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Chapter 14 Audio
ASIO Driver and DirectSound
Avid Liquid supports the use of sound cards that are based on the ASIO driver standard. ASIO stands for
Audio Stream In/Out. ASIO sound cards are often high-quality and offer many configuration options for
audio professionals in particular.
This does not necessarily mean that you now need an ASIO-compatible sound card; Avid Liquid also
works with the popular DirectSound sound cards, which also offer multichannel output.
 If you have only one DirectSound card (or onboard chip), Avid Liquid automatically uses this
device as an audio device.
 The ASIO driver used must be Version 2.0 or later.
 At this time, Avid Liquid’s ASIO technology is used only for playback (Timeline, Clip Viewer,
etc.). ASIO plays no part in capture or input.
 With full DirectX and ASIO support, the DirectX full duplex driver from Avid Liquid Version 6.x
was rendered unnecessary and is no longer used.
Multiple Sound Cards
A system can have multiple sound cards but only one can be operated with Avid Liquid at any one time.
It makes no difference whether the devices are installed internally (PCI) or externally (USB).
A basic distinction is made between DirectSound and ASIO sound cards or chips. DirectSound is the
audio component of Microsoft’s DirectX driver technology that is also responsible for graphics accelera-
tion and, consequently, for Avid Liquid’s realtime effects. Most sound cards are compatible. Avid Liquid
requires DirectX Version 9 or later.
Multiple DirectSound Cards
If you have more than one DirectSound card in your system, click Windows Start menu > Settings >
Control Panel > Sounds and Audio Devices > Audio tab and select one of the sound cards (= Audio
Devices) as the “Default device”. Avid Liquid will then work with this device.
In the Audio Editor’s Output Mapping, the selected card is configured as a “DirectSound device”
(see page 825).
Multiple ASIO Drivers or Cards
All available ASIO drivers are listed in Avid Liquid under Edit > Control Panel > Site > System > Inputs/
Outputs > Audio Outputs > Audio device.
Select a driver. If you want to know the sound card or audio hardware that the driver is currently working
with, double-click on the Edit line below.
The ASIO settings can be very different depending on the manufacturer and driver. For more informa-
tion, read the driver documentation. The driver itself is not a product of Avid Technology, Inc..
The selected driver is specified by name in the Audio Editor’s Output Mapping (see page 825).