Audio drivers allow Cakewalk Sonar to communicate with your computer's audio hardware. The Driver Mode you choose determines how Sonar communicates with your audio device.
If you use a dedicated audio interface, the manufacturer will typically provide an ASIO driver. If you use your computer's built-in audio device, WASAPI Shared is generally a good starting point.
Change Driver Mode in Cakewalk Sonar
- Connect and turn on any audio devices you want to use before opening Cakewalk Sonar.
- Launch Cakewalk Sonar.
- Go to Edit > Preferences, or press
Pto open Preferences. - Go to Audio > Devices.
- Under Driver Mode, select the driver mode you want to use.
- If you select ASIO, choose your audio interface under ASIO Device.
- Select the inputs and outputs you want to use.
- Click Apply, then OK to save your changes.
Note
Changing the Driver Mode may change which audio devices, inputs, and outputs are available. Review your device selections after changing this setting.
Quick Guide to Driver Modes
- ASIO
Recommended when using an audio interface with a dedicated ASIO driver provided by the manufacturer. ASIO is designed for low-latency recording and playback. When ASIO is selected, use ASIO Device to choose the ASIO driver you want Cakewalk Sonar to use.
- WASAPI Shared
A good choice for built-in audio devices or hardware without a dedicated ASIO driver. It allows Cakewalk Sonar to share the audio device with other Windows applications.
- WASAPI Exclusive
Gives Cakewalk Sonar exclusive access to the selected audio device. This can provide lower latency, but other applications may not be able to use the device while Sonar is using it.
- WDM/KS
An older Windows driver mode provided for compatibility with some audio devices and configurations.
- MME (32-bit)
A legacy Windows driver mode primarily intended for compatibility with older audio hardware.
Using an ASIO Wrapper
If your audio device does not have a dedicated ASIO driver, you may be able to use an ASIO wrapper, such as ASIO4ALL or Steinberg Built-in ASIO.
When using an ASIO wrapper:
- Select ASIO under Driver Mode.
- Select the wrapper under ASIO Device.
- Select the inputs and outputs you want to use.
Note
ASIO wrappers may introduce compatibility or audio issues that Cakewalk Support may not be able to troubleshoot. If you experience problems while using an ASIO wrapper, switch to WASAPI Shared instead.
When available, we recommend using the dedicated ASIO driver provided by your audio interface manufacturer.
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