1. Open Audio Preferences

To access your audio settings:

1. Go to Edit > Preferences at the top of the screen, or press P on your keyboard.
2. In the Preferences window, locate Audio in the left-hand column.
3. Select Devices.

2. Select Your Audio Driver Mode

The Driver Mode determines how Cakewalk Sonar communicates with your audio device.

Under Audio > Devices, locate Driver Mode and choose the option that best matches your setup:

• ASIO: Recommended when your audio interface has a dedicated ASIO driver provided by the manufacturer.
• WASAPI Shared: Recommended for built-in audio devices or devices that do not have a dedicated ASIO driver.

If your audio interface has a dedicated ASIO driver, install the latest version from the manufacturer's website before configuring it in Cakewalk Sonar.

3. Select Your ASIO Device

When ASIO is selected as the Driver Mode, an ASIO Device option will appear.

1. Under Audio > Devices, set Driver Mode to ASIO.
2. Under ASIO Device, select the ASIO driver for the audio interface you want to use.
3. Select the inputs and outputs you want to make available in Cakewalk Sonar.

If your device does not have a dedicated ASIO driver, you can use a compatible ASIO wrapper, such as ASIO4ALL or Steinberg Built-in ASIO.

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 the Driver Mode to WASAPI Shared instead.

4. Set Your Input and Output Devices

Under Audio > Devices, select the inputs and outputs you want to use in Cakewalk Sonar.

• Input Drivers: Select the inputs you want to use for recording microphones, instruments, or other audio sources.
• Output Drivers: Select the outputs connected to your speakers, headphones, or other playback devices.

If you are using ASIO, the available inputs and outputs will depend on the device selected under ASIO Device.

5. Choose Playback and Recording Timing Master

The Playback Timing Master and Recording Timing Master determine which audio device Cakewalk Sonar uses for playback and recording timing.

To configure them:

1. Go to Audio > Driver Settings.
2. Locate Playback Timing Master and Recording Timing Master.
3. Select the appropriate output for Playback Timing Master and input for Recording Timing Master from the audio device you are using.

6. Buffer Size and Latency Settings

Buffer size affects the balance between audio latency and system performance. A smaller buffer can reduce latency while recording but requires more processing power. A larger buffer can improve stability but increases latency.

To adjust the buffer size:

1. Go to Audio > Driver Settings.
2. Locate the Buffer Size setting.
3. Adjust the buffer size based on your system and recording needs.

A buffer size of 256 samples can be a useful starting point. If you experience audio dropouts, crackling, or glitches, try increasing the buffer size.

Troubleshooting Tips

• If you experience audio dropouts, crackling, or glitches, try increasing the buffer size.
• Make sure you are using the latest driver provided by your audio interface manufacturer.
• If your audio interface provides a dedicated ASIO driver, use it instead of a generic ASIO wrapper.
• If you experience problems while using an ASIO wrapper, switch to WASAPI Shared.
• If your audio device does not appear, confirm that it is connected and turned on before opening Cakewalk Sonar.
• If you change your Driver Mode or ASIO Device, review your selected input and output drivers afterward.