Selecting an audio driver protocol heavily favors ASIO (Audio Stream Input/Output) over MME (Multimedia Extension) for any serious music production or low-latency recording application. MME is an older Windows audio driver that introduces massive processing delays, making real-time monitoring and virtual instrument performance virtually impossible. Conversely, ASIO bypasses unnecessary operating system audio layers to communicate directly with hardware interface drivers, delivering ultra-low round-trip latency essential for professional tracking.