Line 6 TonePort UX2, TonePort UX8, TonePort GX, TonePort KB37, TonePort UX1 User Manual

Windows® XP® & Vista®

Audio Tips & Optimizations

Improve the performance of your computer with Line 6 GearBox®, TonePort®, POD®xt, POD® X3, and audio recording software

Windows® XP® &Vista® - AudioTips & Optimizations

Table of Contents

Digital Audio andYour Computer..........................................................	1•1
Digital Audio Demands...................................................................................................	1•1
Line 6 Monkey Compatibility Check......................................................	2•1
Windows® XP® Optimizations...............................................................	3•1
Making System Tweaks in Windows XP.........................................................................	3•1
Disable Your Onboard or Add-in Sound Card................................................................	3•1
Turn Off Windows System Sounds................................................................................	3•2
Disable Error Reporting...................................................................................................	3•3
Disable the Remote Assistance Option .........................................................................	3•3
Turn Automatic Updates Off .........................................................................................	3•3
Processor Scheduling.......................................................................................................	3•3
Set Virtual Memory to a Fixed Size................................................................................	3•4
Enable DMA Mode for All IDE Hard Disk Drives.........................................................	3•4
Disable the Indexing Service..........................................................................................	3•5
Exit All Unnecessary Applications.................................................................................	3•5
Disable Startup Programs with the System Configuration Utility ................................	3•6
Internet and Network Connections................................................................................	3•6
Disable Windows System Restore...................................................................................	3•6
Display & Power Settings................................................................................................	3•6
Maintenance Tasks..........................................................................................................	3•8
Windows® Vista® Optimizations............................................................	4•1
Making System Tweaks in Vista......................................................................................	4•1
Disable Your Onboard or Add-in Sound Card................................................................	4•2
Turn Off Windows System Sounds................................................................................	4•3
Turn Off Visual Effects...................................................................................................	4•4
Disable the Remote Assistance Option .........................................................................	4•5
Turn Automatic Updates Off .........................................................................................	4•5
Processor Scheduling.......................................................................................................	4•5
Set Virtual Memory to a Fixed Size................................................................................	4•5
Enable DMA Mode for All IDE Hard Disk Drives.........................................................	4•6
Exit all Unnecessary Applications..................................................................................	4•7
Disable Startup Programs with the System Configuration Utility ................................	4•8

Windows® XP® &Vista® - AudioTips & Optimizations

Internet and Network Connections................................................................................	4•8
Display & Power Settings................................................................................................	4•8
Maintenance & System Tools.......................................................................................	4•10
Additional Resources...............................................................................	5•1
Helpful Computer Optimization Sites............................................................................	5•1
Line 6 Online Resources.................................................................................................	5•1

Line 6, GearBox, TonePort GX/DI/UX1/UX2/UX8/KB37, POD, PODxt, PODxt Pro,Bass PODxt, GuitarPort, Line 6 Monkey, the Line 6 logo and the GearBox logo are trademarks of Line 6, Inc. © 2007 Line 6, Inc. All rights reserved.

Windows, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Media Player and Internet Explorer are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation; Apple, Mac and Mac OS X are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.;

Intel and Pentium are trademarks of Intel Corporation;

All other product names, trademarks, and artists’ names are the property of their respective owners, which are in no way associated or affiliated with Line 6.

© 2007 Line 6, Inc. All rights reserved

ii

Digital Audio andYour Computer

Digital Audio and Your Computer

Modern Windows® PC’s are now quite powerful and more than capable of being used for sophisticated multitrack recording and audio editing. However, most are not typically configured for optimal performance for the specific demands of digital audio. The following list of tips is offered as suggested optimizations you might try on your Windows® XP® or Vista® system to possibly improve the performance with your Line 6 TonePort®, POD®xt, POD® X3, GearBox® software, GearBox® Plug-In, as well as with other audio applications.

It is important to note that many of the default Windows settings do offer some advantages, conveniences, and even security improvements for the general use of your computer. You should evaluate the tradeoff of the security and conveniences some of these services offer to your non-audio computing work before you go disabling all of them. It is a good idea to always back up your system and data before changing system settings. It is also wise to keep a written list of all settings you’ve changed and know how to reset them back in case you encounter decreased performance issues.

Note - PC configurations can differ widely. The following tips are offered as suggestions only and Line 6 cannot be held responsible for problems caused to your system by applying settings changes. Please seek the assistance of a qualified service technician if you are not familiar with these Windows operating system settings.

Digital Audio Demands

A few basic understandings are helpful as you start working with digital audio hardware and software

and what demands they make on your computer system. Here are a few helpful insights...

CPU Usage

This refers to the processing power that your computer uses to do lots of very complex math for such things as applying all those cool effects, and amp models to your sound. Once you start running other applications & Plug-Ins along with GearBox, this starts using more CPU cycles. It is best to run only the applications and processes you need to get the most out of your computer’s finite amount of CPU resources. And of course, the faster processor your computer has, the better. The newer Dual-Core and Quad-Core processors offer even better performance than earlier processors since they are indeed like having multiple CPUs all sharing the processing load!

Hard Disk Access

This is the “input/output” speed at which audio data can be written to your hard disk during recording, and read from your hard disk during playback. This will directly affect how many tracks you can record/ play back in a Multitrack software project, for example. Recording digital audio also uses a great deal of hard disk space, so it is a good idea to have lots of free Gigabytes available. The speed of your hard disk itself is important here. It is best to have a hard disk with a 7200 RPM speed or higher. Also, newer PC’s support the Serial ATA (SATA) interface for internal hard disks - if yours does than you should purchase a SATA type hard disk rather than IDE since SATA is a bit faster. A common practice among folks using their computer for audio work is to add a second hard disk and use it strictly for storing and recording audio files to, while the original drive is used primarily as your “C” drive where Windows and all applications are installed.

1•1

Digital Audio andYour Computer

Note that often laptops come standard with a 5400 RPM speed internal hard disk, which may not be quite up to the task of more than simple multitrack audio recording projects. It is possible to purchase an external hard disk, such as one with a USB 2 or Firewire interface, that is 7200 RPM or faster to use as a secondary audio disk. External hard disk drives are also handy for back-ups as well (you are backing up your data, aren’t you?)

RAM

(Random Access Memory) Many modern applications use lots of this type of memory, so the more RAM you have, the better, up to the 3.2 GB maximum that Windows XP & Vista support. If you are running a Multitrack recording application, effects plug-ins and soft-synths along with GearBox, then RAM will be used up quickly (but remember that it will not reduce these applications’ additional needs for CPU processing). One of the most cost-effective upgrades you can do for your computer is to add more RAM. Be sure to check your PC or motherboard documentation to see specifically what type of RAM it takes, and the capacity of RAM it will hold before you order the wrong type and have to face the dreaded chore of trying to return opened electronics parts!

Hardware Conflicts

It is best to avoid connecting unnecessary hardware devices when working with audio on your PC. Since TonePort, PODxt and POD X3 devices connect to your USB port, you especially want to avoid any devices sharing the same USB bus. It can require advanced technical skills to track down device conflicts, and this is beyond the scope of this document – consult a technician for assistance if needed. But you can often avoid conflicts by simply not installing or disabling unneeded devices. For example, adding devices such as document scanners, Bluetooth adapters, printers, a USB coffee warmer, etc. can all raise the chances of conflicting with your audio device. Strive to keep your audio PC lean and mean, at least while running your audio applications.

Cables

Note that digital connections, such as the S/PDIF outputs on TonePort UX2, UX8, KB37, PODxt Pro and POD X3, require the use of a special 75-ohm coaxial cable to effectively transmit digital signals without loss or interference. Be sure to get this cable type for any digital connections to/from your Line 6 hardware. For all analog audio connections, get yourself some good quality shielded instrument cables. Cheap cables often do not hold up well and can be a source of noise and tone loss if not well constructed. It is a good idea to invest in a few good quality cables and keep them away from cats and drummers. Before spending an entire day trying to figure out why you aren’t getting a signal through your setup, check your cables!

With the above understandings, you can already see one common rule of thumb – more processing, speed and memory is better! But you do not necessarily need to go upgrade your PC right now. If your computer meets the recommended requirements then it is likely just fine to get going with your Line 6 hardware and GearBox needs. To squeeze more out of your current system, take a look at the following sections for plenty of tips and tweaks!

1•2

Line 6 Monkey Compatibility Check

Line 6 Monkey Compatibility Check

Line 6 Monkey is the free updating software utility that is installed on your Windows® XP® or Vista® computer automatically when you install GearBox, and works with all Line 6 TonePort®, POD®xt and POD® X3 devices. But checking for updates isn’t the only trick Monkey knows! You can launch Line 6 Monkey and go to the Compatibility tab to let it sniff out the details of your system and provide you with a report. You can actually download and install Line 6 Monkey for free, even if you do not yet own any Line 6 hardware, and run the compatibility test to see if your computer meets the minimum requirements for GearBox.

To run the compatibility test, launch Line 6 Monkey, go to the Compatibility tab and click the Run button. A scan of your system will run and a list of components and their status will be displayed:

Line 6 Monkey’s Compatibility tab - Results of a successful compatibility test

Upon completion of the compatibility test, the list of components shows whether each meets or fails to meet the minimum and recommended requirements for GearBox. Click on one of the components in the list and reference the details in the lower pane. This also provides you with a nice utility to see all those geeky details about your computer, such as the speed and type of your CPU, how much RAM you have, or (yawn) the chipset type of your USB Controller. You’ll of course want to look into any components that do not meet the minimum, and upgrade them if necessary to successfully use GearBox. Meeting these requirements is also likely necessary to get he most out of any recording software on your system with your Line 6 hardware.

2•1

Windows® XP® Optimizations

Windows® XP® Optimizations

To follow is a number of settings changes that have been proven to optimize Windows® XP® specifically for better performance of audio software. It is worth mentioning once again... it is a really good idea to do a complete backup of your system and data before making any of these system changes so that you can restore your system to its previous state if any problems are encountered!

Making SystemTweaks in Windows XP

First a bit of information about accessing system settings in Windows...

Switch to the Classic Start Menu Mode

Within this document, instructions are provided assuming you have Windows XP set to use the Classic Start Menu mode, which remains the preference of most computer geeks everywhere. To switch to this mode, right-click on the Windows Start button and choose Properties > Start Menu tab > Classic Start Menu option. While you are here, click on the Customize button, and then check the box for Expand Control Panel. Click OK to close both dialogs.

The Windows Control Panel

Many of the following settings are accessed in the Windows Control Panel, which you intelligently just chose in the previous step to display as “Expanded” as a convenient sub-menu. Click on the Start button and choose Settings to get to the expanded Control Panel sub-menu as needed:

Accessing the Windows Control Panel Menu

DisableYour Onboard or Add-in Sound Card

When using Line 6 TonePort, PODxt or POD X3 hardware as your sound card device for recording and playback in audio applications, you may not need to have any other sound card enabled. In some cases you may even encounter a hardware conflict with some “onboard” and/or add-in sound cards such as SoundBlaster Live! or OEM cards. The best solution is to simply disable any unnecessary, additional sound card within Windows Device Manager.

3•1

Windows® XP® Optimizations

Go to Control Panel > System > Hardware tab > Device Manager button. Click the + symbol to the left of Sound, video and game controllers to expand it. Now right-click on your onboard sound card device, SoundBlaster Live!, or other sound card device that is not in use, and choose Disable. Click Yes when it prompts you if you really want to disable the device. The device will then appear in the list with a red “X” to show it is disabled. You can come back to Device Manager any time, right click on the disabled device and choose Enable to enable it again.

Windows Device Manager - OEM Sound Card (a SoundMax device) has been disabled

Note that if you disable another sound card, Windows will often then automatically assign your connected Line 6 USB device as the Windows “default device” for all sound playback. This means that many audio applications such as Windows Media Player and iTunes, or games will route their sound to your Line 6 device, which may or may not be what you want for playing CDs, DVDs or games. The audio capabilities of TonePort, PODxt and POD X3 are likely much higher quality than your on-board or add-on sound card, but Line 6 devices do not support some features such as MIDI playback, 5.1 surround output, or accelerated 3D audio for games. If you need these features, then it is best to set a sound card that does for the Windows default playback device, or specifically for the applications with these requirements. You can, however, avoid Windows system sounds playing through your Line 6 device independently of the Windows default playback device assignment – see the next section.

Turn Off Windows System Sounds

These little dings and beeps can be handy alerts, but not very pleasant to hear blaring at high volume, especially if they are assigned to play through your TonePort as the default Windows playback device. To turn them off, go to Control Panel > Sounds and Audio Devices > Sounds tab. Choose No Sounds as the Sound Scheme. Click OK to exit the dialog. You can always come back here and turn the sounds back on if you really miss them.

3•2

Windows® XP® Optimizations

The Sounds and Audio Devices Properties dialog - setting the No Sound scheme

Disable Error Reporting

Eliminate those pesky pop-up warnings by disabling this error reporting feature. Go to Control Panel > System > Advanced Tab > Error Reporting and then click the Disable Error Reporting button. Keep the checkbox checked for the But notify me if critical errors occur option.

Disable the Remote Assistance Option

Some technical support systems may ask you to keep this service active, but if this is not the case for you, then you can disable it. Go to Control Panel > System > Remote Tab and uncheck the option for Allow Remote Assistance invitations to be sent from this computer.

Turn Automatic Updates Off

Windows updates are actually highly recommended by Microsoft, and indeed many are for security enhancements and offer critical fixes. But you may prefer to set the Automatic Updates feature off and check manually at the Windows Update web site for your updates to avoid this service kicking in while you are tending to audio processes. Go to Control Panel > System > Automatic Updates tab, and select Turn Off Automatic Updates. If you do choose to turn this option off, then be sure to check manually on the Microsoft Windows Update site for critical updates on a regular basis.

Processor Scheduling

Some audio applications recommend setting the Processor Scheduling setting to “Background Services” rather than the XP default of “Programs”. Others claim it can be detrimental to processing, so evaluate its advantages on your system. Go to Control Panel > System > Advanced Tab > Performance Settings > Advanced Tab, and set the Processor Scheduling to Background Services.

3•3