So after my nice little escapade with Pro Tools M-Powered 7.4, and finally being able to get a fix for it (see here for more information), I felt that I no longer needed Windows XP, and decided to make the jump to Windows 7 on my main studio computer. I’ve been running Windows 7 on my laptop, and was reluctant to upgrade the studio computer in case I needed to run Pro Tools to mix someone else’s stuff. I currently use Adobe Audition 3.0 right now for all MsP recording needs.
E-MU has the PatchMix system, which is a little app that runs that handles your ASIO. On Windows XP, there used to be two different visible devices in Windows; one ASIO, and the other a standard wave device. Usually, most non-audio production stuff would run on the standard wave device E-MU driver, and I would run Audition and FL Studio on ASIO.
However, after installing 7, I ran into an issue: there was only one device, and only ASIO would work, meaning that only my audio production apps had sound. Everything else, Google Chrome, Media Player, iTunes, etc. would not play.
I thought it was an issue with the driver, but after doing some investigating, I found that Windows itself has a selector for sampling rate. You need to match this rate with PatchMix.
Here’s a quick screenshot, in case you run into the problem. Click on it to see it fullsize:
Figure 2010-03-05/1 – PatchMix and Windows 7 Sound Control Panel
Notice how both PatchMix and Windows 7 are running on the same sampling rate. This will allow other Windows apps to use sound.
To get to the Windows 7 Panel you see above:
- Take note of what sampling rate PatchMix is using. If you’re using 44.1K, you will need to set Windows to 44100, i.e.
- Hit the Window Logo (The nice circular logo at the bottom left)
- Click on Control Panel (On the second column)
- Click on Hardware and Sound
- Click on Manage Audio Devices
- Click on the device that says Speakers, E-MU E-DSP, then click Properties
- Click on the Advanced Tab
- Choose the appropriate sample rate to match with PatchMix, then hit Apply.
- Test by hitting the test button to hear a sound. If you hear the sound and do not get a “this device is being used by another application” or similar message, you’re good to go.
Growing pains, I tell you. But at least it’s working!
By the way, thanks to the people who have so far bought tracks from Phase 3 – L.Y.R.I.C.A.L. Without Fear!
Will update soon with a vid or two, MsP news, plus a review on the EastWest Quantum Leap Choir VSTi, as promised!
-mnshyn