Ultimate trial install - audio driver issues .... ?

[Aud1]

Hello ! I have installed the trial - it comes as the Ultimate version. I am using it on a Windows laptop with the inbuilt soundcard just to trial, and want to try different drivers (WaveRT, MME, ASIO4ALL), just as I can do with other DAW software. But when I open Setup, Playback Engine, in the top section I see
- Windows Audio Device
- Input Device
- Output Device
but I see nothing that allows me to change drivers (I have not installed ASIO4ALL yet, but want to try MME). When I open other DAWs they give me options.

Is this normal/expected ?


I would take a screenshot but for some reason it does n't work over PT ....
Thanks very much

[Darryl Ramm]

Pro Tools is not like every other DAW, Pro Tools only works with ASIO and WASAPI audio devices and this is pretty well documented.

Well it's supposed to work with WASAPI and might for you or might not. The "Windows Audio Device" is the WASAPI device, so when you select that as the Pro Tools playback engine what happens? But effectively nobody serious uses WASAPI, effectively everybody uses ASIO, with real ASIO interface devices. If you don't have an real ASIO device you can try installing ASIO4ALL. It's a last ditch compatibility story and few folks would use it for anything serious given that there are acceptable starter interfaces for around $140 (like from Focusrite) or so that include OK ASIO drivers. You can try ASIO4ALL yourself but effectively nobody here cares about it. One of the issues you can run into with it are problems that come from sharing the audio device with Windows and Pro Tools. You want to avoid that with Pro Tools unless you know you have a high-quality multi-client ASIO driver (like say RME offers).

For serious low-latency reliable use, especially on larger systems you need ASIO. You need ASIO for that with many other DAWs as well. You are likely wasting time without a proper ASIO interface.

[albee1952]

What Darryl said; especially, "get an interface". Even if you don't stay with Pro Tools

[Aud1]

Originally Posted by Darryl Ramm

Pro Tools is not like every other DAW, Pro Tools only works with ASIO and WASAPI audio devices and this is pretty well documented.

Well it's supposed to work with WASAPI and might for you or might not. The "Windows Audio Device" is the WASAPI device, so when you select that as the Pro Tools playback engine what happens? But effectively nobody serious uses WASAPI, effectively everybody uses ASIO, with real ASIO interface devices. If you don't have an real ASIO device you can try installing ASIO4ALL. It's a last ditch compatibility story and few folks would use it for anything serious given that there are acceptable starter interfaces for around $140 (like from Focusrite) or so that include OK ASIO drivers. You can try ASIO4ALL yourself but effectively nobody here cares about it. One of the issues you can run into with it are problems that come from sharing the audio device with Windows and Pro Tools. You want to avoid that with Pro Tools unless you know you have a high-quality multi-client ASIO driver (like say RME offers).

For serious low-latency reliable use, especially on larger systems you need ASIO. You need ASIO for that with many other DAWs as well. You are likely wasting time without a proper ASIO interface.

[Aud1]

I will be checking out an Apollo Twin - let's see how that goes !