Audio Stream Input/Output

Audio Stream Input/Output (ASIO) is a computer audio interface driver protocol for digital audio specified by Steinberg, providing high data throughput, synchronization, and low latency between a software application and a computer's audio interface or sound card. ASIO bypasses the normal audio path from a user application through layers of intermediary operating system software, such as KMixer, Direct KS or WASAPI, so that an application connects directly to the sound card hardware. Each layer that is bypassed means a reduction in latency (the delay between an application sending audio information and it being reproduced by the sound card, or input signals from the sound card being available to the application). In this way, ASIO offers a relatively simple way of accessing multiple audio inputs and outputs independently. For this reason, ASIO is sometimes used for Hi-Res Audio playback. Also, the ASIO capable sound cards are widely used for Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software.