Engine#4: Vista vs XP

[ivo]

Hi Peter,

I cannot try engine#4 because there are no KS devices under "Device" menu on my system. I wanted to talk about other:
Up to the XX version prior KS introduction you claimed and we all followed the rule: use Vista and up as it is the best for audio from MS so far.  99.99% of XX users are able to play via WASAPI (engine#3), but not that many (incl.me) via KS (engine#4). Why? Probably because there is no such thing as KS in Vista? So, it seems like to use engine#4 - there is a bigger driver dependency than with WASAPI. BTW, I think Peter, you should have named engine#4 not KS, but something like DAS - Direct Audio Streaming as you actually talk to HW somehow different.

So, finally my magic question would be: Suppose I have a soundcard which can be used with engine#4 in both XP and Vista. So, then does it still matter which OS I use in terms of SQ? Have anyone compared the above statement really? This is becoming actual for me, because in my Vista I cannot deploy engine#4, but hopefully can on my old XP box with AudioTrak Prodigy HD2 card. So, I wonder if I switch back to XP will I loose the XX's magic.

Thanks,

Ivo

[PeterSt]

Hey Ivo,

BTW, I think Peter, you should have named engine#4 not KS, but something like DAS - Direct Audio Streaming as you actually talk to HW somehow different.

Haha, I really love this ! I mean, I have been thinking about this much myself, but in the end didn't think it could be justified.

Allright, first off all notice that I started this little () project because I wanted support for XP. And since I don't like ASIO (not available to everybody anyway) and wanted "bity perfect" output, this was the logical option. Next I couldn't help it much that it possibly superseeds WASAPI, although I of course did my best right from the start to let KS (under XP) not sound like Foobar etc.

KS still exists in Vista, although MS told it is emulated (just not true). But, MS wants to get rid of it ("so please driver developers, don't support it !" blahblah).

So, it seems like to use engine#4 - there is a bigger driver dependency than with WASAPI.

This is not only true, but also it needs different approaches in the software for different devices (as I found out). Worse, in XP it is again different, as I found out for at least USB. So, KS *is* just nothing worth much, and it is noticeable. ... Weren't it for it's SQ capabilities (as it now seems).

So, finally my magic question would be: Suppose I have a soundcard which can be used with engine#4 in both XP and Vista. So, then does it still matter which OS I use in terms of SQ?

I can't be sure at this moment, and it would need explicit comparing. Also, it is diccicult to estimate this from theories;
I guess you followed my remarks about Vista vs W7, and there you can see that "no changes to the audio stack" may result in a very different sound just because of stupid anticipations on the working of (in this case) Vista -> the task switching stuff). So I guess it will be a matter of trying.

This is becoming actual for me, because in my Vista I cannot deploy engine#4, but hopefully can on my old XP box with AudioTrak Prodigy HD2 card.

I can't be sure, but I think most drivers will run under Vista/W7 just the same BUT the Vista/W7 possibilities won't be exploited. Funny thing is : this is exactly what you don't need with KS. See the Juli@ example (which might be a coincidence).

Peter

[ivo]

Peter,

I tried latest XX on my XP box and it works! There is KS: device and it plays OK even in QAP mode. So, that is shame that it does not on my laptop . Hope that someday KS of XX will work there, but less likely I guess.

Ivo