Extensions, Control Panels, and General Tweaks for a Mac OS 9 D.A.W.

[mrhappy]

I think I'm developing a 'virtual memory'... as I can't remember 'virtually' ANYTHING these days!! 

[Protools5LEGuy]

I think I'm developing a 'virtual memory'... as I can't remember 'virtually' ANYTHING these days!! 

Old school notepad never run off batteries.

haha, i just downloaded DH´s systemfolder and see that he actually has some 15 extensions in it.

in my extension folder in my main computer there are more than 300 extensions.

i think it is proven that you can have a wide variety of extensions set: you can remove almost everything, but you can also install hundreds of add-ons for two different sorts of working systems.

I guess the best is to have more than 200 extensions  but only load a dozen...  One OS9 gamer would need a different set of extensions than a DAW user than a Graphic designer than a Video Editor...

There is the minimalistic approach (15 extensions) and the OS9candoitall approach with more than 300 extensions. IIO, how many extensions sets do you use? It can have sense to have 300 extensions but a set that loads a minimal ammount, because loading all them is against performance using DAWs. Please, share some other scenarios where you load a different extension set if using MAX vs using Cubase.

For me there should be some extensions set keeping aside OS9 base and OS9 all:

-Best Performance DAW A

-Best Performance DAW B

-Gaming

-Offimatic apps

-Offline use

-Online work

But the truth is I just use one extensions set for them all 

We should have some perspective about:

-What is OS9 base extension set.

-What extensions are system specific.

-What extensions are needed for LAN support.

-What extensions are needed for Nvidia support.

-What extensions are needed for ATI support.

-What extensions are needed for Firewire support.

-What extensions are needed for USB Mass Storage.

-What extensions are needed for USB non Apple Keyboard/Mouse

IIO, the way MacTron and DH disect extensions on post 2 and 3 has really helped us. I cant see benefits on having an heavy extension folder. Please help us showing us some benefits of having all these 300 extensions.

At least the 5-10 more practical/most used/unknow to the masses ones. 

[IIO]

There is the minimalistic approach (15 extensions) and the OS9candoitall approach with more than 300 extensions. IIO, how many extensions sets do you use?

none.

i dont want to waste too much time on "optimisation". i´ve been doing that when computer had 100 mhz and i was new to OS7 – but i dont do it in 2015.

It can have sense to have 300 extensions but a set that loads a minimal ammount, because loading all them is against performance using DAWs.

i dont care much about these things and have filed the CPU comsumption problem under "conspiration theories". all i do is that i try to remove things which dont work or cause conflicts.

We should have some perspective about:

-What is OS9 base extension set.

-What extensions are system specific.

-What extensions are needed for LAN support.

-What extensions are needed for Nvidia support.

-What extensions are needed for ATI support.

-What extensions are needed for Firewire support.

-What extensions are needed for USB Mass Storage.

-What extensions are needed for USB non Apple Keyboard/Mouse

there are different races of nerds and i dont belong to your race. i dont want a "DAW extension set" without network support, and i  dont want to reboot in order to use firewire media. and i dont remove shared libraries in order to get more virtual überpower for realtime audio.

IIO, the way MacTron and DH disect extensions on post 2 and 3 has really helped us. I cant see benefits on having an heavy extension folder. Please help us showing us some benefits of having all these 300 extensions.

good point, yeah: it is for sure a useful thing to know what the minimal extension set should look like and a have a bootable drag install of that.

but it is impossible to work with a minimal install. because there are almost no audio programs which would not require any additional files going into the extensions folder.

imagine it is 1998 and you install cubase, sounddiver, unity, media cleaner and 3-4 other apps on your machine - then you already have 50 more items in /extensions. 100% libraries, btw., they are found in 0.3 seconds, they dont patch the system, and they dont eat cycles.

feel free to try to use cubase or protools with quicktime, usb support and navigation services disabled, if you have too much time.

At least the 5-10 more practical/most used/unknow to the masses ones. 

no idea what people know .. or want.

IMO the general strategy is:

 - have a full install
 - remove things you will definitly never need (like bluetooth support on a computer without bluetooth)
 - add patches one by one, and remember them in case of conflicts (they´re mostly controlpanels)
 - let programs instal what they want and never remove these things, unless you are sure you will need this program (say demo versions or programs incompatible with OS9)

everything else is masturbation philosophy.

[IIO]

now i did not answer your question.
the benefit of not making sets is that you dont have to make sets.

[IIO]

protools with navigation services disabled

oops, very bad example, i think it does not even use it (at least 4.0 didnt)

[IIO]

this is from my current main computer, labeled yellow == releated to audio programs.

there is about two time more which is already deinstalled because it is not in use.

(note to self: time to remove paris.)


Asio.DLL
Libdata.reg
RestorationLib 1.0
QuickTime™ MPEG Extension
QuickTimeHelper.DLL
ReWireMSP
ReWire-
Ren2Lib 2.0
N 4 ™ ®
ASIO Drivers
(ircam) DiphGui.DLL
Sonic Solutions
MP3 Exporter
ReWire
Tokio
Cleaner QT Export
WavesLib 3.5
MOTU 828mkII Enabler
MOTU
PARIS_StudioControlLibrary
SampleTank 2 Presets
REX Shared Library
Phrazer Library
Ogg Vorbis
Native Instruments
IODevice.DLL
Max/MSP Runtime Support
Delta 44 Driver.zip
QDesign Music 2 Pro
DirectConnectData
DirectConnect.DLL
Cleaner Support
PowerCore
Authorizer Library
Authorizer Classic Library
Modularing
East West
Dynamo 1.0.3 Shared Lib
SampleTank.vpa
TCPluginData
Tassman Library
MP3 Codec
ST2Image
ST2Effects
QuickTime FireWire DV Support
QuickTime FireWire DV Enabler
MidexMidiDriver
MidexFWLoaderDriver
TCPluginSupport
Midex8r2FWLoaderDriver
JMidiMRJ
OMSLibPPC.slb
Absynth Lib
BarbaBatch Extensions
AkaiDisk.DLL
(ircam) GenGui.DLL
D-Coder Library
CsoundLib
Mezzo System Monitor
DirectIO.DLL
Ableton Live Engine
MastersLib 3.5
TimeBandit.shlb
L2Lib 1.5
Open Music System
Opcode Folder
SoundManager.DLL
USB Emagic Dongle Driver
macdalib.lib
USB MPD16 Driver
(ircam) FiProtectShaLib.v7
WaveBarrier 1.1
WaveBarrier 1.0
InterLok® Engine
NI•MOTU/MAS.dll
WavesLib 3.2
optaltivecconvif.shlb
IrcamKernels
MOTU USB Driver
MOTU FireWire Audio Driver
USB iLok Driver
JPlayerMRJ
Voxware Sound Component v1.5
PARIS_SharedGestalt
PARIS_DriverLibrary
PARIS Driver
(ircam) Chant.DLL
MIDIClient.DLL
Digidesign® StreamManager
(ircam) Sdif.DLL
(ircam) Pm.DLL
STInstruments
ST2Pref

[MacTron]

My actual system folder contains 50 extensions plus a few extras for my scanner and printer and 19 control panels.
This system folder is used in ALL my G4 macs (from iMac TFT to MDDs) without a glitch for years. It is based on Mac Os 9.2.2 but contains parts from other system versions up to Mac Os 8.6.
With this system folder I have worked on Photo Editing (Photoshop), Graphic Edition ( Canvas, Illustrator, Pagemaker/Indesign), Video Editing (Premiere and Videoshop) ,Text Edition (MacWrite), Spreadsheet (Excel) and Codewarrior and a few games (Star Wars Racer, Medal of Honor, GLTron...).
It runs Cubase, Logic, Live, and Pro tools. And a selected collection of VST plugins.  For Performer 3 needs an extra extension.
It has all the main functionality, Open Transport, Quick Time, Open GL, Apple Scrip, Java Runtime, etc
It runs the 95% of the software that can run on Mac Os 9.

Of course I haven't ever needed to use extension Manager.

With this system folder the Macs is fast, uses less RAM, and it is easy to find and repair any trouble.

The "minimal install" folder was based on my system folder. I had to  remove the preferences folder and a few items more to let enought space to DieHard for adding the remaining CD content.
In fact I havent removed the startup screen, even later I have made this one: 



To reflect the fact that this System folder is mainly intended for startup in a CD ROM.

[Protools5LEGuy]

My actual system folder contains 50 extensions plus a few extras for my scanner and printer and 19 control panels.

Please, take a snapshot of that to take it as MacTron's List

[MacTron]

Please, take a snapshot of that to take it as MacTron's List

Ok, here You  have:


The ATI or nVidia row aren't needed at the same time in the same computer, so one of the rows can be trashed.


"Keep it simple and take it to the max" 

[IIO]

The ATI or nVidia row aren't needed at the same time in the same computer, so one of the rows can be trashed.

except when you have 2 different cards, like i do.

it seems that you are also doing audio without drivers for audio interfaces and protools without DAE.

btw, did you notice that time sychronisation goes hard on the system (it actually requests some process to be in foreground, i think i restarts the menu clock)? this can cause quite some troubles for realtime applications such as sequencing.
i still use it since many years, because it is still better than wrong time.

[Custos]

Bumping this for myself and New users. 

Edit: just noticed it was made sticky. I followed it from a link in another post. Oh well lol.

[mrhappy]

Bumping this for myself and New users. 

Edit: just noticed it was made sticky. I followed it from a link in another post. Oh well lol.

custos... this post is well worth the bump... even if it IS a sticky!!!

[MacTron]

As some have request, this are the main ATI and nVidia related extensions, with a brief explanation on to which one is intended for:

[DieHard]

Awesome breakdown !  Thank you so much !

As a last note, as some of you know, prior to Mac OS 9, the Original G3 B&W and Yikes had an MPEG decoder daughter card that's attached to the Apple ATI Rage 128 that was used for DVD playback. This was later done via software (see Mactron Info above). 
https://eshop.macsales.com/Descriptions/appledvdbundle.html

I remember that the "Hardware" version on the old systems was very smooth even on a 300 MHz. B&W.   Then the CPUs caught up and took over the job

...playing DVDs with the on-board Rage video is a surprise. While Apple moved the DVD decoding into OS 9 software (Altivec not required), supposedly a video card equivalent to the Apple Rage 128 (16 MB VRAM), found in B&W G3s and beyond, was required for the Apple DVD Player to function properly. For the Beige G3s that meant a Rage Orion or better. But, if it works off the on-board video, more power to you.

[MacOS Plus]

  This has to be the most clear and intuitive explanation I've ever seen of this.  Thanks so much, MacTron!  I can basically print this on one sheet of paper and keep it in my driver disc binder for reference.  The only thing I'd add to mine is file version numbers so I can easily ensure I have everything up to date on every system.

  Now I've just got to sort out if I have the last firmware on all of my cards.

[IIO]

https://www.macintoshrepository.org/8223-system-extending-macos9plus-v1-0-extensions-and-control-panels-compilation-

[MacOS Plus]

  I've gone through comparing against MacTron's list all video/display related support files that I have in my system (excluding ColorSync and a couple other minor things).  For completeness' sake I'm posting a list with all the version numbers and what installer source they came from (installer in brackets).  I'm not making any suggestions as to which files you should use or not, but I can say I'm having no problems with my systems when the entire list of files is loading with various ATI and nVidia cards installed.  What I can say is that the default Rage driver installed by the 9.2.2 ASR universal installer caused a startup hang on my MDD FW800 with a Radeon variant installed.  I've also copied over all these files to 9.1 and 8.6 OS drives on other machines and not had problems there either.

  Please review my list below and let me know if there are any errors or later versions of the files or installer packages so that I can update the list (and my systems).  Each section is sorted by alphabetical order.  The ATI files came from multiple ATI installers and I can't remember which any longer.  I know the ATI Displays control panel had to come from a version of the installer earlier than the final Radeon package:

Code: [Select]

ATI

Extensions:
ATI 3D Accelerator - 7.0.4 (ATI Installer)
ATI 8500 3D Accelerator - 7.1.0 (ATI Installer)
ATI Driver Update - 2.4.4 (Mac OS CPU Software 5.9)
ATI Extension - 2.9.0 (ATI Installer)
ATI Graphics Accelerator - 5.7.0 (ATI Installer)
ATI Monitor - 3.2.1 (ATI Installer)
ATI MPP Manager - 1.2 (Mac OS 9.2.2)
ATI Radeon 3D Accelerator - 6.4.7  (ATI Installer/Mac OS CPU Software 5.9)
ATI Rage 128 3D Accelerator - 6.4.7 (ATI Installer/Mac OS CPU Software 5.9)
ATI Resource Manager - 3.2.1 (ATI Installer)
ATI ROM Xtender - 1.2 (ATI Installer)
ATI Video Accelerator 4.9.1 (ATI Installer)
ATI Video Digitizer - 4.3.7 (ATI Installer) *Not visible in Extensions Manager

ATI Control Panels:
ATI Displays - 3.2.1 (ATI Installer)


nVidia

Extensions:
NVIDIA 2D Acceleration - 3.5.2 (Mac OS CPU Software 5.9/nVidia 3.5.2 installer)
NVIDIA DVD Accelerator - 3.5.2 (Mac OS CPU Software 5.9/nVidia 3.5.2 installer)
NVIDIA Driver - 3.5.2 (Mac OS CPU Software 5.9/nVidia 3.5.2 installer)
NVIDIA Engine - 3.5.2 (Mac OS CPU Software 5.9/nVidia 3.5.2 installer)
NVIDIA Open GL - 3.5.2 (Mac OS CPU Software 5.9/nVidia 3.5.2 installer)
NVIDIA Video Accelerator - 3.5.2 (Mac OS CPU Software 5.7/nVidia 3.5.2 installer) *Not visible in Extensions Manager


OpenGL

Extensions:
OpenGLEngine - 1.2.4 (Mac OS 9.2.2)
OpenGLLibrary - 1.2.5 (Mac OS 9.2.2 Extras 3.0)
OpenGLMemory - 1.2.4 (Mac OS 9.2.2)
OpenGLRenderer - 1.2.4 (Mac OS 9.2.2)
OpenGLRendererATI - 1.3.5 (ATI Installer)
OpenGLUtility - 1.2.4 (Mac OS 9.2.2)


QuickTime

Extensions:
Apple QD3D HW Driver - 1.6 (QuickTime 6.0.3)
Apple QD3D HW Plug-in - 1.6 (QuickTime 6.0.3)
QuickDraw™ 3D - 1.6 (QuickTime 6.0.3)
QuickDraw™ 3D IR - 1.6 (QuickTime 6.0.3)
QuickDraw™ 3D RAVE - 1.8.1 (Mac OS 9.2.2 Extras 3.0)
QuickDraw™ 3D Viewer - 1.6 (QuickTime 6.0.3)
QuickTime FireWire DV Enabler - 2.3 (QuickTime 6.0.3)
QuickTime FireWire DV Support - 2.3 (QuickTime 6.0.3)
QuickTime™ - 6.0.3 (QuickTime 6.0.3)
QuickTime™ MPEG Extension - 6.0.2 (QuickTime 6.0.3)
QuickTime™ PowerPlug - 6.0.3 (QuickTime 6.0.3)
QuickTime™ VR - 6.0.2 (QuickTime 6.0.3)

Control Panels:
QuickTime™ Settings - 6.0.2 (QuickTime 6.0.3)

Application Folder:
PictureViewer - 6.0.2 (QuickTime 6.0.3)
QuickTime Player - 6.0.3 (QuickTime 6.0.3)
QuickTime Plugin - 6.0.2 (QuickTime 6.0.3)
QuickTimePlugin.class - 6.0.2 (QuickTime 6.0.3)


Apple DVD Player

Extensions:
DVDRuntimeLib - 2.7 (Apple DVD Software 2.7v1.1)
DVD AutoLauncher - 1.1 (Apple DVD Software 2.7v1.1)
DVD Navigation Manager ATI - 2.7 (Apple DVD Software 2.7v1.1)
DVD Navigation Manager NV - 2.7 (Apple DVD Software 2.7v1.1)
DVD Region Manager - 1.1 (Apple DVD Software 2.7v1.1)
DVD Video Interface - 1.0 (Apple DVD Software 2.7v1.1)

Applications:
Apple DVD Player - 2.7 (Apple DVD Software 2.7v1.1)


Game Sprockets

Extensions:
DrawSprocketLib - 1.7.8 (Mac OS CPU Software 5.9)


Apple System Files

Extensions:
Apple Monitor Plugins - 2.2.1 (Mac OS CPU Software 5.9)

Control Panels:
Monitors - 8.6.4 (Mac OS CPU Software 5.9)


SwitchRes

Extensions:
SwitchRes - 2.5.3 (SwitchRes 2.5.3)

Control Panels:
SwitchRes Control - 2.5.3 (SwitchRes 2.5.3)


MacPortrait

Extensions:
MacPortrait Driver - 6.2.5 (MacPortrait 6.2.5)

Control Panels:
MacPortrait Controls - 6.2.5 (MacPortrait 6.2.5)

[DieHard]

Thanks MacOS Plus !

Another great reference resource for those who dig deep to find the gems...

I am starting to conclude that many online help sources (with this level of specifics) are rare and that our Core member base has helped many.

[tracks]

hi all

brand new here and had serious troubles installing 9.2.2 on my G4 MDD
So glad to have found you and will install again soon with that image given by DieHard : thx so much

It's been almost 15 years that i haven't been using os9 with Pro Tools TDM HW but i do remember unchecking serialshimlib wich is causing me serious troubles actually.
but i do not remember wich other extension related to it to uncheck
any clues ?
best

[adespoton]

Here's a question: would it make sense for us to create some Extensions Manager or Conflict Catcher config files we can share, for different DAW setups?  That way, it becomes really easy to load up someone else's list and see how it plays, and then restore our own after the fact.

I prefer Conflict Catcher because it lets me disable items in the Apple menu and third party tools' plugin folders as well, and save it all as a startup set.  So if I'm switching DAW setups, I just load the startup set I know works well for the one I'm running.