Hi,
 
I have been using Sonar right from v5 upto now the Platinum version. After upgrading to the Cambridge release, I seem to be having a problem with Tascam midi/audio interface.
 
Sonar detects my Tascam Device and I am able to work the ASIO drivers that came with it. Initially I used to get intermittent "Audio Engine has unexpectedly dropped out" message. Restarting the audio engine from the toolbar would solve it.
 
Recently (for about a week), Sonar has stopped giving me the Audio Engine drop out message. Now, the sound just stops. What's even more frustrating is that it seems to be dependant on "idle time". I sequence something. sounds great. I open up a vst to tweak some controls (or take a natures break) and when I get back.... no sound. No audio engine drop out error message either. The only way it starts working again is if I disconnect the Tascam device and re-connect it. That again lasts for about 5 min before the sound drops out again.
 
I am wondering if anyone else is facing such issues. Already searched google and this forum. No luck finding relevant threads.
 
The reason I think it is a Sonar problem is because when I set my laptop to use Tascam device for all its sound, it works great.
 
My setup:
Sonar platinum x64
Windows Ultimate x64
8 GB RAM
Tascam UK-122mkII (with its ASIO driver - driver v2.05 and firmware 2.03, both are latest)
Korg Kronos 2 (with Korg drivers v1.14r_14) - I don't use this as an audio device.
ASIO4All - ver2 - But I use Tascam ASIO driver in Sonar.
 
RK

Hello!
 
Can you check your laptop to make sure your USB ports are not powering off/going on stand by?
Seems to me that this has been an issue for others.
 
Edit: More info - it's in advanced power settings - USB Selective suspend disable.
Hope that fixes it for you!
 
Brian

First question is always...  why are you using Asio4All (even if you're not using it in Sonar)  You have the correct asio driver for the product and the only use for Asio4All is for devices that don't have asio drivers.
 
Are you using WiFi?  The interrupts created by WiFi have been known to lockup audio drivers.
 
Is the laptop going into some other state (like an idle mode, or low power mode or starting to run backups) when you leave it for a while?

Hello Brian, Meashi - thanks for your quick response.
 
Brian - I checked the USB power settings. It is set to "USB selective suspend setting - disabled" (for both - on battery and Plugged in). So that does not seem to be the issue.
 
Mekashi - I use ASIO4All in Sonar when my Tascam is not connected. It avoids me going back-n-forth configuring Sonar for WDM/WSAPI/ASIO driver settings. ASIO4All wraps my laptop soundcard (Realtek I think). This works fine. I listed ASIO4All and Korg Kronos Drivers just as information coz they are the 3 audio drivers I have installed.
 
The laptop does not change state. This problem seems to be even if I switch windows, browse the net for some info an get back to Sonar.
 
Yes - I do use WiFi to be connected to internet when I am working. I will try turning the Wifi off next time and see if that works. Is there any way I can figure out if the Wifi has a conflict by checking some configuration (as an alternative to switching Wifi off and hoping things work well)?
 
RK

The easiest way to test it is to simply turn it off and see if Sonar continues to work correctly.  Then turn it on again and see if it drops audio.
 
Once you've determined there is a problem, then you go looking for it.

First- Run Latency Mon or the DPCLAT monitor and check if background apps are running DPC latency often kills the audio engine. Wireless net and Battery management are big ones for killing audio on laptops. I've never seen a laptop that could run wireless and audio at the same time. 
http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml
 
 
If that is not the issue I highly recommend removing ALL TRACES of asio4all. It is well documented here that it will take over your proper ASIO drivers in Sonar and cause issues. It doesn't co exist very well with real ASIO drivers. 

Thanks again Mekashi. I will have a look at both points this evening and post back on the results.
 
"Wireless net and Battery management are big ones for killing audio on laptops" - really?? I did not know this. I have an Alienware m17x with i7 proc. I would like to believe my laptop is different . But I take your point.
 
Removing all traces of ASIO is another matter. I'll read up to see how I can get rid of it completely (hidden files, registry, etc).
 
RK

Mekashi - you are GOD !!
 
I have run a full 1 hour without any drop-outs now. I ran DPCLat. it showed "This machine should be able to handle real-time streaming of audio and/or video data without drop-outs." Then started Sonar and when a drop out occured, DPClat changed it message. I then disabled Wifi, reset DPClat and have gone at a stretch for 1 hour without dropouts. This is the longest I have had without drop-outs.
 
Now I turned on Wifi. It still works. But DPClat shows sporadic latency spikes. The problem seems solved for now. I will get into a marathon session this weekend. that will be the true test if the problem was solved.
 
RK 

RagsinRags
Mekashi - you are GOD !!

Just Karyn will do.
 
Glad you're working again.

oops - Karyn, you are still GOD !!