Reference Guide

1193
Improving performance with digital audio
Improving audio performance
ASIO sample position
UseHardwareSamplePosition=<0, 1>, default = 0
This variable applies to ASIO mode only and controls whether SONAR internally compute the
sample position based on buffer switch calls or uses the ASIOGetSamplePosition reported value to
retrieve the driver reported value.
Some drivers change the reported sample position based on how long a buffer switch took to
complete and this can cause problems since SONAR expects the reported position to be in sync
with the number of buffers actually streamed.
This Aud.ini variable defaults to 0.
Minimize driver state changes
SONAR has an option to not reset audio devices each time playback or recording starts. This option
minimizes device state transitions in response to transport operations. When enabled, SONAR
attempts to keep the device in a running state as far as possible.
To configure the MinimizeDriverStateChanges option
1. Go to Edit > Preferences > Audio - Configuration File.
2. Under Configuration Settings, click Edit Config File.
The Aud.ini file opens in the default Windows text editor.
3. In Aud.ini, locate the entry called MinimizeDriverStateChanges and set it to the desired
value. For example:
MinimizeDriverStateChanges=1
Valid values are as follows:
• 0 = off.
• 1 = On for ASIO only (default).
• 2 = On for WDM only.
• 3 = On for both ASIO and WDM.
4. Save Aud.ini and close the Windows text editor.
5. Click Reload Config Settings to reload the current audio configuration settings from Aud.ini.
Queue buffers
SONAR allows you to set the number of queue buffers in Edit > Preferences > Audio - Driver
Settings. A higher number of queue buffers will take longer to fill, and therefore cause an increase
in latency. A lower number of queue buffers decreases latency, but may cause “dropouts.” The
Note: The MinimizeDriverStateChanges variable only applies when using ASIO or WDM
driver modes, not when using the MME driver mode.