Here's a tip/expanation

>>From: Paul Johnson
Reply-To: rhodiad@pond.net
Subject: Re: [MOTU-MAC] Managing Soundbites and soundfiles, by removing,
deleting or compacting

Related Notes:

As was just pointed out, a Soundbite is NOT an actual file--it is a region
marker within a sound file on your disk. A single sound file can have dozens
or even hundreds of soundbite regions (take a look at a multi-soundbite file
in the sample editor in DP and you'll see what I'm talking about.)
If you delete the last used soundbite from a soundfile, DP will ask you if
you wish to delete the file or leave it. You can't (that I know of) delete
unused sound files from within DP any other way than by deleting the last
used region (soundbite) from a soundfile and then asking DP to toss the
region-less soundfile. DP does not ever check the project's Audio Files
folder for unused sound files. You have to keep things tidy as you go or you
can end up with unused audio files that are in a projects Audio Files folder
but not used in the project. So opting to NOT delete the file when removing
the last soundbite from it, will leave an unassociated sound file in that
project's Audio Files folder (assuming that's where the file was imported
from.)
All of this is obviously destructive--there's no getting regions/soundbites
back if you delete them except for remaking them from the original sound
file--which is also not possible if you delete THAT as well. So do be
careful.
So, to recap: deleting soundbites (regions) does not reduce disk usage
unless it is accompanied by audio file deletion. Specifically, since
soundbite regions themselves are not audio data but only markers taking up
no disk space, deleting a soundbite will not free up any disk space because
the audio data is not actually deleted. However, "compacting" DOES remove
data and free up disk space. Here's how that works:
Unlike deleting a soundbite which only removes the region markers from an
audio file, or deleting a sound file which removes EVERYTHING including all
soundbite regions within the file, COMPACTING removes the sound file's
unused parts that are between the soundbites (soundbites indicate a used
area of the file). This is also destructive, so once you compact, you won't
be able to grab the edge of a soundbite and drag it outward to reveal the
previously hidden file content--because that's what gets deleted in
compacting. For this reason, compacting is a good idea if for instance you
have a vocal take the full length of a song, but are only using half of one
verse or something. It's not so good for a heavily-edited track with lots of
individual soundbites, because chances are, you're going to want to
edge-edit something down the line and won't be able to because the
in-between data is now GONE die to compacting.
For instance, just last week I nearly compacted a set of files used to make
up a vocal track in a song. A day later, I happened onto the idea of
doubling the vocal line in a prechorus section, and I had the multiple takes
to be able to do that--had I compacted those takes, I would NOT have had the
alternate material I then used to double the main vocal track.
So, generally, I consistently delete unused soundbite regions as I edit,
just to keep thing tidy. But I seldom compact, and then only selectively
(just the tracks that will give back the most file space and the least risk
of removing data that I might want later) and only after backing up
everything.
Hope this helps clear things up. This is just my working methiods, others
may have other/better ideas.<<

Here's a tip

From: David Das
Reply-To: david@daviddas.com
To: Motu-Mac List
Date: Sunday, November 19, 2000 4:14 AM
Subject: [MOTU-MAC] Das's Universal Guide to Fixing Problems With Your MOTU
System

In response to a whole lot of e-mails that I see and get trying to get to
the bottom of mysterious Digital Performer/MOTU system problems, I've
compiled the following list of troubleshooting tips to help you get running
smoothly. It's mostly written to resolve crashing problems, so if you're
having problems editing your MIDI, this won't help you much. Keep it at hand
anyway.

+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| DAS'S UNIVERSAL GUIDE TO FIXING PROBLEMS WITH YOUR MOTU SYSTEM |
| version 1.0 (9/25/00) |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+

THINGS TO CHECK AND THINGS TO TRY
---------------------------------

These are listed roughly in order of magnitude. If you have time to
experiment, try one step at a time, and you may save yourself some recovery
time. If you're desperate, go down the list and do them all!

1. Make sure you're running the latest version of everything -- Performer,
Digital Performer, MOTU Audio System (MAS), FreeMIDI, and anything else
you're running. Generally every bug fix release MOTU has released (e.g.
2.51, 2.61, 2.71) has increased stability for the majority of users. So
trust them.

2. Check Performer/Digital Performer's memory allocation. (Go to the Finder,
and get info on the actual P/DP application.) MOTU's factory ideal
allocation is a little low, and if you've added plug-ins to MOTU's default
plug-ins, you'll need to up it some. However, be careful not to give it too
much. I've never seen a system need more than about 40 megs. If you give it
too much, you'll rob memory from the MOTU Audio System (MAS), which is a
separate batch of memory that DP needs to run properly. (MAS's allocation
can be viewed within DP in the Studio Size dialog box.) Another thing to
check is the Memory window within DP -- check that it has at least a few
megs free at all times. If not, go back to the Finder and increase the
allocation. If there's more than 10 megs free, that's probably too much.

3. Check your audio clock source (in DP). If it's not set correctly, you can
get audio playing at weird rates, or clicks and pops in your audio.

4. Go into DP's Hardware Config and check your buffer setting. 1024 is the
default; lower than that can improve performance but is harder on your
processor and can potentially cause pops and clicks in your audio. If you're
having those kinds of problems, raise the buffer some.

4. Try switching off the MOTU Audio System (DP Basics Menu). See if your
problems still persist.

5. Alternately, you can try running your audio through another driver; if
you normally use a MOTU interface (2408, 1224, etc.) then you usually have
it set to PCI-324. Try running your audio through the Sound Manager to see
if it cures your problems. (To do this, go into the Hardware Config dialog
box in Performer/Digital Performer.)

6. Go into your Sound control panel and make sure you haven't chosen the
PCI-324 for either your input or output. According to several sources, the
driver isn't written very stably and can cause crashes. It seems to be
particularly bad when Bitheadz software is involved in the loop.

7. Go to the Finder and trash some of the MOTU-related prefs. Be advised you
may lose a few of your preferences (sorry, had to say it -- idiot check).
Trash any of these files that you find: Digital Performer Preferences,
FreeMIDI Preferences, FreeMIDI Setup Prefs, FreeMIDI Softsynth Prefs, MOTU
Audio System Prefs, MOTU 324 Prefs, etc.

8. Rebuild the Desktop. This can cure some file-related issues. (Restart
your Mac, and hold down option and command until you get the dialog box that
asks if you want to rebuild the Desktop. Click yes.)

9. Try zapping the PRAM of the Mac. Go to the Finder, restart, and hold down
command-option-P-R simultaneously. Hold it down until the Mac has sounded
its startup chime three times. Then release and allow the Mac to boot
normally.

10. Check your hard drive with a disk utility like Disk First Aid (included
free with all Macs from Apple), Norton Utilities, or Techtool Pro. It's
always safe to follow their recommendations to repair stuff that they find
wrong on your hard drive.

11. Defrag your hard drives, using a utility like Norton Utilities or
Techtool Pro. Be aware that Techtool has a tendency to mess with some
invisible authorization files, and you may need to reauthorize some of your
software. A heavily fragmented hard drive can potentially cause clicks and
pops in your audio.

12. If you're having problems opening one particular file, first try opening
DP first and choosing Open from within DP (not just double-clicking the file
from the desktop). It's worked more than once for me. If that doesn't work,
try opening a completely new DP file, then trying to Load (File menu) the
chunk(s) from the problem file into a fresh file. Sometimes this can get you
in to a corrupt file. If you do get in, immediately save a fresh copy of it!

13. Another tip for problem files that don't open: drag the problem file's
Audio Files folder to the trash (but DON'T EMPTY TRASH!), then see if it
will open. If it does, chances are that you may have a corrupt soundbite in
that Audio Files folder. Create a new Audio Files folder, and then manually
drag a few audio files from the trashed folder into the new Audio Files
folder, and see if it'll open. Repeat as necessary.

14. Pull out some/all of the plug-ins you've added to DP (they're in System
Folder-->Extensions-->MOTU-->Plug-ins). Sometimes they can cause weird
problems. AutoTune, Pluggo, and other third-party software has at various
times caused weird crashes within DP. Once they're removed, reenter DP to
see if your problems persist. You may also want to pull out Unity, Retro,
Tokyo, etc. if you run them. (To disable them, go into FreeMIDI, pull up the
Preferences screen, and disable their check boxes. Quit everything and
reload.)

13. Reinstall your MOTU software (P/DP, FreeMIDI, MAS, USB software driver,
etc.) This is a real pain, and I've only once ever encountered a situation
where it fixed my problems, but it's included in this list to help you if
you get that stuck.

SEEKING FURTHER HELP
--------------------

This checklist definitely won't solve every problem; it's just intended to
help you step through basic things you can try.

Post to the MOTU-Mac list, hosted by Topica (http://www.motu-mac.com). Explain your
problem carefully, and describe your system in detail (type of computer,
amount of RAM, programs used, audio and MIDI hardware involved). Make sure
to describe the circumstances under which you're having problems, and list
things you've already tried (this saves time).

You can e-mail MOTU's tech support (techsupport@motu.com), but be aware that
they usually take a few days to get around to answering you.

You can call MOTU's tech support phone line (617-576-3066) during business
hours Monday through Friday. It's usually busy, so find a phone with
automatic redial, and you can usually get through eventually and have a live
person help you. Try and troubleshoot as much as possible before calling
(i.e. use the steps above) to save yourself some long-distance time on the
phone).

MOTU's web site (http://www.motu.com) has a large library of technotes, and so does
the user-run Unicornation site (http://www.unicornation.com). Check both of them
for tips and tricks also.

THE ULTIMATE START-OVER
-----------------------

In the most extreme case of problems that can't be solved, take a drive you
can erase (I keep an extra partition on one of my hard drives that I don't
use regularly), and reinitialize it using Apple's Drive Setup. Install a
fresh copy of your system software from your system CD. If you're running
system 9 or above, immediately run the Software Update control panel and
update all your system software. Then install all the MOTU stuff, being
careful to observe all the nitpicky warnings, like keeping AppleTalk and
File Sharing off.

If problems persist after this, there's a good chance you might have some
kind of hardware defect.

Hope that helps somebody!
David

--
David Das -- Nashville, TN
david@daviddas.com -- http://www.daviddas.com -- http://www.mp3.com/daviddas

posted March 30, 2001 12:26 PM

subspace says:                 

It took me awhile to figure out, but once I did, it made mixing much easier. I thought I'd share it in case I'm not the only one who didn't know about this...
Those little red peak indicators on the channel meters do not indicate clipping. They're simply telling you that if you assign that 32 bit signal to an output that converts back to 24 bit integer, the signal would clip. What the hell does that mean? Your individual channels can blink red all the time and as long as you reduce the master fader that they're assigned to and keep it out of the red, no clipping will occur. The only thing that can clip are the 24 bit physical outputs or a 16/24 bit integer recording to disk. As long as the signal stays in the 32 bit floating point program, you're safe.
I used to re-adjust all my faders if I was lighting the channel clip thinking I was out of headroom. Now I'll put a trim plug on that channel and crank it up, that's why trim's meters go to +20. Just make sure you reduce the final output fader to keep it's clip light off when the signal exits the 32 bit realm for either monitoring or recording to disk.
HTH
------------------------------------------------------------------------

posted March 17, 2001 05:18 PM

kid says:                 

I downloaded these plugins (Compressor Bank, Filter Bank) and tried them out with Free
ProTools. Those of you who have not heard these plug ins yet should do yourselves a
favor and sample them immediately. They sound amazing and most of all require very little CPU power. Now the problem. They are not available for MAS Digital Performer. I
have emailed Mc DSP about this and was informed that they are tallying up requests for their products to decide which market to go after next. I urge every MAS user to contact MCDSP to request support for MAS. This to me is exactly the type of plug ins needed for DP. The Bomb Factory stuff seems rather interesting also but have heard it will require much horsepower to run. Anyway check them out and support our platform. The web site is http://www.mcdsp.co

For dual macsters
http://www.uaudio.com/