shut off Windows sounds completely

[Ava12]

Did a quick search, but weren't able, or to dump, to find something useful.

I'd like to shut off all(!)  sound including all Windows sounds (currently Win7 Professional) during playback, is there a way to make sure all are shut off?

Thanks for any suggestions
Greetz Ava

[Calibrator]

From the Control Panel/Sounds icon you should see a tab that sets the PC's sound scheme. Change it to No sounds. In addition, you can MUTE the Volume control in your system tray. XXHE uses exclusive mode for its playback, and that MUTE button is a good way to check if things are behaving as designed. If you click the MUTE button and XXHE sound disappears, something is wrong.

Give that a try for starters.

Cheers,

Russ

[Ava12]

Thank you!
Ok sound still plays.
Wanted to test if any sounds come on, but can't think of a way to induce a windows error (nothing fatal) to test it.

[Calibrator]

Wanted to test if any sounds come on, but can't think of a way to induce a windows error (nothing fatal) to test it.

Try plugging in/removing a USB memory stick. The "bing-bong" system alert you get doing that should test whether your new muting setup is working.

Russ

[PeterSt]

I don't think that is sufficient. You must also make the device which will create the ding-dong the Primary Sound Device. Of course this needs the device to be there and active in the first place, so you won't know what you're actually doing and what you're after soon. But you can try to interpret the test the other way around : if the device is not Primary it will never make sound, because that other Primary is addressed (which is ? ...).

Assuming that now your are a 100% confused, make the mobo's sound device the primary (you know, that one which doesn't have anything connected to it -> HD Audio SPDIF or something). So, now it will be quiet, right ? True true, but this is because there's nothing behind it.

When you have done this, you will be sitting back and start to draw conclusions that trying it all like this does not work. It doesn't tell anything. Still you must appoint the Windows sounds to a device with nothing connected by means of making that device Primary. But the main reason is because you'd otherwise hear the ding-dong through your speakers. Not when you are playing music (because the device is taken exclusively with both Engine#3 and #4) but because it may be way loud when no preamp is used (this by itself is because you have all the Windows volumes at 100% by nature haha).

Lastly, if you remove the device in concern as much as possible this will help theoretically and Engine#4 will still be able to use it. But Engine#3 will not (it won't be there anymore for selection and/or useage by WASAPI).

All 'n all you are hunting something which can't exist, which is also why I have huge difficulties putting itinto words. Maybe others can do better here. And remember, this is not XP where -whatever it is you are hunting for- really could help for DirectSound (make it bit perfect). With Vista and up this won't help anyway. Guaranteed !
But it is not necessary either for Engine#3 and #4.

Peter


PS: Don't forget the USB ding-dong hint, because other blings or boings etc. are not there anyway once "windows sounds" have been shut off.

[PietPara]

Hi,

I saw this thread and thought to try and see what happens when I use the Vista volume slider. Unfortunately it still controls the volume! I am in KS mode.
What can I do to fix this?

In foobar KS does indeed bypass Windows volume.

I hope someone has an idea.
PietPara

[PeterSt]

Is there a volume slider in your Xonar somewhere ? If so, I assume it also controls the Windows volume. In that case try to switch off the Xonar (I think you can even disable it in device manager), and see if you still have sound.

Also, I thought you (somewhere else) showed two drivers for it. Do you use the same one in Foobar ?

I must say, it looks a bit odd to me ...
Peter

[PietPara]

Happy Easter Peter,

Not sure I understand you. Switching of the Xonar in Device Manager will obviously diable sound all over since this is my Soundcard and I have onboard audio turned off in BIOS.
Yes, Xonar volume control controls the windows volume slider (and vice versa) indeed.

Moreover, I did a test. I tried to play another sound in Windows (I ran a movie and I used Control Panel's sound test) and indeed there is no sound from these. So it seems that XXHE (or foobar) are indeed taking exclusive control of the Xonar. It's just that the Xonar still control volume too (probably indirectly also controlling the windows volume slider).
Can that be?

I guess I should leave the Xonar volume control to 100.

cheers
PietPara

[PeterSt]

The latter for sure is true,, but I still wouldn't like it. I would rather try to find something that disallows the volume control in the Xonar in the first place.

If it is so that the Xonar in the end controls the volume, and attached the Windows slider to that in the mean time, there is no problem (but leave the control at 100). But then I would want to proove that. Why ? because it just as well can be the other way around.
Also, the fact (??) that Foobar doesn't show this behaviour, worries me. It is just strange !

Peter