What is host buffer Mulitplier Mean??

Akai96 · Post by **Akai96** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 5:18 am

It seems you can set this to 1-4,When I set it to 4 the processor is a lot smoother than when set to 1,Could I trouble someone for some quick info on this?

buzzsmith · Post by **buzzsmith** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 5:54 am

From MOTU's website...don't know if it addresses your specific question, though!

************************************************************
What is the Host Buffer Multiplier?

If you only have one driver is selected, leave the Host Buffer Multiplier set to 1.

The Host Buffer Multiplier (found under the Setup menu > Configure Audio System > Configure Hardware Driver) improves performance in DP 4 when using more than one hardware driver.

When you are using multiple CoreAudio drivers simultaneously, set the Host Buffer Multiplier set to 2.

Note that when you are using a PCI-324 or 424 system with multiple interfaces connected to the PCI card, the Host Buffer Multiplier should still be set to 1. This is because although you are using multiple interfaces, you are still only using one driver.

Akai96 · Post by **Akai96** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 6:02 am

Thankyou.

burp182 · Post by **burp182** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 2:05 pm

Here's a dopey question - what about 2 of the same PCI cards combined in an Aggregate Device? Does that qualify as 2 drivers? Thanks.

goody_ear · Post by **goody_ear** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 3:00 pm

Umm..to my knowledge it is used to configure how many proccesors(CPU's) your system is running. If you have a dual processor machine then set it to 2.

sdfalk · Post by **sdfalk** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 3:07 pm

goody_ear wrote:Umm..to my knowledge it is used to configure how many proccesors(CPU's) your system is running. If you have a dual processor machine then set it to 2.

No it isn't, it's the number of audio interfaces/drivers.
As buzzsmith stated above if you're running say
4 Motu Interfaces off of one card, you still want it set to
1 as it's only 1 motu audio driver.
The host bus multiplier was Motus way of addressing multiple
audio cards/drivers before apple updated the OS to include aggregate
audio devices (which fundamentally does the same thing.)

goody_ear · Post by **goody_ear** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 4:26 pm

Wow, I must have read wrong. I've been under the wrong impression for years...LOL. Guess I better change my settings when I get home from work as I only have 1 2408mk2.

sdfalk · Post by **sdfalk** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 4:46 pm

..I've been mistaken PLENTY of times...lol

here's something directly from Apples website regarding aggreagate
audio:

Device Aggregation
Mac OS X Tiger now allows you to use multiple audio devices together to increase the number of input and output channels. You can combine devices of like sampling rate together, whether via FireWire, PCI or built-in, into a single aggregated device. Set up is easy via Audio MIDI Setup and your new ••œvirtual••

johnnytucats · Post by **johnnytucats** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 6:26 pm

So I guess "3" and "4" are for secret unspecified use known only to MOTU.

Shooshie · Post by **Shooshie** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 7:41 pm

johnnytucats wrote:So I guess "3" and "4" are for secret unspecified use known only to MOTU.

Well, it's possible to have a MOTU interface, a Digidesign, a Firewire MOTU, etc., etc., and maybe even Soundsticks would count as a host for playback. I've never tested that. I add Soundsticks without changing the host buffer multiplier. One could easily get several in there, with several operating drivers.

Shooshie

Shooshie · Post by **Shooshie** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 7:50 pm

sdFalk wrote:Just so I'm not talking out of my ass..which I've done before

Now, I'm not saying you have or you haven't done that before... only that I don't want to er... witness your next speech.

Shooshie

sdfalk · Post by **sdfalk** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 8:03 pm

Shooshie wrote:
sdFalk wrote:Just so I'm not talking out of my ass..which I've done before
Now, I'm not saying you have or you haven't done that before... only that I don't want to er... witness your next speech.

Shooshie

So close to a William S Burroughs reference..

mastermix · Post by **mastermix** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 2:49 am

Feel free to think this is some DP voodoo

A team of DP propellerheads have determibed that:

If you are on a Powerbook, and try a 128 buffer setting with Host Buffer Multiplier of 1, or 2, or 3 or 4 times...which gives;

128, 256, 384 and 512 buffers respectively.

The results will keep your DP/Powerbook a lot happier...minimizing spikes, pops, etc. when using relatively high counts of plugins...

Definitely not in the DP manual.

This is Juju

Kris..

Rush909 · Post by **Rush909** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 7:31 am

So here is a question... If I have a PCI-424 and "built in audio", but I only have PCI-424 selected and "active" in configure hardware drivers... then what should I put in the host multiplier???

r.

sdfalk · Post by **sdfalk** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 11:49 am

Rush909 wrote:So here is a question... If I have a PCI-424 and "built in audio", but I only have PCI-424 selected and "active" in configure hardware drivers... then what should I put in the host multiplier???

r.

1