Chapter 4. Preparing Your Computer for Audio


You tune guitars and pianos, so why not tune your computer? Using a computer as a musical instrument and audio-production studio places demands on it that are different from other day-to-day applications. It's essential to know how to configure your computer for audio and MIDI support, and the optimizations you can make to improve audio performance. With your physical studio in place, let's prep your computer for optimum audio productivity.

Essentials

Preparing Your Computer for Audio

To complete and optimize your computer setup:

  • Install and configure drivers for your OS and specific application

  • Install any plug-ins (effects, instruments) for your platform

  • Deal with copy protection schemes effectively

  • Optimize and back up storage

  • Trim and optimize your OS for maximum performance

Essential Terms

  • Driver formats: DAE, Core Audio, WDM, ASIO, MME, ALSA

  • Plug-in formats: VST, AU, LADSPA, DX, TDM, HTDM, RTAS

  • Latency, buffer size , recording offset

  • Copy protection

  • Defragmentation

Where to Start

Check your hardware documentation first to install drivers, then follow the driver-configuration instructions for each application. Look over any optimization tips, particularly disk and OS optimization, to make sure your machine is reaching maximum performance. (You may want to skip some of the advanced tips if you're not comfortable adjusting core system settings.) Most important, decide on your backup plan now, before you lose data.




Real World Digital Audio
Real World Digital Audio
ISBN: 0321304608
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2006
Pages: 96
Authors: Peter Kirn

flylib.com © 2008-2017.
If you may any questions please contact us: flylib@qtcs.net