Posts Tagged ‘daw’
Sick of having to name your tracks everytime you start a new project?
A really nifty way to save time in Sonar is to create your own ‘Track Templates’.
:::How:::
Start a new project.
Add a couple of tracks, name them if you want.
Then selct the tracks you want to be in your template using ‘Ctrl’ and click.
Go to ‘File’ – ‘Export’ – ‘Track Template’ – Save as ’1′ or whatever you want to call it.
Now to import your ‘Track Template’ right click in an empty area of the track screen,
In the following screen shot – ‘Insert From Track Template’ – my template is called ’1′.
Now you should have a bunch of new tracks.
This is an ideal way of saving time naming tracks or whatever you need.
Unfortunately it doesn’t work with group folders.
You have to do this manually but that’s no major hassle.
Related Reading:
This article is basically a troubleshoot of a problem I have, it’s also an excuse to have a look at some of the tweaks and fixes that can be found in your bios settings.
The problem I’m having comes in three forms:
1. Sonar: CPU spikes to 100% hits red with a ‘warning’ sign
2. Powercore disables itself periodically.
3. After recording hard drive seems slow in updating Sonar with new track.
I’m convinced this is an IRQ conflict, I recently installed a powercore element card alongside my UAD, M-Audio 2496, Adaptec and Gigabit network card.
All my PCI slots are now maxed out.
An IRQ conflict is when too devices are assigned the same IRQ.
IMPORTANT NOTE:As usual with all the troubleshooting and noodling with settings that I write about on this site please remember that I am an idiot and I take no responsibility for anything that goes hooky with your system. Please read this guide first and only attempt the fixes if you’re confident enough to do so. Also please, please, please
***BACK UP EVERYTHING BEFORE YOU START***
:::Check IRQ:::
Start -> Settings -> Control Panel
System -> Hardware -> Device Manager
At the top of device manager you have four choices File, Action, View and Help.
View ->Resources by connection
Click on the (+) next to ‘Interrupt Request’
This will give you a list of all your devices and there IRQ settings.
Check each devices number and see if they conflict with anything else/have the same number.
When I did this I had a few conflicts.
Mainly my Powercore is on the same IRQ as my Gigabit network card.
So time for the old switcheroo.
Switching cards around is usually a way of reaasigning IRQs.
Pain in the arse really. Also worth a mention is moving the sound card as far away from the Processor as possible.
Before you go ahead make sure you have all your drivers just in case.
If you’re going to do this do one card at a time, sometimes software that have protection will get confused and think a new pc has been setup and want reinstalling. To be on the safe side, one at a time, restart windows and check IRQs. You never know you might get lucky.
:::Update on my system:::
Apart from having to update my drivers I have no IRQ conflicts, but I’ve also removed the gigabit lan card.
This is not exactly a pain but neither is it ideal. I used the Lan for FX Teleport and even though I can still use my onboard Lan ikt may not work as well. Oh well onwards and upwards, maybe I can reinstall it later if everything else is ok.
:::Bios Tweaking:::
Now I’ve fixed my first problem the IRQs it’s time to teak my bios.
As I go along I’ll try and give info on each component.
Start PC and press F2 or whichever key it is you need to enter you bios.
First let’s start with disabling anything we don’t need.
Eg: Onboard Sound Card, Midi, Serial Port, LPT port etc.
Make sure they’re not in use. If you’re not sure then don’t touch.
Some tweaks
FDC – Floppy Disc Controller – I don’t have a floppy disc drive so that can be disabled, also must rmeove floppy from start up options.
Spread Spectrum – For better performance disable – spread spectrum slows the system.
CPU Host Frequency – Unless overclocking leave this as auto.
DRAM Frequency – Leave as Auto
Flexibility Option – Leave as disabled
:::Chipset Configuation:::
AGP Mode – Not using games so I’m going to set it x4 rather than the maximum x8 – to be safe leave alone
AGP Aperture Size – Again as this is an audio PC going to set this to the minimum 32mb – to be safe leave as is
AGP Fastwrite – Recommended to disable fast write if having problems
PCI Delay Transaction – Enabled increases performance if you have an ISA bus – check your driver connections in device manager as previously to see if there is an ISA bus if not sure leave alone.
:::Resource Configuartion:::
PCI Latency Timer (PCI Clocks) – Seen a tip that states for better performance increase the value. On other sites though the longer the latency period can affect performance. I’m going to set it to highest and see what happens. I can always test it later.
:::Fini:::
So after a restart it seems that my system is a lot more stable.
I’ve set it to defrag the audio hard drive.
So fingers crossed.
Related Reading:
Rough rider freeware vst compressor from Audio Damage
A classic compressor effect that has a simple and familiar control setup.
Rough Rider is a modern compressor with a bit of “vintage” style bite and a uniquely warm sound. Perfect for adding compression effects to your drum buss, it also sounds great with synth bass, clean guitar, and backing vocals. Definitely not an all-purpose compressor, Rough Rider is at its best when used to add pump to rhythmic tracks. Of course, you can use it however you’d like. The Compressor Police aren’t gonna come to your house and give you a citation. Slap it on a track and crank some knobs.
Download it here
Related Reading:
Video guide to adjusting system performance -
For use with – Optimizing PC for music production
Related Reading:
Setting up a PC or Laptop for Audio/Music production is a neccesity.
All these tips are XP based but some can be applied to Vista as well.
Here are a few tips…
I’ll update this one as I go.
If it’s possible do not use PC for internet. And only install Music Software.
If that’s not possible then follow the next steps.
1> If you have wireless turn that off while using Audio software. It can interfere with your sound.
2> Disconnect from internet while using software and shut down anything running in the background that doesn’t need to be running.
3> Disable Automatic Updates>>>
To turn it off completely and for good do as follows:
a. Go into Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services.
b. Highlight the service called “Automatic Updates”. You will know when you have the correct one because you will see a description about it telling you what it does.
c. Right click once highlighted and click stop to terminate the service.
d. Right click on it again and go to Properties. Half way down the first tab there is “Startup Type:” change this to disabled.
4. Slim down your operating processes.
a. Get rid of that picture of your ‘cat wearing a spiderman outfit’ that sits on your desktop background.
b. Change all the poncy doobries -
goto start at the bottom of your screen,
‘RIGHT’ click -
goto ‘PROPERTIES’
click choose ‘CLASSIC START MENU’
c. Right click in a space on the desktop click ‘PROPERTIES’ choose In the tab ‘THEMES’ choose ‘classic windows‘ theme in the drop down menu. Click ‘APPLY’ Button, But Don’t shut it down yet.
d. Click the tab ‘DESKTOP’ in background list – choose ‘none‘ Click ‘APPLY’
e. Click the tab ‘Screen Saver’ in list choose ‘none‘ Click ‘APPLY’
You can shut it down now Click ‘OK’
5> Goto ‘CONTROL PANEL’ – Start – Settings – Control Panel
Find ‘SYSTEM’ double click.
Click ‘ADVANCED’ tab
In ‘Performance‘ click ‘SETTINGS’ button.
Choose ‘Adjust for best performance’ Click ‘APPLY’ button.
Click ‘OK’ to exit.
Watch Video—>>>
Optimising Pc – System Performance
6. Optimize Performance for Background Applications.
Back to ‘PERFORMANCE’ settings click on the Advanced tab,
Under -’Processor Scheduling’ there are two radio buttons.
‘Programs’ and ‘Background Services’,
change the option to ‘Background Services’.
7. Disable Disk Indexing Service. Makes file searching slower but will help your audio softare run better.
Go to the desktop
Click on MY COMPUTER
you will see your HARD DRIVES
Right click on a drive select PROPERTIES.
UN-CHECK the box next to ‘Allow Indexing….’ and click APPLY.
A window will pop up asking for you to ‘CONFIRM ATTRIBUTE CHANGES’.
Select APPLY CHANGES TO X:\,SUBFOLDERS and FILES.
“X” is the drive letter of the drive you chose.
The following process can take a few minutes to complete.
Apply this to all your Hard Drives.
9 – Defrag all your drives using windows as often as you can. I defrag every time I start up my DAW.
I use a program called Defraggler it’s free and easy to use.
I also use CCleaner to clean the gunk off my PC before I defrag.