# Important Hints to the Trace Alpha driver version 3.05 for Windows™

1. System Requirements
2. New Installation
3. Driver Update

4. Driver Uninstall

5. Uninstalling an older driver for Windows™ 7 in Windows™ 8.x

6. What's new?

7. Operation in Windows™ Vista, Windows™ 7, Windows™ 8.x, Windows™ 10

8. MME, WDM-Audio and DirectSound

## 1. System Requirements

- Microsoft Windows™ XP, Windows™ 2003 Server, Windows™ Vista, Windows 2008 Server, Windows™ 7, Windows™ 8.x, Windows™ 10 each 64 bit or 32 bit

## 2. New Driver Installation

### 2.1 Windows™ XP/2003

- 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".
- If you get a message which asks you to trust software of "MARIAN GmbH", acknowledge that message and actívate the option "Always trust software of MARIAN GmbH" in order to get that message never again.
- 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 a message which asks you to trust software of "MARIAN GmbH", acknowledge that message and actívate the option "Always trust software of MARIAN GmbH" in order to get that message never again.
- 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™ 8.x, Windows™ 10

- Windows™ 7/8/10 does not start the installation of new found hardware automatically. Thus, you have to start the installation by use of the Windows™ 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 of your CD or the folder where you have unpacked the driver update package and click on "Next".
- If you get a message which asks you to trust software of "MARIAN GmbH", acknowledge that message and actívate the option "Always trust software of MARIAN GmbH" in order to get that message never again.
- 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.
- Attention with Windows 10: Directly after the installation, Windows 10 executes extensive audio tests with each audio device / channel pair of the installed audio interface. During this time almost every audio functionality with this audio interface is blocked by Windows 10. Thus, we recommend to start working with the audio interface and every related software first when these audio tests have been finished. It take appr. 1-2 minutes but takes place just once directly after the driver installation.

## 3. Driver Update

- Unzip the driver update package ("tralp-win-305.zip") with the included subdirectory structure to any folder.
- Uninstall the driver software like described in "Driver Uninstall".
- Restart Windows™

### 3.1 Windows™ 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. If you get a message which asks you to trust software of "MARIAN GmbH", acknowledge that message and actívate the option "Always trust software of MARIAN GmbH" in order to get that message never again.
- 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 Alpha. 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. In order to get the new firmware in effect, you have to SWITCH OFF and to SWITCH ON the computer.
- Subsequently to a successful firmware update, Microsoft Windows™ XP/2003 will find a new hardware after reboot, since the hardware ID of the Trace Alpha 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 a message which asks you to trust software of "MARIAN GmbH", acknowledge that message and actívate the option "Always trust software of MARIAN GmbH" in order to get that message never again.
- 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 Alpha. 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. In order to get the new firmware in effect, you have to SWITCH OFF and to SWITCH ON the computer.

### 3.3 Windows™ 7, Windows™ 8.x and Windows™ 10

- 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 a message which asks you to trust software of "MARIAN GmbH", acknowledge that message and actívate the option "Always trust software of MARIAN GmbH" in order to get that message never again.
- 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 Alpha. 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. In order to get the new firmware in effect, you have to SWITCH OFF and to SWITCH ON the computer.
- Attention with Windows 10: Directly after the installation, Windows 10 executes extensive audio tests with each audio device / channel pair of the installed audio interface. During this time almost every audio functionality with this audio interface is blocked by Windows 10. Thus, we recommend to start working with the audio interface and every related software first when these audio tests have been finished. It take appr. 1-2 minutes but takes place just once directly after the driver installation.

## 4. Driver Uninstall

- 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 Alpha" and choose "Uninstall".
- Windows™ Vista/7/8/10: In the next dialog activate the option "Delete the driver software for this device" and start the uninstall with "Ok".
- After the Uninstaller has finished, you only have to restart Windows™ if you want to install another driver.

## 5. Uninstalling an older driver for Windows™ 7 in Windows™ 8

Beginning from driver version v2.50 the MARIAN driver software is compatible with Windows™ 8. Earlier driver version are intended for Windows™ XP to Windows™ 7. In case you tried to install an older Windows™ 7 driver in Windows™ 8, the installation now is incomplete and faulty. Please follow these steps to uninstall the older driver using a special way in order to be able to install the most recent driver afterwards:

- Computer Management | Device Manager | "Other devices" or "Sound, Video and Game controllers" | "Multimedia Controller" -> right click | Uninstall; if available also activate "including driver software"
- Close the Computer Management
- Delete the old Coinstaller DLL "tralpci.dll" in the folder "c:\windows\system32"
- Perhaps in the directory "c:\windows\system32\DriverStore\FileRepository" you can find another folder called "tracealp.inf_<xxx>". (<xxx> means: any characters) Please delete this folder if it exists.
- Restart Windows™ 8 and start the installation of the new driver software like described above.

## 6. What's new?

### Version 3.05:

### Version 3.03:

- Supports the Windows Power Management Functions Hibernate, Suspend and Quickstart (Windows 8/10)
- ASIO: improved robustness against system conditions which prevent a continous audio data transfer.
- Windows 8/10: improved control characteristic for Windows Volume Control
- Installation: the installation process now increases certain limits of Windows system ressources when insufficient for operation of the driver software.
- Fixed: the Microsoft Management Console could crash after the user opened the property dialog of a MARIAN audio device within the Windows Device Manager.

### Version 3.02:

### Version 3.01:

- First official release for Windows™ 10.

### Version 2.87:

- For compatibility with older Windows Vista/7 versions, the driver files are now digitally signed with a SHA-1 certificate instead of a SHA-2 certificate.
- In rare cases an ASIO initialization problem could occur with 64 bit ASIO applications. Solved.

### Version 2.85:

- Depending on the system configuration, playing back the test tone was not possible. Fixed.

### Version 2.84:

- New: the Trace Alpha can now be used within one of multiple, separated TDM SyncBus connections. In such a case, there are no checks whether a certain TDM signal channels is already occupied.

### Version 2.80:

- New: ASIO Sample Format Emulation. Some ASIO applications are not fully compatible with the sample formats required by the ASIO 2.2 standard. Thus, you may get empty recordings or playbacks of silence. In your ASIO application you can open driver's ASIO settings. There we introduce a new option called "Sample Format Handling: Emulate 32-Bit Integer for incompatible ASIO applications". Enable this option if you encounter such kind of problems. Please note: only if this option is not active you experience the full performance of the ASIO-in-Hardware feature of the Trace and Seraph series.

### Version 2.70:

### Version 2.69:

### Version 2.68:

### Version 2.67:

### Version 2.66:

### Version 2.65:

- After changing the operation mode, manager's system menu now gets restored completely
- The function "Play test tone" now uses the correct playback device 1-2. No erroneous error messages anymore.

### Version 2.64:

- The level settings for Windows recording devices are now connected with the DSP/the gain controller of the card. Thus, changes of the recording level are now made in hardware. This also affects programs like Audacity which use the volume/level settings of Windows for their own purposes.
- Problem solved: possible, permanent output level attenuation by -3 dB when Windows™ mixer is used.

### Version 2.63:

### Version 2.62:

- Possible problems with playback/recording via MME and DirectSound in multi-channel operation removed.

### Version 2.61:

- First official release for Windows™ 8
- One driver package for all supported Windows™ versions (see System Requirements)
- Possible problems with playback/recording via MME and DirectSound with earlier versions of the 64 bit driver removed.

## 7. Operation in Windows™ Vista / Windows™ 7 / Windows™ 8.x / Windows™ 10

On Windows™ Vista / Windows™ 7 / Windows™ 8.x / Windows™ 10 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!
- In order to use multipe audio devices with a certain samplerate, you have to change the sample format with the advanced settings of an audio device in the Windows™ Control Panel. You can change these settings only for each single device consecutively. Thus, intricacies may appear because your MARIAN sound card can operate with one sample rate at one time only and Windows™ starts an recording from >all< recording devices with the actual sample format as soon you change to the recording tab. That's why we strongly recommend to use our free of charge tool "MaDevPropW7" which you can use to set the sample format for all MARIAN audio devices at once. You find this tool on your installation disk or you can download it here: http://drivers.marian.de/madevpropw7.zip. Please pay attention to our hints in "readme.txt".

## 8. MME, WDM-Audio and DirectSound

Audio applications, who do not use ASIO or direct WDM-Audio, now communicate with Microsoft MME or Microsoft WDM Audio 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 or direct WDM-Audio.
- The number of the available recording and playback devices is limited. With Windows™ XP/Vista/7 to 32 devices each (64 channels)
  This limitation applies to the number of all audio devices installed in the system.
  You can use ASIO to walk around this limitation.
- The minimum possible latency is limited to app. 20..30ms through the Microsoft Kernel Mixer architecture.
  Use ASIO to walk around this limitation.
- 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.

(c) MARIAN GmbH Digital Audio Electronics, Leipzig 09/07/2016