In most cases, using Windows Audio with StudioLive AI mixers is limiting. 8 channels of Input/Output are configured (Even though most playback devices from Windows uses our WDM Setup screen) and you would assign those 8 channels within our software.
The trick here is that all audio latency and interaction is dependent on what the actual software supports. Therefore, whenever you are attempting to route multiple channels of audio and process them differently, you need to be using our ASIO model driver for these interactions. That would be limiting the scope of the type of freeware software you would use, but would be expanding the capabilities of routing options you would have with more expensive software packages for podcasting, video streaming, etc.
Using an application like ASIO4ALL would give you the "hacked" version of ASIO modeling, but this software can have an interactive problem on systems and certain software. To be in complete support with PreSonus product lines, PreSonus Audio strictly suggests only using our routable WDM matrix or ASIO included driver at all times.
