Weird PC Audio Issue

[ChiroVette]

Okay this is something that just started happening, and I'm not sure why. Whenever I have Waveform running (Waveform 11 - Free, Windows 11 64 Bit), and I designate the audio output channel, all other audio on my PC stops working on that audio output device. This didn't used to happen. I was able to listen to the audio from Waveform, and bounce back between that and iTunes or Youtube and any other internet audio. Not only that, but lol iTunes completely ignores the play button. On Youtube or Windows Media Player, the video responds/plays normally, except there is no sound.

The only way I can get the audio to work is to disable Waveform's audio output in the settings by choosing "None". I wouldn't care all that much, since it's a minor inconvenience, except it is very recent in origin, so something I must have done changed the way Waveform interacts with my PC and my PC with other audio devices.

[pough]

Did you change the Audio Device Type? Some of them are designed to be exclusive. I work around this by have both a specific ASIO device that I use with audio software and also still use the motherboard audio device for all regular audio. This means I need to use a mixer to mix them together before the speakers or I guess I could use two sets of speakers.

[Watchful]

You'll need to change your driver to a non-exclusive one. This is a notorious Windows issue, and sometimes an update or system change will reset the audio driver...which would explain why it suddenly stopped working in Waveform.

viewtopic.php?t=563669 has some thoughts you can try.

[ChiroVette]

Yeah, the non-exclusive thing worked. I just have to remember when I want to record my guitar to switch audio to Exclsusive Mode, as I get really weird artifacts (as I mentioned in another thread) and it seems to be linked to recording with an external instrument mic on the Windows Audio device. Weird, but true.

[Watchful]

This is a common question in this forum, but it's nothing to do with Tracktion or Waveform, but the way Windows prefers to handle audio. It makes sense to go exclusive so that the system can focus on the critical audio you're working on, but it can be confusing when you change audio drivers--and Windows changes it back.