Important Hints to the Trace D4
driver version 2.36 for Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/7
1.
System Requirements
2.
New Installation
3. Driver
Update
4. Driver Uninstall
5. What's new
6. Version Compatibility
7. Operation in Windows Vista and
Windows 7
8.
MME, WDM-Audio and DirectSound
8.
Software Sampler and Synthesizers
- Microsoft Windows 2000 SP3, Windows XP, Windows 2003 Server,
Windows Vista, Windows 2008 Server, Windows 7 each with the 32-bit
version
- Microsoft DirectX 9b
- Start your PC after
installing your hardware.
- Log in using administrator privileges.
- Windows automatically
recognizes at startup the newly installed device and starts the Hardware
Wizard.
- During the start of Windows
the Hardware Wizard searches for new drivers. Click "Next" to start the
search.
- Enable the “Search for the
best driver for your device” option and confirm by clicking "Next".
- Insert the supplied CD in
your CD-ROM drive.
- Confirm the next dialog with
„Next“
- Confirm the next window also
with „Next“
- Ignore the message „Digital
signature not found“ and continue the installation with „Yes“
- Windows now copies the
driver files. When you
are asked to overwrite newer files answer with "No" to keep
the newer version of that file.
- After finishing the
installation click "Finish”.
- In some cases, the installer has to change some windows
settings which need a restart. Please restart windows, if the installer
requests it.
- Start your PC after
installing your hardware.
- Log in using administrator privileges.
- Insert the supplied CD in
your CD-ROM drive.
- Windows automatically
recognizes at startup the newly installed device and starts the Hardware
Wizard.
- Enable the option „Install
Software automatically“ and confirm by clicking „Next“.
- Ignore the next message and
click „Continue“
- Windows noew copies the
driver files. Windows
now copies the driver files. When
you are asked to overwrite newer files answer with "No" to
keep the newer version of that file.
- In some cases, the installer
has to change some windows settings which need a restart. Please restart
windows, if the installer requests it.
2.3 Windows Vista/2008
- After the hardware installation the message "Found new
hardware" appears. Click on "Locate and install driver software
(recommended)".
- If the User Account Control requests you acceptance, then
click "Continue".
- If your computer has not a permanent connection to the
internet, then now you have the opportunity the choose "Do not search
online". In any other case the Windows Installer now begins to search
Windows Update for a new driver version. This may need upto some minutes.
- Then you are requested to "Insert the disk that came with your
Multimedia Controller". Insert the driver disk of your MARIAN Sound System
and the Windows Installer searches the disk for new drivers.
- If you get the message "Windows can't verify the publisher of
this driver software" click on "Install this driver software anyway".
- The drivers are now installed. Windows
now copies the driver files. When
you are asked to overwrite newer files answer with "No" to
keep the newer version of that file.
- Finally, another dialog will
tell you the end of the installation process. Click on "Close" here.
- In some cases, the installer
has to change some windows settings which need a restart. Please restart
windows, if the installer requests it.
2.4 Windows 7
- Windows 7 does not start the installation of new found
hardware automatically. Thus, you have to start the installation by use of
the Windoows Device Manager. You can open the Device Manager with right
click "Computer", then "Manage | Device Manager".
- There, right-click at "Other Devices | Multimedia Controller"
and choose "Update Driver Software".
- In the following dialog click on "Browse my computer for
driver software".
- Now choose the folder where you have unpacked the driver
update package and click on "Next".
- If you get the message "Windows can't verify the publisher of
this driver software" click on "Install this driver software anyway".
- The drivers are now installed.Windows
now copies the driver files. When
you are asked to overwrite newer files answer with "No" to
keep the newer version of that file.
- Finally, another dialog will
tell you the end of the installation process. Click on "Close" here.
- In some cases, the installer has to change some windows
settings which need a restart. Please restart windows, if the installer
requests it.
- Unzip the driver update package ("td4-nt6-236.zip") with the
included subdirectory structure to any folder.
- Uninstall the driver software like described in "Driver
Uninstall".
- Restart Windows
3.1 Windows 2000/XP/2003
- Logon with administrator privileges again.
- Now, the Windows Hardware Wizard starts with a "New hardware
found" dialog.
- Do NOT use the option "Install software automatically". Use
the option "Install from list a specified location"
- Click "Next" and choose the folder where you have unzipped the
driver update package.
- Follow the instructions of the Windows Hardware Wizard until
the end of the installation process. When the Hardware Wizard states "...
has not passed the Windows Logo testing" then click „Continue Anyway“
- Windows
now copies the driver files. When
you are asked to overwrite newer files answer with "No" to
keep the newer version of that file.
- After the driver installation a restart could be necessary.
- After these steps it might be necessary to update the firmware
of the Trace D4. It can only be determined after the installation of the
new driver if a firmware update is needed. If that is the case, the update
will then be performed automatically and will have to be finished with a
restart of the PC-system.
- Subsequently to a successful firmware update, Microsoft
Windows™ 2000/XP will find a new hardware after reboot, since the hardware
ID of the Trace D4 will have changed due to the firmware update. Since the
driver files have already been installed, you only need to choose “install
software automatically” in the appearing windows hardware wizard.
3.2 Windows Vista/2008
- After the restart the message "Found new hardware" appears.
Click on "Locate and install driver software (recommended)".
- If the User Account Control requests you acceptance, then
click "Continue".
- If your computer has not a permanent connection to the
internet, then now you have the opportunity the choose "Do not search
online". In any other case the Windows Installer now begins to search
Windows Update for a new driver version. This may need upto some minutes.
- Then you are requested to "Insert the disk that came with your
Multimedia Controller". Click on "I don't have the disk. Show me other
options".
- In the following dialog click on "Browse my computer for
driver software (advanced)".
- Now choose the folder where you have unpacked the driver
update package and click on "Next".
- If you get the message "Windows can't verify the publisher of
this driver software" click on "Install this driver software anyway".
- The drivers are now installed.Windows
now copies the driver files. When
you are asked to overwrite newer files answer with "No" to
keep the newer version of that file.
- Finally, another dialog will
tell you the end of the installation process. Click on "Close" here.
- After these steps it might be necessary to update the firmware
of the Trace D4. It can only be determined after the installation of the
new driver if a firmware update is needed. If that is the case, the update
will then be performed automatically and will have to be finished with a
restart of the PC-system.
3.3 Windows 7
- You have to start the installation by use of the Windoows
Device Manager. You can open the Device Manager with right click
"Computer", then "Manage | Device Manager".
- There, right-click at "Other Devices | Multimedia Controller"
and choose "Update Driver Software".
- In the following dialog click on "Browse my computer for
driver software".
- Now choose the folder where you have unpacked the driver
update package and click on "Next".
- If you get the message "Windows can't verify the publisher of
this driver software" click on "Install this driver software anyway".
- The drivers are now installed.Windows
now copies the driver files. When
you are asked to overwrite newer files answer with "No" to
keep the newer version of that file.
- Finally, another dialog will
tell you the end of the installation process. Click on "Close" here.
- After these steps it might be necessary to update the firmware
of the Trace D4. It can only be determined after the installation of the
new driver if a firmware update is needed. If that is the case, the update
will then be performed automatically and will have to be finished with a
restart of the PC-system.
You can uninstall the driver software using the program
"TraceD4Ui.exe". The most recent version of this program can you find on the
installation disk or in installation package in folder "en" and on the
harddisk in the folder "\windows\system32".
4.1 Windows 2000/XP/2003
- Ensure you are logged on with administrator privileges
- Start "TraceD4Ui.exe" and follow its instructions.
- After that program has finished its work, please restart
Windows.
4.2 Windows Vista/2008/Windows 7
- First uninstall the driver software using the Windows Device
Manager. You can start it right away with a right-click on "Computer" in
the start menu. Then choose "Manage" and acknowledge the question of the
User Account Control with "Continue".
- In the Device Manager under "sound, Video and Game Controller"
right-click on "MARIAN Trace D4" and choose "Uninstall".
- In the next dialog activate the option "Delete the driver
software for this device" and start the uninstall with "Ok".
- Now start "TraceD4Ui.exe" mit a right-click on the program
file follows by a click on "Run as administrator". Acknowledge the warning
of the User Account Control with "Allow".
- Now follow the instructions of the uninstaller.
- After the Uninstaller has finished, you only have to restart
Windows if you want to install another driver.
Version 2.36:
- ASIO: Dynamic Channel Allocation Mode:
- Application requests for samplerate capabilities are
now answered even if the channels to be used are not known.
(Compatibility issue e.g. with JRiver Mediaplayer)
- Now compatible with Open-Source Cross-Platform
Audio API "Port Audio"
- Now compatibe with some applications who set a certain
clock source without setting the audio channels to be used
- ASIO: Update to cooperate with Seraph products beginning
from driver version v1.15
- Improved Recording-Drop-Out-Recovery with WDM Audio
- Improved IRQ Sharing Operation with system components of high
interrupt frequency
Version 2.31:
- ASIO: Now the ASIO application may activate/deactivate
the input/output devices dynamically. The ASIO application can
"see" every device independently whether its used or reserved by anoher
audio application. If you cannot use specific devices, the it may be
caused by another audio application, which already uses these specific
devices. In such a case please use the MARIAN Device Setup within your
ASIO application and reserve the devices you need explicitly for that ASIO
application. Always start the ASIO application first - prior all other
audio applications.
- ASIO: you cannot use multiple ASIO application simultaneously
with one TRACE card.
- TDM Bus reservation is now compatible with drivers of the
Seraph-Series.
- Problem with "Internal Clock - No Lock" solved.
- WDM Audio in Windows Vista/7: after many hours of continuous
playback, the audio application could freeze. Solved.
Version 2.11 Beta:
- ASIO:
- significant improved performance and stability
- New: ASIO Timestamp Hybrid Engine brings precision in
micro-second range on the time base of the ASIO application! The drift
of two system timers, which can be observed on many computers, is
effectively compensated by this enigne.
- Incompabilities, who came up with Steinberg Cubase
Version 4.1, solved.
-
Please note the limitations of that Beta
Version:
-
limitited Multi-Client-Functionality:
if you want to use additional audio applications simulaneously
with your ASIO application using the same card(s), please take
care to start the ASIO application first! Using two ASIO
applications simultaneously on the same card(s) is not
possibly with this version.
-
If you change the ASIO Clocksource
within your ASIO Application, the ASIO engine may become
disturbed. (You're able to recognize that on distorted
recording/playback). In such a case try it again or change the
ASIO Clocksource, end your ASIO application and restart it
again.
- On recording with low sample rates, sample resolutions
and less channels (e.g. 8 kHz, 16 Bit Mono, resampled) via Standard
MME, a BSOD could occur due to a problem in MS kernel mixer. This
driver version implements a nifty work arround without disadvantages
for applications who have that low or lower sample requirements
Version 2.02:
- Support of Windows Vista (32 Bit). Please note the hints in "Operation
in Windows Vista".
- The driver package now includes support for the german and the
english language altogether. The Windows Installer install die matching
language files automatically. In Windows 2000/XP/2003 the current language
is determined by "Standards and Formats". (see Control Panel | Regions and
Language Options" | "Regional Settings"). In Windows Vista the language is
determined by the language of the Windows installation.
- Trace D4 Mixer now supports mono/stereo switching for each
channels strip.
- The audio signal of the very first playback after system start
could be distorted. Solved.
- Manager:
- New function "Reset Window Positions". This function
is especially useful when working with multi monitor systems. If a
manager window is shown at a second monitor and if this monitor is not
available anymore e.g. after a windows restart, you cannot access this
window anymore. In such a situation you can use the function "Reset
Window Positions" and all manager windows will be shown again at the
main monitor at the default positions.
- When using more than 2 cards with the previous driver
version, the manager could run of graphic ressources because of a
ressource restriction fo the windows system. Solved.
- The previous Mixer/Outputs level meters could show a
red lamp at its bottom end to signal, that there is no level
information available. Occured after open/close these windows mutliple
times. Solved.
Version 1.13:
- Recording via Standard MME device could hang on start or when
pause was executed twice. Solved.
- Monitoring could fail, when the associated play channels of an
output were not in use.
Version 1.12:
- ASIO: Included a so called "Unhandled Exception Handler" for
ASIO applications which do not handle their own exceptions (e.g. program
faults). This piece of code will stop any ASIO transfer to avoid upcoming
problems after an application fault.
Version 1.11:
- ASIO: The settings made in the ASIO Device Setup Dialog are
now stored also for applications started at the command prompt.
Version 1.10:
- Added link to MARIAN Info Center. After driver installation
you are asked to install/view/download the MARIAN Info center. If you have
the update version of the driver from WEB, the only option is to download
the MARIAN Info Center. If you have the CD version of the driver, you have
also the option to install or view the MARIAN Info Center from CD. You can
start the MARIAN Info Center also from the managers's main menu.
Version 1.09:
- An interrupt issue could cause die error message "Hardware
interrupt request lost on the way to the driver" or also could prevent the
windows system from starting up. Solved.
- The output volume and output mute of the Reace D4 Manager are
now synchronized with the Windows mixer. Thus, these values are not
overwritten by the windows mixer under no circumstances.
Version 1.07:
- On some systems you are asked to upgrade the card's firmware
when the system lost its power. Solved.
Version 1.06:
- Some sample values of the first 16 Playback/Record Samples
were not correct. Solved.
- Manager | Settings | Firmware | Version: now shows the
firmware version of all installed cards.
Version 1.03
- DSP Timeslot Regime changes to avoid rare cases of double
input signals on the master sum.
Version 1.02
- The word clock input now supports also super clock as well as
different word clock / super clock modes. These modes can be set in
"Settings | Synchronization | Clocksource | WC/SC Input". The TRACE D4
State Panel show the current mode and the input frequency the sample rate
is based on.
- DAT Marker Support: The recording of DAT Markers now can be
activated/deactivated for each AES/EBU input separately by use of
"Settings | Audio Options ".
Version 1.01:
- Precision of Internal Clock increased
- Channel State of AES/EBU Output 1-2, Channel A now correctly
- Automatic Firmware Version Detection and Update
Version 1.00:
- If you use several Trace Sound Systems with one computer,
please do not use different driver versions. First, uninstall older driver
versions - then install the new drivers with the same driver version.
- If you want to use your Trace Sound System together with
a Seraph Sound System, please follow these hints which describe,
which driver versions are properly work together:
- Trace Series til v2.33 with Seraph
Series til v1.12
- Trace Series beginning from v2.36 with
Seraph Serie beginning from 1.14
On Windows™ Vista / Windows 7 audio applications, who do not
use ASIO or WSAPI, are not able to set a certain samplerate or sample
format. Instead, sample rate and sample format is set in the advanced
settings of an audio device in the windows control panel. This leads to the
following:
- If the desired samplerate of an audio application is not
equal to the current set samplerate, a samplerate conversion with
possibly an audible loss of quality will be the result!
- When using an audio device of the sound system with the
samplreate x and additionally attempting to use another device but with
a samplerate y, an error message will appear, since the soundcard may
only be used with one samplerate at a time. Unlike Windows 2000/XP,
Windows Vista/7 undertakes no sample rate conversion in this case!
- In order to operate several devices with a certain
samplerate, this samplerate has to be set up in the advanced settings of
an audio device in the windows control panel for each device separately.
As concluded from the previous point – no device of the soundsystem
should be in use, or else a change will be rejected!
- If you want to set the sample format for the audio
devices, first start with the playback devices and afterwards with the
recording devices. Background: When you open the tab "Recording",
Vista/7 starts a recording with each recording device in the list to be
able to show the input levels. In this case your MARIAN Audio System is
in use with a certain sample rate! If you now change back to the tab
"Playback", Vista/7 wil not stop the recording and a change to different
sample rate for a playback device will fail.
Audio applications, who do not use ASIO, GSIF or direct WDM-Audio,
now communicate with Microsoft MME or Microsoft DirectSound drivers instead
of communicate with the MARIAN drivers directly. The Microsoft drivers in
turn communicate with the MARIAN drivers.
For audio applications, who use these Microsoft drivers, apply:
- They can playback simultaneously using one playback device.
The Microsoft Kernel Mixer mixes the playback signals of the applications
into one stereo stream and routes it to one physical output device. If
playback takes place with different samplerate, the Microsoft Kernel Mixer
converts the samplerate of the playback streams to the highest samperate
required.
Hint: You can improve the quality of this conversion! (See Control
Panel | Sounds and Audio Devices | Audio | Sound Playback | Advanced |
System Performance) - The described simultaneous playback of
different applications fails, if the output device is already in use by
ASIO, GSIF or direct WDM-Audio.
- The number of the available recording and playback devices is
limited:
- under Windows 2000 to 10 devices each (20 channels)
- under Windows XP to 32 devices each (64 channels)
This limitation applies to the number of all audio devices installed
in the system.
You can use ASIO or GSIF to walk around this limitation. - The
minimum possible latency is limited to app. 20..30ms through the Microsoft
Kernel Mixer architecture.
Use ASIO or GSIF to walk around this limitation. - Microsoft
DirectSound or Microsoft MME devices (MME via WDM-Audio) does not work
with the driver's options for start/stop synchronization. Activate the
options "Synchron" and "SyncBus Synchron" only, if you use ASIO or GSIF.
Else the entire WDM-Audio system may "freeze". This issue can not be
compensated by our software.
- Some audio applications show additional audio devices with
theirs names appended by "(3+4)" or "(5+6)". This is caused by an anomaly
of the Microsoft MME/DirectSound system. Please ignore these devices and
do not use them.
Software samplers and synthesizers normally supply MIDI output
devices for other audio applications who want to use the software sampler as
an instrument. If such an application starts, then normally this application
opens the MIDI output devices and this in turn causes the software sampler
to initialize its audio engine with the configured audio outputs.
THIS OCCURS EVEN IF YOU HAVE NOT STARTED THE SOFTWARE SAMPLER
APPLICATION.
In the described situation the software sampler and the other audio
application may conflict, if they use the same audio output. You can use the
Trace D4 with different audio applications at the same time but never the
same output device simultaneously.
Therefore this hint:
- First start the software sampler/synthesizer and setup an
audio output device which will NOT be used by the other audio application.
Start the audio application (sequencer) afterwards.
- If you start an ASIO or GSIF application the first time, then
it will use the device "Trace D4 1-2" for recording and playback.
The Windows Multimedia System also supplies a software synthesizer
called "Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth". This synthesizer has also a
MIDI output port with the same name. Since there is no explicit setup for
the output device, the "Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth" always uses the
standard playback device configured in "Control Panel | Sounds and
Multimedia | Audio".
(c)
MARIAN GmbH Digital Audio Electronics, Leipzig 10-21-2011