I am using Sonar X3e with a new Sound Blaster Z sound card.
 
I am experiencing playback issues with certain instruments (in this case, SoundCenter instruments.) This happened previously before purchasing the sound card. I changed to the ASIO4ALL driver, lowered the ASIO buffer to minimum, and still experienced a slight delay in playback of these instruments. However, the latency issue only occurs during playback -- not when the notes are played on the Piano Roll keyboard or in the synth instrument selection screen.
 
I installed the Sound Blaster Z (a "ZERO-LATENCY" sound card), ensured the ASIO4ALL was selected in Sonar...and I'm still getting latency issues.
 
I had also considered an audio interface as many users have suggested. But my issue is 1) my local electronics store's two interfaces don't match up to what I need and 2) the hundreds of dollars needed to purchase the interface far outweigh the little progress I've made on my projects.
 
I figured the Sound Blaster Z (a "ZERO-LATENCY" sound card) would be an adequate solution to solve my latency issues. I really would like this to work, but I'm afraid spending hundreds of dollars on an audio interface is out of budget for me.
 
Are there any settings I'm missing or any other details? Can anyone offer any further suggestions? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.

I don't recommend a Sound Blaster for DAW work.  

Grundberg
I figured the Sound Blaster Z (a "ZERO-LATENCY" sound card) would be an adequate solution to solve my latency issues.

 
oh my.  A little research into recording with DAWs would go a long way, Mr. Grundberg.  I hope you find an adequater solution soon!

Even a cheapo interface that is designed for the job at hand would be better than a soundblaster mate, I dunno what the marketing blurb told you but a soundblaster isn't really upto the job. You don't say what it is you are doing exactly for people to recommend a suitable interface, are you just using midi? or you are recording audio too? if so how many inputs do you need simultaneously, people here will help you if they can!

Ditto all above.
 
"Sound Blaster Z, part of the ultra high-performance Z-Series of Sound Blaster sound cards, is an ideal all-round solution for your PC gaming and entertainment needs.".
 
So not really good a "pro" sound card for recording I suspect. I have to admit though I haven't used this card, but most creative lab cards are not up to the job I'm afraid.
 
FYI zero latency bypasses the DAW, you use the sound cards monitoring software (if supplied) to get a direct output. Anything that goes through processing has some sort of latency. So you could play a track on Sonar with the lead guitar muted, and listen to the lead guitar played live via the sound cards software at the same time. So you would be hearing just the guitar at "zero latency". Sounds great but in practice most people don't bother as the latency is very little (assuming you have adequate hardware and it is correctly configured).

if the z uses the 10kX chipset you might get better results with the kxproject drivers http://www.kxproject.com/faq.php?language=en#Q15

Greeny
Even a cheapo interface that is designed for the job at hand would be better than a soundblaster mate, I dunno what the marketing blurb told you but a soundblaster isn't really upto the job. You don't say what it is you are doing exactly for people to recommend a suitable interface, are you just using midi? or you are recording audio too? if so how many inputs do you need simultaneously, people here will help you if they can!

Okay. I'm gathering the purchase of the Sound Blaster card is not recommended (or necessary).
 
In answer to your question, my project includes no live recording and just MIDI & synths, no audio clips. Very simple work for an amateur composer. In addition, it would seem as though the two audio interfaces offered by my local Best Buy don't support ASIO anyway. Here's the link.
 
The delays are very minimal -- and if anything, if I choose to bypass audio hardware entirely, I suppose I could substitute the offending instrument with a different one (as my library has over 2,000 instruments.
 
But as stated, the delay only happens during playback...not sampling of the instrument through the Instrument Selection Window or on the PRV keyboard.

Grundberg
In answer to your question, my project includes no live recording and just MIDI & synths, no audio clips. Very simple work for an amateur composer.

ironically VSTs (MIDI & synths) put more load on your CPU and soundcard than audio clips...

also, there'll be some on-board soundchip (usually realtek these days) on your mobo, you may get better performance from that via asio4all than the sb
good luck!

Grundberg

Greeny
Even a cheapo interface that is designed for the job at hand would be better than a soundblaster mate, I dunno what the marketing blurb told you but a soundblaster isn't really upto the job. You don't say what it is you are doing exactly for people to recommend a suitable interface, are you just using midi? or you are recording audio too? if so how many inputs do you need simultaneously, people here will help you if they can!

Okay. I'm gathering the purchase of the Sound Blaster card is not recommended (or necessary).
 
In answer to your question, my project includes no live recording and just MIDI & synths, no audio clips. Very simple work for an amateur composer. In addition, it would seem as though the two audio interfaces offered by my local Best Buy don't support ASIO anyway. Here's the link.
 
The delays are very minimal -- and if anything, if I choose to bypass audio hardware entirely, I suppose I could substitute the offending instrument with a different one (as my library has over 2,000 instruments.
 
But as stated, the delay only happens during playback...not sampling of the instrument through the Instrument Selection Window or on the PRV keyboard.

Both of those interfaces will be better for you by a good margin mate and both are definately ASIO compatible. Now which has lowest latency? I dunno you would have to ask our good friend google :)