What about consistency between platforms ?

**ticker** · 06-15-2010, 07:25 PM

When transferring a mix between two DAW applications (platforms), on the same computer, same sample rate, same bit depth, shouldn't it sound the same on either platform ?

For example, on my computer I'll do single track editing in WaveLab, then transfer the tracks to Sonar Producer for multi-track editing and mix down to stereo. Then it's back to WaveLab with the stereo mixes for any audio analysis and/or finishing touches (pseudo mastering).

The stereo mixes sound slightly different on Sonar and Wavelab. Slight differences, but differences nonetheless...

What I hear are 1 to 2.5 dB variations in certain frequencies across the spectrum, and a very slight change in soundstage depth.

**Henry Grimmius** · 06-16-2010, 07:41 AM

What's the Pan Law settings on the different DAW's?

**ticker** · 06-16-2010, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by Henry Grimmius

What's the Pan Law settings on the different DAW's?

Thanks for getting back to me, Henry.

Both pan law settings are default. For Sonar the default is 0dB. WaveLab only uses "pan mode" settings if you are using pan envelopes, which, for simple playback, I am not. So if there is otherwise a default pan law setting for playback in WaveLab, I don't know what it would be.

**Henry Grimmius** · 06-17-2010, 04:19 PM

I don't know either of the programs, so I'm of no help in that regard. I wish manufacturers had a standard on how to describe it but they don't. On my DM2000 console, I had to read the section in the manual a few times for clarity. Then set my console and never looked back. I also did listening in mono and changed the setting to hear what was changing.

**ticker** · 06-18-2010, 04:36 AM

I may have to spend some time talking with the Steinberg (Wavelab) tech support people to get a better understanding of the pan laws specific to their product.

I did find something that may have been a major factor for the differences I was hearing between those two applications. It turns out my driver mode setting for Sonar was set to ASIO, and for Wavelab was set to MME. Once I set both of them identically to ASIO, most of the audible differences in same-file playback seemed to go away.

Are you familiar with the different driver modes and their qualitative effects on playback ?

**3daudioinc** · 06-18-2010, 01:49 PM

Oh man. I've never even considered that. Another thing to check for when comparing DAWs.

Originally Posted by ticker

I may have to spend some time talking with the Steinberg (Wavelab) tech support people to get a better understanding of the pan laws specific to their product.

I did find something that may have been a major factor for the differences I was hearing between those two applications. It turns out my driver mode setting for Sonar was set to ASIO, and for Wavelab was set to MME. Once I set both of them identically to ASIO, most of the audible differences in same-file playback seemed to go away.

Are you familiar with the different driver modes and their qualitative effects on playback ?

**ticker** · 06-19-2010, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by 3daudioinc

Oh man. I've never even considered that. Another thing to check for when comparing DAWs.

Yes Lynn, I wish I knew more about the different driver modes and how they affect the quality of playback, and why you'd prefer one over the other, but there's a big gap in my understanding.

Any light you (or anyone) could shed on this would be greatly appreciated.

**3daudioinc** · 06-19-2010, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by ticker

Yes Lynn, I wish I knew more about the different driver modes and how they affect the quality of playback, and why you'd prefer one over the other, but there's a big gap in my understanding.

Any light you (or anyone) could shed on this would be greatly appreciated.

Well there are all manner of things to which people will "attribute" the differences. Whether they actually have any repeatable demonstrable effect is another matter entirely. I discovered that when we did the Awesome DAWSUM comparison.

**ticker** · 06-19-2010, 11:03 PM

I did manage to locate a very well written article that goes a long way toward explaining the different APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). For anyone interested in this level of audio interfacing technology, this article describes the origins and functionality of the four main APIs, which are MME, DirectSound, ASIO and GSIF...or, at least those in existence when the article was written.

The link to this article is http://www.staudio.de/kb/english/drivers/index.html

It answers many questions related to audio interfacing architecture (drivers primarily), latency issues and multichannel functionality, but doesn't address the reasons for differences in playback quality. It’s a good article nonetheless, and one you may want to includ in your reference library.

**Andreas Lassak** · 06-20-2010, 01:12 AM

Originally Posted by ticker

I did find something that may have been a major factor for the differences I was hearing between those two applications. It turns out my driver mode setting for Sonar was set to ASIO, and for Wavelab was set to MME. Once I set both of them identically to ASIO, most of the audible differences in same-file playback seemed to go away.

Are you familiar with the different driver modes and their qualitative effects on playback ?

Did you try a null test? Wavelab ASIO vs. Wavelab MME?

Best regards