Egan's email address - eegz@earthlink.net - Please only email questions regarding professional audio recording on the 6400/6500 as he is a very busy guy. Thanks. -------------------- Hey, Thanks for the site! All 6400 issues- awesome! (System Info; 6400- Sonnet 300/1MB / 20 Gig Maxtor Diamond (whatever)UDMA 7200rpm w/ 1MB cache / 136 meg's RAM -Nothing else added-I have the TV tuner inside-A/V in & outs no PCI Cards.) Okay- I am a StudioVision Pro/ Vision DSP user, as opposed to Cubase.........However; the new VisionDSP 4.2.x supports 24 bit 96 Khz audio/ ASIO / and all VST Plug ins (All Steinberg technologies). (So, I believe we are using the same engines) I have not yet had time to fully investigate everything yet- but I am having some "Unique" issues, with recording. However; I was a 3.0 user.....and after hearing the price drop (Sweetwater.com $149) Including Galaxy, Peak 2.x, and MANUALS (Paper ones) I am still reading about the NEW additions to Opcodes product. I am not just a "Once in a while recorder"- I just returned from Berklee Music College in Boston, and with these Upgrades was planning on recording my whole CD on my 6400. A Sonnet "Issue" would kill me! (Well- change my plans a LOT!) -Okay, so I will be doing HEAVY research on this issue- as it is MOST important to me, and will keep all of you Up-to-Date on my findings- with THIS software. **** Peter- Was this a Cubase-Only issue with Sonnet? Or basically- No Audio with these Upgrade cards???? (I am way PAST return time-well weeks- from MacMall's 30 days........Uggghhhhhhhh- Hope I am OK ********** Also- I would be EXTREMELY interested in anyone else RECORDING Anything on upgraded 6400's........I Pray- I didn't just spent $1,000 Upgrading my 6400- when I need a G3, and I just WASTED a GRAND!!!!!!!!! Why Audio.....of ALL things...Audio...........(sigh) (Waiting for USB/Firewire "Issues" to be settled- and maybe G4, before I get a whole new system......(or maybe in a WEEK! Shit!) I'm sure You are as interested in this area as I am, I will give a FULL report, as soon as I run the Battary of tests (and am sure I have all the buffers set correctly etc,) I want to be sure it's not my ignorance. Sincerely and, Very Concerned, Egan P.S. Peter, in StudioVision Pro(VisionDSP)- we have Buffer settings- and Audio "Offset" tweaking to- either align audio(after recording)- earlier, or later-and also move it withing time- down to sample adjustments! ( I am sure Cubase does as well- will this help?) Peter- can you record audio in PEAK- and then Import the files?????? or some similiar approach? ----------------------- Hey Tom, I have a 6400/180 and Sonnet G3/300/1MB, a Maxtor 20Gig 7200rpm HD, 136 MB RAM , Internal TV/Video i/o Card. OS 8.6 & Crescendo 1.3.7 (Yeah, it's pretty snappy- faster than my iMac ;-) ME- I am a guitar Player, I went to Berklee Music College in Boston. I purchased this Mac, and it's upgrade FOR Audio only. I am recording a CD, then touring. I use StudioVision Pro (VisionDSP 4.2 same-except no Pro Tools Hardware support.) In order to get Paper Manuals I ordered VisionDSP 4.2 from Sweetwater for $149 on line (phone actually) It supports 24 bit 96 Khz Audio, VST Plug ins and the ASIO standard (ASIO allows your Audio Applications to talk Directly to the Audio Hardware- allowing more tracks/speed/etc. by lowering Latency= Time between when you play a note-and when the CPU can play it back) I was Alarmed after reading your Cubase VST/ Digital Performer/ Audio issues....(!) I put a LOT of money into that OLD thing, waiting for USB/Firewire Lack of Serial/SCSI.....and waiting for G4 MP system before a Final complete Upgrade. (!!!!!!) Did I just waste a grand? I installed VisionDSP/Galaxy/Peak/OMS- it came with 11 VST Plug ins too. I recorded for a Marathon 9:43 (Yes almost 10 hours straight!) No Problems- Flawless Audio & Midi....amazing! Oh, I want to note- I was able to use, Reverbs, Phlanges, Phasors, EQ's, and everything on EVERY TRACK- with no strain on the CPU or system. I was happy I was not out a grand on useless Upgrades! Here is the freaky part- I have another 117 MORE VST Plug ins (Yes I realize this is excessive- I dont even know what most are for!) Some of these were VERY quirky ( 1.0 releases are often BUGGY) I had all the Audio errors/ Crashes/ Freezes..etc. BUT, only AFTER I added these Plug ins- and who knows which ones may not even be OS 8 compatable. (As I said all 11 VST Plug ins + Multiple EQ's all worked flawlessly with the Vision DSP Package) When "I" have a "Problem" I call this guy Spiero, @ Sweetwater Music. He's a Guitar Player, Mac FREAK, and does Professional Mac Audio. Here's what he told me; "Here's the way I do things, you have to be Very careful with this All-in-a-Mac Audio. After you record the Basic track(s), open up a SEPERATE sound editor (Logic has it's own built in) like Peak 2.0 . Then VST is such a New technology- it's not that dependable.....YET. So use Premiere Plug ins. Say it's a Vocal- you add Reverb, some EQ, and a Chorus- This creates a Seperate file (and keeps your original-in case you screw up, or want to start over) "So, then I have a totally NEW file. I import it to where I need it and I have a DRY unedited take also. It takes more space, but yeilds a Much better Final result, by the time you burn it to CD". -So, while the New 11 VST Plugs work- I will only use them as "Thru"- a singer may feel more comfortable with a Reverb on- but I record it DRY (The singer only hears the great Reverb & vocals) Then do a seperate function for polishing the Audio. MIDI- is not a problem, noted here......or anywhere on your site. So, I will say- MIDI all works fine, from Software Synths (Cybersound 3.0/Unity DS-1) to external Sound Modules- Korg NS5X etc. I have Audio/Speed/ and I'm Happy. (At this point I am wondering if I have ANY problems- Sherlock II was an issue- I never use Apple Menu Options- turned it off, and Sherlock/IE/& Netscrape all get along as well!) 100% Compatability Here! My 1 Regret, Sonnet just dropped the price $100 bucks on my Card Yesterday (1 week after 30 day return) Damn! ;-) So, as a PRO Audio guy, and anyone having issues with a Sonnet Upgrade. I can assure you, these are absolutely FINE for PRO Audio. I have no problem with Playback on ANY Application- or clicks/ Pops recording (Although- the RCA Outputs are notorious for such things- Always use the 1/16" STEREO plug and an Adaptor from Radio shack for Input!) Sincerely, Egan P.S. Turning Off Apple Menu Options Also stopped those pesky crashes at start up! Fixed Sherlock issues etc. Thank you 4 the TIP!!!! ( I have made no other hacks / adjustments ) -Thanks for the 6400 PAGE! Bless you! Keep it up!!!!!! (but those G4's are coming soon.........hehehe) ------------------------------ Oh- The current 1.3.7 Crescendo Driver- is the same as my iMac. (with 8.6 on Both) Sometimes My iMac crashes on Boot- it's not an Upgrade issue- it's a NEW Nanokernal! a few bug's etc. Until OS X Consumer comes out.......sometimes Mac's just crash....but soon, we wont say that ;-) I mean when using NeXT we went 4 YEARS without ONE Crash- and never shut it down! 4 Years....... I think it's a question of just how NEW the VST engine is........and Now w/ OS 8.6 - Actually changing the NanoKernal to support Multiple CPU's ( I mean adding something, 3-D Platinum Appearance, making Applescript PPC Native- no big deal......but no one plans for Low level Kernal alterations!) ALL Software givens (since 1984) were flipped upside down with 8.6......sorry. Also, Volume controls- If you lower the Volume on the Computer it does so by "Dropping Bits" (!) Say you have 16 Bit 44.1 Khz Audio out (all shipping Mac's) Then you lower it to 1/2 it's now 8 Bit Maximum- MANY people do NOT know this. Set it to the Lowest it can go- but still make noise....you have 2 bit AUDIO! So, anyone doing sound- remember.......keep volume up FULL tilt, and lower Alerts & Outputs Volume (from inside the Applications ) instead of Lowering the Audio Quality! that guy Spiero- is an engineer also @ Sweetwater.com ( 1 800 222-4700 )- Did I include that in the Letter? It's a Studio, and so many people asked for tips/Help/ They began selling some stuff....now they are a big store & Studio Really thanks a LOT for the website! It's great to have a site just for that specific QUIRKY little Model. I really appreciate it........especially knowing I dont have the time to keep up my own site.......it's always there.....and people writing....and......I can't handle all that alone- unless it's ALL I did.....which isn't my bag. So, I appreciate your efforts a LOT! KEEP IT UP! Thank You, Egan ------------------- > I had no idea that lowering the system volume actually lowers audio quality? > How weird? I'll definitly post that. Is that with all Macs? Yes ALL Mac's! Even-say you have an alert, a sexy female vioce.....it will sound Aweful & Cracking if you simply lower the main volume on it. (I Know- Most people go Wierd, must be corrupt or something) All Mac's...... a Warning would be nice huh? ;-) Egan ------------------- It's actually quite logical, from a "Programmers perspective". We used to have (7.5.3-8.0 ???) a Control strip control with 0 - 7. 0 ( 8 options ) so with 2 bits "Dropped" per number- it makes sense. If it's just the Alerts you HATE- lower that volume seperately, etc. The Start-Up chime is the KILLER though.........so we all kill volume on that one....... The TEST- use a GOOD 16 bit 44Khz Stereo sound for an Alert- (I will assume you know how to drop Aiff files into the System Äolder/within the system folder) then set the volume to really low- hear spaces, quality change? > Do PC's do this also? I have no idea- but I do know this; Sound management/ Quality is an Abomination on PC's! In an area called "Latency" for example (In Audio Applications-time between making the sound-and hearing it- ) Winblows Latency is 750 Milliseconds vs. the Mac's 50 Milliseconds- so while we cannot hear the difference between instant and 50 100th's of a second- you damn well CAN hear 3/4 of a second! God PC's are Horrible! This is not "That" surprising. Microsofts "New" thing is making the NEW parts of windows 32 bit "Clean" (Meaning not even a few 16 bit-aka DOS API's) Also, The challenge with WinNT is it is ONLY 32 bit API's. So, While the Mac BEGAN Life as a 32 bit OS, we never had to shorten dates- or alter sound, Video, or multimedia.....we already had a Large foundation a decade earlier..................Win NT is almost cought up to a Mac- theoretically, but it's still a 3rd rate product.......as you can see. Microsoft, is not happy however; 66% of Windows users- Just got the bugs out of Win 3.1.1 (and are NOT switching-they only type!) So what if you write software.......How can you make life easy on yourself? Write DOS Games/ and Programs- that way whether DOS users, Win 3.11, Win 95/98 any one wants to run it- it will work. How about 32 bit clean? Well NT- and if you are careful MAYBE Win95/98.....or maybe not. That's why MS delayed NT consumer/Pro for another few years- No programmers would rewrite just because MS is sick of DOS. Egan ------------------ 8/20/1999 Tom, Just read the latest on the 6400 Zone. Some people are getting HELP from my postings,e-mail, advice, etc. COOL MAN! It's so nice to help people. Makes me feel like a Million Bucks, and again LOVE the site! A Freind, Kelly was explaining how aweful upgrading her 9500 is...and she has a 6500 also. I mentioned cheap Maxtor 7200rpm 20 Gig (ATA) HD's for under $300 at Comp USA & G3 upgrades (she could do without paying for HELP-it a mess in those things!) So, I gave her your URL- for complete directions! Thanks for just being here Tom! BLESS YOU! Pictures even!!!! Update; I am no longer getting even boot crashes. Everything is humming along perfectly. -StudioVision Pro/VisionDSP issues; I was noting many 6400 users on VisionDSP's user mailing list & issues with sound/recording errors. The ASIO Drivers & ACADIA (also throw out the generic Acadia engine-and use the custom 603/G3 Acadia engine!) engine stay in the ASIO folder in the Vision DSP Folder, as does Acadia. You may wonder what's so confusing about that? Well if you double click them they say they are Extensions "Please put in the Extensions folder to enhance your computers abilities"- BUT DONT! So, I have been a big hit with users complaining about recording errors up the wazoo. (on any/all systems) -Also, tried your Hack Tom, Speculative addressing is what makes a G3 so responsive-interesting! This only caused more crashes, BUT as long as it was installed I set my Sonnet 300/1MB to 3:2 Ratio and CPU hit 1015 on MB 5.0! (from 980 @ 2:1) (!) However; I had conflicts with the whole thing & uninstalled it. Bottom Line- Steinberg (CubaseVST etc.) does not "Support" any upgrades except Newer (although I am unsure of L2 cache & 6400's). However; this is strictly that they dont want to have to troubleshoot all these systems (Steinberg also does not "Support" CLONES) but the Upgrades & the Clones all run Cubase & similiar products every day. (Like the writer at www.XLR8YourMac.com/Audio, in his FAQ says- If you upgrade- be prepared to troubleshoot yourself!) I recommend a read of that FAQ to any Audio people also! Sincerely, Egan P.S. My 6400 shipped with a GV Platinum. I keep hearing Geoport Modem being stock in 6400's! - Is that aweful thing really the most common Modem that shipped with the 6400??? (It's all software (the Modem) I believe (or mostly) -and uses....20% of the CPU to connect , which sounds just AWEFUL! Considering what a HOG Netscape is already!) ---------------- 8/21/1999 I DID NOT SAY Newer's WORKS! I only said Steinberg only supports Newer Upgrades (although- so far that has been on upgradeable Mac's- no word on L2 Cache Upgrades, WHY? It uses no SOFTWARE (on CPU upgradeable Mac's) - you just plug it in- no extensions-no conflicts) However; I do not USE Steinberg software, I use Opcodes VisionDSP....Unity DS-1, Cybersynth, Peak...OMS, etc. Hiwever; Steinberg came up with ASIO- a way for Audio Cards (Hardware) to talk DIRECTLY to the audio Application- without going through the OS, this gives faster response time- more power, and less CPU drain from OS related Processes. Also, Steinberg created the VST (Virtual Studio Architecture) which allows real time effects to be added, without any wait time to "Process" it. So, adding delays, Reverbs, all manner of freaky effects (studio Magic) can be used without expensive Proprietary set ups- and all Hardware that has ASIO drivers will work flawlessly in this new Architecture. So all this "Steinberg" talk is because now VisionDSP (and all competitors) are adopting it as a Standard. Which is lowering prices on Hardware/Software to what windows users pay.....(ASIO works for Windoze also) So, in the same way we picked up Maxtor ATA HD's for pennies.....compared to a SCSI equivalent (!) Awesome performance- and no Mac Taxª anymore. There's never been a better time to be a Mac User! (and after the end of September-AGP cards will be stock as well as almost all other PC technologies-and PC's using Mac technologies(Firewire etc.) More Bang for the Buck!