optimizing windows 98 for audio recording?

  • Thread starter Thread starter tioshi
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tioshi

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I've heard it mentioned that you can optimize windows 98 for audio recording by turning off certain background functions, which frees up ram and CPU power. Does anyone know what these background applications are and how to go about disabling them? Or any other changes you can make to the standard windows 98 set-up to improve performance?
 
Hi, dont know squat about computers, but
uninstall any program you dont use, like that baseball
demo you downloaded. Make sure the system tray (the
small icons in the right lower corner) doesnt display
stuff you dont need loaded (like the Aol Icon, Scanner
Icons, etc).

Take off the screen_saver, wallpaper, etc.

Make your computer a machine for Music only, with
only the software you MUST have (internet, etc.)

Check your system resoures, and watch it go up when
you take off unusable or needed software.

Dont take off the solitaire program, that is too much
fun to delete! David
 
hey gid,

gadgetlabs is now synonomous with oldsmobile !

tioshi,

I run 98 with cakewalk. 350 p II 6 gig 64 meg of ram. If your operatin' on these kinds of specs (you'd have to be a miracle worker, so say your prayers)- disk, program, and file maintenence are imparitive. Go to add/remove in control panel and remove non-related programs. After surfing clean out temp files. Also, defrag regularly.
 
I've heard it's a good idea to configure Windows as a network server. In properties, preferences or whatever. Gives better crashguard, but slows down graphics and stuff. Is this true, anyone?

- Bobsleigh
 
Blah Blah Blah

Hey BBJones,

If you would have looked at the link and saw the "tips" page you would have seen that It was for the tips for optimizing windows.Its the one that I use for tips.
Take that and your under powered pc stick it in you pipe and smoke it.
Thank You

Gidman
 
WOW!

are we cranky today or what? still pissed that gadget labs is no more? don't let it out on BB...

hey emeric i heard a lot about using 98lite and was thinking of using it and never upgrading it again, cuz i don't know much bout comp's and well, if it doesn't crash i wont need to. (i wont hook it up to the net either, just word CEpro Waves and Sound forge)

what do you think? will the stability outweigh the future problems of compatibility?

greetz guhlenn
 
huhlenn,

98lite works very well, strips out a lot of the junk not needed for a DAW scenario. I use the minimal install, not micro. I would consider using it dual boot, full install of windows for internet and a 98lite install for DAW. Sometimes a prog will need some .dll or other and it's nice to be able to just copy paste it from the full install partition to the 98lite partition. No need for extracting from cab files etc.

I just noticed you won't be using it for internet. In that case, maybe single boot will do. If you find you need a .dll, they can be found easy enough. If you go this route and get stuck, feel free to email me.
 
hey emeric

i'm only in nthe planning fase, as our studio wont be ready till around march. i'm getting a clearer picture every day, well, thank you for that.

i'm only in doubt 'bout the compatability issue... i figured myself that if i get that system running (the 98lite) and crash free i mean, then i wouldn't need to worry about the computer part. but then again when some new totally cool program gets out i would have to start all over again. I heard that windows 2000 has a total new way of working, so that means i wont be able to use programs written for 2000 on the 98lite system, right?
now i could be totally wrong so i'll state again: i know shit about computers. i hate when it crashes without an obvious reason.

what do you think, keep the win2000 in the back of my head or just forget about it/

greetz guhlenn
 
guhlenn,

I'm using Windows 2000 at the moment and it's 'ok', but I am having a few problems with it. Haven't tweeked it enough yet. I also use win98 lite (seperate partition) at times when W2K goes down. Either will work. It's a good sign when a company provides drivers for many platforms, so keeping the option open for W2K is a good one. This all depends on your requirements are though. What multitracker, what soundcard, what plugin's, editors etc.
 
I use Win98SE with a Gadget Labs Wave 824 and am very happy with both. Yes, you want to run a very clean system and there is a lot of info out there how to do this. Best short advice I can give is don't install any games, they can play havoc with your DirectX settings in particular.

What Bobsleigh is refering to is you can change your system hard disk caching from the default "Desktop Computer" setting to the "Network Server" setting. You will find this in Control Panel / System / Performance / File system / Hard Disk. You will want to have at least 64 meg RAM if you do this this (who doesn't?) It will give you a modest hard disk performance increase.
 
Try this

Go to Start>run>type msconfig go to start up uncheck everything but System Tray and Scanregisty that will free up a lot of RAM. Next get rid of any screensavers and backgrounds. You will have to restart your computer and then you should have about 93% of your RAM free. Things will work a lot better. Donny!!!
 
backup

guhlenn,

The advice on msconf is right on. I've gone a step further and loaded 98lite on my audio only partition. I'm using Powerquest products to help with the process. I found that to do updates and make changes on my audio partition by way of my second audio storage HD as a go between didn't always work smoothly. Parts of files got lost a long the way. From PowerQuest I bought Partition Magic software to manage partitions(includes Boot Magic), and Drive Image to make a copy of my partitions to CDRW, in my case, when I make major updates or changes.
I choose this route because we are a one computer family. One partition has all the family stuff including IE. The other has 98lite and audio only. I haven't had any crashes after doing this. Before, AOL IM was enough to cause conflicts with my Pulsar cards and down it would go. No more. A dedicated computer with 98 lite is the best choice.
I'm just installing Drive Image. I'll let you know how it works.

Chuck
 
Right on!!

That's right about using a second HD for audio only. I used the EZ-Bios to set up my system it came with my Western HD and I've used it on other HDs as well. It sure makes things work better. When I'm recording I close all programs but explore witch you need to run the computer. Shut it all off but your audio program and you'll be a happy camper... Later, Donny!!!
P.S. what is 98 lite??? I use 98 SE.
 
98 lite is a stripped down version of Windows 98. No IE or web integration. It works very well, free's up many resources as well as cuts the install down to <100MB, even 70MB is possible. Using it in a dual boot config with 98lite for your audio app's and 98 full blown for internet/games works quite well.

http://www.98lite.net
 
Disable all non-essential system apps

Before recording, hit control-alt-delete and 'end task' on ALL listed programs exept systray and Explorer. Note: You may have to hit Control-Alt-Delete multiple times to remove them all. That will eliminate all of the background garbage that hogs resources. Also, if you have >64MB ram, I strongly advise you switch your system over to a network server, even if you don't run a network, because it will increase the availability of file handles and improve disk caching and overall system performance. You do this by, in the Control Panel, double clicking the 'System' icon, then clicking on the 'Performance' tab, then clicking the 'File System' button. In the dropdown box, select 'Network Server' from the list, hit OK, then reboot. That's it!
 
Forgot....

Yes I forgot to tell you about that. Turn all background programs off as Scheisskopf99 said. Ya need all the help you can get... Wanta have some fun sometime try editing video now theres where you get into some deep s%*t. Do all you've been told and life will be happier. Later Donny!!!
 
Agreed

Yup, I'm a video editing fool, too. MPEG-2 capture, DivX, DVD, everything. It's a lot of fun. I have one system dedicated to video capture and editing, and another dedicated to audio recording, MP3 ripping, etc. With the video stuff you need a lot of free resources, as you said. Because if you dont you can get problems with the audio being out of sync with the video.
 
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