Note - CW cards are not G5 compatible (late summer 2003)
Recently I realized that the following thread http://www.planetz.com/forums/viewtopic ... 17&forum=3& is outdated and it needs a refurbishing
All the below tips are mine, Air_Pollo's, Dodge's and Gregory's and taken from the 'Optimize Your Mac For Audio' http://www.planetz.com/forums/viewtopic ... forum=3&29 (and refurbished, of course
::::::::AiR_PoLLo + Samplaire + Dodge + Gregory:::::::::
Important note:
() Creamware software works only in pre OS X systems. It doesn't either in MacOS X nor MacOS X classic mode.
() Some of the latest G4s (though OS9 bootable) have larger PSUs which unables to connect 2 or 3 CW cards with the STDM cable. So if you plan to buy a Mac and want to have more than one CW card consider the fact
For SFP 3.1c
GENERAL MAC-AS-A-DAW TIPS:
@ use MacOS 9.2.2 - graphics is faster!
@ Update Firmware to the latest version (if it's a G4 -> 4.2.8 -> http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=120068 )
@ use OMS 2.3.8 . After installing the OMS soft - trash OMS Time Manager found in System Folder/OMS folder.
@ Perhaps this link will help you to understand the importance of OMS configuratuin:
http://linux1723.dn.net/forum/Forum1/HTML/004682.html
@ If possible, format your HD in 2 or more partitions. Install the OS on the first partition and put a copy of that OS on the second partition. Whenever you install software on the first partition, copy the system folder to the second partition as a backup when you're done. If you keep more than one version of your OS on different partitions and one OS crashes and won't boot, the Mac boots from the backup OS.
@ Better yet, create three partitions. 2 Relatively small ones and 1 large partition. Use for instance a 1:1:4 or 1:1:2 ratio, depending on the size of your HD. Keep a minimum of 1 GB per partition though. On the first one, install the OS and your main software. Keep all your fonts and small files, like those html help sections, readme's etc. on the second. Finally, use the third (and largest) partition for your documents (audio) files. The ultimate would be to install separate internal HD's, but that's a rare and usually costly setup.
@ Another thing to check is to give your apps the right amount of memory. Sometimes assigning LESS memory avoids crashes, but never go lower than the minimum set by the author of the app. if you think your app needs more, assign more.
@ Remember that SFP app doesn't need lots of MBs assigned to it (the default amount is enough). Pulsar doesn't [directly] benefit from more memory assignment since it shares the dynamic memory with the OS itself, so assign more to your sequencer...
@ Keep your setup as clean as possible. When you install software, keep the install logs, your might need them later for troubleshooting or to check where the files were placed. If you're using the Mac for music only, don't install every bit of free software you can find, it will most likely kill your system at some point.
@ If you want to experiment with demos, sharaware, to be able to connect to the internet - have 2 OSs ready on 2 partitions. It's easier to have the DAW setup clean that way.
ABOUT YOUR EXTENSIONS & CONTROL PANELS:
@ Reduce the extensions especially index scheduler... remember not to use indexing on the drive with the SFP install (and an any other, at least during your work time). In general, get rid of internet, security related extensions and any other unuseful in your DAW but remember to disable them one-by-one because some of them may be used by your sequencer (you should have your internet setup in another Extensions set that you can easly build using the Extensions Manager);
@ Here you can find almost complete info on all extensions and their influence on your DAW (but remember the text is Logic optimized and some extensions they say to disable are important for Cubase:
http://www.logicuser.net./extensions/browse.php (this set of extension is refered to 9.0.4 but almost all of them are also in 9.2.2)
After reading all of those, please, consider also these:
@ The Monitors CP (useful only if you plan to change your monitor's settings like colour depth and pixel resolution, otherwise disable it and the 2 mentioned below) works only if the following two ext. are enabled: System Monitor plugins + AppleGuide
@ They say that FBC indexing scheduler should be enabled but if you read the above tips you read something 180 degrees different; the tip: disable it as it is important but not for DAW users.
@ Find by content ext. also should be disabled.
@ All the vBasic, vBig... etc. extensions (they say they don't know anything about them) refer to VelocityEngine founfd in G4 proc so they should be enabled /they are parts of 9.0.4 OS but are absent or in other form in 9.1 and above)
@ Colour Picker ext. - I believe I found a use for it somewhere in Cubase, so probably don't disable it as it does no hurt to other exts.
ABOUT 3rd PARTY EXTENSIONS & CONTROL PANELS:
@ Startup Doubler extension - don't use it because your SFP drivers will not initialize properly
@ Default Folder extension - if you must use it, don't do it in one case -
while installing any program (it avoids successful installation) [it was some 2 years ago, perhaps newer versions don't have this bug?]
@ Install the USB floppy enabler extension (found in the net - http://www.macupdate.com for instance) - even if you don't have any external Floppy-like drive it increases your system stability.
@ It's worth looking: http://www.planetz.com/forums/viewtopic ... 3&forum=19 . You never know if it has any use in our systems but I have it disabled
ABOUT YOUR SFP SOFTWARE:
@ Cset.ini file - backup it right after the initial configuring of your
system. It will be very helpful in the future (the file gets corrupted very
often).
@ A tip I found in the CW official support database (please note: you have to be a registered CW user to reach the site): http://shop.creamware.de/shop2000/de/sh ... enDocument there is one thing to remember though: the file cset.ini can't be open any longer by the SimpleText (at least in my system)
@ If you use your CW cards' midi I/O then you can encounter problems caused by the 'active sensing' message sent by your outboard gear. Keep the OMS app open during your whole SFP session - it avoids 100% of Cubase/Logic launching-crashes ('bomb system 10 error', 'MacOS error type 2 or 3);
OPTIMIZING/OVERCLOCKING TIPS
@ Two simple ones to do on older G4s and Yosimite G3 machines: change the main 5400 rpm drive to a new 7200 rpm drive; change the stock ATI 16 MB video card to a Radeon Mac Edition 32 MB. It can result in about 15 to 20% overall speedup
@ for experts, only: http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~schrier/mhz.html
THINGS TO BE AWARE OF:
SoundManager drivers (known as wave source/dest) are not working properly (honestly, the In doesn't work at all) - so just trash them...
--------------------------------------
The work is worth doing and though the tweaks take some time they will save your creative time in the future. If you do all the above your DAW will become a smooth and friendly - the creative part of work is in your hands
--------------------------------------
_________________
Sir Sam Plaire Scopernicus
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: samplaire on 2003-09-19 08:42 ]</font>
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: samplaire on 2003-09-19 17:40 ]</font>
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: samplaire on 2003-09-21 11:56 ]</font>
But there is a feature in the SFP to backup some of the most important files like cset.ini and the registry one. I forgot to add a tip found in the tips and tricks part of CW official site (BTW if you look in the Mac tips'n tricks part there are many tipsa regarding PCs only, funny). I will add it above.
Sir 
of course dual processor... you know, when you get something in your head, sometimes it's difficult to see other possibilities... hehe