Chapter 5: Configuring Your Pro Tools System 23
The optimum DAE Playback Buffer Size for most
disk operations is 1500 msec (Level 2).
• DAE Playback Buffer Size settings lower than
1500 msec (Level 2) may improve playback and
recording initiation speed. However, a lower set-
ting may make it difficult to play or record
tracks reliably with sessions containing a large
number of tracks or a high density of edits, or
with systems that have slower or heavily frag-
mented hard drives.
• DAE Playback Buffer Size settings higher than
1500 msec (Level 2) allow higher track count,
higher density of edits in a session, or the use of
slower hard drives. However, a higher setting
may increase the time lag when starting play-
back or recording, or cause a longer audible time
lag while editing during playback.
To change the DAE Playback Buffer Size:
1 Choose Setup > Playback Engine.
2 From the DAE Playback Buffer pop-up menu,
select a buffer size. Memory requirements for
each setting are shown at the bottom of the
Playback Engine dialog.
3 Click OK.
If Pro Tools needs more system memory for the
DAE Playback Buffer, it will prompt you to re-
start your computer.
Cache Size
The Cache Size determines the amount of mem-
ory DAE allocates to pre-buffer audio for play-
back 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 opera-
tions 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 de-
creases the amount of memory available for
other system tasks, such as RTAS processing.
To change the Cache Size:
1 Choose Setup > Playback Engine.
2 From the Cache Size pop-up menu, select a
disk cache size.
3 Click OK.
System Memory Allocation
When you start your computer, Pro Tools auto-
matically reserves a portion of system memory
for the DAE Playback Buffer. This reserved mem-
ory is unavailable to other applications, even if
Pro Tools is not running.
You can set Pro Tools to reserve only the mini-
mum amount of required memory, so that more
system memory is available to other applica-
tions.
Using a larger DAE Playback Buffer Size
leaves less system memory for other tasks.
The default setting of 1500 msec (Level 2) is
recommended unless you are encountering
-9073 (“Disk too slow or fragmented”)
errors.
Using a larger Cache Size leaves less system
memory for other tasks. The default setting
of Normal is recommended unless you are
encountering -9500 (“Cache too small”)
errors.
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