DigiDesign Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Manual page 33

Cache Size
The Cache Size determines the amount of memory DAE
allocates to pre-buffer audio for playback and looping
when using Elastic Audio.
The optimum Cache Size for most sessions is Normal.
A Cache Size setting of Minimum reduces the amount
of system memory used for disk operations and frees up
memory for other system tasks. However, performance
when using Elastic Audio features may decrease.
A Cache Size of Large improves performance when
using Elastic Audio features, but it also decreases the
amount of memory available for other system tasks,
such as RTAS processing.
Using a larger Cache Size leaves less system
memory for other tasks. The default setting of
Normal is recommended unless you are encoun-
tering -9500 ("Cache too small") errors.
To change the Cache Size:
Choose Setup > Playback Engine.
1
From the Cache Size pop-up menu, select a disk cache
2
size.
Click OK.
3
System Memory Allocation
When you start your computer, Pro Tools automatically
reserves a portion of system memory for the DAE Play-
back Buffer. This reserved memory is unavailable to
other applications, even if Pro Tools is not running.
You can set Pro Tools to reserve only the minimum
amount of required memory, so that more system mem-
ory is available to other applications.
To minimize system memory allocation:
Choose Setup > Playback Engine.
1
Select the "Minimize System Memory Allocation" option.
2
Click OK.
3
Restart your computer.
4
Plug-in Streaming Buffer Size
(Structure Plug-in Only)
This setting appears in the Playback Engine dialog only
if the Structure sampler instrument plug-in is installed
on your system. The Plug-in Streaming Buffer Size deter-
mines the amount of memory DAE allocates for stream-
ing playback from disk with the Structure plug-in. This
setting only affects playback if disk streaming is acti-
vated in Structure's plug-in controls (see the Structure
Plug-in Guide for more information).
The optimum Plug-in Streaming Buffer Size for most
sessions is 250 ms (Level 2).
Plug-in Streaming Buffer Size settings lower than
250 msec (Level 2) reduce the amount of system mem-
ory used for sample playback and frees up memory for
other system tasks. However, audio quality of sample
playback may decrease.
Plug-in Streaming Buffer Size settings higher than
250 msec (Level 2) improve the audio quality of sample
playback, but they also decrease the amount of memory
available for other system tasks, such as RTAS process-
ing.
Using a larger Plug-in Streaming Buffer Size
leaves less system memory for other tasks. The
default setting of 250 ms (Level 2) is recom-
mended unless you are experiencing problems
with the audio quality of sample playback.
Chapter 5: Configuring Your Pro Tools System 25