...here's a question. If you are having trouble getting music out of that stupid thing (which it is, we are not), how much music are you making vs. sitting in front of the computer trying to find an easy fix for a complicated problem?
It behooves anyone who expects to use a computer as a serious recording tool to learn all they can about the how's and why's. The stress level when you know it's not fatal, and you know you have everything backed up, and you know you can get the thing running again is MUCH lower than when the computer crashes and your world is spinning out of orbit.
This is just a suggestion, and if the moderator could decide if this is a useful thing, I have some links to some good info, as I'm sure a lot of you do also. (Probably much of the same).
Time for work. (May officially join the group when I get time, (unless there are serious objections :D ) Thanks for letting me lurk.
HDB


andychap
Posts: 685
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Location: UK

Post by andychap » Fri Feb 06, 2004 12:28 pm

OK heres a good one from Computermusic magazine.

Power Up Your PC
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/tutorial/power/pc.asp

From Sound on Sound

General Windows Streamlining
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Apr03/a ... 00fa21a123

Tweaking the BIOS (not recommended for the faint hearted)
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Dec02/a ... 00fa21a123

Choosing the right PCI slot
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/May03/a ... 00fa21a123

Windows XP Tweaks
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Mar02/a ... an0302.asp

I'll post some more as I remember them.

andychap
Posts: 685
Joined: Wed Aug 27, 2003 7:26 pm
Location: UK

Post by andychap » Fri Feb 06, 2004 3:48 pm

An important one for XP users:

Stop Windows Messenger from Auto-Starting

If you're not a big fan of Windows Messenger simply delete the following Registry Key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersi
on\Run\MSMSGS

HDB

Post by HDB » Sat Feb 07, 2004 12:12 am

OK...good :)
Here's some I found useful. I still use 98 on my MIDI computer, only because I like some of the Roland Rap-10 MIDI sounds, mixed and matched to the SB Live!. I use XP on the audio computer that has the Delta 1010 and Audigy. Here's some links to both.

For 98- http://www.funklogic.com/pcaudio.htm
http://fdisk.radified.com/
(Partitioning and sizing the clusters on your hard disks is a VERY good thing to know how to do, and why).

For XP- http://www.musicxp.net/ (Very good stuff)
http://www.tweakxp.com/performance_tweaks.aspx
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/SupportCD/OptimizeXP.html
http://www.futureproducers.com/forums/f ... 7&x=12&y=3

Hope this is useful.
(Remember to back up first.....)

HDB

andychap
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Joined: Wed Aug 27, 2003 7:26 pm
Location: UK

Post by andychap » Sat Feb 07, 2004 9:45 am

Also The latest edition of the magazine Windows XP has a free version of Tweak-XP 2 on the cover disk. A very handy program that you can speed up your whole system and use the tweaking tools to benefit audio.

GretscGuy
Posts: 434
Joined: Sat Oct 18, 2003 1:26 pm
Location: Massachusetts USA

Post by GretscGuy » Mon Feb 09, 2004 1:20 am

also:
musicxp.net

tunexp.com

blackviper.com

andychap
Posts: 685
Joined: Wed Aug 27, 2003 7:26 pm
Location: UK

Post by andychap » Sat Mar 27, 2004 3:48 am

Bump.

GretscGuy
Posts: 434
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Location: Massachusetts USA

Post by GretscGuy » Fri Apr 02, 2004 1:58 pm

There is an article in either EQ or Recording this month (April/May) that deals with tweaking XP. It's worth a look.

As a diehard PA9/W2k user, I can say that although I was reluctant to make the switch, my XP Pro/Sonar 3 system is rock solid (knock on wood) and blows the doors off PA9/W2k.

There was a learning curve of about 3 days hard time, now I like SOnar 3 a lot. I tried at a friends (and didn't like) Sonar, Sonar 2, etc...

If you're afraind of XP, dont be. It's really good and you can get it to look/behave like 2K

andychap
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Joined: Wed Aug 27, 2003 7:26 pm
Location: UK

Post by andychap » Fri Apr 16, 2004 1:17 pm

This is the thread you want adrian :wink:

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