Hello, I have a new usb2.0 audio interface which allows to use two audio programs at the same time. My Problem: If I start - for exemple - the vlc media player and Sonar X1, and activate the vlc-media-player (click on it -> playing a song), it is always necessary to click onto the Sonar-Window to hear a Sonar-sound. It is the same with band-in-a-box. Is there a possibility to keep Sonar activated while using the other programs (so you have not to click on it, after using another audio-program)? Thanks for your answers, windplayer

Windplayer . . . there is a checkbox setting in Preferences - - Playback and Recording - - "Share Drivers with Other Programs"

  :-) Yes, I know. And I set it to "yes". But that is not the problem: The audio-programs work together! But to activate Sonar after starting/playing another audio-program, you have to make one click on the Sonar-window.

I'm assuming you're using ASIO-drivers?
ASIO-drivers can only be used by one program at a time. "Sharing them with other programs" only mean that Sonar releases it's power over them when in another program.

I would recommand you to use your USB-audio interface for Sonar only and have your motherboard's built in audio interface taking care of all multi-media audio in windows.

  "ASIO-drivers can only be used by one program at a time." No, that is wrong. USB-audio-interfaces with Asio 2.0 can use two audio-programs at the same time. ". . . there is a checkbox setting in Preferences - - Playback and Recording - - "Share Drivers with Other Programs" " I tried the option "NOT share drivers with other programs", and now it works. But do not ask, why... :-) Thanks for your help, windplayer

windplayer


  "ASIO-drivers can only be used by one program at a time." No, that is wrong. USB-audio-interfaces with Asio 2.0 can use two audio-programs at the same time. ". . . there is a checkbox setting in Preferences - - Playback and Recording - - "Share Drivers with Other Programs" " I tried the option "NOT share drivers with other programs", and now it works. But do not ask, why... :-) Thanks for your help, windplayer

Yes, I know the checkbox you're taking about and I also know for a fact that two programs can't play back or record at the same using ASIO-drivers. Other drivers, like for example WDM, WDM/KS, MMEcan do this, but ASIO can't.

The ASIO-driver makes the audio software you're using connect directly to the audio hardware (without having to go through all MS-windows software paths). This makes the connection between the software and hardware very stable and this is also one of the reasons the driver is limited to just one program at a time: Stability

If you're using ASIO4ALL this isn't realy ASIO drivers, and with these you may (I don't really know since I don't use them myself) be able to use more than one program at a time.

Glad you got it to work though. :)

Loptec - thanks for you tip on using the motherboard audio for non-Sonar stuff.