Owner`s manual

Virtual outputs – Mia

Mia’s Virtual Outputs

Most cards with a pair of analog inputs and outputs will appear to software as

having just that, a single pair of inputs and outputs. When one application

appropriates the card for its use, all other software is “locked-out” from using the

card at the same time.

While there is rarely any need to record to multiple applications simultaneously,

there are numerous instances where this is desirable for outputs. A good example

would be playing back digital audio while at the same time using a software

synthesizer for MIDI. Another example would be using multi-track editing

software. Before multiple tracks can be played back on a stereo device, they must

be mixed down within the software to the two output tracks. This takes up extra

CPU cycles that might otherwise be dedicated to software effects or some other

task.

Mia gets around this by combining the use of “virtual” outputs with its “multi-

client” drivers. Mia appears to software as if it has eight separate outputs. These

are mixed together with Mia’s on-board DSP to produce the actual or “physical”

outputs that connect to external equipment without any CPU intervention. Any

virtual output can be sent to any actual output along with any combination of other

virtual outputs. The levels and routing of the virtual outputs is fully controllable

with Mia’s Console, which is described later in this manual.

An example of this would be using Reality from Seer Systems with Cakewalk’s

Pro Audio. Reality could be set up to play back through Mia’s outputs 7 and 8.

Cakewalk’s Pro Audio, which combines MIDI sequencing with digital playback,

could then play back its MIDI output through Reality while using Mia’s outputs 1

through 6 for six separate tracks of digital output.

This gives Mia most of the advantages of products with eight separate analog

outputs, without the added expense of the extra converters or having to use an

external mixer to mix the outputs down to a final pair of stereo outputs.

Virtual outputs are not available on Gina24, Layla24, or Mona.