What's so magical about 128 buffer size? (Experts please read)

[Bag]

Folks, I was looking for the latest XP tweaks and in Audioforums "Optimisation" list it puts a buffer size of 128 as the number 1 recommendation. I'm well familiar with buffer sizes and the trade-off between performance and latency, but the article seems to suggest there's something more about that 128 figure.
Is there? Can anyone explain?
I'm currently fighting some glitching between my 2.8 Intel, 1 Gb RAM Acer laptop and an M-Audio FW410.

Cheers.

[Erik Nygaard]

I'm no expert, but I've seen that the optimum buffer size(s) depends on the soundcard, other DSP cards like UAD-1/Powercore, possibly also type of driver ASIO/WDM and what kind of audio process you're performing.
I don't believe that there is one buffer size that's universal best.
Usually you want a small buffer when you're recording to minimize latency. This is irrelevant for playback only.

[Bag]

Thanks Erik, looks like you're in roughly the same "league" as me. I'm good with all the above, too, and wasn't aware that 128 had any more special significance.
Maybe it doesn't.

Cheers.

[Matias]

I would like to see that article. thanks.

[bombastique]

128 is the buffer size that most people find is where they do not notice latency. How low you can get it depends on many factors - the primary being the speed of your computer and the number of plug-ins and tracks you're trying to play back or record.

[Bops2000]

Kinda like 0 on the vu
where some folks like runnin in da red, others not

[Bag]

Matias, it's under the Resource Centre of this site, called XP Optimisation Guide (see above)

Cheers, Bag.

[samigascon]

at 24/96 I can play my guitar with zero latency at from 256 o 384 using 24 bits samples and Aardvark Q10, with Cubase SX2 and GuitarRig....

why use less??? dont really now :)

[BubbaFreaktree2]

there is nothing magical about 128. it just a popular number where many people find their system doesn't stutter, and the latency still is ok.

i think you can do 256 or more without a performance problem.

sound travels at approx 1100 feet/second at one atmosphere.

so if you stand 11 feet from your guitar amp, you are already at 10ms delay.

a problem is if you are hearing your live sound and the sound being recorded/played back to you at the same time. this will cause a flanging type of sound that is annoying.

i personally find a little delay to be fun, as long as it is consitent.