Overview

ASIO-Guard is Steinberg’s performance optimization technology introduced in Cubase 7 to address one of the most common challenges in digital audio production: CPU overload and audio dropouts. 
Many users often run dozens or even hundreds of tracks with complex plug-in chains, which can cause real-time processing bottlenecks. ASIO-Guard mitigates this by pre-processing audio tasks that do not require real-time calculation.

Background

In a typical DAW, all audio processing happens in real time, meaning every track and plug-in must be calculated within the audio buffer window (e.g., 5.33 ms (256 samples @ 48 kHz)). If the CPU cannot complete these calculations in time, you experience dropouts, clicks, or pops.
ASIO-Guard introduces a second processing buffer for tracks that are not record-enabled or monitored. This buffer is much larger than the real-time buffer, giving the CPU more time to process these tasks in advance. The result: smoother playback, higher track counts, and fewer interruptions.

How ASIO-Guard Works Internally

Cubase’s and Nuendo’s hybrid audio engine splits tasks into two paths:
 

Real-Time Path

• Handles tracks that depend on live input: 
  • Record-enabled tracks
  • Monitored tracks
  • External instruments and effects
• Uses the audio interface buffer size (e.g., 64–256 samples)
• Is processed with high scheduling priority 
• Must complete calculations within each buffer cycle to avoid dropouts.
   

ASIO-Guard Path

• Processes tracks that are not receiving live input
• Uses a larger buffer (often several times bigger than the real-time buffer).
• Pre-calculates audio data ahead of time and stores it in a prefetch queue.
• When playback reaches that point, Cubase/Nuendo simply streams the pre-rendered audio, reducing CPU load during critical moments.

Dynamic Switching

If you enable monitoring on a track, Cubase/Nuendo instantly moves it from the ASIO-Guard path to the real-time path - the same applies to VSTi tracks when record-enabled (!). This dynamic switching ensures input monitoring with low latency. Note that low latency comes with a price: using “heavy” plugins in the live path can earlier lead to dropouts.

Benefits

• Improved Stability: Fewer audio dropouts during playback and mixing.
• Higher Track Counts: Efficient CPU load distribution.
• Lower Latency for Recording: Real-time path remains responsive while background tasks are pre-rendered.

ASIO-Guard Levels

You can select Low, Normal, or High in Studio > Studio Setup > Audio System > Advanced Options.

• Low: Minimal latency impact, less pre-processing available.
• Normal: Balanced stability and responsiveness.
• High: Maximum stability for large projects, but introduces more ASIO-Guard latency and memory usage. Designed for mixing use cases where there is usually no live input but many heavy plugins in the processing path.

New in recent Cubase/Nuendo versions

• Audio Performance Monitor: Displays history of real-time, ASIO-Guard, and peak loads.
• Dropout Analysis: Pinpoints problematic tracks and offers mitigation measures.
• Bug Fixes: Media preview does not force output bus to real-time path anymore.

Restrictions

ASIO-Guard does not apply to:

• Record-enabled VSTi/MIDI tracks
• Any monitored tracks
• External effects and instruments.
• Certain plug-ins (check in VST Plug-in Manager).

Practical Tips

• Use the "High" ASIO-Guard level for mixing large sessions.
• Use the "Normal" ASIO-Guard level as a starting point, unless you experience dropouts.
• For automation recording, etc., consider "Low" or disable ASIO-Guard for immediate feedback.
• Audio Performance Monitor supports you with finding overloads and bottlenecks and offers to adjust settings accordingly.