What we know and what we don't know about audio drivers. 

Name the number one topic here on the forum! That's right, audio drivers and then the interface that uses them. I bet we almost have equal amount of those threads as threads about using the software. 

We have a general belief and a soft agreement that we should use ASIO drivers. 
In trying to help a few people over time who where having driver issues ( Me included) I started trying to find some solid information about how audio drivers work.. what do those initials stand for? 


I thought I'd share this insightful, way over the top , document on the topic of drivers from the people who are sort of in charge of all this, MS. 

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-ca/library/windows/hardware/gg463452.aspx

It's a 14 page read but it contains some very interesting facts about audio drivers, of interest to us audio folks is how hardware developers can choose different pathways, some harder than others,, very interesting.  it's a little out of date as it only goes as far as Vista. I will not comment further. See if you find some stuff I did. Pr

Recommended; print and put in bathroom for serious study. 

I know everyone always says use ASIO but WDM/KS always performed better for me.

Thanks for the link.
I'll be bringing the iPad into the bathroom tomorrow.  TMI?


Mike

One thing I have known is that ASIO is not the best choice its just the most common known driver. 

I strongly believe that driver developers often find it easier to write a good ASIO driver because it will work on a Windows and an Apple machine. But writing a good Windows driver will in most cases outperform an ASIO driver all things being equal.

Further, because Sonar supports all Windows driver types for audio Its a very good idea to at least try Windows drivers. 

From what I've been able to find, which isn't much, a WASAPI driver should be better than a WDM driver in Windows 7.

If anyone has a document similar to the one Cactus Music just provided (thanks !) I'd be interested in reading it.

I'm not sure how many audio interfaces have WASAPI drivers, though. Mine doesn't.

  I think Cakewalk and hardware manufacturers develop with lots of "off-the-shelf" solutions. It's the only way they can afford to give us Sonar at this price, for example.

WDM/KS driver has been best for me with my Echo Audiofire 12.

I've always found that it depends on the interface.I've owned devices where WDM performs far better than ASIO and vice versa. Currently ASIO is my choice. The WDM drivers for my ZED-R16 only expose 8 of the 18 in/outs available.

yes MME here and very stable, I hope you know im joking.
had decent results with WDM but as the biker says I believe its what jives w/your A-face man.
its all about being groovy Greg.

by the way cant pass up the opportunity: "was up b"  ???

Absolutely interface related.Many pro interfaces vendors has developed the Asio over the WDM drivers,like Focusrite for example (Wdm are terrible).

I'm glad we have options

My MOTU on my Main DAW will only work properly with ASIO. My old heap of a laptop with an Echo IndigoX will only work with WDM. ASIO doesn't stand a chance there.

Geting a good performance out of both systems though.