Normal, Fastest and Safe

What exactly do these settings do in the USB Driver Setup?

What is the best way to determine which to use?

Thanks!

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 07/01/2012 06:22:44

If they work like the other devices they change the size of the buffers but I don't think anyone really knows for sure.

I've had no problems leaving mine at the default safe.

If you're having dropout issues then you can change those settings to see if it clears up.

Wish I had more for you.

Monolithent wrote:If they work like the other devices they change the size of the buffers but I don't think anyone really knows for sure.

I'm pretty sure I know for sure, from the documentation for the interface chip. This is a USB port buffer, which is different from the ASIO buffer (the one with the number of samples). The way to determine the best setting is to try the normal setting first, and if it doesn't play well, switch through the safe modes.

Test the USB buffer using an adequately large ASIO buffer size. If you can run OK in the Normal setting, then start decreasing the ASIO buffer until it skips. Then see if using a Safe mode helps (it probably won't).

It would be nice if this was officially documented somewhere other than on the forum, maybe even write up a test procedure to determine the optimum setting.

That's what I read somewhere as well.

Interestingly enough, I get lower ASIO buffers with the Fastest, not Safe, setting, so the best advice - as usual - is just keep trying which combination of settings works best.

So do they impact recording also or just playback?

Everything impacts everything. The only guidance is to keep trying until you're satisfied, or that you're sure you won't be satisfied (at which point you can complain on the forum)

AFAIK:

Fastest- VSL running at 1ms latency.

Safe- VSL running at 4ms latency.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 08/01/2012 22:21:27

MR4Y wrote:AFAIK:

Fastest- VSL running at 1ms latency.

Safe- VSL running at 4ms latency.

....added or subtracted from the "Normal" setting, depending on what ASIO buffer size you're set at.

As an example, I just checked mine.

256 @ normal = 7ms
256 @ fast = 6ms
256 @ safe = 10ms

I just rounded the numbers off but I think you get the idea. Oh, and yes, it all effects the playback and the recording latency feel.

This info is on page 17 of the owners manual, which it's in the drivers disk.