WASAPI versus ASIO drivers for a PC with an SQ6

[CochraneDrumTutor]

Hi there
After quite a bit of trouble shooting (full Sonar forum thread here: https://discuss.cakewalk.com/topic/9020 ... ferent-pc/ ) I had to switch from my A&H recommended ASIO driver in my Sonar DAW to a WASAPI driver, as this was the only way to get a song created in Sonar on my OFFICE PC to play on my STUDIO (with SQ6) PC in my sonar DAW.

So far I'm not detecting any issues in doing this BUT perhaps I don't know what I don't know yet!!

Are there are particular concerns in doing this perhaps?
Do you have any detailed info on how these drivers work perhaps?

Many thanks in advance
Ed.

[James Perrett]

One thing you haven't told us in either thread - what sample rate is the SQ6 running at? You need to look at the desk itself - not what the computer says.

[CochraneDrumTutor]

Hi
So it looks like its been 48k all the time on the SQ6.


thx.

[James Perrett]

I can't see where it tells you the internal audio clock frequency in that picture. I presume that it doesn't do sample rate conversion internally - or does it? Is it actually working with those settings?

I'm just wondering whether the mixer wants the USB interface to be working at 96kHz? WASAPI will sometimes do automatic sample rate conversion which is fine for convenience but not necessarily great for ultimate audio quality. ASIO usually passes data with no SRC so will only work when all the clock rates are matched.

[CochraneDrumTutor]

Hi
I went thru the manual and didn't see any other places to view / set the sample rate than in the photo.

48k seems to be the standard for the SQ6, and lets keep in mind that the SQ6 works just fine with anything thats created on the BASEMENT PC, and that the issue I am having is only in relation to songs created on a different PC.

My guess is that there is something that gets "locked in" at the creation stage on the OFFICE PC that doesn't sit well with an ASIO driver on a 2nd PC later....
Thoughts?
Thx

[Hugh Robjohns]

I believe the SQ6 operates at 96k internally, and SRC's when required to 48k for recording to a USB drive or when used as an interface.

I'd check the native sample rate of material created on the basement PC as compared to the other machine.

I suspect your ASIO machine was creating files at a rate the desk didn't like, and the WASAPI driver is 'fixing it' for you in a way ASIO can't.

The ASIO/WASAPI driver is part of the computer's own interface between DAW and sound card/desk connection. It's not part of the DAW... so the problem will be with the settings in your DAW, not the driver. WASAPI is just bodging a 'fix' for your DAW configuration error.

[BJG145]

As long as you can get the latency down as much as you need without dropouts, it should be fine. I seem to remember having to use WASAPI on occasion.

As Hugh says, the pic seems to indicate that it's set to 48KHz via the interface.

*edit*

WASAPI will sometimes do automatic sample rate conversion which is fine for convenience but not necessarily great for ultimate audio quality.

Didn't know that.

[CochraneDrumTutor]

Thx for the perspectives.

[Martin Walker]

WASAPI will sometimes do automatic sample rate conversion which is fine for convenience but not necessarily great for ultimate audio quality. ASIO usually passes data with no SRC so will only work when all the clock rates are matched.

Yes, that 'sometimes' can be very confusing.

Depending on your audio device, WASAPI drivers may be available in both 'shared' and 'exclusive' varieties. The shared version will auto resample if needed, while the exclusive version is like ASIO in that it doesn't involve SRC.

I always use ASIO exclusively in my sequencer, and then use WASAPI with a couple of other applications that I might want to open simultaneously, perhaps to listen to reference tracks while working on a project. I try to choose WASAPI exclusive if possible for these, but it can be touch and go whether the apps in question support this option.

[The Elf]

This is where RME's TotalMix one again scores, with its ability to designate outputs for the use of Windows (don't know about Mac) alongside simultaneous ASIO for a DAW.