RME Tech Info - Setting up Sonar 2.0 for use with the DIGI96 series

Setting up Sonar 2.0 for use with the DIGI96 series
Step by step instructions on how to set up hardware and software

Sonar 2.0 and DIGI96 series under Windows 2000/XP

At times of writing this Tech Info no WDM Kernel Streaming drivers existed for the DIGI96 series. That's no problem performance-wise, but you should follow the below steps of configuration very carefully, to achieve the best performance results.

The following information is also true when using Windows ME. Note that the MME driver of the DIGI96 series does not support latencies below 23 ms @ 44.1 kHz under Win 9x.

Therefore we recommend Windows XP when using Sonar. Then latencies down to 6 ms can be achieved, in case driver version 2.0 or higher is used.

The lowest possible latency is defined on the tab 'Mode' of the Settings dialog. Set it to 256 / 32 Bit (5.8 ms.)

Later on the 'Wave Profiler' will be started to test the card. Unfortunately this tool does not work correctly under certain conditions. For the best results the following conditions should be true:

The first input channels of the tested card should be accessible

The card should be at 44.1 kHz sample rate

If possible all available inputs and outputs should be accessible

The lowest available DMA Buffer Size should be active

Therefore for the DIGI96/8 series the following setup should be verified before continuing:

Under the tab 'Mode' of the DIGI96 Settings set the Buffer Size to 256 / 32 Bit (5.8 ms)

Set the card's input to Optical, Clock Mode AutoSync, and feed a valid ADAT signal with a sample rate of 44.1 kHz to the input

In case no ADAT signal is available: Set the card to Clock Mode Master, Input Optical, and connect the optical output directly to the optical input (loop-back)

Of course, when using a DIGI96 a 2-channel input signal at the optical or coaxial input is sufficient.

Install and/or start Sonar. The whole configuration is done in the dialog 'Audio', found under 'Options' as shown below.

For Sonar to 'see' the DIGI96 series drivers at all, the option 'Always use MME Interface, even when WDM drivers are available' has to be activated (tab 'Advanced'.)

Sonar must be restarted then.

After a restart the tab 'Drivers' now shows the stereo devices of the corresponding DIGI96 card. The picture below shows the 4 record and playback pairs of the DIGI96/8 PST.

All devices should be active, that is marked.

Sonar must be restarted then.

Under the tab 'General' the first device of the corresponding DIGI96 series card has to be selected as 'Record Timing Master' and 'Playback Timing Master'.

The 'Audio Driver Bit Depth' should be set to '24'.

Now the Wave Profiler is started. Follow the instructions on the screen.

When the Wave Profiler is finished, you will find that the mode '32 Bit PCM, right justified' has been chosen to transmit 24 bit audio data (tab 'Driver Profiles'.) This setting is as wrong (low volume operation) as it makes no sense at all. The correct setting is '32 Bit PCM, left justified' (see next picture.)

Additionally the lowest Buffer Sizes for several modes have been selected and written into a table.

In most cases the cards of the DIGI96 series can be used with Sonar down to 256 samples. Therefore we recommend to edit the table entries according to the picture below.

Sonar should be restarted then.

Finally you can adjust the latency using the slider under the tab 'General'. The lowest value is about 5.8 ms, and should work very reliable. In case clicks and dropouts occur at higher CPU loads, the next higher value should be chosen (11 ms.)

Copyright Matthias Carstens, 2002.

All entries in this Tech Infopaper have been thoroughly checked, however no guarantee for correctness can be given. RME cannot be held responsible for any misleading or incorrect information provided throughout this manual. Lending or copying any part or the complete document or its contents is only possible with the written permission from RME.

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