Hello,

I'm having trouble playing any project that has an audio track, in SonarX2.  When I hit the space bar to play, or R to record, then half the time it abrubly stops playing after fraction of a second, with an audible KHKHKH! sound.  Sometimes I have to hit the key 4 or 5 times to get it to start.  Projects without audio tracks play fine, and this behavior starts as soon as I add an audio track to a project, without yet recording.  I'm using a Xonar Essence STX soundcard for recording and playback. The problem happens both for my projects and for demo projects (but without the KHKHKH!) that have audio.  Any ideas?

Thanks.

HP Z210 CMT
  3.3GHz
  6 GB RAM
  Xeon E3-1240 Quad core
  Windows 7 Professional 64 bit

Xonar Essence STX sound card
Sample Rate: PCM 192 KHz
Audio Channel: 2 Channels

Audio Track:
Input:  Left ASUS Xonar Essence STX Audio
Output: ASUS Xonar Essence STX Audio

What happens if you choose a lower sample rate?  48khz for example? Note: I have an ASUS Xonar DS and have no such issues.

I found it's the same problem for any audio sample rate - I tried all 4.  I did notice that changing the sample rate can suddenly make the problem worse or better.  E.g. no problem starting several times in a row with 192khz, then after changing to 48khz, it refuses to start for a few times, or vice-versa (48 to 192).  Also I notice the problem is worse when starting to record (R key) than just playing (space bar).
 
The crunch sound I hear when it refuses to start (KHKHKH!) sounds a little like bassy static.  I wonder if a charge is building up somewhere?
 

Are you using the ASUS ASIO drivers? (and the latest ones at that?)

Is the Xeon the only soundcard selected in SONARs settings, record/playback timing master included?
IIRC, several combinations require a reboot after changing sample rate, but I'm not sure.

Promidi - no, I don't have ASIO drivers installed.  I just have the ASUSTeK 3/10/2011 (7.12.8.1794) driver installed for my sound card. So I should replace that driver with the latest ASIO, right? (I've used Sonar for a while, but I'm an audio newbie ).

Anyone know a reliable link for downloading ASUS ASIO drivers?  I see the ASUS site only lists 3 drivers for the Xonar Essence STX, and none are ASIO, and a site search for "ASIO" only returns the Essence 3 product.

I tried one download site - Driver Navigator - but it just installs a application that supposedly updates all the drivers on you machine - probably won't help me, since I already have the latest (2011) of the driver, and now want an ASIO driver.  All the download sites I've found are similar.

Kalle - I only have the ASUS soundcard specified in my Sonar settings, thanks.

Not sure why this thread says "Answered".  's answer about needing an ASUS ASIO driver is the best so far, but I'm still trying to figure out how to get an ASUS ASIO driver so I can try it.

Sorry about the typo - I meant to say promidi's answer.
 

Gordon_SonarX2
Not sure why this thread says "Answered". 

The thread says "Answered" because you checked the "Mark as Answered" box. You may deselect the box if you wish.

Thanks steve - I'll be more careful where I click!