[wdmaudiodev] Re: Changing default audio device in Windows 7.

  • From: AI Developer <developer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: wdmaudiodev@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:12:35 +0530

Hi Larry,

As much as I agree with what you say (about reverse engineering), I would like to add that using documented methods is no guarantee for stuff not breaking in future.

On a regular basis, various APIs are not only deprecated but rendered useless "officially" - one such example is the DirectSound's Set Speaker Config API.

For every new version of Windows, a lot of device drivers(and applications) have to be modified, to work properly with the idiosyncrasies of the new system, even when those drivers have been using documented mechanisms and following "best practices".

And there are the cases of a number of things that Microsoft breaks(intentionally or unintentionally) unofficially.

Having said that, I would like to propose that Microsoft provides documented ways to do at least two of the following:

a. Change the default audio device.
b. Change the format used by the audio device.

I think it would be perfectly okay to restrict access to these APIs to admin. privileged users.

Think of it as somewhat akin to exposing the SetupAPIs and Network Configuration APIs. Microsoft provides all the necessary GUI to install/remove devices and network protocols, but still an API is provided for applications that do want to provide a better user experience.

Thanks.
Devendra.

Larry Osterman wrote:

Please let me know where this behavior was documented for XP?  To my knowledge this functionality has NEVER been documented.  If you reverse engineer parts of the operating system, stuff WILL break in the future.

 

 

From: wdmaudiodev-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wdmaudiodev-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Shawn Lewis
Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 8:17 PM
To: wdmaudiodev@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [wdmaudiodev] Re: Changing default audio device in Windows 7.

 

I agree with you as well.  Problem is, their is no means in all those cases to set it thru programming as we have done with XP. So my point was simply many of the dev/app tools from MS themselves, do not allow us to change or preference the output for audio. And instead of begging each department to do so, maybe their is a means to implement 1 solution for all, that being the actual sound defaultmapper?  or at the least, the ability "to fool" what is defaultmapped so when the instance of app/plugin/control is instantiated it grabs the wanted reference?

shawn

Frank Yerrace wrote:

Your points are valid, but I do believe that of these cases are arguments for the applications themselves to have their own device selection UI. In the case of IE (or really any environment that involves “plugins” or “controls” that render sound”) the solution does need to be thorough and complete: there needs to be a plugin/control interface to support device selection. This is good feedback for IE.

 

Frank Yerrace

Microsoft Corporation

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

From: wdmaudiodev-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wdmaudiodev-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Shawn Lewis
Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 9:32 PM
To: wdmaudiodev@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [wdmaudiodev] Re: Changing default audio device in Windows 7.

 

Ok not to keep rubbing.  But here are a few examples we are having issues with, using microsoft components to develop user applications.  With XP and below, no problems, as we could adjust the "default" before implementing the M/S component, then change it back to what it was.  Now with Vista/Win7, we have no means of directing output:

1. IE Control / Direct IE instantiation - ONLY uses Default Mapper.  (utilized for displaying online video tutorials, etc - Flash, etc)
2. Windows Media Player - When media is an acceptable stream with WMP, we will utilize, but have no means of directing the output
3. Powerpoint embedded visual/audio display

All of these we utilize heavily, and in environments where the this is a group broadcast (forum of people), the computer is not near where the speaker is, etc.

Just pointing out their should "maybe" be away for an application to take control of the output for defaultmapper within process or something.

Shawn

Rian Chung wrote:

Currently we do not have the concept of a default device per application.  You, as an application developer, may choose any specific device (which is essentially an application default device) or use what the user has set as their preferred playback device (default device). 

 

-Rian

 

From: wdmaudiodev-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wdmaudiodev-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Shawn Lewis
Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 3:02 PM
To: wdmaudiodev@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [wdmaudiodev] Re: Changing default audio device in Windows 7.

 

Yes and no.  I would agree its short sighted on the IE side.  But being able to set a "default" device for application? is that possible?

Tim Roberts wrote:

Shawn Lewis wrote:

Maybe I wasnt clear.  I am desiging an application, which utilizes say the IE control.  Now MOST VIDEO sites and such use MOVE NETWORKS, FLASH, etc.  How to control where this sound is to be output?

Their is no way. :(  Its up to the user EXIT MY application.  Set a default devide in control panel, Start my application, go back to control panel and reset the default...

Not sure thats what a user experience to the positive effect would be called....


You're complaining about something completely different here.  Even if there were a programmatic way to change the default audio device, that wouldn't help this situation one bit, because there's still no way for IE to bring up a dialog to choose one.

What you are describing is an application problem, not a system problem.  The application here (IE) was too short-sighted to provide a way to select an audio device.  Complain to the Internet Explorer team, not to the audio team.



-- 
Tim Roberts, timr@xxxxxxxxx
Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.
  

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