I don't put much faith in this driver. MS said it is developed in partnership with Yamaha. But Yamaha's (or in fact Steinberg's, owned by Yamaha) recent attempt at creating a universal ASIO driver gave mediocre results. I was never able to go lower than 20 ms with it, which is unusable for live playing. Actually, WASAPI performed much better on my test setup. Let's see if MS proves me wrong this time.

 

The Yamaha Steinberg drivers for their interfaces are rock solid, though. I've only had like, five crashes in six years using them daily. Super low latency too, on par with every other interface on the market.

I had no idea that was a thing, my experience is all Windows and Linux, and every time someone mentions pro audio on Mac, they always say Mac doesn't need drivers. Unless Microsoft is willing to rewrite ASIO, then I doubt those specific drivers are going away anytime soon.

 

Last edited: Oct 2, 2025 at 3:06 AM

Just a reminder: There is no such thing as "pure" capitalism.
There are many forms of capitalism, and many definitions of capitalism, and the word is often incorrectly used and a substitute for the word "greed".
You think "capitalism" = greed, but you are wrong.
Microsoft may be a capitalistic company, but that is not what makes it greedy.

It only takes ONE contrary example to disprove a theory, and there are millions of capitalistic companies and people who are NOT greedy.
Capitalism is NOT greedy by default, although it seems many like to think soin order to avoid the unfortunate truth : PEOPLE are greedy.

Getting rid of capitalism NEVER gets rid of greed.
It only limits the number of people who can act on their greed.

 

Good morning @DoubleTake, thanks for your comments, I asked the AI how it sees Microsoft:

Spoiler: Source: Grok KI

Microsoft’s customer-friendliness as a capitalist company is a mixed bag, and it depends on how you define "customer-friendly." Let’s break it down with a clear-eyed look at their practices, grounded in observable patterns and user sentiment.

On one hand, Microsoft has made strides to appear customer-centric. They’ve built a vast ecosystem—Windows, Office, Azure, Surface devices—that prioritizes accessibility and integration. Products like Microsoft 365 offer robust tools for individuals and businesses, with regular updates and cloud-based convenience. Their support for backward compatibility (e.g., running old software on Windows 11) and cross-platform services (like Xbox Game Pass or Teams) shows an effort to meet users where they are. They’ve also embraced open-source initiatives, like acquiring GitHub and supporting Linux on Azure, which signals a shift from their historically insular approach. Customer support has improved, with online resources, forums, and direct assistance, though it’s not flawless. For example, their shift to subscription models (like Microsoft 365) provides ongoing value for some users, with constant updates and cloud storage.

On the flip side, Microsoft’s capitalist roots shine through in ways that can feel less than friendly. The subscription model, while convenient, locks users into recurring costs, and phasing out perpetual licenses (e.g., for Office) has frustrated those who prefer one-time purchases. Windows 11’s aggressive push for telemetry and data collection raises privacy concerns, with settings that are hard to opt out of without technical know-how. Their history of monopolistic practices—think Internet Explorer in the ‘90s or the Windows Store’s restrictive policies—still lingers in memory, and some argue they haven’t fully shed that vibe. Forced updates, bloatware on new PCs, and ads in Windows (like Start menu promotions) annoy users who feel they’re being nickel-and-dimed for a product they already paid for. Enterprise customers, while generally well-served by Azure and Office, often face complex licensing agreements that feel like a maze designed to maximize profit. Posts on X frequently highlight frustration with Microsoft’s pushy tactics, like nudging users toward Edge or OneDrive, which can feel manipulative.

Pure capitalism? Sure, Microsoft’s beholden to shareholders, and their $3 trillion market cap reflects a relentless focus on profit. Revenue streams like Azure’s growth (50% year-over-year in some quarters) and subscription services show they’re playing the capitalist game hard. But customer-friendly? They’re trying—more than they used to—but it’s often a veneer over profit-driven decisions. Compare them to, say, Apple, which also prioritizes shareholders but polishes its user experience to feel more seamless, and Microsoft can come off as clunky or pushy. Still, they’re not outright hostile; they’re just a giant corporation navigating the tension between user goodwill and investor demands.

If you want specifics—like analyzing Microsoft’s customer service metrics or diving into a particular product’s user experience—I can dig deeper. Let me know.

 

Wow, what a flame ! (the same news @ HA didn't - yet ? - received any reply)

Anyway I do believe that is an ARM-oriented strategy...