ASIO, WASAPI, Direct Sound... is there any difference in sound quality?

[bennetng]

I don't use windows. I do encounter the use of ASIO for Digital Audio Workstation where latency have to be managed with all the I/O which Windows default protocol can't offer. It is not intend to sound better or worst. Just deliver the binary better than other protocol. It is just like Protools have it's own protocol to work with it's DAW. In Mac, we use AU which is default in all Apple device.

In some cases, ASIO on some products also reveal more I/O channels to facilitate signal routing.

 

[kongwee]

In some cases, ASIO on some products also reveal more I/O channels to facilitate signal routing.

I read many years back Microsoft wasn't keen to write optimisation code for DAW.

 

[pyramidak]

The sound difference between WDM (Windows Driver Model) and ASIO sound is very noticeable. The sound sent through the ASIO driver gives maximum gain and liveliness at the output, while the sound coming through the WDM is so underpowered, affected by the volume settings in Windows and not just the volume. If you play through ASIO, you can't affect the volume of the sound in Windows sound setting, because the ASIO driver bypasses the windows audio system entirely, which is why it's a good idea to buy a soundcard where the manufacturer has taken care to support ASIO. I have the Xonar Essence II and I know what I'm talking about.

 

[ernestcarl]

The sound difference between WDM (Windows Driver Model) and ASIO sound is very noticeable. The sound sent through the ASIO driver gives maximum gain and liveliness at the output, while the sound coming through the WDM is so underpowered, affected by the volume settings in Windows and not just the volume. If you play through ASIO, you can't affect the volume of the sound in Windows sound setting, because the ASIO driver bypasses the system entirely and sends the audio straight to the soundcard output, which is why it's a good idea to buy a soundcard where the manufacturer has taken care to support ASIO. I have the Xonar Essence II and I know what I'm talking about.

None of this makes any sense.

 

[pyramidak]

None of this makes any sense.

If you play through ASIO of Xonar sound cards, you can't affect the playback with Windows volume or any other Windows sound setting, because the ASIO driver bypasses the Windows sound system. What you do not understand? This fact makes the sound different from being playing via WDM even at full volume.

 

[Trell]

If you play through ASIO of Xonar sound cards, you can't affect the playback with Windows volume or any other Windows sound setting, because the ASIO driver bypasses the Windows sound system. What you do not understand? This fact makes the sound different from being playing via WDM even at full volume.

If you’re unable to setup WDM for transparent playback I guess you can hear differences compared to ASIO.

 

[Monstieur]

If you play through ASIO of Xonar sound cards, you can't affect the playback with Windows volume or any other Windows sound setting, because the ASIO driver bypasses the Windows sound system. What you do not understand? This fact makes the sound different from being playing via WDM even at full volume.

ASIO uses WDM to communicate with the sound card. ASIO, WASAPI, Kernel Streaming, etc. are all interfaces on top of the WDM driver.

 

[Sokel]

Windows mixer volume controls affects ASIO playback just fine in some occasions despite checking any exclusive control there is available.

 

[krabapple]

Why do people still use ASIO? I thought WASAPI had rendered it redundant/obsolete? In consumer applications at least.

 

[Sokel]

Why do people still use ASIO? I thought WASAPI had rendered it redundant/obsolete? In consumer applications at least.

Thing is that you have to install it even if not use it for some dacs (XMOS comes to mind)
Other than that,channel mapping,DXD,DSD,pro interfaces,etc.

 

[krabapple]

In any use case I've had so far as a consumer -- which is to say, purely for audio file playback using software running on a Windows machine -- ASIO had to be installed by me first, if I wanted to use it with the software.

DSD , DXD can be played using foobar2K + WASAPI plus appropriate plugins. Channels can be remapped too using foobar. And I explicitly excluded pro applications.

 

[Trell]

Why do people still use ASIO? I thought WASAPI had rendered it redundant/obsolete? In consumer applications at least.

One reason to use the ASIO driver for my RME ADI-2 DAC FS is to use their DIGICheck: for metering, testing, measuring and analyzing digital audio streams.

Another reason for me is that I use it in combination with a RME audio interface during video calls connected with ADAT for monitoring.

The ADI-2 DAC needs the ASIO driver for firmware updates and I don’t want to uninstall after update.

 

[Sal1950]

I have the Xonar Essence II and I know what I'm talking about.

An on-board audio card?
What has that got to do with anything?

 

[Rottmannash]

ASIO uses WDM to communicate with the sound card. ASIO, WASAPI, Kernel Streaming, etc. are all interfaces on top of the WDM driver.

Audirvana has the option to use "kernel" mode vs ASIO vs Wasapi. What is the benefit of using kernel mode?

 

[Sokel]

DSD , DXD can be played using foobar2K + WASAPI plus appropriate plugins. Channels can be remapped too using foobar. And I explicitly excluded pro applications.

Just for the shake,have a look:

ASIO

WASAPI event

WASAPI exclusive

 

[boxerfan88]

^^ side question. why is the buffer length set so low @ 90ms? Any advantage?

Mine is 2s.

 

[Sokel]

^^ side question. why is the buffer length set so low @ 90ms? Any advantage?

Mine is 2s.

As funny as it may sound that's the way it passes all the tests in my set up,increasing it causes 32/384 to have some hiccups for example.
It's a fix I found long ago in hydrogenaudio but depends on each set-up.

 

[Aerith Gainsborough]

Why do people still use ASIO? I thought WASAPI had rendered it redundant/obsolete? In consumer applications at least.

ASIO for my RME DAC is the way, especially since I use VST for my piano and need low latencies.
Also mandatory if you start working with system wide room correction via DAW.

No, it's not a production environment.

 

[Monstieur]

Audirvana has the option to use "kernel" mode vs ASIO vs Wasapi. What is the benefit of using kernel mode?

Kernel Streaming is the lowest level audio interface on Windows. It sends I/O requests directly to the WDMAud kernel-mode driver for the hardware. There is no benefit unless you're writing highly optimized code that needs minimum latency.

 

[Rottmannash]

Kernel Streaming is the lowest level audio interface on Windows. It sends I/O requests directly to the WDMAud kernel-mode driver for the hardware. There is no benefit unless you're writing highly optimized code that needs minimum latency.

Thanks. I wonder why they market it as a great option...doesn't make sense.