DJ & PRODUCER TIPS Series #4: Turn Your PC from an 'Average Computer' to a 'Music Making Machine'

What's up my fellow Steemian's! In today's DJ TIPS Series #4 I'm going to continue on my previous post on Turn Your PC from an 'Average Computer' to a 'Music Making Machine' if you haven't read the first post I highly encourage you to do so as it has very important steps you need to do before applying the below steps.

What You Might Not Know About Your PC

Nowadays more and more DJ's and producers are using PC's for music but what they might not realize is when you buy a PC chances are the computer is optimized for word processing and gaming and not necessarily music. In the following steps in this guide I will be sharing with you guided steps to help you make the best out of your machine and enable you to Turn your PC from an Average Computer to a Music Making Machine.

Note: These tips can also help normal Gamers and PC users in speeding up their computers performance in general.

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Before We Start Please Make a Backup!!!

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Always a great idea to make backups and a backup to the backup, Don't we all hate loosing some of our great productions or music libraries??? Yukkk....

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Audio Dropouts

One thing a lot of Windows users might not know is that there's a known issue with Windows that causes CPU spikes which can lead to 'Audio Dropouts'.

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Microsoft Hot Fix

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There's a hotfix update for this issue that you can download for free from Microsoft by going to :

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/981214/there-is-high-cpu-usage-when-using-a-usb-audio-device-connected-to-a-u

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Windows Aero Graphical User Interface

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One of the new Windows features is the Aero graphical user interface this is the default display in Windows and it's great unless you're using audio programs.

Aero can cause audio dropouts and it's advisable to be Disabled.

You can do this by following the steps below:

1-Right click on the desktop
2-Choose Personalize
3-Scroll down and select a scheme from the 'Basic and High contrast Theme' section like Windows Classic

As simple and easy this is, the reason why you want to disable the 'Windows Aero Graphical User Interface' is because it occupies system resources and might lead to more chances of having CPU Spikes which lead to audio dropouts and pops in the audio.

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Uninstall Unused Programs

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Your Computer might come with some programs that you don't need.

The next thing we're going to do is Uninstall any programs that you don't need on your Computer

To Uninstall Programs:

1-Click on the Start menu
2-Choose Control Panel
3-Programs and Features
4-Remove any programs you are not using

You Might have some graphic card tools like ATI Power Play in the video power miser that prioritize the graphic card performance over the other processes in the system.
Try to Disable or Uninstall these as well.

Note : Make sure you don't Uninstall any crucial Windows or System Programs.

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Processor Scheduling

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Processor Scheduling prioritizes Background Services versus Programs.

You might think that background services don't need to be prioritized but the driver for your Sound Card is actually a 'Background Service'. You want your Computer to give more priority to your Sound Card Drivers so you don't get 'Audio Dropouts'.

You can do this by following the steps below:

1-Right Click on the Computer icon on your Desktop
2-Select 'Properties'
3-Select 'Advanced System Settings'
4-Go to the 'Advanced Tab' under 'Performance'
5-Click the 'Settings' button
6-Also Go to the 'Advanced Tab' under 'Performance Options'
7-Select 'Background Services'

Note: If your Audio performance worsens after following those steps change the Settings back to 'Programs'

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Buffer Size & Latency

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The last thing we're going to do is configure the Buffer Size or the 'Latency' of the program we're using to DJ or produce with.

'Latency' is the delay that happens between when you perform an action like pushing a button or scratching a time code vinyl record and when you hear a result.

For Example :

Latency is the time it takes for an effect to turn on after I push a button on my Traktor Kontrol/Serato DJ or Midi Controller X. Depending on how powerful your computer is you can have close to 'No Latency' like 2 to 5 'milliseconds' which the human can't even perceive, Versus to 50 to 80 'milliseconds' which you'll notice a slightly significant delay and maybe distracting.

It's generally True that the 'Lower the Latency' is set to the more the computer is strain and has to work so you'll need to find a good buffer size that works for your computer.

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I also recommend downloading any of the recommended updates for your computer including :

• Operating system updates
• Audio drivers, CD firmware updates network adapters
• Graphic devices, Input device drivers
• Any other drivers your computer manufacturer recommends that you download
  
  Also always make sure whatever music programs you're using are updated and that all the drivers for your audio interface and controllers are updated as well.

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  Hope with these tips you will be able to speed up and solve any common performance PC issues when making music or DJ'ing live.
  I will be releasing a follow up to this series sharing more tips and tools to Turn Your PC from an Average Computer to a Music Making Machine.
  
  Thank your for reading, please do let me know if you find this helpful and also if you have any recommendations or more tips you like to share?
  
  Let me know in the comment box below. Until the next One!
  Where Words Fail, Music Speaks Kudos

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  Previous DJ Tips Series w/ DJ Lethal Skillz
  DJ & PRODUCER TIPS Series #3: Turn Your PC from an 'Average Computer' to a 'Music Making Machine'
  Musicians On The Blockchain | DJ TIPS & FREE GOODIES SERIES #2" w/ DJ Lethal Skillz
  'DJ TIPS SERIES' w/ DJ Lethal Skillz #1 | INSIGHT ON 'SERATO DJ SAMPLER' & FREE GOODIES OF FREE SOUNDS & FX

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