PC Volume balance gets reset on Audacity startup

blindbox · October 19, 2014, 1:22pm

Hello, I’ve been having the same problem as this guy. https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/pc-volume-balance-gets-reset/28179/1

Basically, my left ear is better than my right ear, and so I needed to balance the sound through Window’s sound balance interface so that the right channel is louder than the left channel to get proper perceived loudness in both ears.

However, Audacity resets my Windows settings every time it starts.

The thread I linked indicated this issue would be fixed by 2.0.4. I am currently using Audacity 2.0.5, and the issue doesn’t seem to have been fixed. Any word on this? If all else fails, reverting back to 2.0.1 is not that bad of an idea.

Gale_Andrews · October 20, 2014, 9:18am

I’ve moved this and the topic you cite to the Windows board.

The Windows 98/ME functions that caused the reset for the user in the cited post have been removed, so presumably the cause for you is something else.

What version of Windows do you have and exactly what sound device are you using? Are you using MME, Windows DirectSound or Windows WASAPI host in Audacity’s Device Toolbar? Can you open Help > Audio Device Info… top right of Audacity and post the information from there?

Do you have correct drivers for the sound device you are using? See Missing features - Audacity Support.

I would not recommend reverting to 2.0.1, but if you exit 2.0.5 you can use the zip version of 2.0.1 as a test without installing it: https://audacity.googlecode.com/files/audacity-win-2.0.1.zip. Let us know about that and your operating system, device and driver details as above.

Thanks

Gale

blindbox · November 5, 2014, 11:58am

Sorry that it took so long to answer this. First of all, in 2.0.1, the sound balance is not reset upon starting the software. In 2.0.5, it is reset.

OS: Windows 7 x64 SP1
Device: Fiio DAC E10. I have similar results with Xonar Essence STX ( I didn’t try my motherboard’s integrated DAC) with the UniXonar 3rd party driver but let’s focus on the FiiO DAC for everything that follows since I don’t have the STX installed.
Driver: Autoinstalled with windows. FiiO indicated this is normal behavior.

Are you using MME, Windows DirectSound or Windows WASAPI host in Audacity’s Device Toolbar?

MME and Windows DirectSound reverted my balance setting. Now this is interesting, Windows WASAPI did not reset my balance settings. Great! I never thought it would matter. Woohoo!

Can you open Help > Audio Device Info… top right of Audacity and post the information from there?

Here you go.

==============================
Default capture device number: 1
Default playback device number: 4
==============================
Device ID: 0
Device name: Microsoft Sound Mapper - Input
Host name: MME
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.090000
Low Output Latency: 0.090000
High Input Latency: 0.180000
High Output Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 1
Device name: Microphone (Realtek High Defini
Host name: MME
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.090000
Low Output Latency: 0.090000
High Input Latency: 0.180000
High Output Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 2
Device name: SPDIF Interface (FiiO USB DAC-E
Host name: MME
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.090000
Low Output Latency: 0.090000
High Input Latency: 0.180000
High Output Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 3
Device name: Microsoft Sound Mapper - Output
Host name: MME
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.090000
Low Output Latency: 0.090000
High Input Latency: 0.180000
High Output Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Device ID: 4
Device name: SPDIF Interface (FiiO USB DAC-E
Host name: MME
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.090000
Low Output Latency: 0.090000
High Input Latency: 0.180000
High Output Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Device ID: 5
Device name: Realtek Digital Output(Optical)
Host name: MME
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.090000
Low Output Latency: 0.090000
High Input Latency: 0.180000
High Output Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Device ID: 6
Device name: Realtek Digital Output (Realtek
Host name: MME
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.090000
Low Output Latency: 0.090000
High Input Latency: 0.180000
High Output Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Device ID: 7
Device name: 1 - 2769M (AMD High Definition 
Host name: MME
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.090000
Low Output Latency: 0.090000
High Input Latency: 0.180000
High Output Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Device ID: 8
Device name: Primary Sound Capture Driver
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.120000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.240000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 9
Device name: Microphone (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.120000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.240000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 10
Device name: SPDIF Interface (FiiO USB DAC-E10)
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.120000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.240000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 11
Device name: Primary Sound Driver
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.120000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.240000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 12
Device name: SPDIF Interface (FiiO USB DAC-E10)
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.120000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.240000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 13
Device name: Realtek Digital Output(Optical) (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.120000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.240000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 14
Device name: Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.120000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.240000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 15
Device name: 1 - 2769M (AMD High Definition Audio Device)
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.120000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.240000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 16
Device name: SPDIF Interface (FiiO USB DAC-E10)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.003000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.010000
Supported Rates:
    44100
==============================
Device ID: 17
Device name: SPDIF Interface (FiiO USB DAC-E10) (loopback)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.003000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.010000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 18
Device name: Realtek Digital Output(Optical) (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.003000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.010000
Supported Rates:
    48000
==============================
Device ID: 19
Device name: Realtek Digital Output(Optical) (Realtek High Definition Audio) (loopback)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.003000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.010000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 20
Device name: Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.003000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.010000
Supported Rates:
    48000
==============================
Device ID: 21
Device name: Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio) (loopback)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.003000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.010000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 22
Device name: 1 - 2769M (AMD High Definition Audio Device)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.003000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.010000
Supported Rates:
    48000
==============================
Device ID: 23
Device name: 1 - 2769M (AMD High Definition Audio Device) (loopback)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.003000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.010000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 24
Device name: SPDIF Interface (FiiO USB DAC-E10)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.003000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.010000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 25
Device name: Microphone (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.003000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.010000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Selected capture device: 17 - SPDIF Interface (FiiO USB DAC-E10) (loopback)
Selected playback device: 16 - SPDIF Interface (FiiO USB DAC-E10)
Supported Rates:
    44100
Unable to open Portmixer

Do you have correct drivers for the sound device you are using? See > Missing features - Audacity Support> .

Definitely, yes. I believe i got everything in that wiki link correct.

Gale_Andrews · November 6, 2014, 12:21pm

Thanks for all the information.

If you have time to test, does 2.0.7-alpha (the top build from gaclrecords.org.uk reset the Fiio balance under Windows WDM-KS host? Note there is a small risk that the WDM-KS host could cause a problem with your Realtek device which could potentially crash or freeze the computer. That’s probably an issue in the PortAudio audio I/O interface we use so is difficult to fix.

Thanks,

Gale

blindbox · November 14, 2014, 7:00am

Okay, I’ve tested the topmost build (audacity-win-r13582-2.0.7-alpha-10-nov-14). WDM-KS (no sound came out when i tested Audacity with a FLAC file) produces an error with the FiiO E10. Message says “Error while opening sound device. Please check the playback settings and the project sample rate.” With the Realtek soundcard, no errors and the sound came out.

Now, on to the subject issue with audacity-win-r13582-2.0.7-alpha-10-nov-14. With WDM-KS, the sound balance did not change. However, with Windows WASAPI, the sound balance resets. I was thinking that maybe I made a mistake with analyzing 2.0.5, but I tried 2.0.5 again, and WASAPI did not change the sound balance.

This might be far fetched but, maybe only the very bottom sound host doesn’t reset the sound balance?

Gale_Andrews · November 14, 2014, 1:21pm

WDM-KS grants applications exclusive control of the sound device (even if they are no longer playing sound), so WDM-KS will fail in Audacity if another application was already using that device. Does that help?

I guess it’s far-fetched, yes It is probably something to do with WASAPI being fully enabled in the alpha builds, exposing bugs, but in 2.0.5’s partial WASAPI implementation there is no reset.

Gale

blindbox · November 14, 2014, 5:26pm

I have some more info. I just noticed that 2.0.6 has been released. So I gave it a go using the zip version, and it exhibits the same behavior as 2.0.7 alpha, that is, Windows WASAPI is causing the sound balance to be reset. Hope it helps.

WDM-KS grants applications exclusive control of the sound device (even if they are no longer playing sound), so WDM-KS will fail in Audacity if another application was already using that device. Does that help?

Yes, that helped. I closed foobar2000, and now WDM-KS works with the FiiO E10.