Studio monitors...Yes or No (for me)

[thing]

First question of many....Sorry in advance.
I'm a guitarist playing around in Ableton and having fun. However as I'm still learning the software, I've found it tedious to constantly reset my audio interface preferences from midi/audio recording to listening/playback (via my computers stereo). Swapping drivers all the time is a hassle and I'm sure there is an easier way.
As I am new to this and learning I'd like to be able to watch a tutorial (Youtube or whatever) and implement it as I watch. But for me now, I have to close Ableton, watch the video again, open Ableton again to try what I have seen, and close Ableton again to hear the video sound from the tutorial. This is hardly ideal.
So my main question is:
If I bought some studio monitors and connected them to my interface outputs - would that mean I would no longer have to close Ableton in order to hear the audio from the tutorial video I am watching? The audio (from the video I am watching would play via my computer speakers) and my Ableton session would play via the monitors....? Yeah or Nah?

[mhult]

I don't quite understand your setup.

Are you using Windows?

If so, do you have ASIO drivers for your audio interface?

If so, you should be able to playback audio from Live and Youtube at the same time, through the same output and speakers.

In conclusion: If you don't have a proper, ASIO capable audio interface get one!

(If you are a Mac user, disregard this post completely).

[Tarekith]

In conclusion: If you don't have a proper, ASIO capable audio interface get one!

This. Your issue is due to your soundcard not being multiclient compatible, which is typical of lower end soundcards or those built into lower spec computers (sometimes).

[thing]

Sorry - only swapping out drivers between audio recording and midi recording. Still learning and was confusing the issue.
Using ASIO4all on PC and it will definitely not let me play an instrument and watch a video. I must close Ableton to do so.
Would monitors eliminate this problem?

[Tarekith]

My guess is no, monitors are not what you need to solve this issue.

[jestermgee]

Sorry - only swapping out drivers between audio recording and midi recording. Still learning and was confusing the issue.
Using ASIO4all on PC and it will definitely not let me play an instrument and watch a video. I must close Ableton to do so.
Would monitors eliminate this problem?

To get you up to speed on ASIO vs WASAPI/Direct Audio for Windowz:

WASAPI/Direct (Windows Audio Session API) is, in simple terms, the windows audio mixer. Think of it like an internal software mixer where all your audio inputs (physical and software) connect and it lists all your outputs. You Access this mixer via the volume mixer in the bottom right of your computer screen...

It is a software mixer and has a number of layers to it that your signal must travel through. The benefits of WASAPI is you can have many applications all sending audio to your outputs but none have any kind of priority over another and there is a buffer (quite large) that helps maintain the audio stream.

WASAPI is not good at "real-time" demands so when you throw a multi-channel audio application at it that starts handing large amounts of maths to it and demanding it solves the equations NOW, it starts to panic and that is heard as crackle and pops. Also as much as old WASAPI wants to do things in real-time he needs to still handle the requests of everything else in the system so old Ableton gets a large delay.

Enter ASIO (Audio Stream Input/Output):

ASIO is driver layer designed to bypass the windows mixer and layers and connect your application directly to your audio interface. The benefits of this is that all the business that slows down the audion in Windows is now gone and the driver can talk to the application without all the other noise and pressure of other requests and so can dedicate more power and faster time... this translates to much lower latency and more reliable audio stream (crackle free).

The catch is this is a 1:1 arrangement so while an application has control of the ASIO connection, nothing else can work.

Monitors will not help you with this issue as they are just the speakers.

What WILL help is a proper sound card. ASIO4ALL is a stop-gap solution designed to just get things working. It's not a replacement solution for a proper audio interface and people need to realise that we are using a Pro Audio application which will only work as good as your weakest link.

A dedicated (quality name brand) interface will have the ability to work in a "Hybrid ASIO" capability where it will use BOTH ASIO and WASAPI drivers within the system so an application can connect to the ASIO driver for low latency reliable audio stream while Windows connects to the WASAPI driver and allows you to still watch your Guitar Tab Training videos while you record your efforts into Live. Best of both worlds but not using the stock interface of your PC.

Hopefully that makes sense.

[thing]

Sorry - only swapping out drivers between audio recording and midi recording. Still learning and was confusing the issue.
Using ASIO4all on PC and it will definitely not let me play an instrument and watch a video. I must close Ableton to do so.
Would monitors eliminate this problem?

To get you up to speed on ASIO vs WASAPI/Direct Audio for Windowz:

WASAPI/Direct (Windows Audio Session API) is, in simple terms, the windows audio mixer. Think of it like an internal software mixer where all your audio inputs (physical and software) connect and it lists all your outputs. You Access this mixer via the volume mixer in the bottom right of your computer screen...

It is a software mixer and has a number of layers to it that your signal must travel through. The benefits of WASAPI is you can have many applications all sending audio to your outputs but none have any kind of priority over another and there is a buffer (quite large) that helps maintain the audio stream.

WASAPI is not good at "real-time" demands so when you throw a multi-channel audio application at it that starts handing large amounts of maths to it and demanding it solves the equations NOW, it starts to panic and that is heard as crackle and pops. Also as much as old WASAPI wants to do things in real-time he needs to still handle the requests of everything else in the system so old Ableton gets a large delay.

Enter ASIO (Audio Stream Input/Output):

ASIO is driver layer designed to bypass the windows mixer and layers and connect your application directly to your audio interface. The benefits of this is that all the business that slows down the audion in Windows is now gone and the driver can talk to the application without all the other noise and pressure of other requests and so can dedicate more power and faster time... this translates to much lower latency and more reliable audio stream (crackle free).

The catch is this is a 1:1 arrangement so while an application has control of the ASIO connection, nothing else can work.

Monitors will not help you with this issue as they are just the speakers.

What WILL help is a proper sound card. ASIO4ALL is a stop-gap solution designed to just get things working. It's not a replacement solution for a proper audio interface and people need to realise that we are using a Pro Audio application which will only work as good as your weakest link.

A dedicated (quality name brand) interface will have the ability to work in a "Hybrid ASIO" capability where it will use BOTH ASIO and WASAPI drivers within the system so an application can connect to the ASIO driver for low latency reliable audio stream while Windows connects to the WASAPI driver and allows you to still watch your Guitar Tab Training videos while you record your efforts into Live. Best of both worlds but not using the stock interface of your PC.

Hopefully that makes sense.

Ok got it and thank you so much for the detailed explanation. I’m happy to invest in a new sound card to make things easier for the time being and just make things work for now. Is there a particular card you could suggest?

[spendthrift2]

I don't quite understand your setup.

Are you using Windows?

If so, do you have ASIO drivers for your audio interface?

If so, you should be able to playback audio from Live and Youtube at the same time, through the same output and speakers.

In conclusion: If you don't have a proper, ASIO capable audio interface get one!

(If you are a Mac user, disregard this post completely).

Are you sure that ASIO will allow playback from Youtube while running Live? I just tried it and got no sound. I think the same is true for iTunes. For example if I'm playing something in iTunes and I start Live, my music in iTunes will go quiet once Live opens. If I'm playing something in Youtube and do the same thing (start Live, wait until it opens, etc.) Youtube tells me that "An Error Occurred Please Try Again Later".

[jestermgee]

I don't quite understand your setup.

Are you sure that ASIO will allow playback from Youtube while running Live? I just tried it and got no sound. I think the same is true for iTunes. For example if I'm playing something in iTunes and I start Live, my music in iTunes will go quiet once Live opens. If I'm playing something in Youtube and do the same thing (start Live, wait until it opens, etc.) Youtube tells me that "An Error Occurred Please Try Again Later".

Read my reply above and you will hopefully answer your own question.

[spendthrift2]

I don't quite understand your setup.

Are you sure that ASIO will allow playback from Youtube while running Live? I just tried it and got no sound. I think the same is true for iTunes. For example if I'm playing something in iTunes and I start Live, my music in iTunes will go quiet once Live opens. If I'm playing something in Youtube and do the same thing (start Live, wait until it opens, etc.) Youtube tells me that "An Error Occurred Please Try Again Later".

Read my reply above and you will hopefully answer your own question.

Ok Thanks.

[siehorst]

I’m happy to invest in a new sound card

I don't konw what kind of computer you have, but, don't invest in a soundcard but buy an external audio interface. There are lots and even the (relative) cheap ones are much better than what you have now, and naturally they are providing ASIO drivers.
To strengthen what is already said: audio more than simple clip-playback without ASIO is a nogo.

[jestermgee]

Ok got it and thank you so much for the detailed explanation. I’m happy to invest in a new sound card to make things easier for the time being and just make things work for now. Is there a particular card you could suggest?

Yeah as said above, look into just a USB audio interface as a start. Hard to suggest with these things because typically you start with your Input/Output needs, then budget, then looking at the big brands to smaller brands to narrow the field then weeks of analysing reviews, hours and hours of researching what driver updates there have been, what development still goes on, what the company has been like supporting their older hardware, what kind of features and mixer software it comes with, what users have been saying.... You know, the usual research one does for months and months before making a purchase on gear

How I get started with a purchase is by first looking at a website from a music store that is local (to my country) and checking what they offer. Typically it's a good place to start since they sell what people are after normally so what they have in their list (and what is in stock) is what people are buying. Doesn't always == the best option, but gets you going with what is current tech. Just look for something that fits your need/budget and look at equivalent matches then when you have a few names, try and get some answers from users on the forums that may have heard of the ones you are looking at.

Asking us what will suit your needs is like a kid asking their mum to not buy them clothes unless they are "in fashion".

[thing]

Ok got it and thank you so much for the detailed explanation. I’m happy to invest in a new sound card to make things easier for the time being and just make things work for now. Is there a particular card you could suggest?

Yeah as said above, look into just a USB audio interface as a start. Hard to suggest with these things because typically you start with your Input/Output needs, then budget, then looking at the big brands to smaller brands to narrow the field then weeks of analysing reviews, hours and hours of researching what driver updates there have been, what development still goes on, what the company has been like supporting their older hardware, what kind of features and mixer software it comes with, what users have been saying.... You know, the usual research one does for months and months before making a purchase on gear

How I get started with a purchase is by first looking at a website from a music store that is local (to my country) and checking what they offer. Typically it's a good place to start since they sell what people are after normally so what they have in their list (and what is in stock) is what people are buying. Doesn't always == the best option, but gets you going with what is current tech. Just look for something that fits your need/budget and look at equivalent matches then when you have a few names, try and get some answers from users on the forums that may have heard of the ones you are looking at.

Asking us what will suit your needs is like a kid asking their mum to not buy them clothes unless they are "in fashion".

I’m not sure if some of you read my initial post where I said I am using a audio interface? I’m certainly happy for all the suggestions but it would probably be better if we were all on the same page.
So here’s an example of one of my problems.... I have a midi track laid down. I introduced my guitar via my interface but the only way I could do it was by wearing headphones out of the interface. I couldn’t play the clip via my computer through the speakers and record my guitar at the same time. I’m a guitarist, this is what I need to do.

[fishmonkey]

just a tip: listing all your current equipment makes it easier for everyone to be on the same page.

it does seem that having some studio monitors connected to your audio interface (which one is it?) would be helpful—assuming that your problem is that you would like to monitor without headphones all the time...

[jestermgee]

just a tip: listing all your current equipment makes it easier for everyone to be on the same page.

Yep, that would be the best advice here. I just assumed, because you are a newbie and you didn't list any actual useful details about your audio setup that you were just using the term "Audio Interface" to describe your soundcard in your PC. We have no clue what you have in front of your eye balls so you need to paint a picture.

Most decent audio interfaces will offer hybrid functionality. I own a Presonus Firebox, Roland Octacapture and Edirol (Roland) UA-25 and all of these allow me to use ASIO with a DAW and WASAPI with windows at the same time so I can use Live and other applications withy the interface. That is one reason you would go for a decent interface.