Audio Optimization Tips for your PC

These settings have been found to help with the performance of many users PC
DAWS (Digital Audio Workstations).

1) Set Virtual memory - min 192, max 512.
2) Set Vcache - min 8192, max 8192.
3) Disable CD auto-insert notification.
4) Locate and remove unnecessary items that were being loaded at
startup -Take care you know what they are. Back up your registry before any
of these changes!
5) Disable all third-party memory management/crash protection/anti-virus
tools.
6) Defragment the hard drive regularly.
7) Disable read-ahead optimization.
8) Disable write-behind caching.
9) Ensure that double-buffering is turned off (in msdos.sys).
10) Ensure that there is nothing unnecessary in your autoexec.bat and
config.sys
11) Ensure that disk is set to the DMA option and that you are using the
latest bus-mastering drivers for your motherboard.
12) Turn off Windows clock.
13) If you choose to let Win95/98 manage virtual memory, include this line
somewhere in AUTOEXEC.BAT: DEL C:\WIN95\WIN386.SWP So when your computer
restarts Win95/98 will rebuild the swap file unfragmented.
14) Make sure you have the latest version of DirectX.

Another thing that can make a very big difference is to have nothing else at
all on your computer other than your audio recording software. Also using a
program like Memory+ or MemClean or FreeMem or MemTurbo to periodically free
up RAM can help a lot (before but not during audio use).

Here's a list of other recommendations that have been helpful to others.
1) Turn Wave Audio Media Control device off (important for SAWPRO and
TripleDAT users). 2) Turn graphics acceleration down one notch.
3) Switch to 256 colors (impossible for some software to function).
4) Set your computer type to Network Server.
5) Make your virtual memory min and max settings the same.
6) Place your virtual memory on your fastest (separate) disk drive or
partition.
7) Use at least 128MB Ram.