lludwick
I have  the 4x4 but have not installed it yet. For several years I've used the Tascam US-1641 which has been pretty much flawless as an interface. However, certainly if I turn on the interface it works with Windows applications. When I go into Sonar X3 or Platinum, no problem but if while Sonar is running, I switch to a browser I don't get any sound. Sonar seems to lock the drivers. Not much of a problem for me. I just wait until I exit Sonar. It may take a few seconds for Sonar to release the hold on the drivers, but after leaving Sonar the Tascam works with Windows as normal.
 
However, I expect the new drivers for 4x4 could be at fault if they don't release after Sonar closes. You might look at the task manager to see if any process from Tascam is running before you choose to shut down. Nothing in the drivers should remain as a process running if you power off the Tascam. You could try killing a task identified as initiated by Tascam if you find one running and then try to shut down to see if that helps.

Thanks lludwik , 
 
Whats your operating system ? Same happens here , but when conflict happens , the drivers are getting lost in the system. It's a bug of the driver they need to fix for windows 8.1 pro 64 bit. I need to restart windows everytime that happens and it's very annoying cause restart can't complete , it holds for around 5 mins. Usually takes 2 seconds to restart when all goes fine. 
 
 

Etostone

lludwick
I have  the 4x4 but have not installed it yet. For several years I've used the Tascam US-1641 which has been pretty much flawless as an interface. However, certainly if I turn on the interface it works with Windows applications. When I go into Sonar X3 or Platinum, no problem but if while Sonar is running, I switch to a browser I don't get any sound. Sonar seems to lock the drivers. Not much of a problem for me. I just wait until I exit Sonar. It may take a few seconds for Sonar to release the hold on the drivers, but after leaving Sonar the Tascam works with Windows as normal.
 
However, I expect the new drivers for 4x4 could be at fault if they don't release after Sonar closes. You might look at the task manager to see if any process from Tascam is running before you choose to shut down. Nothing in the drivers should remain as a process running if you power off the Tascam. You could try killing a task identified as initiated by Tascam if you find one running and then try to shut down to see if that helps.

Thanks lludwik , 
 
Whats your operating system ? Same happens here , but when conflict happens , the drivers are getting lost in the system. It's a bug of the driver they need to fix for windows 8.1 pro 64 bit. I need to restart windows everytime that happens and it's very annoying cause restart can't complete , it holds for around 5 mins. Usually takes 2 seconds to restart when all goes fine. 
 
 

 
I am running Windows 7 Pro 64 bit. I'd have to check but with the Tascam US-1641 I am almost certain the drivers are not ASIO, however I never have latency problems with them.
 
I will probably install the 4x4 this weekend and I will report back here on my success or lack of success.
 
 

Etostone
 
All multimedia are stuck when clicked to play. Don't play and stuck to 0 time. 
I can't also restart or shut down the computer !!!! Windows holds on restarting or shutting down options.  
It's crazy . 
Nothing of these happens if I don't run Sonar . Computer , windows and audio runs great inside windows 8.1 pro 64. All the disaster happens in comparison with Sonar. 
 

 
Yeah, that's very weird. That's definitely more than just the driver not being released. Is Sonar still listed as a running task after you exit? Sorry, wish I had something more for you. Good luck.

tKx5050

Etostone
 
All multimedia are stuck when clicked to play. Don't play and stuck to 0 time. 
I can't also restart or shut down the computer !!!! Windows holds on restarting or shutting down options.  
It's crazy . 
Nothing of these happens if I don't run Sonar . Computer , windows and audio runs great inside windows 8.1 pro 64. All the disaster happens in comparison with Sonar. 
 

 
Yeah, that's very weird. That's definitely more than just the driver not being released. Is Sonar still listed as a running task after you exit? Sorry, wish I had something more for you. Good luck.

No the Sonar is not hanging around the Task manager. Well that happens to other programmes as well. 
I tried Adobe Premiere , and it's the same experience like Sonar. If I edit a video , and try to playing a sound in browser or multimedia file , or even browse on youtube , audio get stucked . Can't be released , need restart or shutdown. When I reboot , I have to turn off and then turn on the audio rack interface for windows to see the audio device properly. It's 99 % the driver itself. Needs update in windows 8.1 pro 64 bit. 
Thank you for sharing your info with me. 

lludwick

Etostone

lludwick
I have  the 4x4 but have not installed it yet. For several years I've used the Tascam US-1641 which has been pretty much flawless as an interface. However, certainly if I turn on the interface it works with Windows applications. When I go into Sonar X3 or Platinum, no problem but if while Sonar is running, I switch to a browser I don't get any sound. Sonar seems to lock the drivers. Not much of a problem for me. I just wait until I exit Sonar. It may take a few seconds for Sonar to release the hold on the drivers, but after leaving Sonar the Tascam works with Windows as normal.
 
However, I expect the new drivers for 4x4 could be at fault if they don't release after Sonar closes. You might look at the task manager to see if any process from Tascam is running before you choose to shut down. Nothing in the drivers should remain as a process running if you power off the Tascam. You could try killing a task identified as initiated by Tascam if you find one running and then try to shut down to see if that helps.

Thanks lludwik , 
 
Whats your operating system ? Same happens here , but when conflict happens , the drivers are getting lost in the system. It's a bug of the driver they need to fix for windows 8.1 pro 64 bit. I need to restart windows everytime that happens and it's very annoying cause restart can't complete , it holds for around 5 mins. Usually takes 2 seconds to restart when all goes fine. 
 
 

 
I am running Windows 7 Pro 64 bit. I'd have to check but with the Tascam US-1641 I am almost certain the drivers are not ASIO, however I never have latency problems with them.
 
I will probably install the 4x4 this weekend and I will report back here on my success or lack of success.
 
 

Yes , I think Windows 7 will be more stable for the 4x4. But win 8.1 pro is really amazing performance and I don't want to re install win 7.  Anything beyond Asio doesn't work properly with 4x4. I tried the other sonar option audio drivers as well with no luck . 
Thank you very much for the weekend check out. I appreciate. 

Silly question, but Tascam released a new driver and firmware update for the 4x4 on 12/3/14. Have you checked that you're running these versions?

tKx5050
Silly question, but Tascam released a new driver and firmware update for the 4x4 on 12/3/14. Have you checked that you're running these versions?

Well yes, latest drivers is a must. I have to say that Tascam is very late on getting drivers updates. Latest version is on December 2014 , previous on September.  And now we are February. 
And their support seems not good. M-Audio had better support in the past , but I am not sure for now. 
At least their could work with me to find out details for a proper windows 8.1 pro driver.
 
Also my windows are up to date with the updates. 

I have the us1641 and now use a Scarlett 6i6 ,
My DAW systems have no on board audio , I never install the drivers.   
I set Sonar to share drivers and I can use just about any playback app, I even open Win Amp  and Wave Lab and Sonar all at the same time. Now I even have internet on my DAW ( only when I want it) I even watch the instruction Videos on line. 
 
I shut off most of the Windows sounds if not all of them. This has been the way it works with both interfaces and on a bunch of different computer builds, Window 7 and 8.1. 
ASIO drivers too. 
 
Hey it's cool they released new drivers for the us1641 back in December. I'm going to dust the old girl off and see if it made a differance. Great hardware, bad drivers. so if the drivers are fixed that's a bonus. 

lludwick
However, I expect the new drivers for 4x4 could be at fault if they don't release after Sonar closes. 

As long as I close SONAR first, I can open windows media player, youtube, etc. and get playback.

FWIW, often it is unnecessary to enable share drivers in SONAR when using ASIO mode because most Windows apps use a different driver. The only applications I use at the same time which use ASIO are SONAR and SoundForge but it is through the Tools menu in SONAR so the driver is not being shared. All the other apps like Media Center/Player, FireFox and the like run fine without sharing because they do not use ASIO.