Volume Lock (solved with Plugin)

[cciss]

I did a bit of research and the WASAPI is a Microsoft standard to output to usb, the exclusive part excludes the system sounds/notifications, whereas the ASIO seems to be still PC specific but NOT Microsoft and generally considered better.
Also the WASAPI output in MB limits the output drivers and cannot be configured. The ASIO output allows me to use a updated device driver and also allows the output to be set to "Stream DSD data as PCM (DOP)" which I believe is the correct way to stream the DSD data to dac.

I have about 80 DSD albums now (a lot of repeats of favorite albums, and bootlegs of live performances, and a few "best of"), last night the album I was actually listening to was a "Reel to Reel" DSD128 recording of Wish You Where Here.
I'm not sure I completely understand the format but a single bit, rising or falling seems to me to be a lot less data to store than a specific audio value and should allow for way more samples which should require way less filtering and should result in more detail, well that's my theory anyway!

[boroda]

Fair enough, so he does all development by himself? Nice job..
Could it be done as a plugin?

@cciss, Mayibongwe has kindly (and quickly  ) made a plugin for this case:

https://getmusicbee.com/forum/index.php?topic=41297.0

[sveakul]

I did a bit of research and the WASAPI is a Microsoft standard to output to usb, the exclusive part excludes the system sounds/notifications, whereas the ASIO seems to be still PC specific but NOT Microsoft and generally considered better.
Also the WASAPI output in MB limits the output drivers and cannot be configured. The ASIO output allows me to use a updated device driver and also allows the output to be set to "Stream DSD data as PCM (DOP)" which I believe is the correct way to stream the DSD data to dac.

 Ouch.  WASAPI is actually the "new" default Microsoft audio API introduced with Vista and supported by Windows 7+, to replace the deprecated DirectSound and nothing to do with USB per-se.

It can be used as WASAPI-"shared," where it can be used simultaneously with system sounds and and passes everything through the Windows Mixer, to be resampled/handled/etc at will by that component.  As such, it is NOT bit-perfect.  Fading and other DSP effects can be applied.

When it is used as WASAPI-"exclusive", it retains full control over the path to the audio device, by-passing the Windows Mixer and passing the audio as-is from the source file to the drivers.  Like ASIO, then it is also bit-perfect.  It will stream a DSD source as PCM, but ASIO "seems" to be required for non-PCM playback of the original bit stream.

There has been a lot of discussion here (e.g., https://getmusicbee.com/forum/index.php?topic=30461.0) about MusicBee and DSD (use the search box https://cse.google.com/cse?cx=426af386625354430#gsc.tab=0) and frankly the results are murky and unclear.  We need some DSD fan who actively uses MB for these files to provide us with a full "Tips & Tricks" post that "explains all"--DSD playback using PCM. DOP, or Direct with both ASIO and Wasapi-exclusive models.

[cciss]

@ boroda, thanks for letting me know, works great!

@ sveakul, good info.
I'll have a look at that forum. Not sure I can help as I'm no expert and only really use a basic setup.
I don't much get involved in the detailed stuff, but happy to do some testing and report back.