Setting Up Your Audio Preferences in Cakewalk Sonar

Properly configuring your audio preferences is essential for a smooth and seamless experience in Cakewalk Sonar. This guide will help you through the necessary steps to make sure your audio settings are correctly configured for your system.

1. Open Audio Preferences

To access your audio Settings, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Edit menu at the top of the screen.
2. Select Preferences from the drop-down list (or press P on your keyboard).
3. In the Preferences window, locate Audio in the left-hand column.

2. Select Your Audio Driver Mode

The first setting to adjust is the Driver Mode, which determines how Cakewalk Sonar communicates with your audio interface. Depending on your system, you’ll typically choose one of the following:

• WASAPI: Ideal if you don't have a dedicated audio interface. Choose WASAPI Shared for general use 
• ASIO: Recommended if you’re using a dedicated audio interface. ASIO drivers provide the best performance and the lowest latency, ensuring the best experience when recording and playing back audio.

To select the driver mode:

1. Go to Playback and Recording Settings, then locate the Driver Mode section. Click the drop-down menu and select either WASAPI or ASIO based on your setup.

3. Set Your Input and Output Devices

Once you’ve chosen your driver mode, you’ll need to select the correct input and output devices. Go to the Devices section to enable your input and output devices.

• Input Device: This is your audio interface’s input (e.g., microphone or instrument input). Choose the appropriate device from the drop-down list.
• Output Device: This is where your sound will be sent for playback (e.g., speakers or headphones). Choose the correct output device from the list.

4. Choose Playback and Recording Timing Master

In the Audio preferences window, you’ll find settings for the Playback Timing Master and Recording Timing Master. These are crucial for syncing audio playback and recording.

To set:

1. Under the Driver Settings section, locate the Playback Timing Master and Recording Timing Master options.
2. Select the same device for both Playback and Recording Timing Master to ensure synchronization between your input and output devices.
   • If you're using multiple devices, ensure that the timing masters are set to the device you use for the most accurate timing.

We are using a Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 Gen 2 as the audio interface in this example.

5. Buffer Size and Latency Settings

Buffer size and latency are key to achieving a goodbalance between performance and responsiveness. A smaller buffer size reduces latency but can cause more CPU load, while a larger buffer size increases latency but reduces strain on your system.

To adjust:

1. In Driver Settings, find the Buffer Size setting.
2. Adjust the slider to increase or decrease the buffer size according to your system’s needs. A common starting point is 256 samples for a good balance.

Troubleshooting Tips:

• If you experience audio dropouts or glitches, try adjusting the buffer size to a higher setting for better performance.
• Ensure that your audio drivers are up to date. Visit your audio interface manufacturer's website to download the latest drivers.
• If you're using WASAPI Exclusive mode and hear no sound, try switching to WASAPI Shared or ASIO, as some systems may have compatibility issues.

For more information, please refer to Page 1622 of the Cakewalk Sonar Reference Guide:
Cakewalk Sonar Reference Guide PDF