User Manual

User's Guide Babyface Pro FS © RME

9.3 Notes on WDM

The driver offers one WDM streaming device per stereo pair, like Analog 3+4 (Babyface Pro).

WDM Streaming is Microsoft's current driver and audio system, directly embedded into the op-

erating system. WDM Streaming is hardly usable for professional music purposes, as all data is

processed by the so called Kernel Mixer, causing a latency of at least 30 ms. Additionally, WDM

can perform sample rate conversions unnoticed, cause offsets between record and playback

data, block channels unintentionally and much more.

Several programs do not offer any direct device selection. Instead they use the playback device

selected in Windows under

XP: <Control Panel/ Sounds and Multimedia/ Audio>

Since Vista: <Control Panel/ Sound/ Playback>

Both the rare to find WDM Kernel Streaming and - under Windows 7 to 10 - WASAPI bypass

the WDM mixer.

Multi-Channel using WDM

The WDM Streaming device Loudspeaker (Analog 1+2) of the RME driver can operate as usual

stereo device, or as up to 8-channel device.

An 8-channel playback using the Windows Media Player requires the speaker setup 7.1 Sur-

round. Configure as follows:

XP: >Control Panel /Sounds and Multimedia /Audio /Volume /Speaker Settings /Advanced <

Since Vista: >Control Panel /Sound /Playback /Loudspeaker /Configure <