When I use ASIO and a signal clips on my Edirol or my 2 old Tascam interfaces,
the positive-going half of the signal hits the upper limit and swings down hard to negative side.
This produces a really horrible distortion, impossible to ignore.
 
If I use the WDM drivers, clipping behaves like any clipping limiter does.
This is much milder and with some types of harmonically-rich
signals, the clipping may not even be noticed.
 
For this reason, plus the fact that I often use multiple interfaces simultaneously,
I prefer WDM to ASIO.
 
I'd be interested to know what other disadvantages using WDM/KS drivers has?

ASIO is the recommended driver type for Sonar. If you're incoming signals are frequently distorting then there is something seriously wrong with your settings. A typical incoming signal when recording @24bit, should be somewhere in the region of -12dbu to -18dbu, unlike analog signals where we used to try to get pretty close to 0dbu.

Give us some info about your hardware and we'll try to help you.

2 Tascams US-1641, US-1800, and Edirol UA-101, coming in from a stage where different bands are playing. 
Vocals and main instruments are on the early tracks, but I cannot see all 36 tracks simultaneously on my laptop.
 
Each first song is a race to get the levels right. WDM or ASIO means the difference between usable or a total loss.
 
But that is by-the-bye. my question is simply:
What differences between WDM and ASIO should I be aware of in terms of audio quality, timing consistency (I am aware of the offset), any gotchas that may affect the recording later down the line, such as passing it to a mastering studio, etc.

I've used both with various interfaces depending on what works best for each one. Current example, on my studio rig the interface is an A & H ZED R16. Works great with ASIO drivers, WDM drivers "work" but halves the number of inputs available so I use ASIO.
 
On my laptop I use a Roland Tri Capture. ASIO drivers work (sort of) but the WDM drivers are much better in terms of lower latency and reliability so I use WDM on that. I've recorded on both and used both results for commercial videos. Post production have never ever mentioned any differences in quality and I have never noticed any either.
 
If it works it works, so I just use what works best.

The ASIO standard is exclusive to one audio device at any one time. If you have been trying to use 2 different devices with an ASIO driver simultaneously then that will be why you are getting distortion. Actually whats happening is that your 2 devices are not synchronised.
 
WDM has no such restriction but it still needs to have the 2 device synchronised. WDM will also not work properly unless one device can be set to Master and the other to Slave and have the appropriate settings made in the driver applications. Synchronising 2 different audio devices is possible if the driver software accommodates such a use. If not you are expecting the devices to work beyond their purpose.

I guess it's try-and-see.
My setup has worked for several live shows now, so I seem to have a lucky combination.
 
Many thanks, FBB and M.

mudgel
The ASIO standard is exclusive to one audio device at any one time. If you have been trying to use 2 different devices with an ASIO driver simultaneously then that will be why you are getting distortion. Actually whats happening is that your 2 devices are not synchronised.
 
WDM has no such restriction but it still needs to have the 2 device synchronised. WDM will also not work properly unless one device can be set to Master and the other to Slave and have the appropriate settings made in the driver applications. Synchronising 2 different audio devices is possible if the driver software accommodates such a use. If not you are expecting the devices to work beyond their purpose.

Can you go into more detail as to how you set one device as the master and one as the slave? Are you referring to their digital clock? Would say using digital out of Roland Octa-Capture in to Yamaha 01v96i allow them to sync?

I am not as anti WDM as some. For years I could not use ASIO with the gear I had. In fact I used to offer this advice. Try both if you have both and see which works best for you. I still think that advice is the right advice. 
 
I use ASIO now but I will go to WDM if I think I need to. One neat think about Sonar is it supports them all. 
 
BTW if you are recording at 24 bits and you are clipping I would lower the level some. There is a lot of headroom with 24 bits. 

If your units are all working together in the digital domain it's worth making sure your clocking is 100%. I had a Presonus pre distort like nothing until I worked out it was rejecting my Yamaha desk's wordclock... I split the WC with a T-bar before going in to my desk and voila, as clear as a Presonus will ever be (which isn't that clear :O)..

jpetersen
But that is by-the-bye. my question is simply:
What differences between WDM and ASIO should I be aware of in terms of audio quality, timing consistency (I am aware of the offset), any gotchas that may affect the recording later down the line, such as passing it to a mastering studio, etc.

Programming gurus probably would explain it in more detail, but in laymen terms, ASIO is a direct communication between your host and audio interface, while WDM uses a system software layer between the two.