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System Requirements and Installation
Hardware Installation
15
Hardware Installation
Installing the Audio Hardware and its Driver
PROCEDURE
1. Install the audio hardware and related equipment on the computer,
as described in the hardware documentation.
2. Install the driver for the audio hardware.
A driver is a piece of software that allows a program to communicate with
a certain piece of hardware. In this case, the driver allows Cubase to use
the audio hardware. Depending on the operating system of your computer,
there are different types of drivers that can be used.
Dedicated ASIO Drivers
Professional audio hardware often comes with an ASIO driver written
especially for the device. This allows for direct communication between
Cubase and the audio hardware. As a result, the devices with specific
ASIO drivers can provide lower latency (input-output delay), which is
crucial when monitoring audio via Cubase or using VST instruments.
The ASIO driver may also provide special support for multiple inputs
and outputs, routing, synchronization, etc.
ASIO drivers are provided by the audio hardware manufacturers. Make
sure to check the manufacturer’s web site for the latest driver versions.
IMPORTANT
If your audio hardware comes with a specific ASIO driver, we strongly
recommend that you use this.