PowerDAW: on-board audio

[DarkStar_GT]

Looking at the Gigabyte X58-UD5 manual, BIOS section (page 59), it says:

Azalia Codec
Enables or disables the onboard audio function. (Default: Auto)
If you wish to install a 3rd party add-in audio card instead of using the onboard audio, set this item
to Disabled.

Say I have a PCI Audio interface installed (or an external USB or FW audio interface) - why is it necessary to Disable the onboard audio? Nothing (apart from system sounds perhaps) would be sent to it.

And, if I wanted to, could I then select its driver in my DAW host? Or when playing a DVD?

Also, if I disconnect my USB/FW interface can the onboard audio then be used? For example if I temporarliy move my system to another location.

[PeteG@Scan]

Hi,

We disable the onboard to save IRQ's (the systems method for allocating resorces) and to stop any incompatabilitys between drivers.

The vast majority of people would never have need to try and access two seperate devices like that so that's why they state in the manual you should turn it off. It's not compulsory to do and you can make them work side by side but it can be hit or miss.

If the system allows it and the drivers will coexist together fine then you can switch outputs in the O.S. and even in some applications (just checked my desk top and media monkey & VLC both do it).

It'll work fine for media playback, but I imagine being a none ASIO driver it wouldn't be much use for your DAW software.

[DarkStar_GT]

Got it, thank you.

I was also thinking of OS trials (Ubuntu 64-bit??) where drivers for the third-party audio interface do not yet exist.

[PeteG@Scan]

Ahh right, in which case each configuration could be set up to default to the required device so that also wouldn't be an issue.