MOTUnation.com

I don't know if I am the only one switching between buffer settings. If you want to play a Virtual instrument you have to select at least 512 even in DP6 and if you want to mix with lots of plugins you have to switch to 1024 (That is all I get on my G5). I don't like the fact that MOTU took away the "hardware setup" button from the control panel. Is there an easier way to switch buffer settings or would anyone agree that it would be nice to have a button on the control panel to do this. I would really enjoy it if you could just see the buffer setting right on the control panel rather than opening the dialog of the "Hardware Setup" only to find out that the setting is already where you want it and then having to wait for the audio engine toi reload your instruments.

Yeah, I'd love to see a buffer setting readout on the control panel.

Yep. Even with DP5 I've been asking about the Hardware Settings > Cancel routine for some time. I never understood why the samples have to be dumped just by looking at the buffers, why the buffers couldn't be visible in the first place-- and, as a feature request-- whether we could have a project summary that just lists the bit depth, sample rate, memory usage, and buffers at a glance.

But, if MOTU was willing to put the bit depth back on the Transport then perhaps there's hope for the buffer readout to to be placed where its easily seen at a glance without having to dump/reload the data.

I've been a-playin' all night long,
Laying down MIDI tracks in the dirt
Gotta have me some more coffee,
Gotta a score - sure needs some work.
Oh I'm a sufferin'
For the bufferin'
Got them hardware blues.
Don't wanna work them menus no more,
Just to see your pretty number,
And know my own true latency....

Frodo wrote:Yep. Even with DP5 I've been asking about the Hardware Settings > Cancel routine for some time. I never understood why the samples have to be dumped just by looking at the buffers, why the buffers couldn't be visible in the first place-- and, as a feature request-- whether we could have a project summary that just lists the bit depth, sample rate, memory usage, and buffers at a glance.

But, if MOTU was willing to put the bit depth back on the Transport then perhaps there's hope for the buffer readout to to be placed where its easily seen at a glance without having to dump/reload the data.

I agree 100%. I think I'm going to throw this at MOTU's suggestions now. As always, make enough noise and eventually you'll see results (maybe).

ahimmel wrote:I don't know if I am the only one switching between buffer settings. If you want to play a Virtual instrument you have to select at least 512 even in DP6 and if you want to mix with lots of plugins you have to switch to 1024 (That is all I get on my G5). I don't like the fact that MOTU took away the "hardware setup" button from the control panel. Is there an easier way to switch buffer settings or would anyone agree that it would be nice to have a button on the control panel to do this. I would really enjoy it if you could just see the buffer setting right on the control panel rather than opening the dialog of the "Hardware Setup" only to find out that the setting is already where you want it and then having to wait for the audio engine toi reload your instruments.

A buffer setting readout would be very helpful, they might be able to find some space some where in the control panel.

Also, it would be nice if cancel, just canceled and didn't reload the audio system.

It also might be nice if there was some sort of "Smart Buffer" toggle where DP could calculate the smallest buffer that would work for tracking and a good size buffer for playback. Sort of along the lines of how they made audio channel allocation automatic.

I've thought of that, RA, and concluded that even if MOTU took the easy way out and allowed us to define, on a per-project basis if necessary, the tracking and mixing buffer settings, the toggle would be perfect. In fact, I think I'd prefer being able to set the higher and lower values myself, with perhaps an option to allow DP to calculate the bare minimum where mission-critical situations/clients might be concerned.

IOW, +1.

ahimmel wrote:Is there an easier way to switch buffer settings or would anyone agree that it would be nice to have a button on the control panel to do this.

At least you can use a key binding for Hardware Setup so you don't need to navigate through menus to get to it. Look for it in the command window. I know it's not what you were asking for but it's a bit less painful...

Once again, here it's all about taste and workflow, I guess.

But actual buffer size display is vital to my actual projects !
Please Motu, lend me an ear, or two!

Dwetmaster wrote:

ahimmel wrote:Is there an easier way to switch buffer settings or would anyone agree that it would be nice to have a button on the control panel to do this.

At least you can use a key binding for Hardware Setup so you don't need to navigate through menus to get to it. Look for it in the command window. I know it's not what you were asking for but it's a bit less painful...

I have looked for it but can't find it. I even tried to make a shortcut using osx keyboard shortcuts but couldn't get it to work. Is there a way to assign a shortcut command for it?

Ah ok you're right. I realized I did this one with GUI scripting. Look for it on Apple's site. There's a tool named UI inspector that will help you make Apple scripts for any app's menu item. You can then trigger the apple script with quicksilver or any other app that will enable you to trigger applescripts via key shortcut.

I can be hard to understand the first script but then all the other ones are easy to make.

Here's Apple's link
http://www.apple.com/applescript/uiscripting/

Agreed.
Please bring back the Hardware button on the Control Panel, Motu.

I've suggested MOTU numerous times to have buffer size and sampling rate written to the project. That way, when opening a project saved with a diffrent setting than what DP Hardware setup is set, a dialog box warns you of the differences and allows you to change them accordingly before actually opening the project. Would be a time saver in my opinion.

I'm still dreaming...

In a similar vein, I kept getting 'audio system overloaded' dialogs yesterday. I assume this happens when buffers get full? It is hard to visualize system load (CPU, buffer, disk IO) overall so tuning gets to be a big guessing game.

Some indicators of these things along with ways to quickly tweak them would be most welcome.

In a similar vein, I kept getting 'audio system overloaded' dialogs yesterday. I assume this happens when buffers get full? It is hard to visualize system load (CPU, buffer, disk IO) overall so tuning gets to be a big guessing game.

Some indicators of these things along with ways to quickly tweak them would be most welcome.