I'm interested in what settings you guys have with Cubase SX diskbuffers, priority & audio settings, as well as what SFP ULLI settings you use for different scenarios.
I have Cubase SX 1.06, and did some testing with my DAW PC today:
The test is about how many audio-tracks I can record - at the same time - without getting crackles - tracking a simple 1kHz sinus tone from my mixer.
I have two Pulsar II cards, that get the input from optical ADAT coming from a Yamaha 02R96.
I tested with two scenarios:
(1) Almost default setup:
Cubase SX - no of diskbuffers = 4
Cubase SX - size of diskbuffers = 128
Cubase SX - "lower latency" = checked
Cubase SX - "audio priority" = very high
(had to set this or I will get crackles)
Cubase SX - preload buffer = 2 seconds
SFP ULLI - latency = 7 ms
(compromize between low latency tracking & mixing & using VSTi's/plugins)
samplerate 44.1kHz
bitdepth 24 bit
result = around 36 channels of audio (mono) could be simultaneously recorded, and the diskmeter would not choke on record nor playback - going for more channels would end up in crackles
(2) Tweaked setup for more channels:
**Cubase SX - no of diskbuffers = 8
Cubase SX - size of diskbuffers = 128
**Cubase SX - "lower latency" = UNchecked
Cubase SX - "audio priority" = very high
Cubase SX - preload buffer = 2 seconds
**SFP ULLI - latency = 13 ms
samplerate 44.1kHz
bitdepth 24 bit
result = 50+ channels of audio (mono) could be simultaneously recorded, and the diskmeter would not choke on record nor playback.
I didn't go above 52, since I found it rather unrealistic for me to track more sources at the same time.
Could I have tweaked my system in a better way ?
The problem with switching ULLI latency for different kind of work in Cubase is that it loses the ASIO link, and need to restart Cubase.
Is anyone actually using lower than 7ms with 44.1kHz, and working with VSTi's/plugins as well as many audio tracks ??
Does anyone switch latency between tracking & mixdown ??
My system looks like this:
P4 2.8GHz, Asus P4PE motherboard,
DDR PC2700 ram: 1024 MB,
120 GB WD 7200 rpm for audio, sitting on its own IDE channel (not using raid or S-ATA), smaller IBM disk for OS and apps,
Intel Application Accelerator loaded with DMA mode 5 for HD's.
Matrox Parhelia, using 3 screens stretched mode (busmastering off),
2 Pulsar II boards cascaded, UAD1, network PCI card (as the onboard Broadcom seems unreliable).
/Magnus
