Mastering & Mixing Tips

Our Production Specialist Dimi Nalbantov experiencing with Windows operating systems and using a PC's every bit a digital audio production environment began around 1995. As you know Windows as an operating system has its own flaws, just it's still i of the most used platformS for audio software developers and audio producers – engineers.

My feel with Windows operating systems and using a PC'southward equally a digital audio product environs began effectually 1995.

As you know Windows as an operating system has its ain flaws, but it'due south still one of the nigh used platforms for audio software developers and audio producers – engineers.

Over the years we struggled with IRQ conflicts, compatibility problems, drivers conflicts. Installing unlike drivers were causing different problems.

Moving PCI audio cards over the PCI slots and entering manually DMA and IRQ addresses was a part of the "game" to have solid recording and writing computer. We were using this troubleshooting technique on Win 98 and after even on XP.

After years and Windows 7 – DPC Latency interrupts

DPC management – and Windows 7 troubleshooting.

DPC stands for Deferred Process Phone call. If any kernel-mode device driver in your Windows system is implemented improperly and causes excessive latencies of Deferred Procedure Calls (DPCs) so drop-outs will probably occur when yous use real-time audio or video streaming applications.

In simple words, it'south the way how Windows manage and operate the drivers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deferred_Procedure_Call

Many years later Windows 7 become one of the about stable operating systems from Microsoft. I was a quite happy user as many other users. Getting myself Windows 7 Home edition gave me almost problem free experience.

I've got a few sound clicks and pops, and then the tool at that fourth dimension for diagnosing my DAW and diagnosing and solving the trouble on Windows seven was Thesycon's DPC Latency Checker.

https://world wide web.thesycon.de/eng/latency_check.shtml

You can come across DPC interrupts spikes on the screenshot.

I was using cheap VIA Firewire PCI card and that was causing the problem.

Changing slots and moving around the VIA menu couldn't help. It was a thing of stable drivers and more solid chipset.

The solution was piece of cake. I have got a proper Firewire PCI card with TI / Texas Instruments/ chipset, and so my trusty TC Electronic Desktop Konnekt half-dozen audio interface worked neat after the upgrade.

I'thou even so using it today even it is already discounted!

Here is a screenshot how irresolute the Firewire impacted the DPC Latency in my Windows 7 machine.

Steady and solid diagram

Windows x

Later on, the release of Windows x and "forcing" users to update and motility to newer systems, I've jumped the transport and upgraded my Windows 7 installation to the new operating arrangement.

My current "new" PC build runs great out of the box, but the clicks and pops showed up again. I've got random glitches while recording and moving windows around while a project with few amp sims and a pulsate sampler playing.

So the outset thing to be sure if your PC has DPC / drivers conflicts/ problems and to troubleshoot them is to use the proper tool.

The best available utility today for Windows 10 is LatencyMon by Resplendence.

This program will tell you if there are any DPC issues and which driver is causing them.

http://www.resplendence.com/latencymon

The biggest reason for high DPC latency peaks is a disharmonize between ii hardware devices, usually the sound card and something else. You should disable WiFi, LAN, USB controllers, Video Card drivers.

If you lot have many USB peripherals devices such equally WiFi USB dongle, Carte reader or Web Camera, start disconnecting 1 by one. The virtually problematic ones are the WiFi dongles or your video card.

In my instance, it was my old NVidia GT220 video card salvaged from my previous build.

nvlddmkm.sys autonomously from the NVidia drivers

Its well know trouble over the forums and afterward removing the NVidia card and enabled I5 4670 CPU integrated Intel Hd Graphics 4600, the DPC interrupts disappeared. That solved the problem.

No more clicks and pops using Reaper 5 on 128 buffer or even at 64 settings. Easy right?

Here is my electric current DPC condition:

If y'all like to play games or running heavy video and photo editing programs,

the solutions are to get an AMD video card or try another modern Nvidia model.

Merely since I'm not a gamer and I'thousand using the estimator only for audio production, the integrated GPU is enough and don't forget, this saved me a few bucks!

AMD RX 560D is known for great stability and depression DPC
https://www.amazon.com/MSI-RX-560-AERO-ITX/dp/B072J422CZ/ref=br_lf_m_au3puyuhb4ga2r6_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&south=pc

Here are a few steps to optimize your Windows ten installation for even better performance and stability:

I will add a few important steps to optimize Windows x

one. Fix your computer's power for high performance

This will set up your CPU to work at total speed all of the time. It will take more power, but this tin have a huge effect on your estimator's audio performance.

Become to: Control Panel>Ability Options

– Choose "Loftier Performance"

– Then click the "Change plan settings" push button. Make certain both power options are set to "Never".

2. Disable and forbid Hard disk drive to sleep

Back on the principalAbility Options screen, selectAlter programme settings .

Change the time underPlough Off Hard Disk Afterward  to Never

3. USB selective append setting.

Windows automatically put USB devices in a very depression-power state when they're not actively in use. This is mandatory if you lot are using USB audio interface!

Click on USB settings.

So expand USB selective suspend setting.

and Select Disabled from the drop-down carte.

4. Disable Hibernation:

The first step is to run the command prompt as administrator. In Windows ten, you can practise this by correct clicking on the outset menu and clicking "Control Prompt (Admin)"

Type in "powercfg.exe /h off" without the quotes and printing enter. If you typed it incorrectly, the cursor will but offset at a new line request for a new input
Now just exit out of the control prompt

v. Disable Search Indexing

Drive indexing is never a good thing to have running on whatever bulldoze used in audio work. Information technology can run at the most unfortunate times and disrupt information flow, causing slowdowns while recording and the DAW are streaming sound libraries.

Open file managing director
Right-click on 1 of your samples – banks drive

Click the Properties

"Allow files on this bulldoze to have contents indexed in addition to file backdrop" volition be checked.
Uncheck that item and click the [Apply] button (see paradigm below).
Information technology will take a long while depending upon how many files you have!


6. Disable 'Windows Background Apps'

Windows 10, by default, runs a lot of Apps in the background. To disable them follow these steps:

i. Select 'Settings' from the Windows Outset menu,

2. Then choose 'Privacy'

'Groundwork Apps'. From here switch 'Off' the apps that you do not need

7. Gear up processor scheduling to "Background services"

This volition improve the operation of your audio drivers on your computer. To do this:

Open the command panel select "system"

Go to "Advanced organization settings" and and so click on the "Avant-garde" tab

Click on "Settings.." under Performance to open up the "Performance Options".

And so go to the "Advanced" tab and select the processor scheduling as "Background Services"

After that click Apply" and then "OK"

8. Furthermore: C-States in your BIOS

Disable C-States in the BIOS/UEFI,
C-States allow your CPU to sleep when idle, which may interfere with your DAW existent-fourth dimension audio processing.

In my Gigabyte bios, it'due south in: "Avant-garde CPU Cadre Options"

There are dissimilar levels of C state, (C1E, C3 e) with the higher numbers generally corresponding with more aggressive power saving. If you lot all the same having audio glitches you can try and disable each of them.

9. Disable Windows Automatic Updates.

Staying upward to appointment is always a good thing. More security, more than stability and and then on.

Just once my system is stable and running neat I want information technology to stay in that mode.
Disabling windows updates could forbid installing new buggy drivers, installing windows patches that could affect windows overall performance and causing applications incompatibilities.

You will demand to alter Local Group Policy settings!

Here'due south how to change the Local Grouping Policy Editor settings:

  1. Use the Windows cardinal + R on your keyboard to open the "Run" command window.
  2. Type gpedit.msc and open up the Local Grouping Policy Editor.:
  3. Click and Aggrandize on the left side: Estimator Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Update.
  4. Click and Expand on the left side: Calculator Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Update
  5. Select: Disable – Utilise and so OK. Restart your PC

Windows 10 privacy and tracking

I'chiliad sure anybody is enlightened of Windows 10 tracking system sending information to the Microsoft servers. Information technology's designed for better user experience, sending back the best updates and so on.

Aside from all of this these background processes are taking estimator power resource and of class, we want that CPU power back, then we could savor our composing, recording and mixing procedure.

The program here is built past O&O.
I've tested information technology and I love the convenient interface.

Before that, I was searching online for the best means to stop specific windows services and processes. It was a long unpleasant time-consuming process with lots of trials and errors, many times causing Windows reinstallation or restoring from backup.

O&O ShutUp10

https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10

I'm using: Utilise only recommended settings:

Information technology has a dainty explanation of what every setting do and how it will affect your windows organisation.

The program volition prompt you to make a Windows Restore indicate.

It will exist piece of cake to restore to a previous windows configuration if you confront any issues.
Simply using the recommended settings never failed on me.

Backup your optimized DAW. Avant-garde users!

The most important and terminal step for me is to take a fully working backup of my setup on a separate difficult drive.

Here are a few steps:

  1. Open Command Console.
  2. Click on Organisation and Security.
  3. Click on Backup and Restore (Windows seven).
  4. On the left pane, click the Create a organisation image link.
  5. Under "Where practise yous want to save the backup?"
  6. Using the "On a hd" bill of fare, select the storage / especially dedicated for your system drive – backup/ to save the backup.
  7. Click the Startbackup  button.

When the process finishes, shut down your PC, disconnect the bulldoze and store it in a safe identify!

To restore. You will need your USB installation or recovery thumb drive

Insert the Recovery flash drive into a USB port and kicking your PC. Striking F12 or F2
Refer to your manufacturer Bios shortcuts how to achieve the Boot carte du jour and choosing from which media to boot.

The installation process will lead you to a few steps.

Choose your linguistic communication and click side by side

Click Repair your computer

Once yous're in a recovery surround, select Troubleshoot, then Organization Image Recovery.

Make certain your hard disk drive where the arrangement image was created and located is continued and turned on. Follow the instructions.

System Image will format and repartition your hard disk drive and restore your entire PC exactly as it was when the original image you have created in the backups procedure.

Happy tweaking and don't forget to make awesome music!

Dimi,

Product specialist for Kuassa