Microsoft Sound Cards & Media Devices Driver Download



The sound card in your computer is responsible for controlling and processing the input and output of all audio on your machine. If you’re having problems with audio on your computer, or have recently installed a new sound card, you can verify that the sound card is being detected by Windows. Method 3: Set your sound card as the default device. Some applications aren’t able to use the Sound Mapper, which means they require your sound card itself to be set as the default device. You can do this by performing the steps below and setting your sound card or headphones as the default device for audio playback on your device.

  • Shop online at creative.com for wireless speakers, Bluetooth headphones, Sound Blaster sound cards, gaming headsets. Free shipping on orders over $35.
  • Download sound card drivers or install DriverPack Solution software for driver scan and update.

DirectSound is a deprecated software component of the MicrosoftDirectX library for the Windowsoperating system, superseded by XAudio2. It provides a low-latency interface to sound card drivers written for Windows 95 through Windows XP and can handle the mixing and recording of multiple audio streams. DirectSound was originally written for Microsoft by John Miles.[1]

Besides providing the essential service of passing audio data to the sound card, DirectSound provides other essential capabilities such as recording and mixing sound, adding effects to sound (e.g., reverb, echo, or flange), using hardware accelerated buffers in Windows 95 through XP, and positioning sounds in 3D space. DirectSound also provides a means to capture sounds from a microphone or other input and controlling capture effects during audio capture.[2]

After many years of development, today DirectSound is a mature API, and supplies many other useful capabilities, such as the ability to play multichannel sounds at high resolution. While DirectSound was designed to be used by games, today it is used to play audio in many audio applications. DirectShow uses DirectSound's hardware audio acceleration capabilities if the sound card's hardware audio acceleration capabilities exist and are exposed by the audio driver.[3]

Features[edit]

DirectSound is a user mode API that provides an interface between applications and the sound card driver, enabling applications to produce sounds and play back music.

DirectSound was considered revolutionary when it was introduced in 1995, as it featured multiple simultaneous audio streams and allowed several applications to access the sound card simultaneously. Before that, the game developers were required to implement their own audio rendering engine in software.

DirectSound provides sample rate conversion and sound mixing (volume and pan) for an unlimited number of audio sources; however, the practical limits are the number of hardware audio sources and the performance of software mixers.

The DirectSound architecture features a concept of the 'ring buffer' which would be continuously played in a cycle. The application programmer creates the sound buffer then continuously queries its state through the 'read cursor' and updates it with the 'write cursor'. There are two types of buffers - a 'streaming' buffer, which holds continuous sounds such as background music, and a 'static' buffer which holds short sounds.

On supported sound cards, DirectSound would try to use 'hardware accelerated' buffers, i.e. the ones which either can be placed in local sound card memory, or can be accessed by the sound card from the system memory. If hardware acceleration is not available, DirectSound would create audio buffers in the system memory and use purely software mixing.

Some late DOS-era 'wavetable' sound cards such as Sound Blaster AWE32 and Gravis Ultrasound featured dedicated DSPs, which were borrowed from the digital music instruments. These cards featured local memory which could be used for buffering multiple audio streams and mixing them on board, thus offloading the CPU and greatly improving the sound quality. However, this was only possible in DOS by directly programming the hardware, and full-featured 'hardware acceleration' from the local memory was never implemented on these cards, due to complexities of double buffering. Later cards such as Sound Blaster Live!, Audigy and X-Fi are capable of accessing the system memory buffers directly.

DirectSound3D[edit]

DirectSound3D (DS3D) is an extension to DirectSound introduced with DirectX 3 in 1996 with the intention to standardize 3D audio in Windows. DirectSound3D allows software developers to utilize audio by writing once for a single audio API instead of rewriting code numerous times to work for each audio card vendor.

In DirectX 5, DirectSound3D gained the support for sound cards that use third party 3D audio algorithms in order to accelerate DirectSound3D properly, through methods approved by Microsoft.

In DirectX 8, DirectSound and DirectSound3D (DS3D) were officially merged and given the name DirectX Audio, however the API is still commonly referred to as DirectSound.

EAX[edit]

EAX is an extension to DirectSound and DirectSound3D which provides sound effects processing to the hardware-accelerated buffers.

OS Support[edit]

Windows 95[edit]

In Windows 95, 98 and Me, the DirectSound mixer component and the sound card drivers were both implemented as a kernel-modeVxD driver (Dsound.vxd), allowing direct access to the primary buffer used by the audio hardware and thus, providing the lowest possible latency between the user-mode API and the underlying hardware, but in some cases causing instability and blue screen errors.

Windows 98 introduced WDM Audio and the Kernel Audio Mixer driver (KMixer), which enabled digital mixing, routing and processing of simultaneous audio streams with a higher quality sample rate conversion as well as kernel streaming. Under WDM, DirectSound sends data to the software-based KMixer. Windows 98 Second Edition improved WDM audio support by adding DirectSound hardware buffering, DirectSound3D hardware abstraction, KMixer sample-rate conversion (SRC) for capture streams, multichannel audio support and introduction of DirectMusic. If the audio hardware supports hardware mixing (also known as hardware buffering or DirectSound hardware acceleration), DirectSound buffers directly to the rendering device.[4] If DirectSound streams use hardware mixing, KMixer and its latency delay are bypassed.[5] On Windows 98 and Windows Me, WDM audio drivers were preferred but compatibility with VxD driver model was preserved.

Although Windows Driver Model (WDM) was available starting with Windows 98, few audio card manufacturers used it. Due to internal buffering, KMixer introduced significant processing latency (30 ms on then-current systems). Windows 98 also includes a WDM streaming class driver (Stream.sys) to address these real time multimedia data stream processing requirements. When the sound card uses a custom driver for use with the system supplied port class driver PortCls.sys or implements a mini-driver for use with the streaming class driver, applications can bypass the KMixer completely and use the kernel streaming interfaces instead to reduce latency.

Windows 2000/XP[edit]

In Windows 2000, Microsoft also implemented the same WDM-based audio stack on Windows NT by introducing the WDM audio drivers and the kernel mixer component (KMixer).[6] In Windows XP, Microsoft introduced another improved kernel streaming class driver, AVStream. Beginning with Windows XP, hardware acceleration was also added for DirectSound capture effects processing[7] such as Acoustic Echo Cancellation for USB microphones, noise suppression and array microphone support.

Windows Vista/Windows 7[edit]

Windows Vista features a completely re-written audio stack based on the Universal Audio Architecture. Because of the architectural changes in the redesigned audio stack, a direct path from DirectSound to the audio drivers does not exist.[8] DirectSound, DirectMusic and other APIs such as MME are emulated as WASAPI Session instances. DirectSound runs in emulation mode on the Microsoft software mixer. The emulator does not have hardware abstraction, so there is no hardware DirectSound acceleration, meaning hardware and software relying on DirectSound acceleration may have degraded performance. It's likely a supposed performance hit might not be noticeable, depending on the application and actual system hardware. In the case of hardware 3D audio effects played using DirectSound3D, they will not be playable; this also breaks compatibility with EAX extensions.[9]

Third-party APIs such as ASIO and OpenAL are not affected by these architectural changes in Windows Vista, as they use IOCtl to interface directly with the audio driver. A solution for applications that wish to take advantage of hardware accelerated high-quality 3D positional audio is to use OpenAL. However, this only works if the manufacturer provides an OpenAL driver for their hardware.[10]

Windows 8[edit]

WASAPI audio stack in Windows 8 introduces support for 'hardware offloading' of multiple audio streams to the audio card for mixing and effect processing, in addition to the software processing introduced in Vista,[11][12] however the functionality is only exposed for Windows Runtime apps.[13] DirectSound's and DirectMusic's hardware interfaces to sound card drivers are not implemented.

Windows CE[edit]

Although DirectSound support was available in Windows CE versions up to 4.2, it was removed starting 5.0.[14] Windows CE 6.0 also does not support DirectSound, instead favoring that applications be rewritten to use the Waveform Audio API.

Replacement implementations[edit]

After the removal of DirectSound in Windows Vista, a few replacement implementations have appeared.

Sound Blaster's Creative ALchemy (2007) provides hardware acceleration of DirectSound3D and Audio Effects, such as EAX.[15] Creative ALchemy intercepts calls to DirectSound3D and translates them into OpenAL calls to be processed by supported hardware such as Sound Blaster X-Fi and Sound Blaster Audigy. For software-based Creative audio solutions, ALchemy utilizes its built-in 3D audio engine without using OpenAL at all.

Realtek, a manufacturer of integrated HD audio codecs, has a product similar to ALchemy called 3D SoundBack. C-Media, a manufacturer of PC sound card chipsets, also has a solution called Xear3D EX, although it works instead by intercepting DirectSound3D calls transparently in the background without any user intervention.

IndirectSound is a freeware library that emulates DirectSound 3D using XAudio2, without using hardware acceleration.[16]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^'The Evolution of DirectX'. Maximum PC. 3 (9): B8. October 1998. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  2. ^DirectSound Capture Effects: MSDN
  3. ^DirectShow FAQ
  4. ^DirectSound Driver Models
  5. ^Overview of DirectSound Hardware Acceleration
  6. ^CakeWalk - Windows Pro Audio Roundtable
  7. ^Exposing Hardware-Accelerated Capture Effects
  8. ^'Techreport article on Vista-ready soundcards'. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
  9. ^Creative Technology - Support - Audio in Windows Vista
  10. ^'OpenAL and Windows Vista'. Archived from the original on 2008-01-02. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  11. ^Audio Offloading: Exposing Hardware-Offloaded Audio Processing in Windows
  12. ^Windows Driver Kit - Windows Developer Preview - New for Audio Drivers
  13. ^http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/dn265105(v=vs.85).aspx
  14. ^Windows CE 5.0 removed functionality
  15. ^'Creative ALchemy website'. Archived from the original on 2008-12-17. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
  16. ^IndirectSound

External links[edit]

  • Creative ALchemy {on the Internet Archive}
  • Glossary:Sound card on PC Gaming Wiki, with notes on DirectSound replacements
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=DirectSound&oldid=1000636964'

467 drivers total Last updated: Sep 23rd 2017, 17:02 GMT RSS Feed

sort by:

Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P FX (rev. 2.1) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

1,212
downloads
Windows XP
Sep 23rd 2017, 17:02 GMT

Gigabyte GA-X79-UD3 (rev. 1.1) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

550
downloads
Windows XP
Apr 27th 2017, 11:55 GMT

Gigabyte GA-X79-UD3 (rev. 1.0) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

84
downloads
Windows XP 64 bit
Apr 26th 2017, 07:14 GMT

Gigabyte GA-X79-UP4 (rev. 1.1) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

117
downloads
Windows XP 64 bit
Apr 23rd 2017, 14:34 GMT

Gigabyte GA-X79-UP4 (rev. 1.0) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

42
downloads
Windows XP
Apr 22nd 2017, 16:38 GMT

Gigabyte GA-X79-UD5 (rev. 1.0) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

48
downloads
Windows XP
Apr 20th 2017, 10:36 GMT

Gigabyte GA-X79S-UP5-WIFI (rev. 1.0) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

63
downloads
Windows XP
Apr 19th 2017, 01:43 GMT

Gigabyte GA-H61M-S2PT (rev.1.0) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

154
downloads
Windows XP
Apr 1st 2017, 16:29 GMT

Gigabyte GA-B75M-D2P (rev. 1.0) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

48
downloads
Windows XP
Mar 31st 2017, 01:56 GMT

Gigabyte GA-H61N-D2V (rev. 1.0) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

41
downloads
Windows XP
Mar 29th 2017, 12:04 GMT

Gigabyte GA-H61M-WW (rev. 1.0) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

36
downloads
Windows XP
Mar 26th 2017, 13:42 GMT

Gigabyte GA-H61M-S2P (rev. 2.0) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

52
downloads
Windows XP
Mar 22nd 2017, 23:40 GMT

Gigabyte GA-H61N-USB3 (rev. 1.0) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

38
downloads
Windows XP
Mar 22nd 2017, 15:20 GMT

Gigabyte GA-H61M-S2P (rev. 2.1) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

38
downloads
Windows XP
Mar 21st 2017, 23:53 GMT

Gigabyte GA-H61M-S2H (rev. 1.3) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

37
downloads
Windows XP
Mar 19th 2017, 21:44 GMT

Gigabyte GA-H61M-S2V-B3 (rev. 1.1) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

69
downloads
Windows XP
Mar 14th 2017, 18:42 GMT

Gigabyte GA-H61M-S2V-B3 (rev. 1.0) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

40
downloads
Windows XP
Mar 13th 2017, 04:32 GMT

Gigabyte GA-H61M-S2PH (rev. 1.0) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

39
downloads
Windows XP
Mar 11th 2017, 22:22 GMT

Gigabyte GA-H61M-S2PV (rev. 2.1) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

43
downloads
Windows XP
Mar 9th 2017, 02:29 GMT

Gigabyte GA-H61M-S2PV (rev. 1.0) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

28
downloads

Microsoft Sound Cards & Media Devices Driver Downloads

Windows XP
Mar 8th 2017, 17:58 GMT

Gigabyte GA-H61M-S2PV (rev. 2.0) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

33
downloads
Windows XP
Mar 7th 2017, 20:13 GMT

Microsoft Sound Cards & Media Devices Driver Download Windows 7

Gigabyte GA-H61MA-D2V (rev. 2.1) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

62
downloads
Windows XP
Mar 2nd 2017, 05:59 GMT

Gigabyte GA-H61MA-D2V (rev. 2.0) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

64
downloads
Windows XP
Feb 23rd 2017, 20:24 GMT

Gigabyte GA-H61M-D2-B3 (rev. 1.1) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

40
downloads
Windows XP
Feb 21st 2017, 21:33 GMT

Gigabyte GA-H61M-D2-B3 (rev. 1.0) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

51
downloads
Windows XP
Feb 20th 2017, 16:13 GMT

Gigabyte GA-H61M-DS2V (rev. 2.1) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

33
downloads
Windows XP
Feb 19th 2017, 05:24 GMT

Gigabyte GA-H61M-DS2V (rev. 2.0) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

44
downloads
Windows XP
Microsoft Feb 18th 2017, 05:31 GMT

Gigabyte GA-H61M-D2P-B3 (rev. 1.0) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

34
downloads
Microsoft Sound Cards & Media Devices Driver download
Windows XP
Feb 16th 2017, 21:58 GMT

Gigabyte GA-H61M-DS2H (rev. 2.0) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

35
downloads
Windows XP
Feb 15th 2017, 03:37 GMT

Gigabyte GA-H61M-DS2 DVI (rev. 1.0) Microsoft UAA Driver 5.10.0.5010

79
downloads
Windows XP
Feb 11th 2017, 22:33 GMT

Microsoft Sound Cards & Media Devices Driver Download Windows 10

Want more? Browse through the pages: