05 | Installing and using a RAMDisk (IMDisk)

[PeterSt]

This little Tutorial will tell you how to install and use a RAMDisk.

RAMDisk : An emulated disk (hdd) in memory.

It is generally accepted that the RAMDisk may provide better SQ, but in the mean time it van be used to improve on performance;
This latter can be (but not necessarily is) necessary to dial in the more "on the limits" settings of XXHighEnd. For example, when the disk subsystem it on the slow side, using that actual same disk now emulated in RAM can just give that tad of extra performance to let work what you intended.
In the end, of course, *all* is about the better SQ (meaning that your dialling into the limits also is).


The IMDisk.rar download you see at the bottom contains two files :
IMDiskinst.exe and RAMA.bat.
(unzip the .rar file to a place of your liking but better not use an XXHighEnd related folder for it (because they can change with versions).

IMDiskinst.exe

Just run this in normal OS Mode once. It will install the RAMDisk driver in a second, and a message will tell you that it is good to go.

RAMA.bat

This is a "batch" file (a scripting file) that - when run - will create the RAMDisks and copy the necessary contents of your original XXHighEnd folder and data to them.

The RAMA.bat file itself needs to be changed by you;
Rightclick on it (from Explorer) and choose "Edit";
The contents is self explanatory.
After your changes (which happens in Notepad), from the top menu choose File - Save.

What to do next is also listed in RAMA.bat itself.

Further general explanation

Two RAMDisks are proposed (see RAMA.bat) :
- One for your XXHighEnd folder;
- One to be used as Playback Drive (see Setting in XXHighEnd Settings);

It is not necessary to use both and either implies its own SQ merits (for the better or the worse, for you to decide) and either also implies improvements in "disk" performance concerned (see introduction).

The XX folder is proposed to be on RAMDisk drive a: while the Playback Drive is proposed to be on RAMDisk drive b:.

If you don't want to use the RAMDisk for your XX folder, look for all the lines in there containing "a:" and place a "REM " (no quotes) in front of the line.
No changes are needed anywhere else.

If you don't want to use the RAMDisk for the Playback Drive, find the lines containing "b:" and place a "REM " (no quotes) in front of the line.
Now though, one additional change is needed : The Playback Drive in XXHighEnd Settings which denotes b:\ (and which you put there yourself when you started using the RAMDisk for Playback Drive earlier on). So that field now has to be emptied, or filled with the Playback Drive/Folder you want to use from now on.

Space required

To some extend this too is self explanatory in the RAMA.bat file, but here's some additional remarks :

For RedBook CD playback either RAMDisk can be 2GB and this is sufficient for playing one album at a time (from the Playlist Area) - maybe two. This is not sufficient when Hires Albums are in order, and the higher the resolution the more space is needed (for each of the both RAMDisks the same).
Simply think like this :
16 bits and 44.1 is the base (so 2GB of RAMDisk is OK for that);
(A) When 24 bit is in order, add half of the space (16 bit plus half of 16 = 24);
When 88.2 is in order, double the space outcome of the above (A).
When 176.4 is in order, quadrupule the space outcome of (A).
Et cetera.
Notice : 44.1 base (88.2 etc.) or 48 base (96 etc.) really doesn't matter too much to be bothered about.

Example :
We want to play 24/192 regularly;
2GB plus half of it (A) = 3GB. 192 is ~ 4x 44.1, so 4x 3GB = 12GB needed.

BUT

This is needed for both the RAMDisks (assumed you use both) and now the RAMDisks will consume 24GB which most probably is not free in your PC.
But also : The 2GB is quite on the safe side (it should not run full) and so is our calculation of 12GB even more on the safe side. So you can try and squeeze all into 10GB, which still needs 20GB in total which still may not be available (at all).

Moral don't play full albums of 24/192 in one go, because it won't fit (but you know what to look at now).

If you want to find out, load such an album in the Playlist Area, and press Play while Unattended is in order (button under the Play button). Now bring back XXHighEnd (alt-x), press Stop, start Explorer and click on (My)Computer at the top of the list of your disks. In the right panel you will see your Drives a: and b: otherwise not visible) and rightclick on them and choosing Properties will show you the usage of the RAMDisk(s).

Additional XXHighEnd setting to use

In the Memory and Disk Utilization section there's an "Always clear Proxy before Playback" button (see picture under this text). Make that active (red).
What this does is not piling up used music files from a previous "Play" attempt with the penalty of things being somewhat slower at Playback Start when a track of the Playlist Area already has been played (Unattendedly) and Playback was interrupted (like Paused); now it will reload all again, while actually it was still there (in the Playback Drive RAMDisk).

Never to forget

When a new XXHighEnd version comes about, you will need to change the RAMA.bat file for it. How is again self explanatory in the RAMA.bat file itself.