Microsoft has recently been vigorously promoting the Windows on Arm (WoA) platform, positioning it as an AI-driven, high-performance next-generation operating system.With support from a host of native apps, Microsoft is now setting its sights on a niche but critical area: music creation and live performance, announcing plans to release a new low-latency audio driver next year.
Microsoft is teaming up with Qualcomm and Yamaha to develop a built-in low-latency USB Audio Class 2 and ASIO driver specifically for WoA hardware.
Microsoft pointed out that although WoA already has a USB Audio Class 2 driver, it has high latency and does not support the ASIO protocol. The new open source driver can add missing features faster.
This driver features plug-and-play functionality, so any device that meets the USB Audio Class 2 standard will "just work".
The driver is currently being validated and tested internally and is open sourced under an MIT license on GitHub, with a public preview expected next year.
The new low-latency driver is expected to be available for public preview on the Windows Canary Channel in 2026. Due to the large and diverse ecosystem, Microsoft expects this preview to last for a long time.
It is worth noting that although the driver is mainly designed for WoA, it will also be compatible with Intel-based Windows devices.
