AI, which is not always 100% accurate, offers this...
"MixPad does not allow you to monitor your recording track unless your hardware and settings are configured to use an ASIO-compatible audio device. ASIO (Audio Stream Input/Output) is a protocol/driver developed specifically for audio software, allowing for low-latency input and output, and often needed for real-time monitoring of tracks while recording. If your tracks are not set up to record with an ASIO-compatible sound card, MixPad will disable monitoring and you will see messages to that effect.
Why Monitoring Might Not Work
MixPad restricts track monitoring to channels configured with ASIO hardware to avoid audio delays and ensure accurate real-time playback while recording.
If your interface is not ASIO-compatible, or if you have not selected the ASIO driver in MixPad’s audio settings (usually under File → Options), monitoring will not be available for your tracks.
You may need to install manufacturer-provided drivers for your audio interface, or use ASIO4ALL, a universal ASIO driver for many consumer sound cards.
Direct monitoring (using the hardware’s own headphone output, bypassing software) is usually recommended as it has zero latency and does not depend on MixPad’s on-board monitoring.
What Is ASIO?
- It is a driver protocol designed for music production software that enables multi-channel, low-latency communication between recording software (like MixPad) and audio hardware.
- ASIO allows for high-fidelity monitoring and recording and is standard for most professional audio interfaces.
- Without ASIO, software falls back on generic drivers (MME, DirectSound, Windows Core Audio), which may not be fast or precise enough for real-time monitoring and multi-channel work.
Solutions
Ensure your audio interface (like Scarlett) supports ASIO and has the correct drivers installed.
In MixPad’s options, select your ASIO-capable device as the input and output, then enable monitoring for the relevant tracks.
If you don’t have an ASIO interface, you can try using ASIO4ALL (search and download from asio4all.com), and select it as your device in MixPad.
For click tracks or metronome, configure MixPad to play to your headphones through the selected ASIO device.
By using an ASIO-compatible device and selecting it in MixPad, you’ll be able to monitor your recordings with minimal latency and full track control"