M-AUDIO 10 IN 10 OUT PCI DIGITAL RECORDING SYSTEM WITH S/PDIF DELTA 1010 - Manual (Page 21)

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21 Delta 1010 User Guide
• Multiple Card Sync: If you are using multiple Delta cards in one system,
this option allows you to synchronize all cards to the same master clock
through the computer’s PCI buss
NOTE: The “Multiple Card Sync” setting is only recommended if
you are using a Delta card that does not have S/PDIF or Word Clock
connections. For example, since Delta 44 does not have S/PDIF I/O, if
you would like to synchronize your Delta 1010 with a Delta 44 installed
in the same computer, you should use “Multiple Card Sync.” However,
if you have multiple Delta cards with S/PDIF or Word Clock connectors
(such as two Delta 1010s), we recommend synchronizing clocks through
the S/PDIF or Word Clock connections as this method provides more
robust synchronization. See Appendix A: Clocking of this guide to learn
more about clocking and synchronization. To learn more about multi-card
operation, see the Digital Synchronization and Multi-Device Setup Guide
found on www.m-audio.com.
< DMA BUFFER SIZES: This drop-down menu sets the size of the input and
output buffers on Delta 1010.
Buffers are used to help keep audio hardware and software running smoothly by
creating a small queue of audio samples in a temporary storage location known
as an audio buffer. This buffer keeps providing audio to record and playback
routines while your host computer’s processor may briefly be interrupted by
other running applications or processes. This prevents clicks, pops, or other
glitches by providing a steady audio stream. Due to variations between computer
hardware and software, it is impossible to recommend a single optimum setting
for all systems. Rather, you will need to experiment with various settings until you
find the best buffer size for your system.
The goal of setting a buffer size is to reduce it as much as possible without
hearing any clicks, pops, or other glitches. If you set the buffer size too small,
the computer will not be able to make all the required audio calculations on time
and you will hear pops, clicks, and stuttering in your audio streams. On the other
hand, if you set the buffer size too high, your computer will process audio without
incident, but your software will feel sluggish and unresponsive, a phenomenon
known as latency.