ben m
Joined: 15 Sep 2002
Posts: 337
Location: UK |
| Week 3 - Computers 2 |
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Ok here are the questions for Computers 2, a few more than last week and again keeping them concise is the key.
Also, check out the forum for a 'practical'
Good Luck....
 Define the following terms:
Latency
Duplex
Buffer
Define the following Sound Card driver types and their advantages/disadvantages;
MME
Direct X
ASIO
WDM
How may latency be reduced with ASIO/WDM drivers?
Name the primary differences between 'consumer' and 'professional' soundcards.
Define the following hard drive features/specifications and explain their usefulness in a DAW:
Cache
Speed in RPM
ATA Type
Why have many people tended not to use AMD processors in DAWs? Is this down to the processor or the relevant motherboard chipsets?
How may an external 'breakout' box be connected to the host PC? Name 3 different ways and describe the benefits and drawbacks of each protocol.
What is the importance of cluster size for PC based recordings?
Define the Von Neumann model of PC architecture.
In a system with a PCI soundcard, is it more desirable to have the graphics card on the AGP or PCI bus?
Name 2 examples of an optical storage format, and their respective capacities.
Explain the importance of each of the following factors in a DAW, and what each factor contributes to a DAW;
Amount of RAM
Hard Drive Space
Processor Speed
Explain the following file systems, their associated OSs' and the capabilities of each File System;
FAT
FAT32
NTFS
How does a virtual/soft sampler such as Halion utilise the host computers resources?
How many minutes of stereo CD-quality digital audio can be stored in a 1 Gigabyte hard disk partition, approximately?
For a hard disk of 20 Gigabytes capacity or more, what is the most likely backup device, other than another hard disk?
Describe four different areas of application in widespread use and give an example of a popular piece of software in each area.
Describe the main advantages of Firewire compared to SCSI
In relation to computer software;
What is a driver?
What is an extension?
Excluding the host device, what is the maximum number of devices that may be attached to a SCSI bus?
If it is necessary to reconnect or reconfigure the devices on a SCSI bus what precaution should be taken?
How many terminators would there normally be on a SCSI bus? Where would they be situated?
A system incorporating two devices in addition to the host on a SCSI bus isn’t working correctly. What would you check on the SCSI devices themselves, assuming they are all switched on?
Macintosh computers running system version 9.0.4 and lower are not very good at playing audio while word processing, whereas IBM PC compatible computers running Microsoft operating systems are. What is lacking from the Macintosh's operating system?
In a hard disk recording system, which type of disk drive would you expect to allow the most simultaneous tracks to be replayed, a magnetic hard disk or a magneto-optical disk?
Which is usually thought to offer the most reliable long-term storage, removable magnetic hard disk cartridge or magneto-optical disk?
Compared to digital tape, what is the principal disadvantage of disks for long-term storage? |
Mon Mar 22, 2004 6:47 pm |
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hoggs33
Joined: 09 Feb 2004
Posts: 55
Location: Nottingham, England |
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Define the following terms:
Latency - in audio terms this is the time delay between a note being played for example on a keyboard and it actually being heard
Duplex – the ability for a device to simultaneously transmit signals/data independently in both directions. In audio terms this is the ability to be able to playback and record at the same time.
Buffer – a storage location used for temporary storage of data read from or waiting to be sent to some device. Use of a memory buffer – often referred to as a ‘cache’ – is used to speed up access to many devices, such as hard disk, CD-ROM or tape drive.
Define the following Sound Card driver types and their advantages/disadvantages;
MME - stands for Multimedia Extension Driver. This is not optimized for low-latency audio performance and therefore not really a suitable driver for audio use. This driver type however does have the advantage of being cheap.
Direct X – this is the multimedia system foundation for Windows operating systems produced by Microsoft. It offers lower latency than MME drivers, however cannot duplex recording and playing.
ASIO - stands for Audio Stream Input/Output (not Australian Security Intelligence Organisation – thanks Yahoo search engine!!!!!). It is a standard for audio device drivers created by Steinberg. ASIO bypasses the Windows or Mac operating system, creating better communication between the audio device and the software. These drivers are designed for audio production and offer low latency levels.
WDM - stands for Windows Driver Model. The newest type of driver, offering even lower latency than those above. This kind of driver has direct access to the kernel, bypassing most of the operating system – Sonar (which I use) uses these divers.
How may latency be reduced with ASIO/WDM drivers? – by reducing the number and size of buffers.
Name the primary differences between 'consumer' and 'professional' soundcards.
Professional soundcards will have very low latency – preferably no latency at all. They can have a number of inputs and outputs so it is possible to record more than one instrument at a time. They will also have phantom power for microphones and possibly a high impedance setting for connecting guitars (mine does – Edirol UA-1000, with 10 ins and 10 outs – it’s the dogs *******!!!). Professional cards will have input sensitivity dials for getting levels correct with clipping indicators and have digital inputs and outputs.
Define the following hard drive features/specifications and explain their usefulness in a DAW:
Cache – this is an intermediate storage capacity between the processor and RAM or disk drive. It is useful as most commonly used instructions are held here allowing for faster processing.
Speed in RPM – this is the speed in rotations per minute of the hard disk – the faster the speed of the hard disk, the faster audio tracks are accessed and you can have more track on you DAW.
ATA Type – this controls the interfacing between the hard drive and other operating system components. A newer ATA type will have less latency because data transfer will be faster.
Why have many people tended not to use AMD processors in DAWs? Is this down to the processor or the relevant motherboard chipsets?
Users tend to prefer the Intel processor over the AMD processor due to the issue with PCI latency with the VIA motherboard chipset that accompanied the AMD processors.
How may an external 'breakout' box be connected to the host PC? Name 3 different ways and describe the benefits and drawbacks of each protocol.
By Firewire, USB or a PCI card. USB has the advantage of being fairly cheap and is compatible across all platforms and pretty much all computers have a USB connection. Data transfer of USB 1.1 however is not all that fast although USB 2.0 is much faster. USB 1.1 can result in latency issues and limit the number of tracks that can be simultaneously played back and recorded. Firewire is similar to USB although not all computers come equipped with a firewire connection. Firewire does offer faster transfer rates than USB 1.1. Firewire equipped boxes are likely to be more expensive than USB. PCI has very high data transfer rates, providing almost unlimited numbers of tracks for playback and recording with low latency.
What is the importance of cluster size for PC based recordings?
Data is stored on a hard drive in clusters. Digital audio comprises mostly large files and therefore a larger cluster size will be more efficient as a greater percentage of the file is in continuous blocks, thus causing less fragmentation.
Define the Von Neumann model of PC architecture.
All computers share the same basic architecture, whether it be a mutli-million Ł system or a palmtop. All have memory an input and output system, an arithmetic/logic unit, and a control unit. This architecture is named Von Neumann architecture after the mathematician who conceived the design.
In a system with a PCI soundcard, is it more desirable to have the graphics card on the AGP or PCI bus?
On the AGP (accelerated graphics port) as this is dedicated for graphics and will leave the PCI free to handle the audio.
Name 2 examples of an optical storage format, and their respective capacities.
CD’s and DVD’s. CD’s have a capacity of around 700Mb although I think you can get 800Mb now. DVD’s can have a capacity of up to 9GB although this would be a double sided disc I think.
Explain the importance of each of the following factors in a DAW, and what each factor contributes to a DAW;
Amount of RAM – this will determine how fast instructions can be fed to the processor and back to the internal and peripheral components. The more RAM the better as with larger amounts of RAM the system will run much ‘smoother’ and faster. 512Mb is the minimum recommended amount of RAM for and audio PC
Hard Drive Space – raw audio data uses a lot of memory and therefore large capacity hard drives are needed to store all the data. A minimum hard drive of 80 Gb would be recommended for a music system.
Processor Speed - playing and recording music requires a lot of processing power. The CPU is the heart of this processing power and therefore a fast processor (around 3GHz) is needed to adequately process all the info and provide a ‘smooth’ sound without stutters, clicks and pops etc.
Explain the following file systems, their associated OSs' and the capabilities of each File System;
FAT – this is the File Allocation Table – the file system used by DOS and Windows to manage files stored on hard disks, floppy disks, and other disk media. The file system takes its name from an on-disk data structure known as the file allocation table, which records where individual portions of each file are located on the disk.
FAT32 - This is an option in Windows 98 and higher which supports larger partition sizes and smaller cluster sizes, thereby improving disk performance and increasing available disk space.
NTFS - NT File System – the system that is native to Windows NT. NTFS is probably the most advanced file system available for personal computers, featuring superior performance, excellent security and crash protection, and the ability to handle large volumes of data.
How does a virtual/soft sampler such as Halion utilise the host computers resources?
Halion streams the samples directly from a hard disk, EXCEPT it keeps the first part of every sample permanently in RAM to avoid latency when a particular sample is played. That means having plenty of RAM is of help
How many minutes of stereo CD-quality digital audio can be stored in a 1 Gigabyte hard disk partition, approximately?
10Mb per minute of music so around 100 minutes.
For a hard disk of 20 Gigabytes capacity or more, what is the most likely backup device, other than another hard disk?
Some form of tape drive or a portable device like and iPod
Describe four different areas of application in widespread use and give an example of a popular piece of software in each area.
Loop based packages such as Fruity Loops
Sequencing Software – Sonar, Cubase etc.
Mastering – T-Racks
Samplers – V-sampler, Halion.
Describe the main advantages of Firewire compared to SCSI
Firewire is ‘hot swappable’, SCSI is not
Firewire is faster
Firewire allows more devices to be connected and has thinner cables.
In relation to computer software;
What is a driver? – a software routine that links a peripheral device to the operating system. It acts as a translator between a device and applications that use it. Each device has its own set of specialised commands known only to its driver.
What is an extension? - usually a few letters added after a file name to describe what can of file it is such as .wav or .mp3.
Excluding the host device, what is the maximum number of devices that may be attached to a SCSI bus?
7
If it is necessary to reconnect or reconfigure the devices on a SCSI bus what precaution should be taken?
Shut down the computer as SCSI devices are not hot swappable. The reconfigure any connections before re-booting.
How many terminators would there normally be on a SCSI bus? Where would they be situated?
2 – one on each end. One would be situated on the end of the SCSI ribbon cable. On external devices, they would be situated next to the cable.
A system incorporating two devices in addition to the host on a SCSI bus isn’t working correctly. What would you check on the SCSI devices themselves, assuming they are all switched on?
Check the connections are correct and that any necessary drivers are loaded and that there is not an ID conflict.
Macintosh computers running system version 9.0.4 and lower are not very good at playing audio while word processing, whereas IBM PC compatible computers running Microsoft operating systems are. What is lacking from the Macintosh's operating system?
The Mac’s OS did not use pre-emptive multitasking making it much more unstable when more than one application needed to be open at the same time.
In a hard disk recording system, which type of disk drive would you expect to allow the most simultaneous tracks to be replayed, a magnetic hard disk or a magneto-optical disk?
A magnetic hard disk as it is faster and has greater storage capacity.
Which is usually thought to offer the most reliable long-term storage, removable magnetic hard disk cartridge or magneto-optical disk?
A magneto-optical disk as it is protected against magnet fields and is generally more robust than a hard disk cartridge and is therefore more suitable for a back up.
Compared to digital tape, what is the principal disadvantage of disks for long-term storage?
Disks are mechanical devices and have moving parts which undoubtedly could go wrong whereas tape does not have this problem and it likely to last a lot longer if stored correctly.
Going to put my anorak on now!!!!!!!! |
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Fri Mar 26, 2004 4:19 am |
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ben m
Joined: 15 Sep 2002
Posts: 337
Location: UK |
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well done for getting in there 'early doors' (as Ron Atkinson would say) 
But before you get too comfortable in your anorak...
For a bonus point, regarding the AMD/Intel question, you are correct with the PCI latency issue, but are there any other reasons? Have there ever been issues with the Southbridge on some AMD mobo chipsets? How about large file corruption?
Also, just to 'drive it home', could you show your workings for how many MBs a stereo audio file takes and explain your workings - I'd like you all to do this please.
Also, seeing as you worked pretty quickly I've got another couple of questions for you!
Firstly, could you briefly explain the different RAID configurations?
Secondly, what current problems are there with many motherobards offering SATA support, and how may this affect audio PCs?
Actually I'd like everyone to have a crack at these additional questions if you get time, but the path is clear for you to get a 'full house' here hoggs33! 
eyes down... |
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Fri Mar 26, 2004 8:46 am |
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hoggs33
Joined: 09 Feb 2004
Posts: 55
Location: Nottingham, England |
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OOOh, thanks Ben – more questions just what I wanted!!!!!!! I am struggling for time now as it’s my youngest sons 3rd birthday party this weekend, hence the reason I got the questions done and posted early to get them out the way before chaos erupts in the hoggs house!!!!! I found a bit of info on the extra questions as follows. I havn’t had much time though and still want to leave a bit of time for the benchmarking thingy that I have not really looked into yet.
Anyway – the formula for working out how many Mb’s a stereo audio file take is as follows:- frequency rate x bits per sample/8 = bytes per second.
Bytes per second x 60 = mono file size per minute in MB
2 x mono file size per minute in megagbytes = stereo file size per minute in megabytes.
Therefore taking a 16bit/44.1KHz stereo track ready for CD burning the calculation would be as follows
44.1 x 16 /8 = 88.2
88.2 x 60 = 5292 (5.2) MB
2 x 5.2 = 10.4 MB per minute = 100 minutes on a 1Gb drive
Now you’re impressed eh?!!!!
(I hope I’ve got it right!!!!!!!)
RAID is Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks. When configured for performance RAID writes and reads data parallel from multiple drives simultaneously. In theory data can be moved at the speed of one drive multiplied by the number of drives working in parallel, although in practice management overheads reduce this significantly.
SATA is a brand new technology and its hard to locate hard drives that support SATA (not sure if this is still current however). That’s about all I could find about it in the time available to me.
Re: the AMD/Intel question. Again struggling for time and havn’t been able to put these bit in my own words but found the following: - “The Athlon processors do not host any DAW-related problems per se but reported compatibility issues are related to previous VIA chipsets with the VIA 686B Southbridge and imperfect VIA chipset drivers.”
“When the 686b southbridge was first released, motherboard manufacturers and VIA discovered a problem when trying to transfer files between the primary and the secondary IDE channels on motherboards using ultra-DMA, when a Sound Blaster Live was plugged in and drivers activated. This issue was caused because too much noise is transferred across the PCI bus by the Sound Blaster Live driver set. In an attempt to fix this issue, some motherboard manufacturers modified their BIOS. In some instances, these modifications to the BIOS caused a data corruption error even when not using a Sound Blaster Live. VIA released a patch which resolves this issue, which is incoroporated in the 4in1 drivers from the 4.31 version onwards. Motherboard manufacturers were advised to change the modifications made to thier BIOS to elimate the data corruption issue. If you are experiencing data corruption or lock up when transferring files between two IDE drives: 1) Make sure you have the latest BIOS from your motherboard |
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Sat Mar 27, 2004 1:07 am |
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iNSTiNCT2765
Joined: 05 Nov 2003
Posts: 60
Location: Denmark |
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Some of the answers may be a bit short due to a lack of time and for some I just couldn't find any got answers! 8O
Computers Questions – Week 3
Define the following terms (using soundcards as examples):
Latency: the delay at which it takes data to move across a soundcard. For example, if you have a midi keyboard hooked up to the soundcard, the latency would be the time it takes for the sound to be produced after a key is pressed.
Duplex: this means that the soundcard can both receive and transmit data at the same time. This is also called Full Duplex. For example, if you’re having a voice chat using your soundcard, you will be able to both talk and listen at the same time. Half Duplex means that the soundcard can’t transmit and receive at the same time, only one or the other.
Buffer: this is a small amount of the audio that is stored in the RAM memory right before it is used so it can be accessed from there. Then while it is playing, another piece of the audio is stored in the buffer and so on.
Define the following Sound Card driver types and their advantages/disadvantages:
MME (Multimedia Extensions): invented by Microsoft for an OS called ‘Windows with Multimedia Extensions 1.0’. This is a universal driver that works with all soundcards. The driver has a high latency and is limited to a stereo input and output.
Direct X: invented by Microsoft after Windows 95 came out. It’s a package that includes DirectShow (filtering and playback of streaming audio and video signals), DirectDraw (faster access to the graphics card) and DirectSound 3D (outputs 4 channels of audio signal). It has an advantage over MME in that it has a lower latency, which is critical for using software synths. A disadvantage is that you cannot record audio with this driver.
ASIO (Audio Stream In/Out): this driver format, developed by Steinberg, reached similar and lower latencies than Direct X Sound. The difference here is that it did this for both playback AND recording. The main reason for ASIO’s development was for multichannel functionality. This is an advantage. You have access to all the physical inputs and outputs of the hardware through one device. It also reduces the load on the CPU and improves sync between I/O channels. ASIO 2.0 also added monitoring of the hardware remotely from the PC.
WDM (Windows Driver Model): These drivers provide a more flexible link between the software and the hardware. The drivers don’t work on Windows 95, 98 or NT 4.0. Plus, it restricts the number of device ports in Windows 2000 to 10 maximum. Other than that, they are low latency drivers that work well with hardware. Some hardware products even have their own versions of the WDM drivers included instead of the standard ones to optimize performance.
How may latency be reduced with ASIO/WDM drivers?
Adjusting the audio-buffer settings can reduce latency. By reducing the buffer length, the latency will decrease as well. But of course it all depends on the speed of your system. If the buffer is reduced too much, then there may be a distortion or crackle in the sound since the computer is not fast enough to process all the data.
Name the primary differences between 'consumer' and 'professional' soundcards.
The professional soundcard comes with more inputs and outputs than the consumer soundcard. The resolution is also usually better on the pro soundcards where sample rates up to 96KHz normally come standard. The inputs and outputs on pro soundcards are usually XLR and Ľ inch balanced/unbalanced compared to the mini jacks on consumer soundcards. Pro soundcards can also come with no outputs directly on the card but instead connect to a breakout box or digital mixer where all the I/O’s are found plus DSP effects.
Define the following hard drive features/specifications and explain their usefulness in a DAW:
Cache: small RAM memory that keeps recently accessed data. When the data is requested again, it can be accessed from the cache memory instead of the main memory, making it available faster.
Speed in RPM (rotations per minute): this is the speed of the hard disk in a computer. The more RPM’s the hard disk has, the faster it spins. More RPM’s also give you quicker access to the files on your hard disk so more audio files can be played simultaneously.
ATA Type: determines the speed of a transfer of data from the hard disk. The two fastest ATA types are PIO4, which transfers at 16 Mb/s and DMA2, which transfers at 32 Mb/s.
Why have many people tended not to use AMD processors in DAWs? Is this down to the processor or the relevant motherboard chipsets?
AMD processors have a latency problem when they come with a VIA chipset motherboard.
How may an external 'breakout' box be connected to the host PC? Name 3 different ways and describe the benefits and drawbacks of each protocol.
Three ways you can connect a breakout box to the PC are through a Firewire connection, a USB port or a PCI card. The Firewire and USB solutions give a high-speed transfer rate of the audio data and offer portability as any laptop with the right ports can be used to hook the box up to. Firewire is a little more stable when transferring multiple audio channels than the USB protocol but both offer high quality, portable solutions. Boxes such as the Digidesign Digi002 Rack (Firewire) and the Digidesign M-Box (USB) are examples for high quality break out boxes. The price may be a little steeper when it comes to Firewire boxes. The third way is through a PCI card, which sits inside the computer. This is then connected to the break out box through a cable. This also gives you the high-quality quick transfer needed for multichannel pro audio recording. A drawback with this is, you have to open up the computer to install the card, risking shock or electrocution if it is not done properly.
What is the importance of cluster size for PC based recordings?
A bigger cluster size means a more continuous reading of the harddisk, which also means a smoother reading. This is beneficial when recording onto the PC as it minimizes glitches in the audio.
Define the Von Neumann model of PC architecture.
John von Neumann developed the idea that data could be stored in memory. His model of the PC consisted of input devices, memory for programs and data, output devices, a processing unit and a control unit to run the programs.
In a system with a PCI soundcard, is it more desirable to have the graphics card on the AGP or PCI bus?
I’m guessing here but it would probably be better on the AGP bus so the soundcard doesn’t share the PCI bus.
Name 2 examples of an optical storage format, and their respective capacities.
One type of optical storage is WORM (write once, read many), which could be a CDR disc with the capacity of either 650 MB or 700MB. Another is MO (magneto optical), which is like a harddisk where data can be written many times. A MO drive has a capacity of 650 MB.
Explain the importance of each of the following factors in a DAW, and what each factor contributes to a DAW:
Amount of RAM: the more RAM your DAW has, the more processing can be done at one time.
Hard Drive Space: uncompressed audio files take up a lot of space so a lot of disk space is a must when working with them.
Processor Speed: You need a fast processor in your DAW to get optimal performance when dealing with recording/playing audio and using software synths/samplers.
Explain the following file systems, their associated OSs' and the capabilities of each File System:
FAT (File Allocation Table): keeps track of all the files on your computer and aids in locating and retrieving them. It can even locate fragmented files. This is for DOS and Windows.
FAT32: improved version of the FAT system that uses more bits to identify each cluster on the disk allowing for smaller clusters on the harddisk. This improves efficiency of the hard drive. This is for Windows 98 and up.
NTFS (New Technology File System): The partitions on the NTFS system can be virtually any size. This system is for Windows NT systems and has good security and better crash protection than the other two file systems. It is in wide use in the business workplace.
How does a virtual/soft sampler such as Halion utilise the host computers resources?
Since the samples are located on the hard disk it utilizes it whenever it has to access the samples but they are also stored, or at least part of them, in the RAM so latency can be avoided so it is also utilized. A fast hard disk and lots of RAM is recommended when using software samplers.
How many minutes of stereo CD-quality digital audio can be stored in a 1 Gigabyte hard disk partition, approximately?
1 Gigabyte of hard disk space can hold about 100 minutes of digital audio…here’s why!
1 sec of 44,100 Hz 16bit stereo digital audio = 176 Kb
176 x 60 sec = 10560 Kb/min
(1 GB = 1048576 Kb)
1048576 / 10560 = 99.3 min/GB
For a hard disk of 20 Gigabytes capacity or more, what is the most likely backup device, other than another hard disk?
A lot of CDR’s or about one fifth that number in DVDR’s.
Describe four different areas of application in widespread use and give an example of a popular piece of software in each area.
Sound Editors: Sound Forge
Sequencer: Nuendo
Beat Slicer: Recycle
Drum Machine: Fruity Loops
Describe the main advantages of Firewire compared to SCSI
Firewire is a lot faster than SCSI. Data can be transferred at a faster rate with Firewire than with SCSI. The cables for Firewire are also thinner.
In relation to computer software:
What is a driver?
This is a small file that helps the computer communicate correctly with specific hardware that is attached to the PC. The driver contains information needed for the computer to recognize and control the attached device
What is an extension?
This is a couple of letters that follow the name of a file usually after a ‘.’ And indicate what the file contains.
Excluding the host device, what is the maximum number of devices that may be attached to a SCSI bus?
Seven devices can be attached to a SCSI bus if you include the host device.
If it is necessary to reconnect or reconfigure the devices on a SCSI bus what precaution should be taken?
Make sure all the SCSI devices and the computer is turned off or unplugged because SCSI is not hot swappable.
How many terminators would there normally be on a SCSI bus? Where would they be situated?
There would be two terminators. They would be at either end of the SCSI chain.
A system incorporating two devices in addition to the host on a SCSI bus isn’t working correctly. What would you check on the SCSI devices themselves, assuming they are all switched on?
You should make sure there is no ID conflict between the 2 devices.
Macintosh computers running system version 9.0.4 and lower are not very good at playing audio while word processing, whereas IBM PC compatible computers running Microsoft operating systems are. What is lacking from the Macintosh's operating system?
Multitasking is not as good as it is in the Windows OS. This makes the Mac with the 9.04 and lower OS more unstable when more than one task is running at the same time.
In a hard disk recording system, which type of disk drive would you expect to allow the most simultaneous tracks to be replayed, a magnetic hard disk or a magneto-optical disk?
The magnetic hard disk has a greater storage capacity and is faster than a MO drive so it can hold more tracks.
Which is usually thought to offer the most reliable long-term storage, removable magnetic hard disk cartridge or magneto-optical disk?
The MO is more robust than a hard disk so it is better suited for long-term storage… It also has a shelf life of around 100 years so it would be the better choice.
Compared to digital tape, what is the principal disadvantage of disks for long-term storage?
The disks are more likely to malfunction since they have moving mechanical parts in them unlike the digital tape.
I'll try to get to the bonus questions and the practical tomorrow...good weekend yall!
- Aman
Last edited by iNSTiNCT2765 on Sat Apr 03, 2004 5:18 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Sat Mar 27, 2004 2:04 am |
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SNG4HIM
Newbie
Joined: 11 Nov 2003
Posts: 5
Location: Maryland, USA |
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Latency: delay in time from actual sound being produced, to the actual time it is recorded and/or played back.
Duplex: be able to send and receive at the same time.
Buffer: different components within a computer have different speeds and abilities to process data. The buffer is a temporary holding place for data and/or program instruction to ensure a smooth flow of bits between components.
MME: Multimedia Extension Driver. Good general driver for most all computer sound cards but not meant for professional recording with low latency, fast processing.
Direct X: Better capability than MME, but more for playback of multimedia sources and not recording. Allows plug-ins to interoperate as program modules with other applications.
ASIO: Audio Stream In/Out. Took what DirectX couldn’t do and added recording capability of multimedia files with multiple channels and streamlined latency/processing by communicating directly to audio devices.
WDM: Windows Driver Model. Improvement over Direct X but only compatible with more recent computer systems. The lowest latency driver.
Reduce latency with ASIO/WDM: Since it bypasses normal operating system, then if no other programs are running (incl background), then buffer sizes can be reduced, but only to a point depending on the processor speed of the computer and bus. Goal is to reduce sizes to the maximum extent possible without negative effects to 100% sound capture.
Difference between pro/consumer sound cards: Consumer sound cards only have normal 8mm jacks for basic hookups of speakers and microphone and maybe a line in. Pro cards are designed around low latency and more diversified ports like XLR, Ľ” bal/unbal jacks, breakout boxes attached (like mine) with even greater control of gains, inputs/outputs, DSP, sends/returns, etc. Plus they will normally have a much better on-board processor and memory to take a lot of the conversion/translation processing off of the computer.
Hard drive features:
Cache: small amount of memory holding the very most recent data/programming files for immediate access. Constantly changes as programs and computer operations change focus.
Speed in RPM: speed of rotation of hard drive, allowing faster read/write/access times to the CPU. Obviously, if data can be written, read and accessed faster, it can handle a greater load in recording and playback of large files, along with the ability to record more simultaneous tracks without hickups.
ATA: data transfer speed. Although nice to be fast like DMA2, overall system design is important to truly take advantage of it. Slow hard drive won’t help.
Not use AMD processor. Latency problem with processing capability when compared to Intel chip.
3 ways to connect a breakout box: PCI Card (what I have), USB, Firewire. If USB is used, recommend only USB 2.0 due to much higher data transfer speeds, even above Firewire. Firewire next is good and stable. Both are for more portable solutions. PCI card is preferred, especially for the DAW as it is the fastest, usually comes with pre-processor chips on the board to do the conversion of analog to digital signal before it hits the cpu, and connected via ribbon cable (fast!).
Importance of cluster size: Clusters are like empty glasses making up the total storage capability of a hard drive. The bigger the glass, the less clusters needed, and the more data can be held. Additionally, for non-computer based recordings, regular computer programs are not great with this as a cluster can be partially filled, then the rest is not used, which means more blocks not available for storage. Since audio recordings deal with large files, contiguous file storage is much better and fragmentation is already at a minimum even though defragging is a constant must.
Von Neumann model of PC architecture. This was the first basic design concepts including inputs, processing, storage, outputs. The idea of storing electronic data was the major concept in which developed both temporary and permanent storage; RAM/Harddrive.
Graphics card on the PCI or AGP when PCI soundcard used. AGP to reduce processing/flow on that bus. Graphics are intensive and need dedication and separation if possible with the system design.
2 Examples of Optical Storage Format. The CD-R’s and DVD-R’s. CD’s are 700 megabytes of storage and DVD’s can actually go up to a maximum of 18 gigabytes of storage even thought the most popular/used is 4.7 gigabytes.
Important Factors in a DAW:
Amount of RAM: More space with is “fast”, the more room that not only the programs have to operate in, but also the capture of streaming data like recording audio.
Hard drive space: The larger the better as long as it is a high speed RPM drive. Both video and audio files are large and when they are sliced, diced, backed up, etc, you can go over the 10 gigabytes real quick on just one 5 minute audio recording.
Processor Speed: Assuming a Pro-Soundcard is being used and doing most if not all the processing during recording, the processor speed has more implications during the editing, mixing and mastering phases. When applying effects to large audio files, a fast processor can mean the difference of the person spending 4 hours in front of the computer waiting for processes to be completed, as opposed to 45 minutes.
FAT: The File Allocation Table is used by Windows to hold “pointer” data of where all the real data is stored on the hard drive. Tells the hard drive the exact address of where to go to get the data needed to complete the instructions.
FAT32: This basically improved the FAT, but was really known for adding double the amount of lanes on the highway so to speak. It was meant for new 32 bit processing systems.
NTFS: NTFS just recently (past couple of years) reached the personal home computer market as it was originally built for NT environments, thus more of a professional grade with better flexibility in mass storage of large data sets, overall setup and maintenance, security and conflict resolution.
Number of minutes of stereo CD quality audio can be stored on a 1 Gig partition: 100
Most likely backup device for HD’s larger than 20 G. Most likely for “me” is a network connection to another computer, but that’s another hard drive. So I would have to go with DVD disks for this.
4 different areas of application: editing, loops, beats, sequencer. ProTools, Acid Pro, Beatcreator, Cakewalk
Advantages of Firewire over SCSI: faster, hot-swappable
What is a driver: a piece of software used by your computer to communicate with a particular peripheral device.
What is an extension: ending to a file name to “indicate” what the “possible” file type is. Can be incorrect, merely a guide to the type/format of the file itself.
Maximum devices on a SCSI bus: 7
Precautions to reconnecting/reconfiguring devices on SCSI bus: Backup everything. Normal/gentle shutdown of system, unplugging from power sources. Watch static elecricity. Power everything up normally, in sequence. If problems arise, then power down and power up once device at a time until all devices are connected, configured and operating properly.
Number of terminators on a SCSI bus: 2. ends of the SCSI chain.
SCSI devices not working properly: Same as precautions above ensuring no device conflicts exist, again, configuring one at a time.
Problems with MAC 9.0.4 and below: multi-tasking environment unstable.
Magnetic or magneto-optical disk better for multi-track playback: magnetic disk.
Which is better for long term storage: magneto due to resilience to magnetic field loss.
Disadvantage of hard disks compared to magnetic tape: mechanical parts and if seal if ever compromised, much more likely to lose data or the contents of the entire drive. Additionally, as systems advance, most likely tape will always be able to be used where hard disks could run into compatibility issues with newer systems, say 20-30 years down the road. So save your current computer if you’re storing on today’s hard drives. <g> |
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Sat Mar 27, 2004 6:59 am |
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griff505
Joined: 23 Feb 2004
Posts: 68
Location: Bristol |
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Define the following terms:
Latency - the delay in time between the sending of a unit of data at the originating end of a connection and the reception of that unit at the destination end. Latency can result from mismatches in data speed between the microprocessor and input/output devices and inadequate data buffers.
Duplex – A duplex communication means that both ends of the communication can send and receive signals at the same time. A sound card used for audio recording must be capable of duplex communication to allow it to record and playback simultaneously.
Buffer - A temporary storage area, usually RAM which acts as a holding area, enabling the CPU to manipulate data before transferring it to a device. Reading and writing data to a disk is relatively slow, therefore many programs keep track of data changes in a buffer and then copy the buffer to a disk.
Define the following Sound Card driver types and their advantages/disadvantages;
MME - Multimedia Extension - A driver for Windows that enables certain audio or video functions. This works fine for general computer applications; however it is unsuitable for professional audio work as large system overheads lead to high latencies often well over 500 milliseconds.
Direct X – “advanced suite of multimedia application programming interfaces (APIs) built into Microsoft Windows; operating systems. At the core of DirectX are its application programming interfaces, or APIs. The APIs act as a kind of bridge for the hardware and the software to "talk" to each other.” Does not allow duplex communication, although it is faster than MME.
ASIO - Audio Stream Input/Output - Developed by Steinberg, it is a cross-platform, multi-channel audio transfer protocol, allowing software to have access to the multi-channel capabilities of a wide range of powerful sound cards. An ASIO driver allows the host audio/MIDI application to see all of the inputs and outputs available on the sound card. The user can then assign these I/O ports as needed for recording or playback when using an ASIO-compatible software program. This allows for duplex communications, at a low latency level.
WDM - Windows Driver Model – Developed by Microsoft to create drivers that are source-code compatible for Windows 98, 2000, Me and XP. WDM works by channelling the work of the device driver into portions of the code integrated into the operating system. The portions of code handle all of the low-level buffer management, including DMA and Plug and Play device enumeration. WDM device drivers become more streamlined with less code and works at greater efficiency.
How may latency be reduced with ASIO/WDM drivers?
The buffer length needs to be set to the best level to work with the computer, as the buffer length is reduced so it the amount of latency. However too much reduction will result in audible pops and drop outs as the computer cannot work fast enough to process all the data.
Name the primary differences between 'consumer' and 'professional' soundcards.
- Professional – A professional soundcard will be one aimed at users wishes to carry out audio projects on their computer. Therefore the soundcard will have drivers compatible with software sequencers and audio recording programmes such as ASIO and Direct X. These manufacturers of the drivers will aim for the lowest possible latency to give the user the best performance in audio programmes. The soundcard will also be capable of duplex communications, allowing the user to record and monitor simultaneously. Another feature is multiple ins and outs, a typical USB 2 or Firewire sound card has about 10 in and 10 outs, on a variety of connector types (1/4”, XLR, Digital I/O). The inputs often have optional phantom power capability, pads and high impendence settings for line level instruments. Professional soundcards also have the capability of higher quality sound recording with modern soundcards able to handle multiple 24-bit/96 kHz.
- Consumer – Consumer soundcards are designed for more general computer applications, such as games and OS sounds. They have 8mm jacks to connect speakers and a small microphone. They are not capable of duplex communications and are not suited to audio recording.
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Define the following hard drive features/specifications and explain their usefulness in a DAW:
Cache - A disk cache uses conventional main memory. The most recently accessed data from the disk is stored in a memory buffer. When a program needs to access data from the disk, it first checks the disk cache to see if the data is there. Disk caching can dramatically improve the performance of applications, because accessing a byte of data in RAM can be thousands of times faster than accessing a byte on a hard disk. This is useful in a DAW as audio can be stored here for much faster access, this would be most apparent when using a programme that involves some form of software sampling, or any programme referencing multiple audio files. Today, the disk cache is usually included as part of the hard disk.
Speed in RPM – Rotations per minute of the hard disk. The faster the disk turns the faster data can be accessed. The faster the hard drive turns in a DAW the faster audio can be accessed and the more tracks can be played simultaneously.
ATA Type - Advanced Technology Attachment – This is the controller on the disk drive itself and allows the hard disk to interface with the OS. The more recent the ATA type the faster it can communicate with the OS and a faster performance will result.
Why have many people tended not to use AMD processors in DAWs? Is this down to the processor or the relevant motherboard chipsets?
Because of the latency issue with the VIA chipset motherboard.
(With the new Southbridge and KT133A motherboards, various users started experiencing data corruption problems as well as system instability when transferring files, listening to music, or anything that utilized the PCI bus. Typically, users with a KT133A chipset, 686B Southbridge and a Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live sound card were affected.
The problem is not limited to the SBLive!, the Audigy soundcard can also be affected. Even worse, with an affected system, kX Drivers may not be recognised by VIA 4in1 driver package, indicating that the VIA fix may not be installed correctly).
How may an external 'breakout' box be connected to the host PC? Name 3 different ways and describe the benefits and drawbacks of each protocol.
USB – USB breakout boxes offer portability and high speed transfers. The USB connection allows the box to be disconnected and reconnected very easily and it therefore ideal for laptop and portable use. USB 1 offers transport rates of up to 12 Mbps which may cause latency problems if transporting multiple tracks simultaneously. USB 2 offers a much wider bandwidth allowing transfers of up to 480 Mbps and is now the obvious choice for audio applications especially with the movement towards 24 bit audio.
Firewire – This is another fast external bus offering data transfer speed of up to 400 Mbps. Firewire supports isochronous data which delivers data at a guaranteed rate. This makes it ideal for devices that need to transfer high levels of data in real-time, such as sound cards. It was developed by Apple and is present in all their computers although not all new PC’s come with Firewire ports. Firewire is regarded as an expensive connection although affordable soundcards are starting to come out supporting the format. It also supplies power to the external device.
PCI - Peripheral Component Interconnect – PCI soundcards are mounted within the computer and are connected to a breakout box with ribbon cables. The disadvantage is that it needs to be installed internally in the computer and once installed cannot be easily exchanged between computers; it is not an option for laptop users. The advantage is their transport rates, allowing a high number of tracks to be supported with low latency.
What is the importance of cluster size for PC based recordings?
A cluster is the unit of file storage on a hard disk; it's managed by the computer's operating system. Even the smallest file takes up the entire cluster. Thus, a 10-byte file will take up 2,048 bytes if that's the cluster size. Many operating systems set the cluster size default at 4,096 or 8,192 bytes. The bigger the cluster size the easier it is for the OS to read from the Hard Disk, as there will be less fragmentation.
Define the Von Neumann model of PC architecture.
Von Neumann was the scientist who conceived of the fundamental principles behind all modern computers - that a computer's program and the data that it processes do not have to be fed into the computer while it is working, but can be kept in the computer's memory
In a system with a PCI soundcard, is it more desirable to have the graphics card on the AGP or PCI bus?
The graphics card should be inserted in the AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) bus as it is the bus dedicated to graphics.
Name 2 examples of an optical storage format, and their respective capacities.
- CD-ROM – capable of storing up to 1GB of data although most store between 700 – 800 Mbs.
- DVD-r – capable of storing between 4.7 GB up to 17 GB and is capable to storing 24bit audio.
Explain the importance of each of the following factors in a DAW, and what each factor contributes to a DAW;
Amount of RAM – The amount of RAM determines the amount of processing the can be done at a time, faster processors need high amounts of RAM to support their capabilities to the fullest. RAM holds information on the operating system, application programmes, and data in current use, so that the processor can access it quickly. If the amount of RAM fills up, the data needs to be written to the hard drive which slows the computer down significantly. 1GB of RAM is recommended for DAW’s running on a modern processor.
Hard Drive Space – audio files use a lot of space therefore large hard drives are recommended for DAW’s, although they do not need to be huge if projects are achieved when they are not being worked on. A huge hard drive will have slower access times for data stored on the outside of the disk. On a DAW the hard drive should be partitioned with audio stored on the innermost partition, or a separate hard drive can be used for storing audio.
Processor Speed – A fast processor is required to handle the workload of a DAW, which included simultaneous multiple playback and record, as well as handling plug-in effects. VST-I’s, the OS and the audio platform. New computers come with processors clocking over 2.5 GHz.
Explain the following file systems, their associated OSs' and the capabilities of each File System;
FAT - file allocation table (a table that DOS and Windows maintains on a hard disk to provide a map of the clusters that a file has been stored in) - DOS 5.0 and later versions provide for support of hard disks up to two gigabytes with the 16-bit FAT entry limit by supporting separate FATs for up to four partitions.
FAT32 – Found in Windows 95 OSR2 onwards - the largest size hard disk that can be supported is two terabytes.
NTFS - NT File System – The filing system found on the Windows NT OS which offers a number of improvements over FAT and FAT32 in terms of performance, extendibility, and security (including transaction logs to help recover from disk failures).
How does a virtual/soft sampler such as Halion utilise the host computers resources?
Halion streams data from the hard disk, although to reduce latency the first parts of the audio samples are stored in RAM. There is an option in Halion 2 to configure how much data can be pre-loaded in RAM. Therefore the more RAM the computer has the more efficiently Halion will perform.
How many minutes of stereo CD-quality digital audio can be stored in a 1 Gigabyte hard disk partition, approximately?
Using Hoggs’ formula:
frequency rate x bits per sample/8 = bytes per second.
Bytes per second x 60 = mono file size per minute in MB
2 x mono file size per minute in MB = stereo file size per minute in megabytes.
44.1 x 16 / 8 = 88.2
88.2 x 6. = 5292 (5.292MB)
2 x 5.292 = 10.584 MB per minute.
Therefore 1000MB / 10.584 = 96.15 Minutes.
For a hard disk of 20 Gigabytes capacity or more, what is the most likely backup device, other than another hard disk?
- Digital tape (less likely to suffer mechanical failure), DVD-R(W) (unsure whether these will lose data like CD-R’s are prone to over time).
Describe four different areas of application in widespread use and give an example of a popular piece of software in each area.
Video Editing – Final Cut Pro 4
Audio Recording and Sequencing – Cubase SX
Loop Manipulation – Re-cycle
Red Book Standard CD burning – Wavelab 4.0
Describe the main advantages of Firewire compared to SCSI
Firewire has a much wider bandwidth (400 Mbps compared with SCSI’s 80 Mbps).
Firewire allows for quicker disconnection and connection of devices (it is hot-swappable).
Firewire can provide power to the device it is attaching.
More devices can be connected via Firewire (63).
In relation to computer software;
What is a driver? – It is a program that interacts with a particular device or piece of software. It contains the special knowledge of the device or software interface that programs using the driver do not. Every device must have a driver program which acts like a translator between the device and programs that use the device.
What is an extension? – Letters added after a filename to indicate the type of information stored within the file, to allow the user to know what type of file it is, and application programs to recognise whether a file is a type that it can work with, e.g. .zip, .rar, .exe.
Excluding the host device, what is the maximum number of devices that may be attached to a SCSI bus?
SCSI allows up to 7 or 15 devices (depending on the bus width) to be connected to a single SCSI port in daisy-chain fashion. (www.webopedia.com)
If it is necessary to reconnect or reconfigure the devices on a SCSI bus what precaution should be taken?
The computer should be shut down before any SCSI devices are attached or detached.
How many terminators would there normally be on a SCSI bus? Where would they be situated?
Two, one at the beginning and one at the end of the SCSI chain.
A system incorporating two devices in addition to the host on a SCSI bus isn’t working correctly. What would you check on the SCSI devices themselves, assuming they are all switched on?
- Configuring the SCSI bus itself. This includes terminating both ends of the SCSI bus, setting the Logical Unit Number (LUN), and setting the device IDs.
- Check to make sure that termination is correct.
Macintosh computers running system version 9.0.4 and lower are not very good at playing audio while word processing, whereas IBM PC compatible computers running Microsoft operating systems are. What is lacking from the Macintosh's operating system?
Until OSX Mac were not capable of pre-emptive multitasking. This allows the OS to run multiple tasks from two or more applications at once, with no application allowed to hog processor time. OS’s before OSX had to wait for the front-most application to finish its task before background applications could start on their jobs.
In a hard disk recording system, which type of disk drive would you expect to allow the most simultaneous tracks to be replayed, a magnetic hard disk or a magneto-optical disk?
A magnetic hard disk is faster and would be expected to allow the most tracks to play back simultaneously.
Which is usually thought to offer the most reliable long-term storage, removable magnetic hard disk cartridge or magneto-optical disk?
Magneto-optical disks are the best option for long term storage as they are magnetically protected and more durable than removable magnetic hard disks.
Compared to digital tape, what is the principal disadvantage of disks for long-term storage?
Digital tape is more compliant with changing formats as hard drives have compatibility issues with changing technology and OS’s. Digital Tape is also more durable as it has no moving parts; there is more that can go wrong with a hard disk.
EXTRA QUESTIONS:
- RAID - Redundant Array of Independent (or Inexpensive) Disks - A category of disk drives that employ two or more drives in combination for fault tolerance and performance. RAID disk drives are used frequently on servers but aren't generally necessary for personal computers.
Level 0: Provides data striping (spreading out blocks of each file across multiple disks) but no redundancy. This improves performance but does not deliver fault tolerance.
Level 1: Provides disk mirroring.
Level 3: Same as Level 0, but also reserves one dedicated disk for error correction data. It provides good performance and some level of fault tolerance.
Level 5: Provides data striping at the byte level and also stripe error correction information. This results in excellent performance and good fault tolerance.
- SATA – Serial ATA - Serial ATA is a serial link -- A new form of drive interface, aimed at high speeds and cleaner installs. This new standard is closer to IDE then SCSI in nature, but boasts great transfer speeds (currently maxing at 150mb/s) and is hot-swappable. A good way to think of is almost like a USB connection for internal drives. The only disadvantage I could find is something to do with possible data loss when using RAID 0 when sharing the work load between two drives – if either drive fails everything is lost. |
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Wed Mar 31, 2004 2:42 am |
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iNSTiNCT2765
Joined: 05 Nov 2003
Posts: 60
Location: Denmark |
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Computers 2 – Bonus Questions
… just a little bit late
Firstly, could you briefly explain the different RAID configurations?
RAID stands for Redundant Array of Independent Disks and it’s a disk drive category that utilizes two or more disk drives in combination for ‘fault tolerance’. Fault tolerance is the ability for a system to respond gracefully to unexpected hardware and software failures. RAID disk drives are used frequently on servers but not on personal PC’s. Some of the RAID levels include:
Level 0 – spreads blocks of each file to multiple disks but does not provide fault tolerance.
Level 1 – writes the data on multiple disks simultaneously so if one fails, the other one can be used so no data is lost. This is called Disk Mirroring.
Level 3 – same as level 1 but includes one dedicated disk for error correction data. This level provides good performance and some level of fault tolerance.
Level 5 – provides data striping at the byte level and stripe error correction information resulting in excellent performance and good fault tolerance.
Secondly, what current problems are there with many motherboards offering SATA support, and how may this affect audio PCs?
Some of the motherboards offering SATA support add the controller into the motherboard via a virtual PCI slot. This means that if your audio card is connected to a PCI slot, it has to share the bandwidth with the SATA controller, which can cause clicks and pops when recording audio. |
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Sat Apr 03, 2004 5:41 pm |
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albertom
Joined: 21 Jan 2004
Posts: 22
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Define the following terms:
Latency - The time delay between a sound played and being heard
Duplex - the ability for a sound card to simultaneously transmit signals in both directions.
Buffer - a location used for temporary storage of data read from or waiting to be sent to some device.
Define the following Sound Card driver types and their advantages/disadvantages;
MME - Multimedia Extension Driver. This is not optimized for low-latency audio performance and therefore not really a suitable driver for audio use.
Direct X – multimedia system foundation for Windows operating systems.
ASIO - Audio Stream Input/Output. Audio device drivers created by Steinberg. Are designed for audio production and offer low latency levels.
WDM - Windows Driver Model. The newest type of driver, offering even lower latency than those above. This kind of driver has direct access to the kernel, bypassing most of the operating system
How may latency be reduced with ASIO/WDM drivers?
Reducing the number and size of buffers.
Name the primary differences between 'consumer' and 'professional' soundcards.
Professional soundcards will have very low latency. They can have a number of inputs and outputs so it is possible to record more than one instrument at a time. Better sound quality.
Define the following hard drive features/specifications and explain their usefulness in a DAW:
Cache – An intermediate storage capacity between the processor and RAM or disk drive.
Speeds in RPM – Speed in Rotations per Minute of the hard disk – the faster the speed of the hard disk, the faster audio tracks are accessed.
ATA Type – Controls the interfacing between the hard drive and other operating system components.
Why have many people tended not to use AMD processors in DAWs? Is this down to the processor or the relevant motherboard chipsets?
Users tend to prefer the Intel processor over the AMD processor due to the issue with PCI latency with the VIA motherboard chipset that accompanied the AMD processors.
How may an external 'breakout' box be connected to the host PC? Name 3 different ways and describe the benefits and drawbacks of each protocol.
By Firewire, USB or a PCI card.
USB is fairly cheap and is compatible across all platforms and computers that have a USB connection.
Firewire is similar to USB although not all computers come equipped with a Firewire connection. Offers faster transfer rates than USB 1.1. Firewire is more expensive than USB.
PCI has very high data transfer rates, providing almost unlimited numbers of tracks for playback and recording with low latency.
What is the importance of cluster size for PC based recordings?
Data is stored on a hard drive in clusters. Digital audio comprises mostly large files and therefore a larger cluster size will be more efficient as a greater percentage of the file is in continuous blocks.
Define the Von Neumann model of PC architecture.
All computers share the same basic architecture. All have memory an input and output system, an arithmetic/logic unit, and a control unit. This architecture is named Von Neumann architecture after the mathematician who conceived the design.
In a system with a PCI soundcard, is it more desirable to have the graphics card on the AGP or PCI bus?
On the AGP cause is dedicated for graphics only.
Name 2 examples of an optical storage format, and their respective capacities.
CD’s and DVD’s. CD’s have a capacity of around 700Mb. DVD’s can have a capacity of up to 9GB.
Explain the importance of each of the following factors in a DAW, and what each factor contributes to a DAW;
Amount of RAM – this will determine how fast instructions can be fed to the processor and back to the internal and peripheral components. The more RAM the better as with larger amounts of RAM the system will run faster.
Hard Drive Space – raw audio data uses a lot of memory and therefore large capacity hard drives are needed to store all the data.
Processor Speed –A fast processor is needed to adequately process all the info and provide a better sound.
Explain the following file systems, their associated OSs' and the capabilities of each File System;
FAT – File Allocation Table – the file system used to manage files stored on hard disks, floppy disks, and other disk media.
FAT32 - This is an option in Windows 98 and higher which supports larger partition sizes and smaller cluster sizes, thereby improving disk performance and increasing available disk space.
NTFS - system that is native to Windows NT. Is probably the most advanced file system available for personal computers, featuring superior performance, excellent security and crash protection, and the ability to handle large volumes of data.
How does a virtual/soft sampler such as Halion utilise the host computers resources?
Halion streams the samples directly from a hard disk, EXCEPT it keeps the first part of every sample permanently in RAM to avoid latency when a particular sample is played.
How many minutes of stereo CD-quality digital audio can be stored in a 1 Gigabyte hard disk partition, approximately?
10 Mb per minute of music, 100 minutes.
For a hard disk of 20 Gigabytes capacity or more, what is the most likely backup device, other than another hard disk?
Some form of tape drive or a portable device.
Describe four different areas of application in widespread use and give an example of a popular piece of software in each area.
Loop packages – Band in a Box
Sequencing Software – Cakewalk
Mastering – T-Racks
Samplers – Roland sampler
Describe the main advantages of Firewire compared to SCSI
Firewire is hot swappable, is faster and allows more devices to be connected.
In relation to computer software;
What is a driver? – a device/software that links peripheral’s devices to the operating system.
What is an extension? Few letters (3 letters) added after a file name to describe what kind of application or file is.
Excluding the host device, what is the maximum number of devices that may be attached to a SCSI bus?
Seven.
If it is necessary to reconnect or reconfigure the devices on a SCSI bus what precaution should be taken?
Shut down the computer and reconfigure any connections before re-booting.
How many terminators would there normally be on a SCSI bus? Where would they be situated?
Two. One on each end. One would be situated on the end of the SCSI ribbon cable.
A system incorporating two devices in addition to the host on a SCSI bus isn’t working correctly. What would you check on the SCSI devices themselves, assuming they are all switched on?
Check the connections are correct and that any necessary drivers are loaded and that there is not an ID conflict.
Macintosh computers running system version 9.0.4 and lower are not very good at playing audio while word processing, whereas IBM PC compatible computers running Microsoft operating systems are. What is lacking from the Macintosh's operating system?
The Mac’s OS did not use pre-emptive multitasking making it much more unstable when more than one application needed to be open at the same time.
In a hard disk recording system, which type of disk drive would you expect to allow the most simultaneous tracks to be replayed, a magnetic hard disk or a magneto-optical disk?
Which is usually thought to offer the most reliable long-term storage, removable magnetic hard disk cartridge or magneto-optical disk?
Compared to digital tape, what is the principal disadvantage of disks for long-term storage?
Disks are mechanical devices and have moving parts which undoubtedly could go wrong whereas tape does not have this problem and it likely to last a lot longer if stored correctly. |
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Thu Apr 29, 2004 1:36 am |
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