Samplitude has several different modes of monitoring, useful in different situations.
Hardware Monitoring[]
With MME drivers, this is the only possible type of monitoring within Samplitude. In addition, the audio hardware must support ZLM (Zero Latency Monitoring). You may of course offset a monitor signal in the Windows Multimedia mixer externally from Samplitude. However, it is incompatible with the punch-in functions.
Software Monitoring / Software FX Monitoring[]
For cards with ASIO drivers, it is also possible to use software monitoring if the card does not support hardware monitoring (ASIO Direct Monitoring). Software FX monitoring also calculates the track effects into the monitoring signal with the exception of all high latency-afflicted FX Inserts such as FFT filters, Dehisser or Vocoder. The Amp simulator however is applicable. Samplitude is therefore also usable as an effects device with which one can play live directly. If you need all of the mixer effects, use the conventional Live Input Mode, which functions without ASIO, but is afflicted with higher latencies.
In addition, software FX monitoring must be active before Software instruments can be played live via the MIDI IN port.
Hybrid Mode[]
Hybrid mode was added in V9. It allows a combination of a low latency and the classical, higher latency monitoring with a clearly defined signal flow between the two.
Note: Hybrid mode allows monitoring of send effects and busses through the mixer. This is not possible in earlier versions of Samplitude.