Optimizing PC for SSL
From Ssl-wiki
Contents |
ASIO, Windows XP, and Serato:
There are a few thing to consider when dealing with Serato and Windows,and it's mainly the ASIO part of the deal.
"ASIO bypasses the normal audio path from the user application through layers of intermediary Windows operating system software, so that the application connects directly to the soundcard hardware. Each layer bypassed means a reduction in latency, the delay between an application sending sound to the sound being reproduced by the soundcard. In this way ASIO offers a relatively simple way of accessing multiple audio inputs and outputs independently. Its main strength lies in its method of bypassing the inherently high latency of operating system audio mixing kernels (KMixer), allowing direct, high speed communication with audio hardware. Unlike KMixer, an unmixed ASIO output is "bit identical", that is, the bits sent to the sound card are identical to those of the original WAV file, thus having higher audio fidelity." -Wikipedia
One thing to know is that ASIO works as a background service in Windows. You will want to set your PC up to run background services as a priority.
To do this:
1> Right click on my computer and select properties.
2> Select the Advanced tab.
3> Select Performance.
4> Under Processor scheduling you will want to select Background services
Now your ASIO buffers will have priority over programs. This will help you achieve lower latencies.
Although this setting is not reserved just for ASIO, but all services running on your PC. You will want to cut down the amount of services running to achieve a performance gain.
To do this:
1> Start - Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Services
2> Go through the populated list and disable all non-essential services.
**] NOTE: THIS IS RISKY BUSINESS, IF YOU DISABLE THE WRONG SERVICES YOU MAY PREVENT YOUR PC FROM BOOTING PROPERLY!
**] If you are unsure of any service either do not disable it, or google the name of the service to investigate further.
A> Right click on the name of the service select properties.
B> Select disable from the start type drop down box.
C> If the service is running, push stop button.
D> Push apply button.
3> Once you have disable all non-essential services, reboot your computer.
Setting SSL as the Windows Shell
You may want to setup a second account in order to boot directly to SSL bypassing explorer all together. This will save your resources.
To setup a second user account:
Open Control Panel from the Start menu, and then double click User Accounts.
1> click create new account
2> type in the name for the new account
3> set the accounts permission group to limited
You will also want to change how users login to windows XP.
To do this:
Open Control Panel from the Start menu, and then double click User Accounts.
1> click change how users log on and off
2> make sure all options are unchecked
3> apply the changes
4> reboot if needed
Login to a second account in windows XP. Then:
1> open regedit (start menu > run, and type in regedit).
2> go to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows NT/CurrentVersion/Winlogon.
3> add a new string value (Edit > New > String Value) called shell. and set the value to the path of SSL, to C:\program files\serato\scratchlive\scratchlive.exe
4> log out and log back in.
Please ensure to take a registry backup, or a restore point before taking this action.
to reverse this press Alt+Control + delete
then "new task"
regedit
You can also start explorer this way.
Create a Batch File for Quick Restart of SSL
When using the SSL as Shell method above, it's a good idea to have a quick way to start SSL again in case of mishap. Make sure your logged into the SSL account you created.
1> My Documents
2> Right click, New, Text Document.
3> Rename the file to ssl.bat (note: you need to set windows to display file extensions in order to do this. If you do not you will create a file called ssl.bat.txt and this tip will not work.)
Setting windows to display file extensions:
a>Double-click on My Computer.
b>Click Tools then Folder Options.
c>Click on the View tab.
d>Uncheck Hide file extensions for known file types.
e>Click Apply then OK.
4> Open ssl.bat with notepad (The only thing you need in this file is the direct path and executable file name. You will want to type it out like you where using the cmd shell, or dos.) Like this:
<--- START copy and paste into batch file --->
echo off
cd\
cd Program Files
cd Serato
cd ScratchLIVE
ScratchLIVE.exe
<--- END copy and paste into batch file --->
Save it.
Now if you had to, you could quick hit CTRL + ALT + DELETE, Taskmanager, File, Run, and type cmd
This will bring you a CMD ("DOS") SHELL. This should be leave you in your documents, C:\Documents and Settings\UserAccount
Type ssl.bat
Optimizing the Universal Serial Bus
After talking with a Serato moderator this "tweak" is not recommend. It will most definitly not improve the latency of Scratch LIVE, but cause other side-effects and problems. You have been warned.
Go ahead and download this program. http://files.filefront.com/usbmrs11exe/;6313268;;/fileinfo.html
Windows by default has the usb ports working at 125Hz of 1000Hz that USB is capable of, giving 8ms response times. You can change the frequency to 250Hz(4ms), 500Hz(2ms) and 1000Hz(1ms) to get better response times. Although, I do not recommend setting this to 1000Hz, I recommend 500Hz.
This program can also restore the original settings if this tweak effects your system stability.
To use this:
1> Download usbmrs11.exe from link above.
2> Reboot PC in safe mode
3> Run usbmrs11.exe, select N for 250Hz, and Y for 500Hz, reboot normally.
If you need to restore the original settings, run usbmrs11.exe select N for 250Hz, N for 500Hz, N for 1000Hz, then Y for restore usbport.dll
