Optimization for PC Audio: Eliminating Pops and Clicks

When it comes to great audio, system issues such as driver installation, setup, configuration, and motherboard compatibility can greatly influence the quality of your sound. When your PC system isn’t optimized, you may hear pops, clicks, and other unwanted noises during playback. Here are some basic tweaks to ensure that your PC system is optimized for the best possible performance.

1. Minimize your graphics acceleration. Lower the bit rate and the sample rate. If the pops and clicks disappear, then you have discovered that it is clearly a resource issue. Lower the Graphics Hardware Acceleration to None (Control Panel | Display | Settings | Advanced | Performance | Set Hardware Acceleration and choose "None"). You can also disable the drivers of the graphics card in the device manager when you record with audio software. Alternately, configure a new partition and startup for work with audio or video.
2. Do not use the highest resolution on your computer screen. Enter the Control Panel, select “Display,” then “Settings.” In the “Screen Area” box, adjust the slider toward “Less.” In the “Color” box, set your display to as low as 256 colors.
3. Disable your Windows Sound Scheme. Enter the Control Panel and select “Sounds and Multimedia,” then choose "No Sounds" under “Sound Scheme.”
4. Enable DMA (Windows 98). Right-click “My Computer” on the Desktop. Select Properties | Hardware | Device Manager. Enter the “Disk Drives” menu and select “GENERIC IDE DISK TYPE 47.” In the following “Settings” menu, check the box next to “DMA” to enable it.
5. Try setting "Doublebuffer" in the msdos.sys file (Windows 98se) to 0 instead of 1.
6. Disable start-up groups (Windows 98). In the “Start” menu, select “Run” and type “misconfig,” then choose “Disable Start Up Group Item.”
7. If at all possible, try not to partition your internal hard drive. It is best to have an external hard drive for audio and use your C: drive for software applications only. Firewire external hard drives can provide an excellent solution. SCSI is reliable and fast, but loud. A secondary IDE is also an option. Your external hard drive must be at least 7200 rpm.
8. Disable “Auto Insert Notification” on your CD-ROM drive. Right-click on “My Computer," enter “Properties,” and select “Device Manager.” Right-click on “CD-ROM drive” and select “Properties,” then “Settings.” Disable "Auto Insert Notification."
9. Disable all unused ports. In the Device Manager, disable any unused COM ports or printer ports by right-clicking on the device. Enter “Properties,” select “General Tab” and choose “Disable.”
10. Use all authentic software programs. Genuine software will always have fewer bugs than pirated software.
11. Do not use environment backgrounds or screensavers. Enter the Control Panel, choose “Display,” then “Screensavers,” then “None.”
12. Switch to Background Services (XP/2000). Enter My Computer | Properties | Advanced | Performance Options. Elect to "Optimize Performance" for either "Applications" or "Background Services." If you choose "Background Services," you will be able to operate the menus in your software applications without audio problems.

These are just a few basic tweaks to get you headed down the path toward excellent audio. We will be continuing this series throughout the coming months, so stay tuned for more ways to optimize your PC.