Directsound Vs Wave Output

Hummm...

So I keep playing with iTunes (unfortunately I haven't had the opportunity to just sit down and use it consistently, like I have WMP9 and WinAmp)...

Now, what's the difference between DirectSound and Wave Output?

The sound in iTunes really sucked compared to my WMP9 until I changed the settings in quick time and set it so that the wave output was used, not direct sound...

What's the deal? I was almost sure (although now I can't find it) that WMP9 uses "Direct Sound," and it sounds amazing.

I don't want to keep buying tracks if I'm going to end up not using iTunes because the sound quality isn't up to par with other media players...

Now the idea situation would be if I could play the AAC files that I buy in another player. I would assume that's never going to happen?

#68534

DirectSound is a special microsoft sound driver that adds special "effects" that make the sound sound better. It plays with what your ear hears.

But this is Apple, and I doubt Microsoft made it easy for other programs to use this driver, so Apple's not good at it.

WaveOut is just standard.

#68536

I personally never use DirectSound, I always use waveout. iTunes sounds really good on my Audigy card.

#68538

Go..Edit-Preferences

Click Effects...

Adjust the Sound Enhancement slider... Makes all the difference!

Josh

#68555

Originally posted by FatAxl@Oct 23 2003, 08:50 PM

I personally never use DirectSound, I always use waveout.  iTunes sounds really good on my Audigy card.

It sounds good on my Turtle Beach Santa Cruz card...

But only if I'm using Wave Out... If I use DirectSound, it stinks...flat flat sound.

I would assume WMP9 probably uses DirectSound?

#68564

Okay...so out of curiosity...

I just wanna know how many people use each type of output...whether directsound or waveout...

Especially when it concerns iTunes.

btw, I tried the sound enhancer. It's interesting...but you can tell it's being "enhanced." At least I can.

I'll fiddle more with that, though.

#68567

:woot:

Wow! Thanks for the good tip! I was about to give up using iTunes because of poor playback. I only have a P3 500mhz PC 256mb memory, and iTunes was about too much for it I thought. If I did any other activity at all while running iTunes, the songs would cut in and out. Even doing nothing at all on my pc but letting iTunes play, the songs would cut in and out during the first few seconds of the song? I thought I'd probably have to wait till I upgrade my PC before using iTunes.

But, after reading about this setting, and changing this in Quicktime, that problem has disappeared! (Y)

#68581

Yeah, I had moved this to General Discussion, but one of the mods deleted it later.

I don't see why,so its back from the dead.

#68721

WaveOut is a pre win98 sound o/p system that is pretty much obsolete today. Technically, DirectSound and WaveOut should sound the same but one of the issues today is that some soundcards have poor WaveOut or DirectSound support.

So for some systems WaveOut "sounds" better and vice versa. There is no extra sound enhancing SW in DirectSound. For windows after Win98, DirectSound usually performs better (less or no sound breakup) and usually sounds better when used with good soundcards.

I am convinced that iTunes has currently got a flakey DirectSound system and that is why WaveOut sounds better for many people. Apple should get their act together quickly and sort this out. There should be no reason why iTunes or WMP9 or QCD or Winamp should sound different using the default decoders and DirectSound o/p.

#68811

Originally posted by contrasutra@Oct 24 2003, 10:41 AM

Yeah, I had moved this to General Discussion, but one of the mods deleted it later.

I don't see why,so its back from the dead.

Thank you!

I appreciate that. I'm in the process of learning about this...and hopefully others can share their insights...

#68820