ASIO x MME
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Posted on Mar 28, 2003 04:14 pm
Bruno
The Quiet Minded
Member Since: Jan 01, 2003
What's the difference between ASIO and MME? what do I need to use each one? Can windows run ASIO?
Please, I need a lesson about all of this stuff.
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juesContributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002
Mar 28, 2003 07:33 pm Bruno, I feel like I should start charging you for your questions :)
A quick lession in ASIO and MME.
MME:
MME stands for MultiMedia Extension and is the default way that Windows communicates with your soundcard. Basically speaking - when Windows needs to create an audio event (eg: make a sound), it will pass the information first to the MME driver, which will then communicate with your soundcard.
eg: Sound -> MME Interface -> Soundcard.
MME drivers are made to work with a range of soundcards and aren't exactly geared towards the musician, and more to the person listening to MP3's, etc.
ASIO
ASIO stands for Audio Stream Input / Output and was created by the nice people at Steinberg (the peeps who designed Cubase). ASIO drivers are similar to MME ones in as much as they communicate with your soundcard - however, they do this at a much lower level. Basically this means that they can talk to the soundcard a lot quicker resulting in less latency than standard MME drivers.
Basically, MME is the Window's default driver designed for just making sounds occur whereas ASIO drivers are designed specifically with the musician in mind. Whenver you get the choice, use ASIO drivers over MME drivers.
jues.
BrunoThe Quiet MindedMember
Since: Jan 01, 2003
Apr 03, 2003 10:42 am Now I understand. And could you tell me about WDM drivers?
Apr 03, 2003 10:44 am It's just another standard, developed mainly by Microsoft, and not nearly has high performing as ASIO, but better than MME.
Apr 03, 2003 01:09 pm Can someone tell me why under Sonar XL (with a , I know, I know, CRAP Monster MX300 sound card) I can't access the sound card in stereo using the WDM drivers, only with the MME driver (which brings my PC to it's knees when mixing a song with more than 4 tracks)??
Is there a tweak or a fix that I can use, or am I stuck with getting a new sound card?
The weird thing is that the "Wave Profiler" in Sonar detects the card as a WDM/KS, and works great if I select "access sound driver in mono" (even with 16 tracks), but I can't mix in stereo. MME allows me to mix in stereo, but kills my PC....
Help?
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 03, 2003 05:58 pm SplitSlim, have you tried using the WavePipe exceleration yet. I know it helps in some instances with using MME drivers.
But the truth is that most of the lower end sound cards try to avoid using WDM drivers, why I dont know. I guess it beats having to write multiple drivers. And the WDM/KS is their specific version of the WDM driver. It is a cross between the WDM and MME driver format, and really isnt a stabel driver. That is why it will only work in mono.
So in closing, the best bet for you, if you intend to take recoding with the PC to another level is to save up and invest in a higher grad card.
Apr 03, 2003 10:02 pm I'm using the WavePipe (it seems to be checked and greyed out by default)....
You're right about the card, I've been eyeing a Audiophile 2496, I think I need to go and get it sooner then I thought.
Thanks!
Apr 04, 2003 02:20 pm Just a thought, have you tried going to their website to see if they have any updated drivers for your card? You might be using out of date drivers.
Blessings, Terry
LokiCone PokerMember
Since: Apr 07, 2002
Apr 07, 2003 12:24 am yeah, you're always going to want to try to keep your drivers up to date, having old drivers can be the cause of serious headaches
