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Set properties for standard Windows sound cards



In Windows, professional ASIO sound cards provide the best audio performance. If you’re using a standard WDM or DirectSound card, however, you can improve performance by optimizing driver properties.

Note: The default driver properties work well for most systems. If you’re experiencing slow response or audio dropouts, however, complete the appropriate procedure below.

Set properties for a WDM card

If you have a newer sound card that supports WDM, select this driver option. (WDM provides better performance than DirectSound.)

  1. Choose Edit > Preferences > Audio Hardware.

  2. From the Default Device menu, select Soundbooth 2.0 WDM Sound.

  3. Click Settings.

  4. On the Input and Output tabs, set the following options:

    Enable Devices
    Determines which input and output ports are available in the Audio Hardware preferences.

    Device 32-bit Recording and Playback
    Enables 32-bit inputs and outputs. To confirm whether a sound card supports this bit depth, see the documentation for the card.

    Buffer Size
    Specifies the number of audio samples buffered during recording and playback. If you hear skips or dropouts, increase the buffer size; if playback and recording start slowly, decrease the size.

Set properties for a DirectSound card

If you have an older card that requires DirectSound, select this driver option.

  1. Choose Edit > Preferences > Audio Hardware.

  2. From the Default Device menu, select Soundbooth 2.0 DirectSound.

  3. Click Settings.

  4. In the DirectSound Full Duplex Setup control panel, set the following options, and then click OK.

    Device check boxes
    Determine which ports are available in the Audio Hardware preferences.

    Buffer Size (Samples)
    If you hear skips or dropouts, double‑click the Buffer Size value for an input or output device, and type a higher value. If playback and recording start slowly, type a lower value.

    Offset (Samples)
    Determines the audio latency (delay) between multiple sound cards. To enter a new value, double-click the current one.

    Port Order
    If the selected device includes more than one port, click the Move Up or Move Down button to change the order of the ports.

    Sync Reference
    In systems with multiple sound cards, specifies which card sets the master clock. (The master clock synchronizes digital audio devices.)

    Full Duplex
    Enables Soundbooth to simultaneously record and monitor audio. Leave this selected unless you have a very old sound card that doesn’t support full-duplex operation.

    Start Input First
    Determines the order in which Soundbooth starts the sound card input and output ports. Select this option only if you have a very old sound card that doesn’t support full-duplex operation.