How to disable PC volume control

[keiron99]

I use my PC as a source, connected via optical cable out from my motherboard (with built in soundcard operating on Nvidia software I believe) to my DAC/amp. I use Itunes. I've been playing about with the wiring and cocked things up. Now, the volume control on the keyboard adjusts the volume, whereas before this was disabled- it only adjusted the volume on the monitors built in speakers and had no effect on the digital out. I'm sure there must be a checkbox somewhere that enables me to do this but I can't for the life of me find it. Can anyone please help?

 

[fjf]

I've read that with digital outs you should have the volume set to maximum, because reductions in volume are achieved through loss of digital signal. Dunno why, but the volume sould be controlled from the amp, not the compputer.

 

[keiron99]

Thanks. I do have the slider volume on Itunes set to maximum, what I'm trying to do is remove the connection between the volume control on my keyboard (a Logitech cordless) and the digital out.

 

[Chri5peed]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjf I've read that with digital outs you should have the volume set to maximum, because reductions in volume are achieved through loss of digital signal. Dunno why, but the volume sould be controlled from the amp, not the compputer.

QFT

Similar story to DAPS/Amps, i.e. you should have the DAP volume to maximum and use the amp to adjust volume.

Easy explanation; to reduce the volume a greater attenuation is introduiced into the signal, therefore the less you reduce the volume or maximise it, you're getting the optimal signal strength.

 

[rimmer]

It goes with losing precision of floating-point numbers or whatever. My indigo's manual says the same ("always volume at 100%") FYI.

 

[audioengr]

If ANY of the sliders on Windows volume control have an effect, then Kmixer is in the loop. Use ASIO or Kernel streaming to bypass this and they will not have any effect. I will sound a lot better too.

The volume control on the player S/W should be set to max or bypassed. You can do this with Foobar2000 in the DSP menu. This wil prevent any LSB's from being truncated, which will lose some detail in the music.

 

[thomaspf]

Steve this is not always true.

On my Audiotrak Optoplay with ASIO4all installed I get bit perfect playback but only if the volume control is at 100%.

I recently got a JVC 401 receiver for testing purposes. It has a USB input and when connected to Windows it registers as a USB DAC and loads the standard OS driver. The volume control is active but you still get bit perfect playback with wave out when the volume is at 100%.

I am trying to figure out why it is working this way since that might solve a lot of USB audio problems.

Cheers

Thomas

 

[Elephas]

I'm using the USB ASIO driver from usb-audio.com. The main volume control can be adjusted but has no effect. The Wave volume slider does work, though.

 

[audioengr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elephas I'm using the USB ASIO driver from usb-audio.com. The main volume control can be adjusted but has no effect. The Wave volume slider does work, though.

If ANY of the sliders in Windows still work, then Kmixer is not bypassed.

 

[Elephas]

audioengr, thank you for stating this information.

It turns out I didn't install the USB ASIO driver on the notebook PC I was using at the time and the regular Windows USB Audio driver was being used instead.

I rechecked all my PCs and made sure the USB ASIO driver was installed. Here's a screenshot of the Audio Properties Control Panel. Now, the Main Volume control is inactive, and the Advanced button is also inactive. The Wave volume slider is no longer accessible.

 

[thomaspf]

Quote:

If ANY of the sliders in Windows still work, then Kmixer is not bypassed.

I guess what I am trying to tell you is that this does not seem to matter as long as you get bit perfect output.

For what other reason would you want to bypass kmixer?

Cheers

Thomas

 

[audioengr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomaspf I guess what I am trying to tell you is that this does not seem to matter as long as you get bit perfect output. For what other reason would you want to bypass kmixer? Cheers Thomas

It sounds a bit better. It's a small improvement, but noticable. I have an extremely resolving system, with all components and speakers modded and wired with my own cables - Stereophile recommended. In other systems, you may not hear the difference.

Steve N.

 

[star882]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjf I've read that with digital outs you should have the volume set to maximum, because reductions in volume are achieved through loss of digital signal. Dunno why, but the volume sould be controlled from the amp, not the compputer.

For every reduction of volume of 3dB before the DAC, you lose a bit.

 

[thomaspf]

Quote:

It sounds a bit better. It's a small improvement, but noticable. I have an extremely resolving system, with all components and speakers modded and wired with my own cables - Stereophile recommended. In other systems, you may not hear the difference.

How can identical bits from the same sound card and driver sound better? Even on a very revealing system ...

Cheers

Thomas

 

[audioengr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomaspf How can identical bits from the same sound card and driver sound better? Even on a very revealing system ... Cheers Thomas

Beats me, I'm just a hardware guy. I still have good ears, thank god

Steve N.