Tips & Tricks
Technique : PC MusicianPC utility programs are either invaluable workmates, or end up languishing in a corner of your disk drive, rarely used. In a quest to sort out the most useful items for musicians, MARTIN WALKER subjects his PC to the ultimate test.
As long-term PC users know (and the Mac- and PC-owning Editor of this magazine never tires of pointing out), there are many areas in which there is room for improvement in day-to-day PC operation. Installing new software and hardware can produce system conflicts which you then have to resolve; sometimes, tweaking PC performance to use the latest hard disk recording software more effectively can seem a permanent occupation. In view of this, it is not surprising that an army of software authors are constantly beavering away to produce the perfect utility program -- one that will coax the ultimate performance from a given machine, just in time for the machine to be declared obsolete so that a newer, and equally problematic, machine can start on its own road to nirvana. To help us all on our way, I have gathered together a selection of utility programs that could prove essential purchases for the PC musician.
PARTITION MAGIC v3.0
For any hard disk recording freaks out there, this performs what can certainly be considered as magic. Partitioning an existing disk drive can have many advantages, but more than anything else, with today's huge disk sizes, it can save considerable amounts of space. Since the file allocation table (FAT) for Windows sets a minimum size for each available 'pigeon-hole', based on the size of the drive, anyone with a typical drive of 1-2Gb will find that even a 1-byte file still occupies a single 32k allocation unit, wasting 32767 bytes in the process. By partitioning this drive into several smaller 'logical' drives, and labelling these C:, D: and so on, you can use disk space far more effectively (512-1023Mb has 16k units, and 256-511Mb has 8k). The result? Your identical files take up far less space on the disk, leaving more available for other things, and in many cases, it is possible to reclaim hundreds of megabytes in this way. However, for hard disk recording, using storage more effectively is not the only advantage. By creating a separate partition for sound data alone, it is far easier to keep this area well defragmented for maximum disk read/write speeds (and remember, if any program puts a hidden 'read only' file on your disk, many defragmenters will leave this alone, resulting in an 'island' that every subsequent write has to jump around). Backing up a separate partition of audio is easier too (there's no need to worry about the other data on the disk -- simply back up the audio partition). Partitioning also makes it far easier to keep tabs on audio projects -- once a project has been finished and backed up, you simply erase all files within the separate partition, and are then ready to start with a clean slate, without worrying about accidentally wiping anything else by mistake.
OK, so that's how it works in theory. In practice, many musicians have fought shy of partitioning their drives, because of the vast amount of work involved. First, every file on your disk needs backing up for safety, and then the current partition needs to be deleted using the FDISK program (a process which destroys all data). Several new partitions then have to be created using FDISK, and these formatted using the FORMAT utility. After this, you need to reinstall Windows, then all of the other applications, and then restore your data files from the backup you took earlier. Is it surprising that so few people undertake this process? Partition Magic allows you to re-size your current partition, create and re-size additional ones, but -- and here's the magic bit -- you do this completely 'on the fly' whilst the existing contents of your hard drive stay perfectly intact!
The program is quick and easy to use. First, you re-size your current partition (which normally will be a single one occupying the whole drive) to a suitable size. With my 1Gb drive, I decided to leave enough room for a second partition of 700Mb (to hold a CD image of up to 70 minutes), and that left 336Mb. Once you've re-sized, the only thing that can be confusing is that you first need to create an 'extended' partition with the remaining 700Mb of unused space, and then create a FAT partition of 700Mb so that Windows can see the second area as a so-called 'logical' drive, which will appear with a new drive letter. If you currently have one partition labelled C:, you will end up with two, labelled C: and D: (the first of which still holds your previous data, the second of which is a completely new logical drive). The whole process took about 10 minutes, and I immediately gained 18% more hard disk space, as well as a far more effective use of my hard drive for hard disk audio. You can re-size any partition or create more at any time without disturbing the data (but of course it will not let you shrink any partition below the size of its current contents). All in all, I suspect that many musicians will be trying this one out -- Partition Magic turns what used to be a tedious and involved procedure into one that is elegant and satisfying!
WINPROBE 95
Many people have discovered the MSD (Microsoft Diagnostics) program that comes with both Windows 3.1 and Windows 95. This can give you basic information about your processor, BIOS, memory, graphics card, IRQ usage and so on. Although useful (and free), this is looking rather long in the tooth now, and when fault-finding, something more 'rigorous' is needed. WinProbe 95 is, as its name suggests, designed to probe deeper and return more information. As well as providing extensive system information (including stress tests designed to weed out rogue hardware that causes very occasional inexplicable errors), the software offers the Recovery section, which helps your PC recuperate from bad crashes by backing up vital system files and placing them on a floppy, so that you can restore them later if anything gets corrupted or accidentally deleted. The Registry Guru allows you to edit many system files (after giving dire warnings to back them up first!), but this aspect is likely to appeal more to seasoned explorers than casual peekers. Tune Up offers you the opportunity to optimise the Registry, stripping out references to programs that are long gone, as well as allowing various tweaks to be easily made to the system. Knowledge Base is an extensive point-and-click guide to Windows 95, which includes details on making the best use of applications, explains the Registry and INI files, and offers a fairly comprehensive step-by-step guide to installing new hardware, which includes adding memory, disk drives, soundcards and so on. This is well-written, and worth a browse if you want to know more about the PC. Another very useful item is CrashShield, a tiny application that runs in the background all the time, which pops up if an application crashes, allowing you the option of saving your work before shutting down the offending program. This can be a godsend, and other SOS contributors have also been pleased to see its little window save the day.
CLEANSWEEP v3.0
One of the most annoying aspects of modern software is the way that it seems to add files all over the place -- if you want to remove an application, it is normally impossible to track down every change that the previous installation has made to your system. With so many 'free' CDs falling off every PC magazine, the temptation to try out a few pieces of software is irresistible. After several months, despite your best efforts to maintain order, your hard disk can begin to resemble the contents of a car boot sale. Enter CleanSweep 95, an uninstaller from Quarterdeck which claims to remove the software that other programs can't reach. It does this mainly by monitoring and logging new installations, and recording every new file placed on your hard disk, but, just as importantly, it also records any changes or additions to the Registry. During the month I have been using it, it even informed me on several occasions of badly-behaved setup programs that installed older versions of system files over the top of my existing ones! Once the logs have been created, you can uninstall any monitored application far more thoroughly than via the standard Windows uninstall, and effectively return your machine to exactly the state it was in previously. CleanSweep has not failed me yet, and makes life far less harrowing when you want to clear out a program that does not live up to expectations. In addition, the software will analyse any non-logged applications, looking for components and changes to system files, and uninstall those for you as well. It can also move any application to another folder or drive, updating all of the appropriate links (far quicker than deleting and then re-installing!).
"After several months, despite your best efforts, your hard disk can begin to resemble the contents of a car boot sale."
Other parts of the CleanSweep cleanup campaign include options for finding duplicate files, redundant DLL (system) files not used by any application, and orphan files that have been left behind by rogue applications. Finally, by monitoring which files are used on a day-to-day basis, CleanSweep can also worm out files that have not been accessed for a specified time, which may be worth deleting, unless you happen to know that you need them. It recommends backing up all files first (in compressed form), and then if no application complains of a missing component, you can safely delete the backups at a future date. In the month that I have been using CleanSweep, I have reclaimed 80Mb of disk space!
HEALTHYPC
This is a low-cost utility from Symantec, the publishers of Norton Utilities, which gives your PC a basic check-up, and operates from a single button click. Although the software is designed to be simplicity itself to operate, the underlying tests are quite thorough. Firstly, the software incorporates a virus checker that can receive live updates via the Internet -- a very good way of ensuring that it stays up to date in the battle against bugs (and bear in mind that Symantec also produce Norton Antivirus, so they know what they are doing in this area). The hard drive is scanned for errors and then defragmented. Although Windows 95 has utilities to do this, the Symantec ones tend to be more thorough and a lot faster to use. HealthyPC will also check for and report any more serious problems that it finds, even if it cannot repair them itself, enabling you to seek further help before things get out of hand. If you don't want to spend hours 'under the bonnet', this one-click approach is ideal. It may not be macho, but you'll end up with more time creating music!
NORTON UTILITIES 95 v2.0
This must be the most comprehensive and well-known utility package available for the PC. It was first introduced in 1982, and has been systematically improved and re-written many times over the years as new operating systems appeared. Version 2 of the Windows 95 package has only just been released, so it even has provision to check for MMX processors, and the latest FAT32 disk filing system (only available in OEM versions of Windows 95 to date). The main component is System Doctor, which is designed to run all the time in the background, checking for viruses, and periodically monitoring your processor overhead, disk drive space and fragmentation, memory use and so on. Each monitored function has its own indicator and alarm setting, so that if anything untoward happens it will let you know, launching the appropriate utility to try to put things right. Symantec call this approach 'self-tuning' your PC. The package includes a range of other components, including new Registry tools, multimedia benchmarks, a virus finder which can automatically dial the appropriate web site and download updates, and File Compare, which lets you load two files and see their differences, which is very useful if you have two versions on disk, and no idea why. The more familiar parts are still there -- Disk Doctor allows extensive troubleshooting, and has helped many a drive return from the dead, although beginners may find it rather intimidating at first. Speed Disk is a far faster and more thorough defragmentation program than the one supplied with Windows 95, even allowing you to specify files that must not be moved (like the dreaded protection file for the Sound Forge QTools plug-in). Space Wizard operates rather like part of CleanSweep, searching for temporary, little-used or duplicate files that can safely be removed to give you more disk space. System Information supplies just that -- it's similar in many ways to WinProbe 95, and also includes various benchmark tests.
The Companion button takes you to a full multimedia tutorial, explaining all aspects of PC hardware and software, both as text files and as audio/video clips that run from the CD-ROM. System Genie is another multimedia tutorial which guides you through many tweaks that can be made to the Windows interface. Diagnostics is an MS-DOS program that runs rings around Microsoft's MSD, finding system settings, IRQs and so on. Norton Unerase is a more rigorous alternative to the standard Windows 95 Recycle bin, allowing you to recover files that have been accidentally deleted. Crashguard operates like CrashShield in WinProbe 95, monitoring your system and intercepting system crashes. There are even two Emergency floppy disks supplied, which enable you (in conjunction with the manual) to get up and running even if you can't get your machine as far as installing Norton Utilities.
"With the appropriate purchases, you could have a PC that is fault-free, bigger, cleaner, and quieter. Nirvana indeed!"
This suite of programs is probably the most comprehensive that you can buy for Windows 95 but, like most things in life, it comes at a price. In this case, it is not so much the retail price of the package which, at around £80, is good value when you consider the amount on offer, but more the system overhead required to run the software. Whilst Speed Disk, Space Wizard, System Information, Norton Companion and so on work beautifully, System Doctor, whilst only having a tiny processor overhead, occupies 7Mb of your memory whilst running, and is designed to run in the background all the time. This is fine if you have plenty of memory, but could compromise your system performance if you only have 16Mb on board. Also, the full install runs to 31Mb of space, and some components, such as System Genie, require Microsoft Explorer to be installed, adding unnecessarily to your hard drive if (like me) you use Netscape's Navigator for your web surfing instead. I found that about 50Mb of my drive disappeared after installing everything! Finally, like any deluxe system designed to cope with virtually any scenario, it is possible to alter files that can prevent your system booting up at all. Norton Utilities makes extensive backups, and is friendly and easy to use, but just because you have a scalpel, you are still not a qualified surgeon. Don't underestimate the power of this package.
FIRST AID 95 DELUXE
Manufacturers CyberMedia have taken a different approach with this utility. It is designed for 'non-experts', and can fix software problems automatically. For people who would rather get on with making music, this makes a lot of sense -- certainly, I have spent an awful lot of time delving into the innards of my PC while preparing these reviews, so I was interested to see First Aid 95 Deluxe in action. Most Windows problems are caused by software -- missing or corrupted files being most common. Fix Applications looks for these using an extensive database which contains information about specific products. Although this is ideal for troubleshooting mainstream programs, they rarely contain details of specialist music software, so checking for these is limited to looking for the main components of the application. In its favour, the database has free updates that can be obtained from the Internet, and there is even an Update button to take you to the appropriate site automatically. Fix Multimedia is the main reason that I wanted to look at this utility, since it is the only one here that specifically offers to fix soundcard, CD-ROM and game problems. It does this by asking you to specify your soundcard from the Windows 95 device list, and then checks all the appropriate drivers before running some basic audio checks for WAV, MIDI, AVI and CD-Audio outputs. If you do not get any output for one of these, a selection of possible causes is displayed, each with a suggested solution. For WAV replay problems, these included adjusting various volume controls and connections -- all pretty basic, but useful when you are in a panic. What I wasn't expecting was that the same set of suggestions came up for MIDI problems. For the average multimedia user with everything on one soundcard, this may just be sufficient, but I was expecting something more comprehensive. Perhaps in the next update?
Clean Windows was very useful, and it found quite a few niggly little problems that I had missed -- things like shortcuts that pointed to long-since-deleted programs and missing files that should have been associated with a particular file extension. Crash Proof PC is our old friend the fault interceptor, which works just as well as others included in Norton Utilities and WinProbe. Tune Up PC checks for the best settings in the performance section of the PC control panels' System section; when I ran this utility, the software noticed that my CD-ROM had not had its cache re-optimised after I had re-installed Windows 95 following a particularly nasty incident. Again, for the novice, this one-button approach can be far easier than delving in yourself.
Trim Applications offers to give you more disk space by removing features from applications that are no longer required. Since First Aid 95 Deluxe does not monitor installations (like CleanSweep) it tends to be conservative, removing only the main EXE file and associated DLL files, unless the application is in its database, in which case more thorough treatment can be selected. The files can be saved in compressed format before they are deleted, allowing later restoration. The Support Exchange is an excellent idea, giving access to a database with contact details for hundreds of companies, even allowing you to click on the website address to launch your browser, in search of driver updates and more fault-finding tips. Not only are business software houses represented, but also games publishers, as well as many more familiar names from the world of music technology, such as Akai and Et Cetera -- but there's still no mention of either Emagic or Steinberg! RetroFix monitors changes to System and Registry files, and lets you view any subsequent changes in a very clear way, which makes it easy to restore them if something untoward happens.
BENCHMARKS OUT OF TEN
Each of these utilities has its own strengths and weaknesses, and each will suit a different sort of user. Of the diagnostic packages, although all are easy to use for both beginners and experts, First Aid 95 Deluxe is the only one that is designed to fix problems automatically, and for this reason, it should appeal to anyone who wants problems solved without necessarily knowing how. It is the only one of the three specifically aimed at software conflicts and, since these cause so many problems, this aspect scores highly. First Aid 95 Deluxe is also the only one to offer any advice at all for soundcard problems. HealthyPC provides basic checks on hardware and viruses, and is ideal for those who just want to drive rather than being under the bonnet all the time. WinProbe 95 provides detailed tests and lots of background information useful to anyone installing hardware. The options for stress-testing, optimising the Registry, and intercepting general protection faults are valuable too. If you already know your way around the PC, this package gives you much more information, and so is ideal for those of a technical bent. Finally, Norton Utilities 95 is probably the most comprehensive set of hardware diagnostics and optimisers you can buy. As long as you approach it carefully, it can provide recovery from most hardware problems, but does occupy a lot of disk space if you install everything, and you may end up losing plenty of time in the Twilight Zone whilst exploring it. Comparing the four, you could say that HealthyPC provides a quick weekly check-up, First Aid is your own on-board software technician, WinProbe is more of a stethoscope and hardware manual, and Norton Utilities is a fully equipped electronics lab.
CleanSweep makes installing new software far less harrowing, and is wonderful for reclaiming lots of wasted disk space. Many Uninstall routines supplied with applications neglect to remove their Registry entries, leaving the Registry unnecessarily cluttered and bloated. I would not like to be without this program now -- what more can I say? As for Partition Magic, this is a must for hard disk recordists. Not only does it provide a 'clean' area for audio files, but also gives you more effective space on your hard disk. Then there are the Papst fans. Although the cheapest item here, they can significantly improve the noise level in studio environments. With the appropriate purchases, you could have a PC that is fault-free, bigger, cleaner, and quieter (see the 'Your Number One Fan?' box elsewhere in this article). Nirvana indeed!
YOUR NUMBER ONE FAN? — PAPST VARIOFANS
Although these ventilating aids fall into the hardware camp, they can be so useful to musicians that they qualify for inclusion in this article. Although for general office use the noise from the average PC is bearable, in the analytical atmosphere of the recording studio it can vary from annoying to exasperating (see the feature on reducing computer noise in SOS January '97). On most machines, the main source of noise is the PSU cooling fan. These are designed to pull air into the PC case through small holes or vents (normally in the front). This airflow passes over the circuitry, removing heat which then emerges as warmer air through the output side of the fan on the back panel. There are two main problem areas: firstly, all but the more expensive machines permanently blast out enough air to cool the machine in the worst conditions (in the Sahara in the middle of a hot spell in mid-summer). The majority of the time, far less airflow is needed to keep the circuitry running at reasonable temperatures. Secondly, no-one can blame manufacturers for trying to keep prices down by using the cheapest fan they can source. Cheap fans tend to have bearings that make far more noise in the first place -- and may even get noisier with age.
For musicians with this problem, there is a solution in the form of the Papst VarioFan. These are extremely well-built, with high-quality bearings for low noise, but more importantly, they are designed to be controlled by a temperature sensor, so that the fan speed varies, only providing enough airflow to maintain a steady PC temperature. As the PC heats up, or the ambient temperature rises, the sensor turns up the airflow to compensate. The result is that most of the time the fan noise is barely above a whisper, and even in the middle of summer the noise is well below that made by cheaper fans. These units come in various sizes, the most common being 80mm. Some models have built-in sensors, so fitting them means simply replacing the fan itself (using four screws) and soldering in the two fan wires to replace those of the previous one. If the sensor is supplied separately, then the fan has three wires, and the third connects to the external sensor (the other end of which goes back to the negative wire of the new fan). As usual, I must point out that there are potentially lethal voltages inside computer power supply units, but if you are not sure about replacing the fan yourself, I am sure that many computer specialists would be happy to do it for you for a small charge -- it should take less than half an hour. Papst also have smaller fixed-speed fans for replacing most 'processor-top' units with quieter versions, but it is sometimes possible to buy larger heatsinks and do away with the mini-fan altogether (although these may get in the way of your expansion cards, so take advice and check first). My machine has gone from sounding like a vacuum cleaner permanently running in the next room to a gentle purr -- highly recommended!
Published in SOS April 1997
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