I calculate that I have currently about 1000 CDs to render to hard drive. That works out at 500GB of storage, which also needs to be backed up. This equals about 1TB of storage.

Allowing for future music additions (and some deletions) the need could well grow to 1.5TB. That is pretty serious storage capacity.

While the Dell engineer was here this morning I took the oportunity to ask his recommendation. He was singing the virtues of Buffalo hard drives - reliable, quiet, well built, with easy operating software and automatic back up.

This model caught my eye:
http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/Reviews.asp?ProductID=3965

Any other suggestions out there?
 

Hi Bert

I've been running with the buffer set at 256 for a couple of weeks, so i dont think I'm pushing the limits.

Hi

Here is a new observation.

I was sitting listening to music with the Fireface Settings box open. When the first drop-out occurred an Error message appeared in the normal empty space above the AutoSync box. It read Error 1.

At the next drop-out it changed to Error 2 etc. There were typically 3-5 errors per track.

When the track ended this error message reset and disappeared till the next drop out in the next track.

The Error messages are explained in the manual under Firewire Audio (37.3 in my manual) but its far too technical for me to understand.
Is this just making a record of what I  am hearing or is it a clue as to the source of the drop outs.


PS
Here is their more technical info sheet:

http://www.rme-audio.com/english/techinfo/fwaudio_rme.htm

I have just read my way through it and here are the main conclusions they make.

1. Here is the prime candidate for drop-outs:
Loss of data due to overloads on and flawed performance of the PCI bus

2. Here is their advice if you have this problem:
When suffering from such effects, the best advice is to get a new computer.

I have written to Dell asking them why my new PC is not fit for the purpose

Right, Dell just phoned me.

Here is the plan we have agreed.

1. They will replace the entire motherboard (inc firewire stuff) on Thursday of this week.
2.  If this doesn't fix it, but the new Expresscard (that I will order) does fix it, then Dell will try for a full refund of the cost of the new Expresscard for me.
3. If neither works then the problem is to be elevated to the next level of support at Dell

I like a good plan

Thanks Peter

Think I've finally found what I want
http://www.siig.com/product.asp?pid=1038

Well thats another story. I haven't yet found an Expresscard / firewire in the UK that is guaranteed to work with Vista.

The only one I found (advertised as Vista compatible) so far didn't work and is going back. Two other manufacturers say they might work , but couldn't guarantee it so its at my risk!

One question I haven't been able to get an answer to is, will a firewire 800 card (there seem to be more of them for Vista) operate OK on a firewire 400 system.

And yes, I am going a bit crazy 

Hi Marco
Yes thanks, I did find a list of 57 updates for my computer a couple of weeks ago and downloaded every one . Nothing helped

Hi Peter
Did as you suggested under Task Manager. The PC would only let me set Engine #3 as 'High', but as you predicted it made no difference - worth a try though

While I was there I got in the spirit of things and I set many other things such as Google destop and McAffee security as 'Low'. Nothing made a difference to the drop outs.

Waiting on a phone call from Dell now

Thanks for the hint Marco (I take it you mean scope), but I belong to the select few that remain unskilled in the art of electronics and computing.

If you can see it and touch it then I can fix it, but unfortunately electrons are small and invisible

Am I right in saying that you have to be on the Web to make this happen, and track listings cant just be lifted straight off a CD

Emm didnt really understand the logic, but followed instructions. 

I plugged the headphones in the PC and got no sound. To get it to play I had to enable the internal soundcard and select the internal speakers and headphones under audio settings - this of course disengaged the Fireface 400.

Now the head phones played without glitches.  But, I knew already that the internal soundcard played over internal speakers without glitches.

Have we learnt any more?

Cheers Chris

I've only ever plugged the headphones in the FF400.

My intuition tells me its not the FF400

1. Drop outs are not a generic problem you get with this bit of kit. This is distinct from the effect you get when the buffer is set too small.

2. The FF plays perfectly when using XP on a Toshiba laptop computer (through its firewire connection.)

3. None of the FF settings have any significant effect on the drop outs. Some days going to maximum buffer of 1024 seems to help a bit, other days not.

The drop out problem seems firmly linked to my Dell computer and its ability to deliver a good firewire connection in Vista. This is where I will now focus my efforts. Unless you think otherwise.

Cheers Chris
 

Right, got music up and playing

The FF is connected to an S&B transformer volume control then to my valve power amp.

The glitches are still there.

As the TacT (DAC) is no longer being used I think this confirms it has no part to play in the glitches.

The glitches can be heard in the headphones and analogue output of the FF 400, so does that now rule out the FF 400 itself as the source of problems?

Cheers Chris

PS The DAC in the Fireface 400 is really not very good

I'm ready to do the experiment with the analogue out of the Fireface, but a couple of questions to make sure I dont screw up.

1. Do I just plug in any pair of outputs in the FF, say 1 and 2, to get stereo?

2. Has the signal from here already gone through the DAC in the Fireface and is ready to go straight into the  normal inputs of a pre-amp (with volume control).

Thanks Chris

I think it would help us all if each contributor to this forum listed their PC playback system in their profile signature.

This would include:
PC type, operating system, soundcard, connections, DAC.

This should help Peter in his troubleshooting, help newcomers select a good system, and also help those with problems find a 'friend' with a similar system, so they can help each other.

What do you good people think?

Cheers Chris