Are There Separate Drivers For Both Your Computer's Sound Card And Your Interface??

[Mike Freze]

I installed a driver provided by my TASCAM interface for that interface. (came with a CD to install). I think it's ASIO (as if I know what I'm talking about). Does my computer have a separate driver for it's sound card too? Why don't they conflict? If I use an ASIO driver as a part of my TASCAM interface, then what would my computer's driver be? ASIO as well? If not, why no conflict when the interface is hooked up to the computer?? Does it matter which driver you configure in your computer recording software (I have Cubase LE): your sound card driver or your interface driver?

Mike Freze

 

[Beemer]

Mike,

I have just gone through the same experience. The conclusion as advised by those with the experience is that you cannot have two ASIO drivers working at the same time. You can of course switch from one to the other. There is a product called Asio4All but I'm using Windows 64-bit and I here that there are problems using that fix.

Beemer

 

[Mike Freze]

Hey, Beemer, thanks! When you say use one or the other (can't use both at once), is it better to put priority with your interface driver then sinced that's what's bringing instrument signals into your computer?

I'm still curious if an interface has it's own built-in sound card (or is that only within the computer itself?). If an interface does has it's own soundcard, then you don't even need to configure anything inside your computer concerning drivers or sound cards, right? It's there in the interface.

Mike

 

[TetraFish]

Right, the interface replaces the soundcard. My recording PC doesn't even have one and the onboard card is disabled.

 

[Chili]

An ASIO driver does more than the driver for your internal soundcard. It gives a direct path to your interface for lower latency. I believe it also measures latency and reports it to your DAW for compensation. The drivers for the internal card go through all the Windows stuff which adds layers of processing and more latency.

Cubase looks for ASIO drivers... and because your internal soundcard doesn't have one, it doesn't show up in the list of devices. And that is probably why there is no conlficts.

You can use ASIO4ALL as an ASIo driver for your internal soundcard, it will then show up in Cubase. But that's kind of a hack program to be used as a band-aid. If given a choice, you should always choose an ASIO driver. If there is another available in the list of devices, don't select it.

I'm still curious if an interface has it's own built-in sound card (or is that only within the computer itself?). If an interface does has it's own soundcard, then you don't even need to configure anything inside your computer concerning drivers or sound cards, right? It's there in the interface.

This kind of confuses me. Yes, an interface had its own soundcard. More exactly, it has an analog to digital converter (and probably a digital to analog converter). An interface will usually be better than an internal soundcard. It is designed and built specifically for recording whereas, the internal soundcard is meant more for gaming, mulitmedia and consumer useage.