Voicemeeter Stress / VB Audio Cable (how to get a Sonar Sound recorded with Audacity or something else)

[azslow3]

6 hours ago, Bass Guitar said:

Apps like voicmeeter are designed for people who are using their computers on board sound card. Why would you want to install iffy 3rd party apps when you own an audio interface? 

These apps are not (only) for on board sound and they are not in the category of "generic drivers", they allow flexible audio routing in case (any) hardware interface and OS own features are insufficient.

6 hours ago, Bass Guitar said:

Sonar generally doesn’t like generic audio drivers and staff always advise to remove all of them and only use your interface ASIO drivers.

Generic drivers can disturb dedicated ASIO drivers, it is recommended to remove them in case of problem, as a part of troubleshooting. And keep them removed in case they are not needed, to avoid these problems appear. That is a good advise for everything not used (not only for audio processing). But when you explicitly use something for a good reason, and that can be generic driver, it is fine. If it works. 

6 hours ago, Bass Guitar said:

I spotted the FL Studio generic driver in your screenshot which is on the list of things that you need to delete from the registry if you’re having problems with audio. 

In this thread there was no discussion about any "problems with audio". It is "how to" thread 

[Astraios]

The FL Studio driver is there because I sometimes use another DAW. That should be okay, right?
Since you're so knowledgeable about audio, I have one more question: Does this "loopback stuff" also support ASIO, or does it only work with Wasabii herbs?  🙃

[azslow3]

7 hours ago, Astraios said:

The FL Studio driver is there because I sometimes use another DAW. That should be okay, right?
Since you're so knowledgeable about audio, I have one more question: Does this "loopback stuff" also support ASIO, or does it only work with Wasabii herbs?  🙃

WASAPI does not require anything to record any WASAPI output (so loop-back, f.e. system sounds), except recording application should be able to work that way (from my knowledge Sonar doesn't, Audacity does). But that doesn't work with ASIO  outputs (at least in my tests).

Real interface loopback logically should support all directions, but was primary intended to record something (not ASIO) into DAW (ASIO), I mean not other way around.  At the moment I don't have Focusrite to check.

[Amberwolf]

Some loopback drivers do support ASIO, such as O Deus ASIO Link Pro and VBcable's Hifi / asio bridge version.   O deus ALP is complicated to setup but it works once you do--it basically sees everyting on the system and provides a routing GUI to connect anything to anything. 

[Bass Guitar]

I try and stay away from discussion of audio and Daw’s because there are way to many different opinions about it. 

But for what it’s worth my opinion is very simple. 
You purchase a brand name Audio Interface that has all the right connections , features and controls that suit your needs. In my case one feature is now Loopback. 
 

The other most important thing I learned years ago, is you should always use the latest version of ASIO drivers from the manufacturer website when using a DAW. All other ASIO drivers that don’t belong to a hardware audio interface should be completely removed from your system including the Registry. 
 

Take note that this is more a Sonar issue than it is with other audio software. 
 

Loopback. 
Theres 2 different types of audio Loopback. External and Internal. 
 

External is when you connect the output of your audio interface back to an input using a patch cable. We use this to test for the accuracy of our reported latency. 
Example when using Oblique Audio’s RT utility. 

Internal loopback is where the audio remains digital.  Then  it makes it available as an optional input to all applications that are designed to access ASIO multi channel audio. Im not dead sure of where it accesses the audio but it seems it would be involved with the Windows mixer. 

So to answer your question it most certainly is available in ASIO mode. Im not sure it is actually available in other driver modes because I’ve never checked. 

And a heads up, Just because a Daw includes a generic ASIO driver doesn’t mean you should or have to use it with that Daw. Example Cubase includes a Generic driver that becomes an option when I set up Cubase’s  audio system. But I always choose my audio interface driver. 
 

Removing FL ASIo driver will not have any effect on using the Daw. You are always better off using your interface’s ASIO driver. 
 

 

Edited Thursday at 03:55 AM by Bass Guitar

[Astraios]

7 hours ago, Bass Guitar said:

Removing FL ASIo driver will not have any effect on using the Daw. You are always better off using your interface’s ASIO driver. 
 

Where exactly in the RegEdits Cakewalk Path would you kill the FL Driver? 

That sounds obvious, that it has no business being there. However, in rare cases, I also have FL Studio as Rewire on Board with Sonar...

[Bass Guitar]

Heres' the location. As you see I only have the drivers for the 3 audio interfaces that I use. All else is banished. Simply delete the folder. 

Common drivers that are installed with music apps are Steinberg, Magix and FL studio. They are supplied as well intentioned options for people using those Daw's who don't have an audio interface.  If you are using an Audio interface then for Sonars sake you need to remove them. 

The problem is that on start up Sonar looks to see what ASIO device is connected and these will then confuse Sonar. The place to check that something is wrong is in Sync And Caching timing device. Even though your Focusrite is checked in the other audio set up tabs, if there is one of these drivers it might show as the "Recording Latency Adjustment." that's obviously going to throw things off in your syncing of new tracks. 

This is not a bad feature as Noel pointed out. The fact this happens is actually a good feature. Example I just was using my SSL2 interface in another Daw. I needed to switch to my Zoom L8. I had to close the Daw and then it was mad because it didn't automatically switch to the Zoom. You have to go and set that up. I think all my other Daw's as well as Video apps behave this way. 

To take the screenshot for you I opened Sonar and it had already switched to the Zoom all on it's own. 

 

 

Edited Thursday at 04:37 PM by Bass Guitar

[Xoo]

4 hours ago, Bass Guitar said:

Even though your Focusrite is checked in the other audio set up tabs, if there is one of these drivers it might show as the "Recording Latency Adjustment." that's obviously going to throw things off in your syncing of new tracks. 

As has been said many, many times, this is wrong.  The display is bogus (I think it displays the first ASIO driver), but the correct value from the active device is used for timing.

[Astraios]

On 9/29/2025 at 10:27 PM, Will. said:

I don't use voicemeeter.

I use my loopback feature that built-in to my interface.

I'm pretty sure that Focusrite's "Loopback" (System Playback) feature won't allow you to synchron rercord or capture sound from the Sonar DAW (or even from FL Studio). It's no problem recording something from YouTube or an MP4. Audacity will do the job... - but for DAW sound, you need to use more tools. Just try and see...

[Will.]

44 minutes ago, Astraios said:

I'm pretty sure that Focusrite's "Loopback" (System Playback) feature won't allow you to synchron rercord or capture sound from the Sonar DAW 

Sigh! 🤦‍♂️ Have you read the manual . . . instead of letting others confuse you? I use Focusrite loopback daily with Sonar. My wife has a very successful podcast, and I record all her audio using Sonar. Why don't you watch some YouTube videos how to use it. I tried to help you with Voicemeeter - I didn't know you had an interface until I saw you mentioned Focusrite control software. Also, it doesn't create any latency as mentioned above by others. You can record your system sound and other applications sound individually in SONAR using the Focusrite loopback. 

This tread has really gone down a rabbit hole. 

Heres a video. 

Loopback

Edited 20 hours ago by Will.

[mettelus]

On 9/30/2025 at 1:42 PM, azslow3 said:

Real Multi-ASIO capable interface with multi-loopbacks support is "the answer" in almost all cases, but they are not cheap 😏

Once setup, Voicemeeter should be perfectly fine. Just be careful that sample rates match across the board as Alexey mentioned above (Windows and all apps).

As far as hardware options, the PreSonus Revelator mics (roughly $99 each, and the dynamic is the preferred choice) have 6-in/6-out capability (3 stereo pairs), although the only hardware input is the mic itself. If you are not using any other hardware (e.g., podcasts, tutorials, and the like), you can use just a Revelator and forego an audio interface. The advantage of them is the control software includes PreSonus' FAT channel, which allows you to tweak the audio before it is written to disk (zero post-production required in most cases). They come with their own OBS software interface drivers, but I never quite melded with OBS and have an old Camtasia version I default to instead. I picked them both up a couple of years ago and wrote up a high-level overview in this thread. (Side note on the condenser specifically... that must have a shock mount, and there are only a couple on the market that will fit it and not interfere with the buttons on the mic. Both come with pretty unusable mic stands so a boom is recommended, and both also had USB cables that were too short (for me) so I use generic 3m cables for them).

Edited 16 hours ago by mettelus

[Astraios]

4 hours ago, Will. said:

You can record your system sound and other applications sound individually in SONAR using the Focusrite loopback. 

 

Yes, you can do that with it, but that's not the issue we're discussing here. It's about recording a sound (for example, with Audacity) that Sonar creates with a plugin. Something that goes out of Sonar, not in... Just try it! Start playing a synth with your keyboard and record that sound with audacity. You can't do his only by "loopback"  🥶

 

At least you need VB Audio Calble

Edited 15 hours ago by Astraios

[Will.]

16 minutes ago, Astraios said:

Yes, you can do that with it, but that's not the issue we're discussing here. It's about recording a sound (for example, with Audacity) that Sonar creates with a plugin. Something that goes out of Sonar, not in... Just try it! Start playing a synth with your keyboard and record that sound with audacity. you can'tdo his only by "loopback"  🥶

🤦🏾‍♂️ 🤦🏾‍♂️ You never even attempt to try it. 🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️ learn how to route your systems audio with loopback. 🥨

 

Edited 15 hours ago by Will.

[Bass Guitar]

5 hours ago, Astraios said:

Yes, you can do that with it, but that's not the issue we're discussing here. It's about recording a sound (for example, with Audacity) that Sonar creates with a plugin. Something that goes out of Sonar, not in... Just try it! Start playing a synth with your keyboard and record that sound with audacity. You can't do his only by "loopback"  

I was curious. 

First,  I love Audacity always have. It has the by far best Stem Separation tool. Its free without annoying authorization or nag screens! 😁 

 I opened Sonar and played a song. While it was playing I opened Audacity and went into preferences. Take note that Audacity does not support ASIO for some weird reason. So I always have it set up to use WASAPI and 48 / 32 floating. 

The only change I made was I selected the Motu Loopback mix as the recording input. I was not surprised to find that it worked flawlessly. Loopback Mix is were it accesses the Windows sound mixer. Both my Motu and SSL2 work like this. My Zoom is a bit different in that you Choose the Master output as your input  which basically loopbacks the Outputs from channel 7 ( Daw output 1/2 ) and 8 ( Daw output 3/4).   

 

Here you see that ASIO is not an option

. 

Here you see that Loopback is available as an input source. 

Here you see I chose Loopback Mix as my input

Here you see Sonar playing a song and Audacity is recording it. 

 

I tested playing a VST instrument live and as expected that also works, but of course you need the input Echo on.  I used Cakewalk for live performances using VST pianos and organs. 

 

Just another thought. I have no clue where this is on Windows 11 but in sound settings for W10 you could chose that apps take exclusive control of the Audio system. I always had that turned off. I think there's also a setting in Sonar but I can't find that either ( platinum). 

 

Edited 10 hours ago by Bass Guitar

[azslow3]

12 hours ago, Astraios said:

Yes, you can do that with it, but that's not the issue we're discussing here. It's about recording a sound (for example, with Audacity) that Sonar creates with a plugin. Something that goes out of Sonar, not in... Just try it! Start playing a synth with your keyboard and record that sound with audacity. You can't do his only by "loopback"  🥶

It can be Will is right and you can, at least there is one report of success: 

But he doesn't mention if he was using ASIO in Cakewalk.

I suggest you try. If that doesn't works, try disable Loopback input in Cakewalk and try again. 

Sure that is not going to work with two ASIO applications, they can't run in parallel with Focusrite.

[Astraios]

Well, then the only possibility that remains is that I'm having major audio driver problems. I've since updated the Focusrite drivers, uninstalled all VoiceMeeter software (including the VB-Audio Cable), and, as BassGuitar recommended, deleted the FL Studio ASIO driver in the Regedit. I've set everything up as recommended, and you know what? It still doesn't work that way...   🤔

 

 

[azslow3]

Have you followed all steps in my last link? I mean "Expose / Hide Windows Channels"

"Lautsprecher (loopback)" input in Audacity is not Focusrite loop-back input (it is WASAPI output, the feature I have mentioned before, it can loop-back record the system + apps which use WASAPI, but not ASIO).

As a check, you can use steps described later, so set Input of some program in Windows audio settings to "Loopback".