Submitted by Ars is taking a look at the new Vista audio enhancements, like system wide loudness equalization, diferent volume level adjustments for different audio sources, reverse bass management, speaker fill, room correction, speaker phantoming, HRTF, and microphone arrays. Combined together with Vista’s new audio engine architecture, audiophiles should find plenty to rejoice about.
This looks like a great enhancement for high end audiophiles, but think about the security implications. The audio stack runs at realtime so if there are any sort of bugs, your friendly shellcode also runs at realtime which is likely a higher priority than any A/V software.
I’m sure kernel interfaces like this are highly audited for security problems though.
High end audiophiles will turn them off, they want HiFi, not stuff that will change the original sound.
Edited 2006-09-07 20:00
Agreed. I consider myself one, and everything mentioned in the summary except “diferent volume level adjustments for different audio sources” gives me the horror…
Gamers, though, might like it.
“– everything mentioned in the summary except “diferent volume level adjustments for different audio sources” –”
I was genuinely surprised to learn that Windows doesn’t already have this. I must have been “linux-only” too long, I just take it for granted.
I agree, the rest sounds like junk. As far as OSs go I’m hoping for good things from 64studio (debian-based, low latency kernel), which is about to reach 1.0 – I’m using a beta at the moment (good with a few rough edges).
By adjusting volume level for different audio sources they mean apps, not Wav/Midi/Cd-Audio etc. This means you can change volume for every app in a single place, even if it doesn’t have internal volume controls.
Damn straight. There’s nothing that bugs me more than audio drivers and system level stuff that tries to “enhance” my sound.
Oh definately, and you’ll start hearing more disgusting stuff come out from Microsoft, like improved stability and security; damn Microsoft and their quest to improve their image and product quality! I mean, thats gotta me anti-competitive, improving a product like that! how dare they.
Well, I’m just not going to stand for it, I’m going to run down to my bed room, make up a super cup of coffee, and make yet another Linux distribution, with yet another widget kit and desktop, and then claim its more stable, secure and reliable than Windows without any hard evidence, because hey, who needs evidence when you’ve got zealot driven caffeine passion!
Edited 2006-09-08 09:47
My comment wasn’t referring specifically to Microsoft. Microsoft (until now?) left the sound alone mostly… it tended to be crappy embedded audio cards that had stupid sound enhancing stuff.
I’m sure kernel interfaces like this are highly audited for security problems though.
Yes and which planet are you living on?
I’m a linux fan but I’m glad to see that Vista is something more than XP+Aero. Maybe it may be worth the upgrade after all.
I wonder when we may have something similar for Linux.
I think that PulseAudio (on Alsa?) is design-wise closest thing to Vista stack. Zero-copy architecture + user-mode stream mixing, among other interesting features.
Though Alsa doesn’t have user-mode drivers, but all is in kernel mode (not a huge difference though, as only the sound hardware abstraction layer & enumeration of channels/speaker topology is what goes into user space in Vista, they still need small kernel mode driver for manipulation of irq and dma).
Additionally Vista also has pluggable DSP algorithms which are responsible for stuff like HRTF, room calibration, bass boost, frequency deopendent stream routing, mic cancellations etc. I think that everything except HRTF and room calibration is fairly simple to implement once DSP plug-in framework is there (not sure if Vista allows for hardware-based DSP effects with their/or replacement SysFX).
Filter to re-route sounds to different channels already exists in some open source projects (anyone familiar with adjusting 5.1 stream in ac3fiter/ffdshow to produce better output on 4.0 setup will know about it).
There’s an interesting and informative thread on Vista’s audio capabilities at avsforum.com, a thread started by Microsoft VP of Consumer Media Tech, Amir Majidimehr (http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/amirm/default.mspx).
The avsforum thread is entitled “Audio Processing in Vista Explained”, and it’s a good read:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=713073
To be honest, I’m, shall we say “not entirely convinced.” To me most of the features seem rather, err, gimicky. For example, I’m sure that the automatic volume equalization will mess things up with my music for me.
On the other, the previously publicised ability to set the volume level for any app, is very handy. You’ve been able to do it with Detour on OS X for some time, but that is unsupported software.
It would be nice to have this available on OS X, but to be honest I’m not entirely sure how often I’d use it. It might just be simpler to fit a bloody volume control into IM apps etc.
Oh, and one thing of note, OS X does actual have two separate volume channels – sounds & alerts. With a little work on the UI (namely the menu extra), this would probably be a simpler solution on the whole.
This is kinda unrelated I admit, but looking at the screenshots in the article, is it just me, or does the theme of the “default” button in Vista (e.g. the “OK” or “Finish” button) look as if it has very little to do with the rest of the window’s theme?
As an audio engineer, its nice to see that Windows is becoming a better placeholder in an entertainment system.
Windows Media Center Edition (and Front Row, MythTV, FreeVo, MediaPortal, etc) changing they utility of the PC as an entertainment device. It facilitated music movies TV etc. However, none of these apps thought about a closer integration with a home entertainment system. PCs are the ultimate hidef platform (you won’t find DVD res. powering those huge multiscreen walls seen at Times Square).
With a decent remote, and a tight integration with an audio amp and a good plasma and network, this box would be all you need to enjoy media. Plus you could throw an awesome party or TV night. Sic LAN parties too (make the best kid in the room use the home theatre PC)
As far as the tech, its nice to see audio some attention from MS. Having hack-ish applications such as Kernel Streaming or ASIO for recording always seemed like a bandaid for a larger problem. People are highly informed by their aureal senses. It tells you direction, types of noises, and the ability to manipulate this is just one step shy of of sound informing your basic awareness. If only Virtual Reality headsets were as competitive.
They say the old mixer is being replaced in Vista. I hope now we’ll be able to adjust volumes for both playback and record levels on the same screen without having to switch back and forth. What an annoyance
“like system wide loudness equalization, diferent volume level adjustments ”
different
“System-wide sound level equalisation” and “per-application volume” settings sound like diametrically-opposed concepts to me.
Finally we’ll be able to mute individial programs. Good grief why didn’t they think of this *years* ago?
For the last time, no I do not want to mute my music so I don’t have to listen to annoying beeps emitted from random (idiotic) programs.
So what’s the latency? I’m more interested in performance than features. However, it is promising, and definitely an improvement over XP.