What is ASIO?

What is ASIO?

What is behind it and why you need it most ASIO? How to properly configure and customize?

And so today the illuminating of the infamous ASIO. Here I will analyze in this thread, for those who have bad feeling in the vast digital audio, and for those who swim in the sea for years.

And so what is the ASIO?

ASIO - Audio Stream Input/Output - Remember it is - the data transfer protocol!
If simply, it is - almost always professional sound card (or interface) that supports this same protocol.

Why is it necessary?
Well, first of all, if you decide to do the sound, then you need to use only the very best there is. And the best - it's just there - ASIO. Secondly: what in the world of digital audio we actually want? And should we have? (Well, to me personally - exactly! but you have to decide for yourself) - high fidelity sound (audio), and a small delay in this transfer. That is all that is required of ASIO.

Let me explain that there is a delay

Here you have a friend, he has a midi-keyboard, and she complains about the fact that a key is pressed, the sound does not come immediately, and very uncomfortable to play and even full-Figley Miglė. The fact that your friend NOT-ASIO sound card, or it is not configured properly. Or else it is, but for some reason is heard when playing the track.

Strange, why did you hear crackling even when using ASIO! About how! And it happens.

Explain: In ASIO have such a wonderful setting, as delay (latency). or in other words - the size of the buffer. So - What is the value is less - the precise and rapid (ie, better!) The transfer of data, but the greater the load on the processor and the whole train hardware. The higher the number - the greater the delay, but less load on the processor and other parts of the computer.

Explain the example: open a project. Do you hear crackling and CPU to the limit - look at the Buffer Size in the sound card settings: Yeah, Latency = 256 Samples. Hmm, probably not enough. Well - will increase! Increase up to 384 - and voila! The crackling was gone and everything is fine. On hearing the sound of the differences and the delay is not audible. Cheers, problem solved!

The optimal values of delay (Latency)

•  256
• 384
• 512

Within these values in the modern (and not) of a computer, all should be fine. But, it is - not a law, but merely advice. If not enough - put at least 2048 - the main thing that at the hearing it was good and the delay would not hurt you.

And once more about the Buffer Size - optimally set at the hearing. Remember! No advice will not help if you hear crackling or too much delay. Put as you prefer.

Well, that's all, folks!

This term formerly dreaded sound engineering - ASIO now you are not afraid!

Good luck in the works.