SETUP

Audio (ASIO4ALL) PC Only

For PC users the Deckadance installation includes a 3rd party ASIO driver ASIO4ALL. There are two advantages:

• Speed: ASIO drivers (in general) allow lower CPU overhead and shorter buffer length than the standard Windows (DirectSound, WDM Driver). If your audio interface has a native ASIO driver then we recommend you use that.
• Multiple audio devices: Specific to the ASIO4ALL driver, you to select inputs and outputs from separate soundcards/audio-devices, something that is not possible with standard ASIO drivers. This is how you can use a USB microphone with your regular soundcard (see point 6 below).

NOTE: ASIO4ALL is a generic ASIO driver that works with most soundcards, your experience may be different, including long periods of silence and head-scratching. If ASIO4ALL doesn't produce any sound we recommend that you work through all the steps below including the Troubleshooting section.

Using the ASIO4ALL Advanced Settings

This section explains how to use the ASIO4ALL settings.

1. Open the Press the Audio settings and select 'ASIO4ALL v2' from the AUDIO INTERFACE list.
2. Click the [Control Panel] button on Audio settings to open the ASIO4ALL driver settings (as shown below).
3. ASIO Buffer Size - As shown above, the ASIO4ALL window allows you to adjust the ASIO Buffer Size (Buffer length) settings to fine-tune Buffer underrun issues (audio clicks, pops or glitches). You can adjust the buffer length for each selected device (in this case the Creative SB X-Fi is selected, highlighted dark-blue). It is a good idea to set all devices you plan to use to the same Buffer Size. Select each device by clicking on the name so it becomes highlighted and then change the Buffer Size slider. The Buffer Size is displayed in samples, to convert from samples to milliseconds (ms) divide the Buffer length in samples by 44.1 (if your soundcard is using 44100 Hz) or 48 (if it is at 48,000 Hz). In this case, the soundcard is set to 44100 Hz so the Buffer length of 448 samples = 10 ms (approximately).
4. WDM Device List - The screenshot also shows 2 devices in the WDM Device List (Creative SB X-Fi and Plantronics Headset). The devices that appear in your list will probably be different and are those audio devices that have soundcard drivers correctly installed and registered with the Windows operating system. If your sound is working correctly under Windows, there should be at least one device listed (something with Realtek or AC97 in the title are common for motherboard-based soundcards). If nothing is showing in this list, re-install the soundcard drivers for your PC, reboot and look here again.
5. Advanced settings - Make sure you are in Advanced mode as shown below. Click the Spanner (lower-right) to change between 'Simple' and 'Advanced' modes.
6. Active devices - Only active devices (and their active Inputs/Outputs) can be used by Deckadance, i.e show in the INPUT / OUTPUT ROUTING options. This is the step that is required to use a USB microphone with your soundcard. To activate a device click the button in front of the device name, the blue button & arrow will light to indicate the device is active. You must also ensure that the device's Inputs (In:) and Outputs (Out:) are also activated. Click on any [+] squares in front of the device to expand the list of Inputs and Outputs and click on the activate buttons. NOTE: activating a device at the highest level does not necessarily mean it's inputs and outputs are activated. For example, in the screenshot above the Plantronics Headset Output is not activated and so won't be available in Deckadance.
7. Latency compensation In/Out - sliders. Leave these at the default settings. The ASIO4ALL driver reports to Deckadance the latency it adds to the audio stream, and this is taken into account by the program where appropriate. However, if you have measured the input/output latency of your soundcard using a loop-back cable, and know what you are doing, then set the 'Latency compensation' sliders according to your measured results.
8. Use hardware Buffer - Can reduce Buffer underruns (audio clicks, pops or glitches). Whether or not it helps will depend on the design of your soundcard's design and drivers.
9. Always resample 44.1 kHz <-> 48 kHz - This option fixes a no sound issue on SigmaTel C-Major Audio devices. If everything else seems to be correct on your soundcard settings and you are not hearing anything you can give this option a try.
10. Force WDM Driver to 16-Bit - This option fixes a no sound issue on SoundMax Digital Audio devices. If everything else seems to be correct on your soundcard settings and you are not hearing anything you can give this option a try.
11. When you are done, close the ASIO4ALL options with the [X] window control in the top-right corner.

Troubleshooting

1. Make sure you are using the latest version of ASIO4ALL, install it and try again. The latest ASIO4ALL driver will be available at www.asio4all.com. Don't be afraid to try the latest Beta (if there is one).
2. Unavailable - If any of the inputs/outputs of the devices in the 'WDM Device List' have a RED X through them, it means they are probably being used by another audio application. For example, programs such as 'MSN Messenger', 'Skype', media players etc. can tie up inputs/outputs so, close Deckadance, close any program that may use your soundcard and re-open Deckadance and the ASIO4ALL options.
3. Nothing shows - If your soundcard or its IN/OUTputs don't show in advanced mode, try downloading the latest driver for your soundcard. This happens when the driver for your soundcard hasn't registered itself correctly with Windows.
4. No sound - Check the following:
   • Select all Outputs - In 'Advanced view' expand your Soundcard Inputs/Outputs and ensure all Outputs are active. In the example above, the Creative SB X-Fi has its main analog output selected ('Out: 8x 44.1 1-192kHz, 32Bits') but the 'SPDIF' Output and 'Plantronics Head' set Output ('Out: 2x 6 4-48 kHz, 16 bits') are both deselected and so would not be available in the Audio settings.
   • Main Outputs - Make sure your ASIO Output is selected in the Master OUT Audio settings.
   • Switches - Try the 4 possible combinations of the 'Always resample 44.1 kHz <-> 48 kHz' and 'Force WDM Driver to 16-Bit' switches (Off/Off, On/Off, Off/On, On/On).
   • Any sound? - If there is still no sound, make sure you can hear sound from other Windows programs. If not then your problem isn't related to ASIO4ALL (try re-installing your soundcard drivers).
   • Output Errors? - Make sure the Outputs are not showing Unavailable or Beyond logic as described elsewhere in this section.
5. Crackling noises without the underrun count increasing - Check the following:
   • Switches - Try the 4 possible combinations of the 'Always resample 44.1 kHz <-> 48 kHz' and 'Force WDM Driver to 16-Bit' switches (Off/Off, On/Off, Off/On, On/On).
   • Hardware buffer switch - Try On/Off.
6. Beyond Logic - Similar to 'unavailable', if the control panel of your card provides the option to lock the sample rate deselect it, a known cause of 'Beyond Logic' errors. Also try closing and re-opening the control panel, unplugging/re-inserting USB audio devices and/or reinstalling the Windows (WDM) driver for the soundcard.
7. Check the ASIO4ALL Manual in the installation directory ..:\Program Files\ASIO4ALL v2\ASIO4ALL v2 Instruction Manual.pdf, FAQ at www.asio4all.com or try the ASIO4ALL forums.