Popping Noise In Foobar, Xonar card - Verdict: Use ASIO, not WASAPI Options

[jayess]

Running version 1.1.14 with 2009 version of wasapi on Xonar STX using analog out connections. Foobar is set to output wasapi. Noticed first yesterday on Google Chrome that when I accidentally kept the backspace bar pressed down in the address field that it was causing a popping noise. As far as I know there should be any available sound from Chrome because Foobar was running and should have had exclusive access. This morning I went to move some files around while Foobar was playing an album of .wav files and each time I clicked on a folder I got a popping noise. Tried doing the same file test with Media Player and don't haven't any issues.

Is this a bug or something I have setup wrong?

[Kohlrabi]

Use DirectSound, which I guess WMP uses, too. Windows Mixer allows you to change the per-app volume. WASAPI's main purpose is to stream bit-perfect data to external devices for decoding.

This post has been edited by Kohlrabi: Aug 20 2012, 17:50

[Gainless]

Use DirectSound, which I guess WMP uses, too. Windows Mixer allows you to change the per-app volume. WASAPI's main purpose is to stream bit-perfect data to external devices for decoding.

I would compare the outputs of WASAPI and DS between each other though, as it could appear that the Windows mixer resamples 44.1 khz files to 48 khz, which is audible as some kind of pitch shift (at least for my soundcard).

[Kohlrabi]

Have you set your audio hardware to output at 48kHz? You could set that to 44.1kHz instead. Or you could also resample to 48kHz in foobar2000 using the resampler DSP.

EDIT: I re-read your post, please also try the current WASAPI beta instead of the old plugin.

This post has been edited by Kohlrabi: Aug 20 2012, 19:43

[kode54]

It's a "feature" of the Xonar drivers. If you want unmangled output that can't be interrupted by any other programs, sound outputs, or any of the Xonar's DSP filters, use the ASIO output.

[Gainless]

Have you set your audio hardware to output at 48kHz? You could set that to 44.1kHz instead. Or you could also resample to 48kHz in foobar2000 using the resampler DSP.

EDIT: I re-read your post, please also try the current WASAPI beta instead of the old plugin.

Did you mean me? If yes, I can't use the WASAPI plugin as my OS is Windows XP. Fortunately I could fix the resampling issue already by using another driver version, my previous post was just meant as a general advice for everyone using Direct Sound.

This post has been edited by Gainless: Aug 20 2012, 20:18

[jayess]

Went from bad to worse. I changed the Asus driver to the ASIO one and switched back from analog connection to S/PDIF. The pop went from a pop to a loud, scary boom while using Windows Media Center and trying to fast forward through commercials on a recording. I was worried it was going to damage the speakers or receiver.

The solution so far has been to uninstall the STX ASIO driver and reinstall the main Asus Essence STX driver.

Loading the Asus ASIO driver for the STX changed the S/PDIF device in playback from a pass-through device to an actual playback device, which seems to be the cause of the pops/booms. Using Wasapi with the regular driver will cause the pops mentioned initially in this thread.

A Google search turns up lots of people complaining about popping and screeching noises when trying to use Wasapi on these cards. Then selecting speakers instead of S/PDIF device in playback devices. You can then go in the Asus control center and select S/PDIF out and all seems to work well like that.

I've uninstalled Wasapi as well and have no desire to mess with it or ASIO any further.

In regards to the "verdict" being to use ASIO, that is flat out wrong and may damage either your speakers or receiver.

This post has been edited by jayess: Aug 21 2012, 04:54

[Kohlrabi]

In regards to the "verdict" being to use ASIO, that is flat out wrong and may damage either your speakers or receiver.

The verdict should be "avoid ASUS hardware like the plague".

[jayess]

In regards to the "verdict" being to use ASIO, that is flat out wrong and may damage either your speakers or receiver.

The verdict should be "avoid ASUS hardware like the plague".

I don't agree that they make bad hardware, but the poor drivers and apathy about doing anything about their poor drivers for hardware is good reason not to buy the stuff.

I'll have to read up on it more, but next time I think I'm going to go with a USB DAC.