Software to show the details of the audio being played

[akay]

Please forgive my lack of knowledge, as the question might sound ignorant or stupid...

 

Is there any kind of software that can show me the details of the current audio coming out of my headphones? In case that doesn't explain the question properly, let me give you an example:

 

When I'm listening/watching anything with Dolby Digital Plus or Dolby Atmos audio, I get a little text saying "Dolby Atmos for Headphones is in use", which my virtual surround software can properly recognize and play:

 

 

I don't get this text when playing any other audio format, for example DTS, but it sounds just as good and virtual surround feature is still working. The text might be there just for marketing purposes, but it's a nice idea and I would like to find software that can show me whatever format Windows audio is currently sending to the DAC. The audio driver GUI is only showing the current sample rate, but at least I know it to be correct thanks to some testing with DSD512 files:

 

Please note I don't mean software that will show me the details of the files I'm playing (like MediaInfo), but more low-level, passive software that attaches itself to maybe Windows audio. Something that can tell me the signal is stereo/5.1/7.1, format, sample rate.

 

Thank you

[yamamoto2002]

Interesting question.

 

I read Microsoft SpatialAudioClient document and found app is possible to know if spatial audio is enabled or not on the specified audio endpoint by calling ISpatialAudioClient::GetMaxDynamicObjectCount() but could not find API to get display name of actual virtual surround processing method. I'll investigate further on spare time.

 

This Spatial sound processing is performed after IAudioClient buffer push of typical music player apps and before audio driver input. It seems audio driver does not know, from audio driver point of view, just 2ch stereo sound is streamed from AudioEngine.

 

Audio Rendering Endpoint 6 = Analog (3+4) (RME Babyface Pro)
Spatial sound is enabled
ISpatialAudioClient::GetMaxDynamicObjectCount()=111

Static Virtual speaker position relatives to listener's head
                   X         Y         Z
    FrontLeft (-1.443380 0.000000 -2.500000)
    FrontRight (1.443380 0.000000 -2.500000)
    FrontCenter (0.000000 0.000000 -2.500000)
    LowFrequency (0.000000 0.000000 0.000000)
    SideLeft (-1.828750 0.000000 0.000000)
    SideRight (1.828750 0.000000 0.000000)
    BackLeft (-1.524000 0.000000 1.524000)
    BackRight (1.524000 0.000000 1.524000)
    TopFrontLeft (-1.024980 1.238400 -0.695010)
    TopFrontRight (1.024980 1.238400 -0.695010)
    TopBackLeft (-1.024980 1.238400 0.695010)
    TopBackRight (1.024980 1.238400 0.695010)
    BottomFrontLeft (-1.024980 -1.238400 -0.695010)
    BottomFrontRight (1.024980 -1.238400 -0.695010)
    BottomBackLeft (-1.024980 -1.238400 0.695010)
    BottomBackRight (1.024980 -1.238400 0.695010)
    BackCenter (0.000000 0.000000 1.524000)

IAudioFormatEnumerator::GetFormat()
  0: 48000Hz 32bit 1ch

 

[akay]

Thank you!

 

Why does IAudioFormatEnumerator::GetFormat() think the audio is single channel?

[yamamoto2002]

ISpatialAudioClient accepts 1 channel PCM stream for each virtual speaker

 

[akay]

I see. Thank you.

[yamamoto2002]

On 2/28/2019 at 7:12 AM, akay said:

... but more low-level, passive software that attaches itself to maybe Windows audio. Something that can tell me the signal is stereo/5.1/7.1, format, sample rate.

 

Audio device sample rate is shown on your iFi audio control panel.

 

It is matched to `Default Format' showed on sound property window (Fig.1) when the audio endpoint works in shared mode. Sample rate and number of channels may be changed in AudioEngine shared mode DSP (Fig.2). When app plays sound using WASAPI exclusive mode or ASIO, audio device sample rate may be changed to other sample rate by app and iFi audio control panel shows its SR. When the endpoint works in exclusive mode, shared mode sound is not played on the endpoint.

 

I created WWShowAudioStatus program to show shared mode sample rate and all supported audio device PCM formats and device topology (Fig.4). While it does not show currently using PCM format of the audio device...

https://sourceforge.net/p/playpcmwin/wiki/WWShowAudioStatus/

 

 

Fig.1 : Shared mode sample rate settings

 

Fig.2 : Shared mode playback.

 

 

Fig.3 : Exclusive mode playback

 

 

Fig.4 : WWShowAudioStatus

 

 

 

[akay]

Thank you very much for this! Looks great.

[akay]

The audio interface I'm using (iFi Micro iDSD) disappears during playback with HQPlayer  To be fair, it also disappears from the list of playback devices in Windows audio control panel.

[yamamoto2002]

Hmm. I haven't experience it with my iFi Nano iDSD. Strange...

[akay]

It's not a big deal, I just wanted to mention it as a bug or "fyi". Might be isolated to my setup (although it's just the DAC connected to my desktop via USB). If you ever want to look into it let me know how I can be of assistance.