The Linear Canvas

During my recent adventures with ADAT digital audio transfers from my Fostex VF-16 digital multi-track recorder to my PC computer, I discovered ASIO (Audio Streaming Input Output). ASIO was developed by a musical company called Steinberg. It is a mostly open standard that has had a big impact on computer recording. I really didn’t know that much about ASIO before I started experimenting with my ADAT card. The only thing I knew was that my soundcard on my main computer was capable of ASIO audio production. I also knew that when I tried to use the computer in my studio area to record, I was terribly disappointed with the results.

Basically what ASIO does is take all audio information to and from a digital audio program, like Sonar 7, and routes it directly to the soundcard. The benefit of this direct connection is a reduction in the latency in the audio. Latency in this case, refers to the amount of time it takes to get from the input of the sound card, through all the sub-systems, and then on to the output. ASIO allows whatever is on the input of the sound card to arrive at the output in a more efficient manner. For ASIO drivers, Steinberg claims a latency of equal to or less than an imperceptible 2 milliseconds. Previously when I had tried to use a computer as a multi-track recorder in place of my Fostex, I noticed very discombobulating delays in monitoring what I was recording. It was so bad that I could not record anything at all. The latency (echo) was way too extreme.

My problem was then, and in most cases, that computer soundcard’s do not support ASIO, especially older cards. Although there are some third-party ASIO drivers, for some cards, all mainly support a driver model called WDM (Windows Driver Model). WDM works fine for almost everything except recording music. When recording you need to be able to hear what you are recording to monitor it for mistakes, etc. Using the WDM drivers causes a slapback effect that is very confusing if you are trying to monitor your performance.

After looking around a little online, I became interested in the Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi line of soundcard’s which support ASIO. My main computer has a higher end X-Fi card, so I am familiar with the setup. I found a used Creative Labs Sound Blaster (SB0460) X-Fi Xtreme Music card that fits my needs for $42 on eBay. I believe it was about $130 retail when new. There are many other cards that support ASIO. Many of them are much more expensive and have many more features. I actually trust the quality of Creative Labs components. They perform as advertised. This card should be fine for now.

One of the first things I discovered was that I could not run my new ADAT card and a Sound Blaster in ASIO mode at the same time in Sonar. It seems that the ASIO driver model does not support more than one ASIO device at a time. I believe later ASIO drivers may support two or more ASIO soundcard’s, but the version 2.0 standard that I use, does not.

To activate ASIO in Sonar 7, go to Options => Audio=> Advanced [tab]. Then you change the driver mode to ASIO in the Playback and Recording section. You have to restart Sonar to see the effects of the change.

On re-starting Sonar, the driver list at Options => Audio=> Drivers [tab], only allowed me access to the ADAT card I/O (Input/Output) drivers, The Sound Blaster drivers were visible, but they were grayed out. After some experimentation, I found I could:

• Deselect all my ADAT card I/O drivers under Options => Audio=> Drivers [tab]
• Then I closed and re-opened Sonar
• I chose all my Sound Blaster ASIO I/O drivers under Options => Audio=> Drivers [tab]
• Closed and restarted Sonar

When I went to Options => Audio=> Drivers [tab], I found that I had switched from my ADAT ASIO drivers to my Sound Blaster ASIO drivers. I can switch back by reversing the procedure. I wish they were both available at the same time, like WDM allows, but for the reduction in latency ASIO provides, that’s good enough, for now.

My whole purpose in adding an ASIO soundcard may be to eliminate my Fostex multi-track as my main recording device. (I’m not sure what my evil sub-conscience mind is up to just yet.) That, in a very technical way, makes me sad. I have used this multi-track for 10 years and have had little trouble besides having to replace the hard drive. It has many features including an eight channel mixer and the ability to record eight and play up to sixteen tracks at the same time. I can also use the ADAT output as an eight channel recording interface for the computer.

Using my ASIO ADAT card, I can nearly mimic the function of the Fostex. Plus the recording quality is much greater using the computer and Sonar. Editing is also easier on the computer. On the other hand, the multi-track records with CD quality and only takes about twenty seconds to boot up. So what else do you need? Sonar does record and playback hundreds of audio and MIDI tracks at once. My poor Fostex can’t compete with that.