back

Windows Audio

 a never ending disaster
  • Introduction
  • Listening
  • Output channels
  • Output channel Levels and Enabling
  • Control Panels

    Introduction

    It is useful to keep in mind that Windows became successful by:

    • moving fast
    • trying to maintain backward compatibility.
    There are many controls on many panels that interact in many unobvious ways to affect
    the many unobvious ways that sound works (or doesn't).

    microphone

     Windows has a "listening" concept, which is related, but not essential, to microphone usage.
    To disable listening by Host Process for Windows Services:
    1. Right-click volume icon.
    2. Select "Open Sound settings"
      This Sound settings panel is also available from the main [Settings] panel under [System]
    3. Select "Sound Control Panel" in Settings | Sound right sidebar under Related Settings
    4. Select "Recording" tab in the newly opened Sound window
    5. Select, in turn, each device
    6. Select "Properties" button in bottom right corner
    7. Select "Listen" tab in the newly opened Properties window
    8. Un-check the box next to "Listen to this device"
    9. Select "OK" to exit that Properties window
    10. Return to 5. for each subsequent device.
    11. Select "OK" again to exit Sound window

    Stereeo vs Quadraphonic vs 5.1 Surround vs 7.1 Surround

     Windows supports 4 channel configurations for non-Digital Playback devices
    in the Sound window of step 4., above.
    Quadraphonic seemingly is of no use for haptics.
    To verify and/or configure correct output channel settings,
    1. Select the Playback tab
    2. Select, in turn, each non-digital playback device
    3. Select the lower left "Configure" button
    4. Select the number of outputs actually available;
      no need to test in this window; press "Next"
    5. enable all possible "speakers";
      test any currently connected and powered, then press "Next"
    6. select all speakers as full range;
      otherwise low frequencies will be rerouted, then press "Next", then "Finish".

    Output channel Levels and Enabling

    Just because channels are correctly configured does not necessarily mean
    that audio signals will find their way out.
    In the     above step 3.,
    1. instead of "Configure", press "Properties"
    2. Select the "Levels" tab
      100 will generally be the wanted value
    3. Select the "Advanced" tab
      24 bit, 48000Hz will generally be a good setting,
      but if possible
    4. Select the "Spatial sound" tab, then Off
    5. back in step 2 of microphone,
      Select "Manage sound devices" instead of "Sound Control Panel"
    6. Select, in turn, each item in Output devices under "Disabled"
    7. Enable as appropriate
    8. Enabled devices can also be tested here.
      You may notice that some devices are nonsensical.
      For example, Windows 10 separately lists Sound Blaster X-Fi Speaker and SPDIF-Out
      but testing either generates audio from both.  Blame Microsoft or Creative... I blame both.

    Control Panel

    Note that while Sound control panels are accesible from Settings menus,
    game controllers (other than X-Box) are NOT; they are accessed from the separate
    Control Panel applet, under "Hardware and Sound" > "Devices and Printers".
    On my system, at least, Thrustmaster's TH8 shifter is under "Multimedia Devices",
    while SideWinder joystick is under "Devices", along with sound cards, routers, mice, VR Headset...
    Right-clicking either SideWinder or TH8 offers Game Controller Settings, so it could be worse...

    • maintained by blekenbleu