Windows Speaker Setup

bjm2020 · 10-17-2006, 11:48 AM

I am trying to programatically be able to change the Windows Speaker Setup in the control panel. Ex: Stereo Speakers, 5.1 Surround, etc... Anyone know if this is possible. Is there a windows registry entry for this? Is it sound card specific?

portreathbeach · 10-17-2006, 05:12 PM

I havn't heard of any way that this can be changed, other than through the control panel. What exactly are you wanting to change this for, because I have found that when you change (for example) from 5.1 output to stereo output, you have to do a reboot for the change to take effect. I think that the information is stored in the registry, but where, I don't know. You could have a look on Google.

bjm2020 · 10-20-2006, 09:40 AM

I will have to check on if it requires a reboot.

I found these registry keys on my laptop, but I'm not sure if they are hardware dependent.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Hardware\P rofiles\Current\System\CurrentControlSet\Enum\PCI\ VEN_1002&DEV_4370&SUBSYS_309113C&REV_02\3&13C0B0C5 &0&A5\DirectSound\Speaker Configuration

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Hardware\P rofiles\Current\System\CurrentControlSet\Enum\PCI\ VEN_1002&DEV_4370&SUBSYS_309113C&REV_02\3&13C0B0C5 &0&A5\DirectSound\Speaker Type

The values do change when the speaker configuration is changed.

badman · 12-11-2006, 05:51 AM

The way to change it is via DirectX functions.

bjm2020 · 12-14-2006, 08:45 AM

Can you point me out to these DirectX functions? I don't have much experience with DirectX.

binary64 · 09-14-2007, 10:39 AM

7.1 wide configuration speakers
(Sony Dynamic Digital Sound (SDDS) 1993 - Depriciated!)

Speaker Type: 12
Speaker Configuration: 7

FivePointOne: False
GeometryMax: False
GeometryMin: False
GeometryNarrow: False
GeometryWide: False
Headphone: False
Mono: False
Quad: False
SevenPointOne: True
Stereo: False
Surround: False

7.1 home theater speakers

Speaker Type: 13
Speaker Configuration: 8

FivePointOne: False
GeometryMax: False
GeometryMin: False
GeometryNarrow: False
GeometryWide: False
Headphone: False
Mono: False
Quad: False
SevenPointOne: False
Stereo: False
Surround: False

5.1 surround sound speakers

Speaker Type: 11
Speaker Configuration: 6

FivePointOne: True
GeometryMax: False
GeometryMin: False
GeometryNarrow: False
GeometryWide: False
Headphone: False
Mono: False
Quad: False
SevenPointOne: False
Stereo: False
Surround: False

Surround sound speakers (5.0)

Speaker Type: 10
Speaker Configuration: 5

FivePointOne: False
GeometryMax: False
GeometryMin: False
GeometryNarrow: False
GeometryWide: False
Headphone: False
Mono: False
Quad: False
SevenPointOne: False
Stereo: False
Surround: True

Quadraphonic speakers (4.0)

Speaker Type: 9
Speaker Configuration: 3

FivePointOne: False
GeometryMax: False
GeometryMin: False
GeometryNarrow: False
GeometryWide: False
Headphone: False
Mono: False
Quad: True
SevenPointOne: False
Stereo: False
Surround: False

Stereo headphones

Speaker Type: 1
Speaker Configuration: 1

FivePointOne: False
GeometryMax: False
GeometryMin: False
GeometryNarrow: False
GeometryWide: False
Headphone: True
Mono: False
Quad: False
SevenPointOne: False
Stereo: False
Surround: False

Desktop stereo speakers

Speaker Type: 2
Speaker Configuration: 1310724

FivePointOne: False
GeometryMax: False
GeometryMin: False
GeometryNarrow: False
GeometryWide: True
Headphone: False
Mono: False
Quad: False
SevenPointOne: False
Stereo: True
Surround: False

Speaker Type and Speaker Configuration refer to the registry settings and are decimal.

The rest, is the DirectShow config. To set these values, use a simple C# application (download Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Express C# first), add in the Managed DirectShow reference (install Managed DirectX SDK first), then do something like this:-

Microsoft.DirectX.DirectSound.Device dev = new Microsoft.DirectX.DirectSound.Device(Guid.Empty);
Microsoft.DirectX.DirectSound.Speakers s = new Microsoft.DirectX.DirectSound.Speakers();
s.FivePointOne = true;
dev.SpeakerConfig = s;
dev.Dispose();

also, don't forget to install http://support.microsoft.com/kb/909441

___
binary64
www.MeediOS.com

teridon · 12-20-2007, 09:35 PM

binary64,

I was able to get the C# program working -- at least as far as setting the SpeakerConfiguration. However, the "Speaker Type" in the registry does not change. Any ideas how to do that generically?

I mean, I code do it specifically for my computer by writing to the registry to the write place, but on different computers, the PCI information would be different.

binary64 · 12-21-2007, 06:59 AM

Maybe there is no need - try it just using the managed DirectX config.

I'm on the bit where I want to preview all the different configs - without rebooting.

teridon · 12-21-2007, 11:12 AM

Sorry, I don't understand what you mean -- could you be more specific? This is literally my first experience with C#. I'm used to writing stuff in perl!

I added a reference to Microsoft.DirectX.DirectSound (in MS Visual C# 2008 Express), and added the code you have above. For switching to headphones I used "s.Headphone = true" instead of "s.FivePointOne".

If anyone's interested, I have my programs here:
http://home.comcast.net/~teridon73/hacks/
Note that as of right now the programs don't properly set the "Speaker Type", but otherwise seem to work.

The registry setting method is also demonstrated there, and that seems to work perfectly. I'm just trying the C# method out of curiousity.

binary64 · 12-21-2007, 07:42 PM

What I'm saying is I noted the different "Speaker Type" values because I noticed they were changing but I have no idea what they are for. If it works with just .net (just SpeakerConfiguration) then leave it at that; it works.

A bit of feedback about whether you HAVE to reboot after changing the settings or not would be appriciated. I have no other DirectX stuff running whilst my project runs..

I read your blog. Good point about DirectSound3D. Regmon.exe should reveal if that other value gets read.

teridon · 12-21-2007, 08:16 PM

Oh I see. I read speculation somewhere (now of course I can't find it) that the "Speaker Type" might affect how DirectSound3D sound gets processed. I suppose I could run some tests using dxdiag for different speaker types for the same speaker configuration. I would only be using my ears (not very good instruments!)

You do not have to reboot after changing the settings -- whether you write directly to the registry, or use the managed DirectX interface. I tested this by listening to a DVD-audio disc with 5.1 sound using PowerDVD while changing the speaker configuration. When I changed the setting (again, either method), the sound cut out for about 2 seconds, then came back on. The changes were definitely working without a reboot.

I ran a similar test using iTunes, with the same results (i.e. sound cut out for about 2 seconds, and came back with the expected settings).

teridon · 12-21-2007, 08:34 PM

I found this program to test DirectSound3D
Rightmark 3D sound
http://audio.rightmark.org/download.shtml

binary64 · 12-22-2007, 05:46 AM

Wow, WMP11 and Managed AudioVideoPlayback don't