- Basic system maintenance<\/a><\/strong><\/li>
- File management<\/a><\/strong><\/li>
- Hardware connections<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Drivers & Firmware<\/strong><\/a>
- Updating audio hardware drivers & firmware<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
- Updating system device drivers<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Power and disk optimization<\/strong><\/a>
- Adjusting Power Options<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
- Disable USB power management<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
- Hard disk optimizations<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nOptimization 101: System maintenance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Performing basic system maintenance is the first thing to do when optimizing your PC. These small tweaks can fix a lot of issues that may arise with your recording rig.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nBasic system maintenance <\/p>\n\n\n\n
IMPORTANT: <\/strong>If you are running Windows 10 build 1903 and haven’t updated yet, Be sure to install this update<\/em><\/strong><\/a> manually as it fixes many DPC latency<\/em><\/strong><\/a> issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many simple solutions to optimize your Windows computer. While they may seem trivial, it can make a world of difference and increase the performance of your PC. Here are a few basic tips to keep your system running smoothly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n- Close any unnecessary programs while using your DAW.<\/li>
- Disable non-essential third-party start-up services such as Skype<\/em>, SpotifyWebHelper<\/em>, OneDrive<\/em>, and iTunes<\/em>.<\/li>
- Regularly empty your Recycle Bin and uninstall any unnecessary programs to save disk space.<\/li>
- Perform an antivirus and malware scan regularly to ensure the computer isn\u2019t infected.<\/li>
- Consider using Microsoft\u2019s built-in antivirus software Windows Defender<\/strong> and uninstalling third-party antivirus software. These tie up a lot of resources, can cause installation issues, and cause software not to run correctly.<\/li>
- Remove programs which are pre-installed with pre-configured computers, which is known as bloatware. These are unnecessary programs which take up a lot of hard drive space and can use a lot of memory.<\/li>
- Make sure that Windows and any recording software you have are always up to date.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nFile management<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it may not seem like an optimization, proper file management is essential. Not only does it make everything more organized, but it makes it easier to keep track of how much space you have on each hard drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n- Use dedicated hard drives for DAW projects, sound libraries, and plug-ins. The less additional software which is on the hard drive Windows is on will guarantee better performance.<\/li>
- Don\u2019t move files and folders between locations constantly, especially with virtual instrument libraries. If you move these, you may get errors saying that cannot be located. It can also put unnecessary stress on your hard drives, too.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Shop All External Hard Drives \ud83d\udcbe<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nHardware connections<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using the right cables and making sure everything is connected correctly can most certainly help, especially when using your DAW. While it won\u2019t necessarily affect speed, it can help eliminate any potential grounding noise and connectivity errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n- Connect USB 3.0 devices to USB 3.0 ports, and USB 2.0 devices to USB 2.0 ports if possible. While you can connect a USB 3.0 device to a 2.0 port and vice versa, you may not get good connectivity.<\/li>
- If you have a limited amount of USB ports on your computer, use a powered<\/strong> USB hub<\/a>. While passive hubs may work, they draw power from your computer which causes more strain.<\/li>
- Use the included cables that come with the hardware. Some third-party cables, particularly generic brand, may not provide the proper connections required for that device.<\/li>
- If your hardware includes a power supply, use that instead of relying on USB bus power<\/a>, especially if you are using a laptop. If external devices draw more power than your machine or hub can provide, you may experience loss in connectivity and performance.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"File](\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2020\/04\/File-Management-for-Music-Production-featured-image-1024x536.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nFile Management for Music Production<\/a>\n\n\n\nLearn more about effective file management for music production! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Learn More \u2192<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nReturn to top<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nDrivers and firmware<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
While some are considered class-compliant and don\u2019t require driver installation, most external hardware devices such as audio interfaces, hard drives, and MIDI controllers need dedicated drivers to connect and communicate to a PC correctly. Some also include firmware, which is essentially a device\u2019s \u201coperating system\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nUpdating audio hardware drivers and firmware<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re experiencing playback and recording issues, installing the latest firmware and drivers for your interface can fix that. You can find your interface\u2019s available downloads from our driver index page below. We recommend disconnecting the hardware before installing the driver. Sometimes, especially if you restart your computer, a generic driver will be installed in its place which can cause hardware issues. Follow these steps to install the drivers correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n- Uninstall the current driver then disconnect the audio interface.<\/li>
- Download and install the latest driver and firmware (if applicable) from the vendor\u2019s website. Be sure to follow the on-screen instructions during installation.<\/li>
- Restart the computer then reconnect the interface.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n
![\"Audio](\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2014\/04\/Audio-MIDI-Interface-Hero-2-1024x536.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nWhere Can I Download the Drivers for My Audio or MIDI Interface<\/a>\n\n\n\nLearn more about where to download and install drivers for your audio and MIDI device<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Learn More \u2192<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nUpdate system device drivers<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There may be a time where you need to manually update system drivers, especially if you have an older system. For example, if you\u2019re using the newest video editing software but have an out-of-date graphics driver, you may run into glitches and poor performance. Or, if you are using a wireless digital mixer and it\u2019s not connecting, you may need to consider updating your computer\u2019s network drivers. Follow these steps to update system drivers manually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n- Open Control Panel and click on Device Manager<\/strong>.<\/li>
- Click the arrow next to Display Adapters<\/strong> for Graphics drivers<\/em>, Universal Serial Bus<\/strong> for USB chipset drivers<\/em>, or Network Adapters<\/strong> for Networks drivers<\/em>.<\/li>
- Right-click and choose Update Driver<\/strong>, followed by \u2018Search automatically for updated driver software<\/strong>\u2019. If no driver is found, update the driver manually using the steps below:
- Double-click to view its properties<\/li>
- In the General<\/strong> tab, you can see the model and the manufacturer. In the Driver<\/strong> tab, you can find the driver version and the date.<\/li>
- Go to the computer manufacturer\u2019s website to find the latest driver for your controller.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Windows](\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2016\/08\/Device-Manager.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWindows Device Manager. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n![\"Windows](\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2019\/09\/Windows-Driver-Hero-1024x536.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nHow Do I Update Drivers on My Windows PC? <\/a>\n\n\n\nLearn more about how to update properly<\/a> <\/a>drivers on PC<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Learn More \u2192<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n - Go to the computer manufacturer\u2019s website to find the latest driver for your controller.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Click the arrow next to Display Adapters<\/strong> for Graphics drivers<\/em>, Universal Serial Bus<\/strong> for USB chipset drivers<\/em>, or Network Adapters<\/strong> for Networks drivers<\/em>.<\/li>
- Open Control Panel and click on Device Manager<\/strong>.<\/li>
- Disable USB power management<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
- Updating system device drivers<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- File management<\/a><\/strong><\/li>
![\"TS](\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2017\/11\/TS-Interface-Windows-UPDATE-Hero-1024x536.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"USB](\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2013\/08\/USB-chipset-driver-update-featured-image@0.5x-1024x536.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n