I have 2 DAW computers.

One is a custom built i5 Intel machine (desktop) and I run my Focusrite interface in it with firewire and ASIO.

The second machine is an old Dell Duo Core lappy running Vista as the OS. I used to run my firewire focusrite on it using ASIO because ASIO was the ONLY driver that would work. Plain and simple, nothing else would work. BB & RB would run flawlessly on this lappy with the factory card using MME.... or the focusrite with ASIO.....but not my Sonar DAW. It demanded ASIO, or no sound.


Comments above are correct in that you may not really need ASIO if it gets you sound. However, that driver need is determined by what driver runs the interface the best. MME should be OK for audio only projects. Midi will present difficulties quite often when using MME. Latency and other audio glitches are common.

I mix in Sonar so I tend to place the reverb and other polishing FX into the master fx bin so that everything in the project gets the same FX treatment. I only place things in a track if that one track is the only thing to need that particular fx. I often add busses for guitars and vocals so that I can use the same (one) reverb on them as a group.

With a simple 3 track song, put the fx (one instance) in the master fx bin and see if the project will run smooth.

You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.