You are here

Computer / Software

  • link

    BIOS Tweaks For Music Performance

    PC Musician

    Your computer's most fundamental system settings are stored in its BIOS. Modifying them can help increase performance and eliminate glitches, but it's not something to approach lightly...

    Techniques Dec 2002
  • link

    Yamaha SW1000XG EQ Response

    PC Notes

    We take a look at the EQ response of the Yamaha SW1000XG soundcard, the possibility of disabling the SMBus to gain an extra IRQ, and more advice on managing your updates.

    Techniques Dec 2002
  • link
    Rightmark's Audio Analyser provides a simple way to assess various aspects of the audio performance of your PC soundcard and compare it to others, and best of all, it's freeware.

    Testing & Improving PC Soundcard Audio Performance

    Clear Signals

    An hour spent fine-tuning the performance of your soundcard can yield permanent improvements in background noise, distortion levels and frequency response.

    Techniques Nov 2002
  • link

    The Truth About Latency: Part 2

    Latency & Latency Jitter: Real-world Tests

    In the second part of our investigation into the real-world delays caused by PC hardware and software, we consider the differences between different MIDI applications and versions of Windows. Are some sequencers really 'tighter' than others?

    Techniques Oct 2002
  • link
    By recording the MIDI Note On message (shown here as a clump of negative-going pulses on the bottom trace) and the audio output produced by a synth (top trace), you can measure the time between them. Here it's about 17ms -- at the top of the range for com

    The Truth About Latency: Part 1

    Soft Synth Latency & Latency Jitter: Real-world Tests

    Theoretical figures and manufacturers' measurements may suggest that the latency of your soft synths is negligible — but that's no use if their timing is all over the place when you actually play them. Our real-world results give you the true picture.

    Techniques Sep 2002
  • link

    Waves Native Plug-ins

    PC Notes

    As Intel and AMD continue to push the clock speeds and architectures of PC processors, music software developers are taking advantage of the optimisations possible, as demonstrated by Waves with the latest update to their native plug-ins.

    Techniques Sep 2002
  • link
    Here's a carefully tweaked RIAA de-emphasis curve that's provided by Waves in their collection of Q10 Pre/De-Emphasis presets. Notice the -12dB on the input faders to prevent digital overload.

    Digitising & Restoring Tapes & Records On Your PC

    PC Musician

    A PC with CD burner and soundcard provides the ideal means to preserve old tape recordings or transfer your vinyl collection to CD.

    Techniques Aug 2002
  • link

    Detecting & Resolving PC Hardware Faults

    PC Musician

    Not all PC problems are down to software, and a huge range of difficulties - from occasional glitches to complete system failure - can actually be caused by hardware faults. Here's how to diagnose and cure some of the most common.

    Techniques Jun 2002
  • link
    Microsoft Windows XP main screen.

    Windows XP: Is It Suitable For Music?

    PC Musician

    Windows XP is probably the most important PC operating system upgrade since Windows 95, but as always, its new features come at a cost. Should you upgrade your computer? Here's the definitive guide...

    Techniques Feb 2002
  • link

    iPod

    Apple Notes

    On October 25th 2001 Apple released their first non-Mac device for many years, the iPod. Apple Notes spots a vital clue which makes the iPod rather useful to the recording musician, whatever the general consumer makes of it...

    Techniques Jan 2002
Subscribe to RSS - Computer / Software