virtualbox.org

Hello,

I'm running Windows 7 SP1 64bits as a guest O.S under my main O.S (ArchLinux x64).
The thing is, my Windows 7 is used as a digital audio workstation (DAW) and for that purpose, I need to have a low latency audio system.
Because the Windows audio drivers are not effective, users have two ways to make this work on their computer.
- Install ASIO4All, A program which replace the Windows drivers, and used drivers specifically designed for the music purpose.
- Buy, and install an external soundcard, delivered with official ASIO drivers.

Since the first solution works well on a non-virtualised system, but not on a virtualised one, I asked myself if the second one would work on a system under VirtualBox. I don't want to spend money in a ~80€ USB soundcard without knowing so, if you could give me your opinion please...

Thanks a lot !

To my knowledge you cannot run a DAW in a virtual environment because the lack of virtual audio support.
To use multichannel audio, the USB driver must support USB Audio, and I have found no information that VirtualBox actual does this.
I have succeeded with an USB audio stick with 2 channel, but haven't checked the latency.
For the VirtualBox USB, the bandwidth is rather limited, and my guess is you will get a latency that is unacceptable.
The only solution I have found to run DAW properly in a virtual environment is to use Ethernet, but external audio box for this interface is almost absent - only know of one OEM manufacture.

For my setup, I use a boot manager, where I have an audio boot version of Windows 7 that is slimmed down to only run audio programs and a pro firewall - no antivirus, utilities, etc. are installed.