User manual

24
Setting up your system
Optimizing processor scheduling (Windows only)
To get the lowest possible latencies when using ASIO un-
der Windows (on a single-CPU system), the “system per-
formance” has to be optimized for background tasks:
1. Open the Control Panel and select the System settings.
2. On the left, select the “Advanced system settings”
option.
The System Properties dialog opens.
3. Select the Advanced tab and click the “Settings…”
button in the Performance section.
The Performance Options dialog opens.
4. Select the Advanced tab and activate the “Adjust for
best performance of: Background services” option.
5. Click OK to close the dialogs.
Multi processing
On the VST Audio System page you will find the “Ad-
vanced options” section. Here you find advanced settings
for the VST Engine, including a Multi Processing option.
When this is activated and there is more than one CPU in
your system, the processing load is distributed evenly to
all available CPUs, allowing Cubase to make full use of the
combined power of the multiple processors.
About the VST Performance window
The VST Performance window is opened from the De-
vices menu. The window shows two meter displays: The
ASIO meter, which indicates CPU load, and the Disk me
-
ter, which shows the hard disk transfer rate. It is recom-
mended that you check this from time to time, or keep it
always open. Even if you have been able to activate a
number of audio channels in the project without getting
any warning, you may run into performance problems
when adding EQ or effects.
• The ASIO meter (at the top) shows the ASIO time us-
age, i. e. the time required to complete the current pro-
cessing tasks. The more tracks, effects, EQ, etc. you use
in your project, the longer processing will take, and the
longer the ASIO meter will show activity.
If the overload indicator (on the far right) lights up, you need to decrease
the number of EQ modules, active effects, and/or audio channels playing
back simultaneously.
• The lower bar graph shows the hard disk transfer load.
If the overload indicator (on the far right) lights up, the hard disk is not
supplying data fast enough to the computer. You may need to reduce the
number of tracks playing back by using the Disable Track function (see
“About track disable/enable” on page 86). If this does not help, you need
a faster hard disk.
Ö The overload indicator may occasionally blink, e. g.
when you locate during playback. This does not indicate a
problem, but happens because the program needs a mo
-
ment for all channels to load data for the new playback po-
sition.
Ö The ASIO and Disk load meters can also be shown on
the Transport panel (as “Performance”) and on the Project
window toolbar (as “Performance Meter”). There they are
shown as two miniature vertical meters (by default at the
left side of the panel/toolbar).