Reference Guide

1195
Improving performance with digital audio
Improving audio performance
• Disk Activity indicator . Measures how much of the available time SONAR is using to
perform input/output functions on your hard disk. The size of your setup’s I/O buffer size (listed
under File System in Edit > Preferences > Audio - Sync and Caching) determines how much
time is allowed to perform disk operations and maintain uninterrupted playback. When SONAR
performs disk operations, the Disk Activity indicator changes color from yellow to red to indicate
the time SONAR is taking to complete each cycle of disk input/output. A red icon indicates very
high data activity.
• Disk Space meter. Shows the amount of available space on the drive where your wave data
directory is located. The tooltip shows the actual remaining disk space on your audio disk.
• Memory Usage (RAM) meter. Shows the total memory (RAM) usage by your computer, not just
by SONAR.
See also:
“Multiprocessor load balancing” on page 1195
Multiprocessor load balancing
SONAR’s audio engine has enhanced multicore performance and load balancing.
The CPU meter in the Control Bar’s Performance module shows the time it takes to process a buffer
full of audio data as a percentage of the maximum time available to process that data and maintain
uninterrupted playback. There is one CPU meter for each core in your computer, up to 32 cores.
Figure 345. The Performance module.
A. CPU meters (one per core)
See also:
“CPU meter/Disk meter/Dropout indicator” on page 1194
Note: If you experience a dropout or your CPU or Disk meters are reading high, there are steps
you can take to improve your audio performance. For more information, see “Audio dropouts or
crashes during playback” on page 1256.
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