More > JRiver Media Center 21 for Windows

WASAPI Exclusive Access... On vs. Off Audio Quality

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glynor:
There is no difference if:
* Windows is not playing any other sounds simultaneously.
* You only play files where the sample rate matches the currently selected Windows Default Format

In that case, it is played using the same API and it is still a single-stream to the sound device.

If you play any other file formats, then MC will have to resample them if Exclusive Access is turned off. And, of course, if Windows mixes in other sounds, then other sounds will be mixed in.

Exclusive Access can also make it much more convenient to use Internal Volume because you can enable the Maximize Device Volume setting, and therefore you can easily bypass the system volume mixer.

DocLotus:

--- Quote ---You can even make two Zones, one with it enabled and one without (I have this on my setup for the exact reasons detailed in the Wiki article).
--- End quote ---

Sounds interesting; I've not tried Zones yet.  Can Zones be quickly changed while MC is playing for an A-B comparison?  That would be awesome.

DocLotus:

--- Quote ---There is no difference if:
* Windows is not playing any other sounds simultaneously.
* You only play files where the sample rate matches the currently selected Windows Default Format

In that case, it is played using the same API and it is still a single-stream to the sound device.

If you play any other file formats, then MC will have to resample them if Exclusive Access is turned off. And, of course, if Windows mixes in other sounds, then other sounds will be mixed in.

--- End quote ---

Now we're getting somewhere; MOST interesting.

From what I have read elsewhere on the Web the one or two other folks that brought this up eluded to the same conclusions but they were rather vague about the details.

I really appreciate your input, it is very helpful.

chunky70:
Can i just clarify that if i have exclusive mode in windows enabled and play 24/192 flac with direct sound in j river that windows will leave it untouched? With wasapi i'm getting pops and crackles via hdmi (wdm driver).
I have shared mode set at 16/44.1.
I have system sounds turned off.
Windows volume up full.

mwillems:

--- Quote from: chunky70 on August 16, 2015, 08:03:33 am ---Can i just clarify that if i have exclusive mode in windows enabled and play 24/192 flac with direct sound in j river that windows will leave it untouched? With wasapi i'm getting pops and crackles via hdmi (wdm driver).
I have shared mode set at 16/44.1.
I have system sounds turned off.
Windows volume up full.

--- End quote ---

I'm confused about your setup (you mention the WDM driver but it's unclear what your source is?)

If you're using direct sound 192/24 will be resampled to 16/44.1.  You have to use WASAPI or ASIO to avoid resampling.

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