ASIO vs. WDM vs. MME, which is better?

  • Thread starter Thread starter cawhite12
  • Start date Start date
C

cawhite12

New member
I have seen all of these cards that use ASIO, WDM, and MME drivers, but what is the difference, and which ones are better if there is much of a difference?
 
i'm definately not an expert in this area but for me, i find WDM and ASIO to be pretty close, maybe i would give the slightest advantage to ASIO. MME is a lot slower in terms of latency. There was a really good thread that went over this thuroughly, see if you can find it in a search in the computer forum
 
The best one is the one that works. The relationship of your computer with your soundcard with your software dictates the driver that's best suitable. While MME in most cases is significantly slower, if you are using an RME interface with Sonar, MME is your best bet. While M-audio cards support both ASIO and WDM, your other computer settings may make one or the other work better in software that can choose either.
 
Sklathill said:
While MME in most cases is significantly slower, if you are using an RME interface with Sonar, MME is your best bet. While M-audio cards support both ASIO and WDM, your other computer settings may make one or the other work better in software that can choose either.
Click to expand...

:confused: Why is that Sonar supports ASIO

WDM is better then ASIO theoretically because multiple programs can access the driver for your sound card. Now if its as stable as ASIO depends on your computer manufacture and program.
 
Because Sonar supports ASIO. :) As I said before, it depends on a number of factors whether WDM or ASIO is best for your particular combination of hardware and software.

Like you said, "theoretically."

For me, I use ASIO because E-mu's WDM drivers suck. :)

Also, for the RME, Sonar does a slightly different implementation of ASIO that freaks out on RME sound input. I know RME released a special Sonar-only ASIO driver...but that was about a year ago I think. Earlier RME hardware didn't do the whole WDM thing with Sonar very well. I'm not sure on th new hardware, but I bet that they've since fixed that...

As I said before...the best one is the one that works.
 
I believe RME drivers have a special MME interface that is basically like ASIO but looks like MME to the software. For Sonar you are meant to check "use MME even when WDM available".

Another product range that needs ASIO is Digidesign - no multichannel MME with those at all.
 
What is the latency on WDM? Ive always seen them to be very high. MME definately is highest latency of the two. But from what i have found ASIO kicks WDM in the can with latency.

Cakewalk uses ASIO? How come i havnt seen this feature yet when i have ran Sonar 3? Ive only seen WDM.

???

Danny
 
Sonar has supported ASIO since 2.2.

Also, I've owned Aardvark and M-Audio interfaces in the past. I've had no problem running the Aardvark around 4 ms with its A-WDM/MME driver, and the same goes with the M-Audio with WDM. These days I've got my E-mu 1820 set to 4 ms.

Three cards, three different drivers, effectively the same performance. I used the Aardvark and M-audio with Sonar 2.2XL and Sonar 3 and the E-mu with just Sonar 3.

As I said before, what works best is what works best. It all depends on the setup.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top