Random Access Memory
For Steinberg applications, nothing less than 512 MB RAM will do. However, all up-and-running applications and the operating system access the main memory at the same time, so installing more RAM is highly advisable. You may find that even sizable main memory acreage of 1 GB won’t suffice to deliver satisfactory system performance for larger projects. The reason for this is that VST instruments and audio projects load audio samples into the main memory and read them there. If you have don’t have much RAM installed, less material can be buffered there, and more data must be handled via the slower hard disks. This means access takes longer. Under normal conditions, Windows 2000 and Windows XP can use up to 2 GB RAM and Mac OS X and Windows XP x64 can address up to 4 GB in connection with Steinberg’s current Cubase/Nuendo versions. More RAM definitely does good things for your system’s overall performance.................
Hard Drives
As a rule, Steinberg products may be employed in connection with every hard disk found in contemporary computers. The hard drive’s capacity to enable elaborate projects involving many audio tracks and serve as a delivery medium for sample content destined for VST instruments that work with disk streaming technology hinges upon the following factors:
Rotational speed: Let’s start with laptops whose hard drives are rated for 4,200 RPM (revolutions per minute; (abbreviated rpm, RPM, r/min, or min-1): This RPM rating has a direct influence on how many audio tracks the hard disk can record and play simultaneously. Expect no miracles from these hard disks because the risk of bottlenecks constricting data transfer is quite high. Use 4,200 RPM hard drives for small audio projects only. Some manufacturers equip their laptops with 5,400 RPM hard disks, and they deliver acceptable performance in terms of the audio track count. If you’re looking for professional-grade performance for audio systems running scores of tracks, you will find what you’re seeking in later-model laptops sporting 7,200 RPM hard disks. Another option for attaining sufficient hard disk performance is to choose an external hard disk offering good data throughput and connect it via FireWire or USB 2.0.
If you’re in the market for a desktop system, avoid hard disks that run slower than 7,200 RPM. Hard disks rated for 7,200 RPM normally deliver the data throughput required to enable elaborate audio projects with many tracks and at the same time furnish sample data to VST instruments. Bear in mind, though, that this is one of those cases were more is indeed better. For example, S-ATA (see below) 10,000 RPM hard disks can certainly help prevent throughput bottlenecks. Another strategy for boosting audio data throughput entails using several hard disks. Experience teaches that partitioning makes good sense: Dedicate one hard drive to the operating system and installed applications, and the other to audio data. If you wish to make extensive of use of sampler plug-ins, you could even devote a further hard disk exclusively to sample content delivery.
Cache: Hard drives come with a buffer memory called a cache. It also influences hard disks’ access speed. In the main it can be said that the bigger the cache, the better the hard disk’s capacity to handle large amounts of data. Caches sized 8 MB and more have proven very useful for applications in the audio field. Laptop hard disks’ caches are generally substantially smaller; on standard desktop computer models, hard disks’ caches usually range from just 2 to 4 MB. If you wish to use the hard disk for streaming sample content, be mindful of its cache size. Along with rotational speed, cache size has an immediate impact on the amount of individual samples you can load at a time, say, while VST instruments (for example HALion) are being played.
