SYSTEM SETTINGS

System Settings - Audio (ASIO4ALL)

The FL Studio installation includes FL Studio ASIO and 3rd party ASIO driver ASIO4ALL. There are two advantages of ASIO:

  • Speed: ASIO drivers (in general) allow lower CPU overhead and lower buffer settings than the standard Windows ('Primary Sound Driver', WDM Driver). If your audio device has a native ASIO driver then we recommend you use that.
  • Multiple audio devices: Unique to ASIO4ALL & FL Studio ASIO, you can select inputs and outputs from separate audio-devices, something that is not possible with standard ASIO drivers. This feature allows you to use a USB microphone input and your regular audio device output at the same time (see point 7 below).

NOTE: ASIO4ALL is a generic ASIO driver that works with most audio devices, 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 OR use the FL Studio ASIO driver.

Using the ASIO4ALL Advanced Settings

This section explains how to use the ASIO4ALL settings. To see a video tutorial Click here.

  1. Press F10 on your PC keyboard and select the Audio settings by clicking on the speaker icon. Alternatively choose Audio settings from the Options Menu.
  2. Select ASIO4ALL v2 as shown below.

  3. To open the ASIO4ALL settings - Click on the 'Show ASIO panel' (shown above). The screenshot below shows ASIO4ALL in 'simple mode'. The 'spanner' button, on the lower-right, changes between 'simple' and 'advanced' modes.

  4. 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. 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 audio device is using 44100 Hz) or 48 (if it is at 48,000 Hz). In this case, the audio device is set to 44100 Hz so the Buffer length of 448 samples = 10 ms (approximately).
  5. 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 audio device 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 audio devices). If nothing is showing in this list, re-install the audio device drivers for your PC, reboot and look here again.
  6. Advanced settings - Make sure you are in Advanced mode as shown below. Click the Spanner (lower-right) to change between 'Simple' and 'Advanced' modes.

  7. Active devices - Only active devices (and their active Inputs/Outputs) can be used by FL Studio, i.e show in the Mixer IN and OUT menus. This is the step that is required to use a USB microphone with your audio device. 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 its 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 FL Studio.
  8. Latency compensation In/Out - sliders. Leave these at the default settings. The ASIO4ALL driver reports to FL Studio 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 audio device using a loop-back cable, and know what you are doing, then set the 'Latency compensation' sliders according to your measured results.
  9. Use hardware Buffer - Can reduce Buffer underruns. Whether or not it helps will depend on the design of your audio device's design and drivers.
  10. 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 audio device settings and you are not hearing anything you can give this option a try.
  11. 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 audio device settings and you are not hearing anything you can give this option a try.
  12. When you are done, close the ASIO4ALL options with the [X] window control in the top-right corner.

Troubleshooting

There is a video tutorial on the ASIO4ALL driver setup that discusses the common problems.

  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 FL Studio, close any program that may use your audio device and re-open FL Studio and the ASIO4ALL options. See also point 4 'Reset the playback device'.

    Alternatively - Right-Click the Windows speaker icon in the task bar and select 'Playback Devices' then Disable your sound-card, the 'Default Device' (this may release it for use with ASIO). Now open FL Studio and ASIO4ALL, making sure the outputs are activated as shown under the 'Advanced Settings' above.

  3. Nothing shows - If your audio device or its IN/OUTputs don't show in advanced mode, try downloading the latest driver for your audio device. This happens when the driver for your audio device hasn't registered itself correctly with Windows.
  4. No sound - If other applications are not audible or taking over the audio device see 'Auto close device' on the Audio Settings. Otherwise, if you get no sound at all check the following:
      • Master Mixer - Make sure the Audio Output control on the Master Mixer track has an Audio Output selected. If nothing is available, see below.
      • Select all Outputs - In 'Advanced view' expand your audio device Inputs/Outputs and ensure all Outputs are active. In the example above, the Scarlett 6i6 has its main output activated ('Out: 12x 44.1 1-96kHz, 24Bits') as does the Sennheiser USB headset ('Out: 2x 44.1-48 kHz, 16 bits'). Since both are activated they will show under the Mixer Output menus.
      • Disable exclusive control - Right-Click Right-Click the Speaker icon (volume control) on the Windows task bar (lower right) and click Playback devices. Find your 'speakers' (the default device usually) in the list. Right-Click Speakers and select Properties > Advanced. Disable 'Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device'. Restart Windows.
      • Reset the playback device - Close FL Studio. Right-Click the Speaker icon (volume control) on the Windows task bar (lower right) and click Playback devices. Then right-click and disable and then do the same again to re-enable your device. Open FL Studio and see if the audio now works.
      • Output Errors? - Make sure the Outputs are not showing Unavailable or Beyond logic as described elsewhere in this section.
      • Master Mixer track Output - Make sure the correct ASIO Output is selected in the Master OUT of the Master Mixer track. Try all Output menu options if you are not sure.
      • 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 audio device drivers).
  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.
      • Buffer lengths - Each device in the 'WDM Device List' can have a unique ASIO Buffer Size setting. Make sure all devices have the same buffer setting (the blue square indicates the setting of the non-selected device).
      • Plugins misbehaving - Crackling can also be caused by plugins behaving badly.
  6. Beyond Logic - Similar to 'unavailable', if the control panel of your card provides the option to lock the sample rate, deselect it. This is 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 audio device. See also point 4 'Reset the playback device'.
  7. Check the ASIO4ALL Manual in the installation folder ..:\Program Files\ASIO4ALL v2\ASIO4ALL v2 Instruction Manual.pdf, FAQ at www.asio4all.com or try the ASIO4ALL forums.