I had the same noise problem with my E-Mu 0404usb about a year ago when I first installed it on my previous PC. Below is what I posted then over at the KVR forums that might help (I'm also now using it on my new pc with Vista64 without problems).
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I recently sent an email to E-Mu tech support asking for some procedures that might help clear up an audio stuttering problem on my aging pc. (I have the E-Mu 0404usb audio/midi interface, but it turns out the problem was not actually caused by it.) Any time I would be listening to music - regardless of the app, if I did something else such as typing or opening another program or even using the mouse wheel it would often cause my music to start stuttering. Very irritating as you can imagine.
Anyway, after sending off the email to E-Mu I started actually thinking about when I had first started becoming aware of the problem, and realized it was about the time I added another stick of RAM. So, to make a long story short, I actually cured the music stuttering problem by increasing the voltage to my RAM from 2.7 volt up to 2.8 volt through the BIOS.
But I digress... the reason behind this post is to share the excellent Windows XP tips sent to me from Phil at E-Mu tech support. I have often looked for ways to improve my system's performance, but even so, many of these tips are new to me. Hats off to E-Mu for sending me these, and also the 0404usb unit which I am very happy with - the sound quality is amazing both through speakers and the headphones. Any waze, on to the tips. Please note that when I sent the email to them I explained that I was an experienced computer tech, and so some of these tips may not be suitable for some of you if you aren't comfortable getting into the BIOS setup for example. Also note that some of the tips lower down are only for if all else fails to cure a problem. I have gone through and implemented all of the first 23 steps that weren't already in place on my system as well as the BIOS settings further down and I think I now detect a renewed youthful spirit in its old circuits.
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WinXP DAW performance and trouble shooting tips from E-MU
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Please try the following steps:
1. Processor scheduling should be set to background services and not Programs.
Start > Settings > Control Panel > System > Advanced > Performance Settings > Advanced Tab > Background Services
2. Visual effects should be set to a minimum.
Start > Settings > Control Panel > System > Advanced > Performance Settings > Visual Effects Tab > Adjust for best performance
3. Switch Off Desktop Background Image
Right Click Desktop > Properties > Desktop Tab > Background None
4. Disable Screen Saver
Right Click Desktop > Properties > Screen Saver > None
5. Disable Fast User Switching
Start > Settings > Control Panel > User Accounts > Change the way users log on or off > Untick Use Fast User Switching
6. Switch Off Power Schemes
Start > Settings > Control Panel > Power Options > Always On > Turn off monitor and turn off hard discs to Never
7. Switch Off Hibernation
Start > Settings > Control Panel > Power Options > Hibernate > Untick Hibernation
8. Disable System Sounds
Start > Settings > Control Panel > Sounds and Audio Devices > Sounds Tab > Sound Scheme to None.
9. Do Not Map Through Soundcard
Start > Settings > Control Panel > Sounds and Audio Devices > Hardware Tab > (highlight your soundcard from the list) > Properties > Audio Devices > (highlight your soundcard from the list) > Properties, and check the "Do not map through this device" checkbox.
10. Disable System Restore
Start > Settings > Control Panel> System > System Restore Tab. Tick the "Turn off System Restore on all Drives"
11. Disable Automatic Updates
Switch off Automatic Updates by going to Control Panel, System, Automatic Updates and ticking the box labelled "Turn off automatic updating. I want to update my computer manually.".
12. Startup and Recovery Options
Right click My Computer and click on Properties > Advanced > Start Up & Recovery Settings and uncheck "Automatically Restart".
13. Disable Error Reporting
Start > Settings > Control Panel > System > Advanced TAB > Error Reporting > Click the Disable Error Reporting box (Tick the "But Notify Me When Critical Errors Occur" if you prefer)
14. Disable Remote Assistance
Start > Settings > Control Panel > System > Remote > Untick "Allow Remote Assistance Invitations to be sent from this computer"
15. Fixed Swap File (Virtual Memory)
Select the Advanced tab of the Systems applet and then select the Performance settings button. Then select the Advanced page. In here it is possible to customize the Virtual Memory. For custom size, this is often recommended to be 1.5 to 2 times the amount of your total RAM for both initial and maximum size. Set this to a fixed minimum and maximum value according to your existing RAM
16. Speed Up Menus
You can use this tip to speed up the Start Menu in Windows XP. You can customize the speed of the Start Menu by editing a Registry Key. Click Start, and then click Run. Type Regedit in the box, and then click OK. Expand the menu in the left panel and select the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop folder. Scroll down in the right panel and double click on the MenuShowDelay file. In the Value Data box, change to default value for the menu speed from 400 to a lesser number, such as 1. Click OK.
17. Disable Offline Files
Start > Settings > Control Panel > Folder Options > Offline Files > Untick "Enable Offline Files"
18. Disable Remote Desktop
Start > Settings > Control Panel > System > Remote > Untick "Allow users to connect remotely to this computer"
19. Disable Internet Synchronize Time
Start > Settings > Control Panel > Date and Time > Internet Time > Untick "Automatically synchronize with an internet time server"
20. Disable Hide Inactive Icons
Start > Settings > Taskbar and Start Menu > Taskbar TAB > Uncheck "Hide Inactive Icons"
21. Disable Automatic Desktop Cleanup Wizard
Start > Settings > Control Panel > Display > Desktop > Customize Desktop > Untick "Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard every 60 days"
22. Disable NTFS Last Access Time Logging (NTFS Only)
Start > Run > regedit > HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CURRENTCONTROLSET > CONTROL > FILESYSTEM Add a new DWORD value - "NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate" (without quotes) and set the value to 1. Then reboot to make changes effective
23. Disable Notification Area Balloon Tips
Click Start , click Run , type regedit , and then press ENTER. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced Right-click the right pane, create a new DWORD value, and then name it EnableBalloonTips . Double-click this new entry, and then give it a hexadecimal value of 0 . Quit Registry Editor. Log off Windows, and then log back on.
24. Disable CDROM Autoplay
One of the very important (and well documented) tweaks in Windows 98SE, was to disable CDROM autoplay (auto insert notification). Disabling CDROM autoplay no longer offers a significant performance benefit in Windows XP, and therefore you do not need to disable it. Just don't insert a CD during a crucial recording.
However, if you really want to disable it then here a few different methods.
Method 1
Start > Run > Regedit
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\Cdrom
Set autorun to 0.
Method 2
Open My Computer Right Click on each CDROM and choose Properties Click on the Auto Play tab In the drop down box you can choose the Action for each choice shown in the drop down box
Method 3
Go to Start->Run->gpedit.msc Computer Config -> Administrative Template -> System Double click Turn off Autoplay Enable it.
25. Disable Disc Indexing
Indexing Service is a service that extracts the information from a set of documents and organizes it in a way that makes it quick and easy to access that information through the Windows XP Search function, the Indexing Service query form, or a Web browser.
This information can include text from within a document, (its contents), and the characteristics and parameters of the document, (its properties), such as the author's name. Once the index is created, you can search, or query the index for documents that contain key words, phrases, or properties.
If these did not work, please try the following:
1. Ensure your EMU card is installed in a PCI slot as far away as possible from components such as graphics card, CPU and hard drives.
Ensure that the PCI slot doesn't share resources with other devices in your PC (mainly graphics card, drive interfaces, etc...)
Remove all unnecessary hardware. Every device installed in your system uses some of the available resources, even if you do not actively use it.
Tidy up all cables inside your computer as electrical interference may be caused otherwise.
Ensure that audio drivers are up to date.
Download and install the latest chipset drivers and BIOS update. The major chipset manufactures are: VIA/ETEQ, AMD/Nvidia, Intel, SIS. Ali Note: If you have a motherboard with a hybrid chipset consisting of AMD Northbridge and VIA Southbridge, ensure you Download the latest driver package from your motherboard manufacturer.
2. Toggle the DMA access for your drives:
Windows 2000/XP:
Click on Start - (Settings) - Control Panel - System - Hardware - Device Manager.
Click on View and select Devices by connection. This allows you check which IDE controller the Hard drive(s) is (are) connected to
In addition, be sure to verify that the Hard Disk Controller properties in Device Manager match that in system BIOS, especially if your motherboard and its chipsets are dated prior to the release of Windows XP.
3. Reduce the Hardware Acceleration of the graphics card:
Windows XP/2000:
Right-click on your desktop
Choose Properties - Settings - Advanced - Troubleshoot.
Move the slider for Hardware Acceleration down 1 notch.
Restart the system; if necessary, repeat procedure.
4. Changing/disabling ACPI configurations in Windows 2000/Xp
Disable ACPI in your BIOS Note: We recommend you check with the motherboard manufacturer for more information about performing these steps
Windows XP:
Disable ACPI automatically
With ACPI disabled in the BIOS, reinstall Windows over the original installation
Disable ACPI manually
Copy the install CD to your hard drive
Edit the Txtsetup.sif file to change the ACPIEnable value to 0.
Save the file, and then rerun the installation
5. BIOS settings
The following suggestions require you to access the system BIOS SETUP. Please contact your system vendor, or motherboard manufacturer for assistance in accessing the BIOS SETUP page. There are several tools available to determine the motherboard manufacturer. Some of these tools are located at
The Latest News, Reviews, Guides and Rankings for Motherboards and PC Hardware. Motherboards.org. There is an option labeled MOBO TOOLS that will provide you with several options.
On a BIOS level, ensure all unused on-board devices are deactivated. This usually includes, but might not be restricted to devices like:
Serial Ports
Parallel Port
Onboard Sound
Onboard Game port
Onboard Graphics
Note: Do not deactivate devices you require for the system to function properly (e.g. do not turn off your onboard graphics if this is the only display adapter you have in your system).
The following is a checklist of settings that may need to be modified, and explanations to some of them. Your system's BIOS may have all, some, or none of the following options. These options may be spread throughout different portions of the BIOS.
Enable or Answer YES to the following settings
PCI Streaming
PCI 2.1 Compliance
PCI (Dynamic) Bursting
Bus Mastering for PCI Slot
Disable or answer NO to the following settings
Virus Warning or Boot Virus Detection
VGA Palette Snoop (must be left disabled)
Video BIOS Shadowing
Video BIOS Cacheable
System BIOS Cacheable
Video RAM BIOS Cacheable
Primary or System Frame Buffer
VGA Frame Buffer
Power Management
Write cache pipelining
PnP Aware OS or PnP OS Installed (Toggle)
Peer Concurrency
System Performance:
Collective setting that sets a number of values to influence the systems performance (possible settings: "Turbo", "Fast", "Optimal", "Normal", etc. The naming depends on the BIOS version/motherboard manufacturer. If unclear, contact motherboard manufacturer for more information).
VGA Shared Memory Size:
Applicable if the motherboards onboard graphics adapter is active. Instead of having dedicated graphics RAM, some onboard VGA solutions require you to reserve a certain amount of the systems main memory.
Increasing the memory set aside for the onboard graphics adapter can help reducing traffic on the system.
Note: Ensure not to reserve too much of your systems RAM, as this might result in a system-wide slowdown.
AGP Aperture Size (MB):
It defines how much of your system's memory is to be used as a data buffer for your AGP graphics card. The default setting should be half the system's RAM, however, certain cards work better with specific settings (e.g.: 128 MB despite having 512 MB in the system).
Peer Concurrency:
This setting defines if multiple PCI devices can access the PCI BUS simultaneously. Set this to "Disable" if you are unsure whether all PCI devices in your system support this option. Note: disabling Peer Concurrency may prevent IRQ being assigned to certain devices, and it can cause difficulties within Windows 2000 and XP if one of the several ACPI Hardware Abstraction Layers (HAL) is installed. This can cause Windows 2000 and XP to redetect the hardware.
PCI 2.1 Support:
All EMU PCI sound cards adhere to PCI 2.1 specifications. This setting must be enabled for your Sound Blaster card to function properly. Note: Some BIOS's might have various options for this setting (e.g.: 2.0, 2.1, 2.2).
Spread Spectrum Control:
This setting reduces Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) by slightly modulating the master clock of your motherboard. Audio glitches might occur on some systems if this setting is enabled.
PCI Latency Timer:
The PCI Latency Timer is a mechanism that helps PCI bus-mastering capable devices to share the PCI bus. Each PCI device able to operate in bus-master mode is required to implement a timer, called the Latency Timer, that limits the time the device can hold the PCI bus. The timer starts when the device gains bus ownership, and counts down at the rate of the PCI clock. When the counter reaches zero, the device is required to release the bus. If no other devices are waiting for bus ownership, it may simply grab the bus again and transfer more data.
If the latency timer is set too low, PCI devices will interrupt their transfers unnecessarily often, hurting performance. If it's set too high, devices that require frequent bus access may overflow their buffers, losing data.
Experiment with this value. A good starting point would be 32 (often the default found in many systems BIOS's). Once the PCI Latency Timer has been changed, the new settings have to be saved and the PC needs to boot back into the Operating System. If this doesn't lead to the desired result, repeat the procedure.
Memory Hole:
This setting needs to be disabled unless you have a device that requires a 1 MB area assigned to it.
AGP Fast Writes:
Allows the graphics chip to communicate with the chipset / CPU directly. Enable this setting if your graphics card as well as your motherboard support this.
Update the system's BIOS:
It is advisable to update the BIOS of your system, if none of the above steps solve the problem.
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