Subject:READ THIS IF YOU HAVE PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS!!!!

Posted by: marcarotsky

Date:12/14/2003 11:50:26 AM

i've seen a lot of posts here about stuttering and performance problems and things of this nature. lets try to consider this analogy...(for you computer UNSAAVY people)

a 2003 honda civic can do 120 MPH right??? YES, just not very easily...you gotta REALLY REALLY push it to get it to 120. the engine is SCRRREEEAMING and you're red lining your tach. and the car is shaking like crazy.
well, if you have a 2003 Porsche, this can very easily do 120 MPH and beg you for more!!! the car is barely breaking a sweat and the car rides like its only going 60 MPH.
reason being??? one is designed for speed and quickness (porsche) and the other is designed to pick up little billy at baseball practice. (civic) they both are capable of doing the 120 MPH speed, its just that one does it A LOT more efficiently and more stable.
well, its the same for your CPU. if you try to make your CPU perform tasks that it is not designed to do, it is going to choke and sweat and start shaking uncontrollably!!! (well, maybe not shake) you need to realize that digital audio manipulation is an EXTREMELY intensive task for processors. what we see as wave forms and hear as sounds...your computer sees as "1's" and "0's" (digital code) in order for you to get results when you click that mouse, or insert those effects or add those loops or insert those soft synths, that processor (whatever it may be) and your sound card (whatever THAT may be) needs to be performing literally, BILLIONS of calculations in a second. now, when you have a relatively lower end system (honda civic) and you try to make it perform like it was a porsche, of course youre going to have problems!!!! when audio starts as a hobby for you and progresses into something more...you need to upgrade to something thats going to support that need for "more power" (high end processor, quick and loads of memory, AUDIO sound card (not a gaming sound card) and a system free of non-essential software. (or at least on a partition, away from your audio apps)) i know its not a solution to some of your problems...but, i just thought i'd give an insight to some "computer unsaavy" people as to WHY you're having problems. youre trying to take a honda civic and race it at the winston cup!!!!! (analogies work great huh?) ITS NOT GONNA HAPPEN!!!!

serious about audio on your computer?? these are minimums...

1. 1.5 GHZ processor (P4 or ATHLON...nothing less!!!)
2. 512 MB of DDRRAM or RDRAM
3. multiple hard drives (or one BIG partitioned hard drive) one dedicated JUST FOR AUDIO and the other for all non-audio apps.
4. AUDIO SOUND CARD!!! NOT SOUND BLASTER. SOUND BLASTERS (ALL OF EM) ARE FOR GAMING!!!! NOT FOR AUDIO PRODUCTION!!!!! dont expect them to perform like an m-audio card (or other "pro" style card)
5. good and stable operating system. (win xp, xp pro or 2000 are the best)
6. FREQUENTLY defrag your system. (i do mine twice a day. once befor ei start working, then when im done) defragging will make your computer thank you and save you alot of headaches!!!

hope this helps some of you....
just thought i'd shed some light

-marc

Subject:RE: READ THIS IF YOU HAVE PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS!!!!

Reply by: MyST

Date:12/14/2003 6:03:35 PM

Since you specified you were aiming the UNsavvy with your suggestions, I have a couple more to throw in for those that own a Prelude (better than the Civic, but it ain't no screamer!).

Disarm all anti-virus while working with A/V.
Disable screensavers.
Disable automatic checking for e-mails.
Actually, to sum it up...do a CNTRL-ALT-DLT and disarm all unneccessary tasks.
And since you know you're only running a Prelude, use it as such until you can upgrade to the McLaren M1. If you NEED those FXs, render those tracks and work with that as you add more tracks, then render that if neccessary (make sure you keep the originals in case you want to modify later).
I'm sure there are other tips 'n tricks...

M

Subject:RE: READ THIS IF YOU HAVE PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS!!!!

Reply by: Jacose

Date:12/14/2003 10:17:22 PM

all i have to say:

www.fx-freeze.com

Subject:RE: READ THIS IF YOU HAVE PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS!!!!

Reply by: stebsly

Date:12/16/2003 1:35:06 PM

sorry, I have to disagree with you on the "do not use Soundblasters" for audio ..

I'm a PRO user - have been for 10 years now - currently I do audio for video games, hence the transition into using a SB for all my audio work [Audigy 2 ZS Platinum as my current card].

I've used many cards in the past (bought / returned / threw away many cards!) from Emagic, Steinberg, Korg, M-Audio, Digidesign and NO OTHER CARD is as stable, sounds as good or is low latency like my Audigy 2 ZS ... plus I have no worries when it IS time for gaming ;)

Now I may be the exception to the rule, I am VERY computer saavy / technically minded - but I'm only speaking here from personal experience - (not trying to start a flame war over which card to use) ...

Cheers, Steb

Subject:RE: READ THIS IF YOU HAVE PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS!!!!

Reply by: marcarotsky

Date:12/16/2003 5:05:22 PM

completely understandable. some have luck with them i guess. (sound blasters) i just personlly have not. i guess it all depends on how in depth you get with audio production. and dont worry, this forum is here so that people can express their "oppinions" i wouldnt get mad or pissed at someone from expressing their personl oppinions!! :-)
--marc

Subject:any more info?

Reply by: bflat

Date:12/16/2003 10:46:47 PM

1) Under Run, MSCONFIG, start-up, what are the SAFE things to un-check, so performance is improved but the system isn't harmed?

2) How do you disarm unnecccesary tasks using CONTROL-ALT-DELETE? ...I would assume clicking END PROCESS for certain things. How do you know which are safe to disable and which aren't?

3) And for STEBSBY: what's your opinion of the Audigy Platinum EX 2? (I notice you said you use a 2 ZS.) Do you have any experience, negative or otherwise with the DELTA 66 (M-AUDIO) or 2496?

Subject:RE: any more info?

Reply by: coolout

Date:12/17/2003 8:41:12 AM

www.musicxp.net

nuff said.

Subject:RE: any more info?

Reply by: stebsly

Date:12/17/2003 10:27:38 AM

in my home computer I have the Audigy ZS, my work computer has BOTH the Audigy Platinum EX2 and the Delta 66 .. currently I only use the Audigy EX2 for my work stuff and I've only used the Delta 66 ONCE in the past year. For me the Audigy EX2 sounds great and I don't really have a need to use the Delta!! (The Delta does sound very good too but I have to say the Audigy EX2 sounds just as good to my relatively trained ears.)

One note here .. I'm a big fan of "guerrilla" recording .. making things sound great with minimal equipment. So I may be a bit biased towards the "cheaper" stuff .. lol! I've recorded and mixed tunes on everything from Million Dollar SSL consoles to $200 Behringer mixers so I've been "around the block" ..

Subject:RE: any more info?

Reply by: marcarotsky

Date:12/17/2003 11:20:23 AM

b flat...

under msconfig:

you can uncheck everything if you desire. anything windows may need to load at startup will automatically kick back on if you unchecked it. nothing can be harmed by you unchecking it. all this utility is for, is processes windows loads at startup. BUT, there are a couple youd probably want to keep on. on my personal system i have:
1. updreg
2. ccapp
3. ccregvfy
4. wupdater
5. cmesys

ALL ACTIVE!!! (STILL CHECKED)
-and of those, 2 are for my nortin internet security (which i always keep running cuz im on high speed internet and always connected. so i wanna stay protected against maliscious attacks)
-one is for my windows update utility. (which is on, but doesnt need to be, you can check for updates manuually. i'd just forget!)
- the other is for updating your registry...KEEP THIS ONE ON!!! (#1)

hope this helps you out, lemme know if you got other ??'S
--marc