Default output device: output device selection logic in the standalone app

SoundID Reference output device functionality and logic when the standalone app is being used for systemwide calibration.

In this article:

• Default output device functionality
• What is happening behind the scene?
• Audio output take-over
• Automated physical output device management

Default output device functionality

Working with an additional virtual audio device in your signal chain (such as the virtual driver for the SoundID Reference standalone app) can cause the user to take additional and unwanted routing configuration steps when switching between different physical output devices.

There are two key features to the functionality - automatic system output take-over and an advanced output device management within the SoundID Reference app (the output settings you assign in the SoundID Reference app to complete the signal chain - your actual physical output).

What is happening behind the scene?

As mentioned above, the SoundID Reference app will take over and become your main output device, the virtual output device will receive the audio signal from sound sources, process the audio signal, and output to your physical output device. Easy as that! Advanced output device management saves your output device (audio interface) and the preset that was assigned to it. When using multiple audio interfaces, make sure you have added both devices as your output in the SoundID Reference app, and assigned a preset with a calibration profile to it. 

NOTE! Only certain SoundID Reference driver types support this functionality on Windows. Some of the available driver types do not support system output calibration. Learn more here: Audio driver types in SoundID Reference app [WIN]

Audio output take-over

With this setting ON, the SoundID Reference app virtual driver takes over and is automatically assigned as the default audio output/playback device of the operating system. Switching over to a different output device will not be possible while the SoundID Reference app is running - it will always revert itself as the default output device if you're trying to select a different one. 

The automatic take-over is ON by default but you can always turn it OFF in case your workflow requires switching between output devices manually.

NOTE! Switching over to a different output device on the operating system level will effectively bypass the virtual driver of the SoundID Reference app, thus disabling the calibration. 

Automated physical output device management

In addition to the automatic take-over, SoundID Reference will also attempt to automatically complete the signal path when the user attempts to use a different output device. Here's how it works:

• If a new output device is connected to the workstation for the first time, the SoundID Reference app will retain the default output device status AND suggest applying calibration to the newly connected device in a form of a tooltip inside the app. From there, you will be able to create an output preset for this device.
• If a previously used output device is connected to the workstation and an output preset has been created for it previously, the SoundID Reference app will retain the default output device status AND you can switch to the new output device and its preset from the Output panel on the left. From there, you will be able to instantly apply the previously created output preset, or add/create a new one. 
• If a currently engaged output device is disconnected from the workstation, the SoundID Reference app will apply calibration a fall-back solution and switch to another available output device, based on the previously created output presets. The fall-back output preset will be selected based on a built-in device hierarchy scheme.