Sounds like you were trying to use WASAPI exclusive mode output when you were playing multichannel audio. It will error out if your hardware doesn't support the audio stream format. With shared mode wasapi the signal is automatically downmixed and resampled to supported format so things won't error out.

The virtual surround stuff handled by Sonic requires a custom Spatial Sound output: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/coreaudio/spatial-sound.
In my opinion it makes little sense outside movies or games.

I don't think so. It doesn't seem like I even have exclusive options for WASAPI. I tried WASAPI event and push outputs as well as "default", whatever that means.

It doesn't require it based on evidence, experience. It also works as a speaker virtualization when it's fed multi channel output, without doing anything special.
Just try it with any multi channel content.
Or stereo content with players that can be forcibly set to multi channel (not Foobar) output like Potplayer. Maybe the extra channels are silent but the spatial processing works.

First, as mentioned, on the latest foobar versions, wasapi is the default option, there is no more need to add wasapi as some component.


I tried to replicate this(Foobar V2.0 64x).

When I activate the upmix to 7.1(same with 5.1), my EQ VST placed below the upmix dsp "sees" the number of channels changing accordingly(no signal to the LFE/woofer, but the channel exists). So, the upmixing is happening. And in exclusive mode with a multichannel capable device, I do get standard 7.1 detected/played.
With a stereo DAC I get an error about the device already being in use???

In non exclusive mode, I get stereo with both devices no matter what, Sonic or not. And beside horrible artifacts every 3 or 4seconds when using Potplayer and a multichannel video, I really can't tell if Sonic is ever engaged. I must do something wrong, or that thing sucks ballzz.

Sorry I couldn't help more, maybe it's my cardboard ears, maybe it's my overly tweaked computer and apps, maybe gremlins did it? I get out of that experiment convicted to never try Sonic ever again, and that upmix in foobar works fine.

Oh well, I guess I have to keep looking for a solution or try Dolby Access or something. I guess there are no FOSS options for good multi-channel virtualization.

Quote from: mzso on 2023-07-13 18:36:14

Oh well, I guess I have to keep looking for a solution or try Dolby Access or something. I guess there are no FOSS options for good multi-channel virtualization.

Look up HeSuVi. I use it and it works great for games and foobar. Just keep in mind that you can't use it with exclusive mode.

Quote from: mzso on 2023-07-05 10:21:38

I don't think so. It doesn't seem like I even have exclusive options for WASAPI. I tried WASAPI event and push outputs as well as "default", whatever that means.

You have old foo_out_wasapi installed. All its outputs use exclusive mode, those are the ones listed as "WASAPI (event)" and "WASAPI (push)". And the new default has exclusive outputs marked with "[exclusive]" at the end of the name. So the majority of the output options listed in your screenshot are in fact exclusive mode outputs.

Quote from: mzso on 2023-07-05 10:21:38

It doesn't require it based on evidence, experience. It also works as a speaker virtualization when it's fed multi channel output, without doing anything special.
Just try it with any multi channel content.
Or stereo content with players that can be forcibly set to multi channel (not Foobar) output like Potplayer. Maybe the extra channels are silent but the spatial processing works.

I hear no change in audio in MPC-HC or VLC. And I just installed Potplayer and I must fail at seeing the option you talk about. I tried actual video with spatial Dolby Atmos audio and no audio setting I tried caused a change in sound between having Dolby Headphones enabled or disabled.
The Windows 11's built-in Media Player however seems to work with Dolby Headphones. But I prefer the sound with the effect off.

You have old foo_out_wasapi installed. All its outputs use exclusive mode, those are the ones listed as "WASAPI (event)" and "WASAPI (push)". And the new default has exclusive outputs marked with "[exclusive]" at the end of the name. So the majority of the output options listed in your screenshot are in fact exclusive mode outputs.

Sounds like you were trying to use WASAPI exclusive mode output when you were playing multichannel audio. It will error out if your hardware doesn't support the audio stream format. With shared mode wasapi the signal is automatically downmixed and resampled to supported format so things won't error out.

First, as mentioned, on the latest foobar versions, wasapi is the default option, there is no more need to add wasapi as some component.


I tried to replicate this(Foobar V2.0 64x).

When I activate the upmix to 7.1(same with 5.1), my EQ VST placed below the upmix dsp "sees" the number of channels changing accordingly(no signal to the LFE/woofer, but the channel exists). So, the upmixing is happening. And in exclusive mode with a multichannel capable device, I do get standard 7.1 detected/played.
With a stereo DAC I get an error about the device already being in use???

In non exclusive mode, I get stereo with both devices no matter what, Sonic or not. And beside horrible artifacts every 3 or 4seconds when using Potplayer and a multichannel video, I really can't tell if Sonic is ever engaged. I must do something wrong, or that thing sucks ballzz.

Sorry I couldn't help more, maybe it's my cardboard ears, maybe it's my overly tweaked computer and apps, maybe gremlins did it? I get out of that experiment convicted to never try Sonic ever again, and that upmix in foobar works fine.