Any way to stop TW from comandeering my PC sound system?

[Ally007]

When using TW, I cannot get any sound from YouTube. Nor can I play an audio file on my PC media player. I have to shut TW down and sometimes even have to restart my PC, before I can get sound on YouTube and other PC applications. Is there a way to prevent TW from gaining exclusive use of my PC sound system? I'm running Windows 10 64-bit and TW ver 12.5.21
Thank you!

[mikoatkvr]

I primarily use WF on Linux, but from what I remember you can change your Audio driver to one that allows sharing audio streams in WF ( maybe portaudio or directsound ?? ) You could also install this here asio driver which you can setup to allow sharing multiple streams on your system and set WF to use it https://github.com/dechamps/FlexASIO

[Ally007]

I primarily use WF on Linux, but from what I remember you can change your Audio driver to one that allows sharing audio streams in WF ( maybe portaudio or directsound ?? ) You could also install this here asio driver which you can setup to allow sharing multiple streams on your system and set WF to use it https://github.com/dechamps/FlexASIO

Thank you for the suggestions! I'm using the same audio driver that I use with Reaper (UMC ASIO) yet Reaper doesn't take over my sound exclusively, the way TW does. The UMC ASIO driver goes with my UMC audio interface.

[pough]

I'm using the same audio driver that I use with Reaper (UMC ASIO) yet Reaper doesn't take over my sound exclusively, the way TW does.

I guess WF allows the driver to choose how to handle access in a way that Reaper doesn't, so you will need to use a different driver if you want WF and the system to both access the sound card. In my case can see that if I choose Windows Audio instead of ASIO there are options to share the card. I can't say much more than that because I do something completely different: I use my built-in sound card for system sounds and my SSL 2+ for WF and route them through a mixer. I really don't want my system sounds to interfere.

[huik]

Hi,
I have the ASIO driver of my USB sound card configured.

WF I.PNG

I think it"s important to set the entire sound system to the same bit rate and sample rate.

WF II.PNG

Subsequently, you set WF.

WF.PNG

Normally, I can play audio from a browser or from anywhere even with WF running.

:-j

[dysjoint]

For example: With Presonus studio 24c, a fairly budget interface, I can flick between Waveform, Chrome, Windows etc with no problems, have (eg) YouTube and Waveform playing at the same time, and with a loopback option, record the output of any of these back into Waveform through a virtual input.
So Waveform doesn't interfere (in my case), it's up to the specific driver/settings.

[HansP]

I use only Windows drivers and I can choose between exclusive and non-exclusive use of the sound system.
But the exclusive way is like many times faster, if I don't use it I cannot work on complex mixes with many plugins.

[Ally007]

I'm using the same audio driver that I use with Reaper (UMC ASIO) yet Reaper doesn't take over my sound exclusively, the way TW does.

 

I guess WF allows the driver to choose how to handle access in a way that Reaper doesn't, so you will need to use a different driver if you want WF and the system to both access the sound card. In my case can see that if I choose Windows Audio instead of ASIO there are options to share the card. I can't say much more than that because I do something completely different: I use my built-in sound card for system sounds and my SSL 2+ for WF and route them through a mixer. I really don't want my system sounds to interfere.

I have discovered an easy way to achieve what I want. There is a Windows sound settings checkbox that allows applications (such as TW) to gain exclusive use of the sound device. I unchecked that box and now can switch applications and still have sound. No need to change the driver.
 

[Peter Widdicombe]

Just be aware there may be some latency issues when sharing, or using Windows sound. Isolating Waveform/DAW with ASIO while Windows uses PC speakers is a nice alternative.