2014-06-10, 00:42
Passthrough = untouched. What goes in, comes out. Well, atleast in theory (and mostly practice).
Keep in mind with output config under Windows though; There is one important difference between Directsound and WASAPI device control.
Directsound still "goes through" Windows audio controls. Windows system audio settings can and will affect your output. WASAPI cuts out the "Windows settings middle-man". Before you start pinning a burning tail on any donkey here - make sure you're using the same "Output device settings" on both apps.
Oh, and some applications allows for "more than 100% volume" (amplification) - VLC is one, there are tons of others. Don't use this unless you really, REALLY have to. It will distort the audio vastly, cause clipped and flat waves. You really don't want that - it can damage both your amp and speakers. I suggest using WASAPI, passthrough or other means of "untouched" output when using an AV receiver or amp - leave the volume at default, and let the amp do its job as intended.
For mp3s, PCM, wave etc - these are your typical non-bitstream audio. Music is recorded, an ripped - at different base levels. Ideally it shouldn't be, but this is the real world. You can always attempt software-based automatic normalization of baseline dB levels - but its usually rather ineffective, messes up the audio and honesty, horrible inacurate (Atleast compared to what one might hope to achieve). If you actually want to properly and precisely normalize dB-levels for audio - there really is no good way around it; You'll have to go manual. It is doable - but its a cr*pload of work. Not really worth the time, versus 2 seconds of remote-fiddling-time.
Keep in mind with output config under Windows though; There is one important difference between Directsound and WASAPI device control.
Directsound still "goes through" Windows audio controls. Windows system audio settings can and will affect your output. WASAPI cuts out the "Windows settings middle-man". Before you start pinning a burning tail on any donkey here - make sure you're using the same "Output device settings" on both apps.
Oh, and some applications allows for "more than 100% volume" (amplification) - VLC is one, there are tons of others. Don't use this unless you really, REALLY have to. It will distort the audio vastly, cause clipped and flat waves. You really don't want that - it can damage both your amp and speakers. I suggest using WASAPI, passthrough or other means of "untouched" output when using an AV receiver or amp - leave the volume at default, and let the amp do its job as intended.
For mp3s, PCM, wave etc - these are your typical non-bitstream audio. Music is recorded, an ripped - at different base levels. Ideally it shouldn't be, but this is the real world. You can always attempt software-based automatic normalization of baseline dB levels - but its usually rather ineffective, messes up the audio and honesty, horrible inacurate (Atleast compared to what one might hope to achieve). If you actually want to properly and precisely normalize dB-levels for audio - there really is no good way around it; You'll have to go manual. It is doable - but its a cr*pload of work. Not really worth the time, versus 2 seconds of remote-fiddling-time.
