Disk speed and digital recording

  • Thread starter Thread starter Motorbreath
  • Start date Start date
Motorbreath

Motorbreath

New member
Hi there,

I wasn't sure of the speed of my disk, so I downloaded a freebie util to tell me. It appears to be a 5400 RPM hard disk.

Until now, I've never enountered an app that didn't work alright with a 5400 RPM drive, even if the documented req's specify 7200 RPM.

My setup: Vegas Video 3.0, Sound Forge 6.0, Acid 4.0, Athlon AXP-1800 MHz CPU, 256 MB, nVidia GEForce 2 video, Audiophile 2496 card in 24 bit mode.

Could this be why with anything other than Windows 98 the recorded audio is scratchy and horrible? The drive just isn't keeping up? With Windows 2000 or XP, it's just awful. Windows 98 is OK for awhile, but it too will record scratchy audio awhile into a session. 24 or 16 bit, same behavior.

TIA for any thoughts. I realize this is potentially a majorly stupid question, but it's hard to part with more cash just to try it. I figured someone, somewhere might have some input on this. Thanks!
 
I've never had that problem with a 5400 in the past but I dont use em anymore. You can get a 7200 20-40gig drive with a good rebate for dirt cheap if you shop around some.
 
I have repeatedly read posts about people having problems with the 5400 drives. I don't remember so much hearing about scratchy audio, but usually just that the drive can't keep up so you get lost audio or crashes.

I was warned about it from the start so I just went with dual 7200's right off the bat.
 
For a new drive

Maxtor just released the 80GB 7200 ATA/133 with the 8Mb cache that WD has gotten so famous for. Just put one in mine today.

Staples (yea, Staples) has them for $139, and their coupons are abound for added discounts. I ended up with mine for $109!
 
This doesn't sound like a drive speed issue. The system should remain stable as long as you aren't piling on tracks in the middle of a recording...I know, it's impossible. It sounds like a sound/card memory issue. Your soundcard may be accessing more RAM than the computer has through some glitch or may be running into problems using harddisk memory (virtual memory).

Wait that wouldn't make sense if it does it in 16 bit mode. How long into a recording does this happen? Is it longer until glitches in 16bit....I would guess from your post not. Is it exactly the same in every application?

This is not a dumb question..it's a toughie.
 
I dont see how it could be related to the 5400rpm seriously... when you record, it goes in the ram and then on HD i beleive. The HD just takes what he can from the RAM and write it down. So maybe you need moree RAM... dunno...I'm guessing..
 
no way

256 is a good amount of ram to begin a session in any known app.

Is your recording computer the one you use on the internet? Is the connection having some issue with the OS? Or has the problem mysteriously fixed itself? That happened to me once.:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top