extremely basic help needed

[zwolf]

Hi,

I new to this forum and DP. I come from an analog background, so I'm also fairly new to computers and DAWs in general. I'm running DP4.52 (not quite ready for the 4.6 move yet) with an 896HD interface on a dual 1.25 G4 OSX3.8.

My questions center around that fact that I feel like I'm missing some of the more basic concepts to maintining a healthy DAW. I had previously heard that I didn't need to worry about defraging; here it seems to be the norm. What software (specifically) would be good to get for this, and how often should it be done? I also hear a lot about running disk utility and repairing permissions. What is this, and how is it done? Does this involve 3rd party software, and if so, any reccomendations.

In general, things are going well, but I starting to sense that my system is slowly starting to...slow down. I'm about to start a big project and I want to be in top health. Thanks for any response. I appreciate your willingness to help with beginner issues and the tone of this board in general. I'll post more basic questions as they arise.

Zwolf

[mastermix]

Apple does not recommend defragging...but if you must, please run Diskwarrior first.

There is a defrag utility PlusOptimizer that Alsoft provides with the Full Diskwarrior CD that can be used for defragging.

IMHO, it is better to use tools like Cocktail, Mac Janitor, Apple Jack, etc..to maintain your drive on regular basis...and not worry too much about defragmentation.

Over long periods of disk use, it is better to zero out the drive and reformat. It is the best way to defrag

Kris...

<small>[ July 12, 2005, 01:31 PM: Message edited by: mastermix ]</small>

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Don't be afraid to jump to 4.6. You have to learn the program anyway, you might as well learn the current version!

Mac OS X does not require defragging, but if you are working on a big project that will take a lot of GB's, consider a second hard drive (internal better - firewire still OK). It might be wise to keep you projects on a seperate HD so that you can periodically clean it out and archive without disturbing your main drive (which can store most other documents). Also, having a dedicated (FAST!) HD for audio will reduce the wear on your main drive and allow you to back-up easily.

As for basic OS stuff like permissions, go to the Finder and select Help and enter the terms in question (permissions, for example) and you will be directed to the correct screens. Also, check out Apples discussion boards:

http://discussions.info.apple.com/webx?14@666.iD0Oa3zHYNx.0@

and online help for macs such as MacFixIt:

http://www.macfixit.com/

and it's related site, VersionTracker:

http://www.versiontracker.com/macosx/

You'll find a bunch more if you Google it a bit.

Welcome to the digital world. Some of the members here (myself included) cut our teeth on machines like the TEAC 2340 and edited with razor blades and tape. Digital audio is has become a pleasure to work with by comparison. You should enjoy it once you get the hang of the interface and play around with the features.

[draudio2u]

I have to disagree with the "OSX needs no defragmenting" statement, even if it comes from Apple. I use Norton Utilities to run Disc Doctor every month or just before a large project and then I run Speed Disc - which defrag's my harddrive - both the main in my powerbook that is holding all the programs and my firewire(s) that I plan on using for the project. The is an VERY noticable improvement in performance.

There was a post here that had someone split their computer into two users - one for just audio production, the other for everything else. The one for audio production just boots up the OS, audio software and that is all. A streamline computer that proves extremely fast and most important - rock solid stability. I plan on doing this as well once I finish my current projects (as well as upgrade to Tiger and 4.6)

Best of luck and welcome.

[dmshep]

I had serious crashing problems with DP until I defragged my audio drive. There were files split into hundreds of pieces in some cases, causing DP to stutter and freeze the system.

I also learned that I have to keep the drive at no more than 3/4 capacity or DP gets cranky as well. Perhaps not universal, but it's what I've had to do.

[Schweats]

I concur with the Diskwarrior advice••¦
Also, repair permissions often••¦
to facilitate this quickly, I made an alias of the Disk Utility app and placed it in the dock to the far left next to the blue Apple Mac face icon (I keep my dock at the very bottom)

Boot drive>Applicatons folder>Utilities folder> Disk Utility

HTH Schweats

[burger]

As for defraging.....

There's an article in the newest issue (July) of Electronic Musician on page 16, dealing with the subject. You might want to check it out. I've for months now wondered how best to defrag under OSX. It didn't seem like anyone made any software for doing it. Then I've read pros and cons about doing it at all.

Anyhow in the article it mentions that Diskwarrior does not defrag, and it recommends Micromat's TechTool Pro 4 for handling that task.

Good luck,

b.

[mastermix]

Originally posted by buns:
As for defraging.....

Anyhow in the article it mentions that Diskwarrior does not defrag, and it recommends Micromat's TechTool Pro 4 for handling that task.

b.

Alsoft -- Diskwarrior developer, has a defragging product called
PlusOptimizer .

Kris..

[TOD]

Just to add to the debate. I've had my dual 1.42 since it was new, (4+ years?) and I've never de-fragged the main drive. I use a separate ATA drive for audio and I do "swipe" it clean monthly, (ie copy to an external firewire, erase and copy back). I also repair permissions daily, (it's much faster in Tiger. takes about a minute), and run cocktail. That's it and my system's very sweet.

[Morpheo]

Originally posted by mastermix:
[QB]Alsoft -- Diskwarrior developer, has a defragging product called
PlusOptimizer .

Which is OS 9 ONLY btw. Though it looks like it works in classic. Alsoft probably thinks OS X's own defragging is good enough.

[zwolf]

Thanks very much for all the replies!

A couple of follow-ip questions: Regarding repairing permissions, what is the basic idea behind doing this. I found disc utility and clicked on "repair permissions", but what is the idea behind doing so? Also I found that I couldn't repair permissions on my external firewire drive, which is where I keep my DP projects. Any theories? How often should one repair permissions?

Regarding additional drives, whether external or internal, is it best to keep NOTHING on it except for DP project folders? I should be keeping the program itself on the main drive, correct?

What exactly is Cocktail and what does it do?

Are there any of you out there that do not use any outside software to keep health maintained? If so, I take it that periodic cleaning by erasing the drive is advisable?

Thanks for engaging me in the discussion.

[sndhse]

zwolf. OSX needs to run Unix based maintanance. Most people shut there computers down after a days use. Makes sense, but by rights your computer and OSX would need to be running 24/7 to take advantage of these maintenance issues. Coctail is a utility program that will run these Unix based tasks.
Hope this makes sense.
Mac Janitor is another utility program that will do the same thing, but not as extensively.
have a look here
http://personalpages.tds.net/~brian_hill/macjanitor.html
John
www.soundhousestudio.com

[Kubi]

Originally posted by zwolf:
A couple of follow-ip questions: Regarding repairing permissions, what is the basic idea behind doing this. I found disc utility and clicked on "repair permissions", but what is the idea behind doing so? Also I found that I couldn't repair permissions on my external firewire drive, which is where I keep my DP projects. Any theories? How often should one repair permissions?.

In UNIX, every file and folder comes with a set of read and write permissions. These can get changed, sometimes by accident. This can cause trouble, i.e. if an app can't access a file it needs, etc. All permissions as they relate to the OS are catalogued. When you repair permissions Disk Utility compares the perms on the drive with those in the catalog, and fixes the ones that don't match. That's why you can ONLY repair permissions on a drive with an OS installed, not i.e. the drive with your DP projects. That drive still has permissions attached to every file, but those are set by you or DP, and DU can't repair them because it doesn't know what they should be in the first place.

Permissions should be repaired after every crash, and before and after every install. I also just run them about once a week as part of my Cocktail routine (see below).

BTW, for volumes that only host project files etc. but not an OS I select the volume, select Get Info (command-i) and under ownership check "Ignore Permissions on this Volume". That way it doesn't matter what they are, even if they should get corrupted.

Regarding additional drives, whether external or internal, is it best to keep NOTHING on it except for DP project folders? I should be keeping the program itself on the main drive, correct?

You should keep the DP program on the same drive as your current OS, in the Applications folder, basically where it gets installed anyway. It is a good idea to have a partition on a separate drive dedicated to your audio projects. That way it doesn't get fragmented as quickly, is easily cleaned up if it does, but most importantly you have a second needle writing and reading the audio, while the first needle gets the instructions from DP and the OS on what to do. Much better performance.

It is also a good idea to partition a second drive and have a second bootable system on that partition for emergencies etc. This could be a small portion of your audio drive. I.e. my first internal HD has a single partition with the OS and the apps, while the second one has a large project-only partition and a smaller partition with another OS, another copy of Disk Warrior etc. and some MS apps that I don't want on my first HD

What exactly is Cocktail and what does it do?

Cocktail is an interface that makes it easier for the likes of us to access UNIX commands that help maintain the Mac. They are mostly cleaning commands and maintenance comands. Cocktail makes this all brainless by including the "Pilot" option, which you click once and then just let it run. This will empty all your caches and the likes, rotate your logs, run the cronscripts and perform all other manner of routine cleanup and lubing. Run that anywhere from once to four times a month and you're GOLDEN.

[zwolf]

Thanks again Kubi and Sndhse,

I will definitely get Cocktail - it sounds perfect for my needs. I'm also thinking seriously about getting a 3rd drive, probably an internal to compliment the firewire drive I'm using to record onto now. This would be a good safe place to back up the other drives when I'm cleaning them up.

I hadn't thought about installing the OS on another drive. Is the idea here that you can still get the computer up and running if something goes drastically wrong with the main drive? DP wouldn't be on this, just OS X, correct? Very ignorant question: this would involve a full install from disk of the OS, right?

I'm also intrigued by the idea that has been tossed around here of creating a seperate user account that would just involve DP and the OS. That should be done on the main drive, and still record audio to another drive - essentially set up the same system, minus the competing programs?

Thanks,

Zwolf

[zwolf]

two more painfully basic questions: can anyone give me the basics of partioning a drive - I see where it's done in disk utility, but am afraid to start messing around with it without knowing fully what I'm doing.

And when setting up another user account, do you need to reinstall software?

Thanks for the patience.

Z