Basic and Generic FAQ. for Digital Audio Workstations

Common problems with your D.A.W. and how to fix them

I. Popping and clicking during playback

a. Causes/Fixes
i. Latency set too low
1. Using ASIO driver mode set the buffer size to at least 256
2. Using WDM drivers adjust the slider bar to around 12 milliseconds (Using wdm drivers may cause problems with audio/midi sync. If your card supports ASIO ALWAYS use ASIO driver mode.)

ii. Software is set to use a generic driver mode
1. SONAR:
a. Inside the program go to Options > Audio > Advanced. Under the "Playback and Recording" header choose ASIO as the Driver Mode.
b. Go to Options > Audio > General and click the ASIO PANEL button
c. set Buffer Size to 256 samples (higher end cards can be set to 128 or 64 samples) NOTE: lower number is better

2. SAMPLITUDE
a. Open software and hit "y" on the keyboard (or go to Options > System)
b. Under "Playback Devices" on the left column of options below the "Driver System" header put the dot beside "ASIO"
c. In the same screen under the "ASIO Setup" header choose the ASIO driver mode that has the name of the sound card that you are using in the description (ex: Echo cards display as ASIO Echo WDM)
d. Under "ASIO Setup" click "Control Panel" to bring up your sound cards ASIO buffer size setup screen
e. set Buffer Size to 256 samples (higher end cards can be set to 128 or 64 samples) NOTE: lower number is better

iii. You are recording to your operating system (O.S.) hard drive (hdd) 1. It is always suggested to have one hdd that your O.S. and other software is installed to and then a second hdd for recording.

2. You have two hdd's but want to check your record path
a. SONAR
i. Open Sonar and go to Options > Global > Folders
ii. Set "Project Files" folder to the path of the hdd you have designated for recording.
iii. TIP: For tidiness you may want to create a folder on the recording hdd labeled "Sonar Projects" then sub folders for each project below that.

b. SAMPLITUDE
i. Open software and hit "y" on the keyboard (or go to Options > Settings)
ii. Choose the sixth option down on the left side of the option menu labeled "Paths/Skins"
iii.Now direct both the "New Virtual Projects" and the "Project Files" folders to the hdd designated as your recording hdd
iv. TIP: For tidiness you may want to create a folder labeled "Samplitude Audio" and then create two sub folders labeled "New Virtual Projects" and "Project Files." Then direct Samplitude to those folders as directed above.
iv. NOTE: Most multitrackers have two ASIO driver mode options. If you do NOT choose the ASIO driver mode that has the brand of audio card that you are using listed in the description you will most likely experience severe dropouts.

II. No MIDI playback (but audio is fine)
a. Most pro sound cards do not have built in hardware synthesizers so you have to use a 3rd party Software Synth (SW Synth). A few examples of 3rd party SW Synth
i. Halion
ii. Kontakt
iii.Project 5
c. If you do not own any of the above or similar programs Windows has a built in SW Synth that you can use through your multitracking software. It's called Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth.
d. To set this as default MIDI playback device for windows go to Start button > Settings > Control Panel > Sounds and Audio Devices > Audio tab.
e. The bottom option is MIDI Music playback. In the dropdown box choose the Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth.
f. You also have to set this as the playback device in your multitracking software.

i. SONAR
1. Go to Options > MIDI Devices
2. Select Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth and your recording cards MIDI device (so that you have MIDI input capability)
3. Click the "Move Selected Devices to Top" button
4. Now you can choose the Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth as the output device for MIDI tracks enabling you to hear them. ii. SAMPLITUDE
1. Open software and hit "y" on the keyboard (or go to Options > System)
2. Choose the 3rd option down the left side marked MIDI
3. In the white box at the top of this screen marked "Playback" at the right side of the box put a checkmark in the box for both your soundcard AND the Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth.
4. On the same screen the top drop down box is labeled "Global Play Device." Choose the Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth as the default device.
5. Below that is "Global Record Device." Choose your soundcards MIDI input for this box. (to enable MIDI input)