M-Audio DELTA 1010 manual Delta 1010 User Guide

Delta 1010 User Guide 21

•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.