Computer Audio Asylum

Music servers and other computer based digital audio technologies.

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Computer Audio Basics

Posted by Charles Hansen on September 16, 2017 at 23:55:37:
All modern operating systems convert all incoming audio streams to one common sampling rate so that they can be mixed together. This is so you can hear (say) an e-mail alert while you are listening to background music.

All sample rate converters degrade the sound, especially the unsophisticated ones used in operating systems. If you want the best fidelity, you should play the music at the native sampling rate. To do this in Windows you go to the Sound section of the Control Panel (I'm still using Win7, so this may be out-of-date) and under the "Advanced" tab of any connected audio device "Properties" there are two check boxes, one for "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device" and "Give this application priority"

If you check them both, whenever you run your music player (say Foobar, or maybe even a web browser), the music will be played at its native rate and all other sounds will be blocked until you exit the application that is making sound.

With Mac it is slightly different as they do not allow applications to take control of the Core Audio section that manages all of the audio. To get automatic sample rate switching on a Mac you will have to buy a third party program such as Audirvana or JRiver that will either bypass Core Audio or otherwise control its behavior.

Hope this helps,
Charles Hansen