Alesis MultiMix12Firewire Frequently Asked Questions Manual page 8

What's the difference between the MultiMix "Drivers" and the MultiMix
"Control Panel"? Why do I need both?
Drivers are what Windows uses to connect to a device. Without them, Windows
would not be able to communicate with a device at all.
The Control Panel allows you to actually change how the mixer operates. For
instance, it's the control panel that allows you to change buffer sizes and sample
rates.
Therefore, we could say: drivers are for communication; the control panel is for
functionality.
I'm having trouble with Sonar (or my other WDM-based audio application)
Check www.Alesis.com for revised drivers.
MultiMix Firewire FAQ & Troubleshooting Guide Page 8