Wasapi or ASIO

Hello everybody!

Can you tell me what is better driver for my S4 mk3, win 11?

I switched from wasapi to asio, but ill need to take it back to wasapi, cause driving on asio my cpu sometimes go high and program needs to restart.

I changed to asio because a few people told me that is recommended driver for s4 but its worse, please some recommend?

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Accepted answers

PK The DJ

The S4 MK3 should work fine with WASAPI (Microsoft's generic ASIO style driver) so there should be no need to use ASIO in this case.

Often with pro audio interfaces you should use the supplied ASIO driver, so that's probably why people told you to use it, but the S4 doesn't need it, so if WASAPI works then use that.

red_nick

What lord-carlos said. You might find WASAPI to be less demanding on your system though, so if that's an issue don't worry about using it.

Definitely recommend the article "Windows Tuning Tips for Audio Processing" on the main Native Instruments website (unfortunately still can't post links)

All comments

lord-carlos

Normally ASIO works better, but if wasapi works for you just keep that.

What settings do you use with ASIO? 44100 hz and 256 buffer size?

PK The DJ

The S4 MK3 should work fine with WASAPI (Microsoft's generic ASIO style driver) so there should be no need to use ASIO in this case.

Often with pro audio interfaces you should use the supplied ASIO driver, so that's probably why people told you to use it, but the S4 doesn't need it, so if WASAPI works then use that.

red_nick

What lord-carlos said. You might find WASAPI to be less demanding on your system though, so if that's an issue don't worry about using it.

Definitely recommend the article "Windows Tuning Tips for Audio Processing" on the main Native Instruments website (unfortunately still can't post links)

Marloss

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/124151#Comment_124151

I try both 44100 and 48000 with 256 and 512 buffer combination, cpu is very low, but in one moment suddenly go high and crashes...

Marloss

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/124153#Comment_124153

Thanks a lot!!

Marloss

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/124154#Comment_124154

Thanks, I ll read that

Stevan

Recommending to use dedicated ASIO driver when ever it is possible. It is better optimized in terms of the latency but also for the same reason gives more stress to your system. (which is indicated on the LOAD meter in case that your computer is not optimized well for realtime audio processing).

PK The DJ

@Stevan the S4MK3 does not require an ASIO driver.

From Native Instruments support page:

"Unlike former TRAKTOR controllers, the S4 MK3 uses Windows' own 'WASAPI (Exclusive)' driver"

Stevan

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/124266#Comment_124266

I did state when ever it is possible :)))) Please don't get me started on the S4 Mk3 implementation and lack of updates.

viper9711

What's the different between WASAPI (Exclusive) and WASAPI (Shared) Driver?

lord-carlos

Exclusive will give traktor full control and stop other programs from using it. I'm not sure, but it might also reduce latency. Maybe someone else can give more details?

Shared will allow all windows programs to use it as well.

For example with shared you could open your browser and play a youtube video on the master channel. Or use traktor + maschine at the same time.

I would use Exclusive so other programs can't "hijack" the sound while you DJ.

Sunborn

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/21274/wasapi-or-asio

Technically, ASIO is always superior. Its greater benefit is that ASIO is designed to communicate directly with the audio hardware, bypassing the layers of the operating system (which are the main reason for high latency in audio processing). As you probably know, real-time, audio recording and playback in high quality it's a demand in music production, thus ASIO is the perfect solution for this.

Yet sometimes you have to use WASAPI for whatever reason. Then, you have 2 options:

The WASAPI Shared Mode is suitable for multimedia playback. That's it. However, in WASAPI Exclusive Mode, the application takes exclusive control of an audio device, almost like an ASIO driver does. This bypasses the audio signal directly to the audio hardware. This mode is suitable for professional audio recording and playback where low latency is required to precisely record the audio.

So, as lord-carlos said, this mode will give you lower latency. However i'm afraid that it won't do much for your problem, so if you will use WASAPI i recommend the shared mode.

However before you go to WASAPI, i recommend to try ASIO but with disabled Multi Core Processing from your Traktor's Audio setup because sometimes the CPU problem is because of this. Though this depends on various other Windows setting.

If you still have a problem, then switch back to WASAPI.

Note (for home use only, not for gigs!): If you also have a good audio sound card, i recommend you use this one (with its ASIO drivers) instead of the S4 MK3 audio options and use your S4 only as a controller. In this way, all your devices will have a less heavy duty, which will lead to a smaller CPU use.

Sûlherokhh

@Sunborn :

I use a separate audio card for gigs all the time, without any problem so far, forgoing use of the inbuilt master and cue monitor controls. So i would personally correct the strong statement from 'for home use only, not for gigs!' to 'for all uses, after extensive trials at home, as i always do'. 😎🎧

lord-carlos

Why would using a secendary audio interface lead to smaller CPU usage?

Sunborn

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/124330#Comment_124330

ok, i probably didn't explain it well... :-)

what i meant is that, of course you can use a separate audio card on gigs and there is absolutely no problem with this!

but... if you have and if you can.

some people have big studio cards that are very unpractical to carry with them and others have very expensive material to risk using it on the road, while some others prefer to travel light (that's me!) :-) ... for some others maybe it is the only card they have and they don't want to risk a damage or to get stolen...

...and so on, and so on... in our example here, the S4 MK3 has an audio card onboard so, personally i wouldn't take an extra card with me...

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