Output Groups and Devices

Locator: Sound List Editor > Tools > Outputs/Devices .

Overview

Figure 1. Venue with Multiple Output Zones

Use of Output Groups is optional. If you only need to play audio to the Windows Default Playback Device, you can ignore Output Groups and Devices feature.

The program can be pipe audio to many different zones simulataneously and each zone can have its own audio programming. By default, Sound Mill will play a Sound Item on the Windows Default Playback Device specified in the Windows Control Panel (WCP, Figure 2). However, if you want to pipe sound to different zones by using multiple soundcards , for example music to the lobby PA during intermission and production sounds to the stage speakers, this feature has the functionality.

Requirements to use Output Groups

The Sound Item Media File (mp3, wav, etc) must be an audio format supported by Windows Audio driver. See the Audio Driver section.
The Sound Item Play Modifier - Driver MUST be set to Windows Audio driver. (see Play Modifiers )
Each speaker system should be connected to a separate soundcard (device) or separate output jack on a multi-output soundcard.
If you are using USB soundcards, see the separate page on USB Sound Card Considerations.

To Page Top

Determining if Hardware is Supported by Sound Mill

Figure 2. Windows Control Panel > Sound applet

In general, if your audio device output(s) are listed in the Windows Control Panel > Sound > Playback tab (see Figure 2), they should be accessible to Sound Mill . Some multi-output soundcards may be listed simply as Output-1, Output-2, etc. If the output ports are not showing up in the WCP Sound applet, the device may need a device driver install or update. Check the soundcard manufacturer's website to see if there is a driver update to support Microsoft Windows Audio Session API(WASAPI). Also, remember that the device must have a device driver that supports your target Operating System ( Windows® 10/8/7 ).

Selecting Hardware

Also see our Web page on Multi-Zone Outputs Systems to see some sample hardware configurations you can employ at different price points -- from professional systems to hobbyist. USB external soundcards give very good results for a low cost solution (under $10 each).

To Page Top

Terminology

Device - A Device is a soundcard which connects a physical speaker system to your computer. The speaker system is typically located in a separate zone or room of a building. Examples: "Lobby PA" or "Stage Tower Speakers". (see Figure 1.)
Output Group - An Output Group tells the program which devices to pipe audio to for given Sound Item. It can be one or multiple device(s) simultaneously. You assign an Output Group index to each Sound Item in the Play Modifier attributes. When you click Play, the Sound Item is played on all the devices specified in its Output Group.

To Page Top

Editing Devices

Figure 3. Device List Editor

Locator: Sound List Editor > Tools > Outputs/Devices > Devices .

When you start Sound Mill , it will auto-detect all connected devices (soundcards). Every detected device has a System Name as assigned by Windows and a Logical Name. The System Name is usually the name of the sound card or an output port name on multi-output soundcards (ex. "Sound Blaster X-Fi 24", "C-Media USB Audio Device", "Output port 2", etc.). When multiple USB soundcards are connected, the System Name usually has a number added to the name (ex "USB Audio Device(2)"). You can assign a Logical Name to each device to more easily identify which speakers are hooked to the device (ex. "Lobby PA").

If you are using USB sound cards, be sure to read the section on USB Sound Card Considerations.

Some multi-output devices need a special driver installed so that the Windows OS will recognize all the output ports. This is usually installed by Windows Plug and Play the first time the hardware is detected. If not, see the device manufacturer Website for instructions regarding special drivers.

Device Id

Each device has a unique Device Id which is how Sound Mill identifies the device. It is a hash value derived from the Device System Name which is assigned by Windows. If you change a device name in the Windows Settings (or Windows Control Panel), Soundmill will recognize it as a new device since the name determines the Id.

Duplicate System Names

Due to a Windows API limitation there is a minute chance that two devices could get Duplicate System Names. See the page on Renaming Devices for the simple solution to this issue. Go to Tools > Outputs/Devices > View Outputs and Devices to check for duplicate names.

Edit Devices

Clicking Edit Devices will pop-up the Device List Editor (Figure 3).

Rename - Logical Name - Allows you to change the Logical Name of the device. In the list editor, select a device in the list. Change the name in the textbox at the bottom of the editor then click the Rename button.
Remove Device - Removes a device from your list. Use this to remove devices you no longer use.
Move Up / Down - The Move Up and Move Down buttons (green arrows) repositions a device in the Devices list. It only defines the order devices appear in selection menus. Positional order of the devices makes no real difference for audio processing.

About Windows Default Playback Device

This device will play audio through whichever device is selected as the Default Playback Device in WCP Sound applet (Figure 2, green checkmark).

Devices Reset

The Devices List will be cleared and re-populated with all detected devices (connected soundcards). Any devices that are NOT attached to the computer will be removed from the Devices list. If any old devices are removed, then Output Groups will likely need to be edited if they reference a removed device. If you only want to delete a couple devices, you may just want to edit the Devices List and Remove them manually. Do not use this function while automation scripts are running or it could cause unpredictable results.

It is recommended that you keep the USB connection ports of all devices as consistent as possible. You generally do not need to restart the program after a Reset, but it will depend on the soundcard devices (and Operating System version). Always recheck you Device and Output Groups after you have performed a Devices > Reset .

Re-Acquire Devices

When you start the program, all current connected devices are acquired (discovered) and made available for use in your Output Groups. Re-acquire Devices will re-discover any newly attached or detached devices since you started the program. This allows you to rediscover devices without having to close and restart the program. This is useful in enviroments where USB soundcards are being plugged in or removed at unpredictable times. It may take Windows a few seconds to recognize newly plugged devices. avoid using this function while automation scripts are running or it could cause unpredictable results.

Clear Device Logical Names

All Audio Devices Logical Names will be reset to their System Names.

To Page Top

Editing Output Group

Figure 4. Output Groups List Editor

Locator: Sound List Editor > Tools > Outputs/Devices > Output Groups .

You configure Output Groups that can contain one or multiple devices. Each Output Group has a sequential index (0 ,1, 2, etc). The Play Modifiers panel lets you assign an Output Group for each Sound Item by the Output Group index. Then when the Sound Item is played, it will be played on every device listed for its Output Group (see Figure 5). The groups may be reindexed after closing the editor when you add or remove groups. For example, so if you reorder the list or remove any groups, some group indexes will be reassigned.

Edit Output Groups

Clicking Edit Output Groups will pop-up the Output Groups List Editor (Figure 4). Select an Output Group in the list to perform these actions on the selected group.

Select Devices - Click the Devices button. The resulting dialog allows you to select one or more Devices to be contained in an Output Group. This replaces all devices currently in the group.
Duplicate - The selected Output Group will be duplicated (copied and pasted into the list).
Add - Click the Add button to add a new Output Group to the bottom of the list.
Remove - Select an Output Group in the list, then click the Remove button to remove the selected Output Group. Click the Remove All button to remove all groups from the list.
Move (change index) - You can change the index number of the Output Group by moving the group up or down in the list. In the list editor, select a group in the list, then click the Move Up or Move Down button (green arrows). The top Group is always Group #0. So for example if you move Group #1 down one postion, it becomes Group #2.

Remember, the Output Group index is specified in each Sound Item. So if you change the index position of a group in this list, you will have do a mass update on the Sound Items to change to the new index. Group indexes are renumbered when you close the list editor by clicking OK.
Rename - Allows you to Rename the group to identify its contents. In the list editor, select a device in the list. Change the group Name text at the bottom of the editor then click the Rename button.

Output Groups Reset

Output Groups Reset - All of the existing Output Group definitions are removed. There is no Un-Do for a Reset so use this operation carefully. .

On reset, a new set of Output Groups is created as follows:

One group containing only Device 0 -- the Windows Default Playback Device.
One group for each Device containing only that single device. (ie a group for Device 1, a group for Device 2, etc.
One group containing all current active Devices.

Figure 5. Output Groups example

To Page Top

Why Are My Devices Not Showing Up?

Device visibility to Windows often depends on a hardware device driver. If your device is not showing in the list , check the manufacturers Website for updated drivers. Sometimes there is a separate device driver specifically for Windows. If the device does not show up in the Windows Control Panel > Sound applet (Figure 2), it will likely not be detected by Sound Mill .

To Page Top

View Outputs and Devices

You can view the full configuration of Output Groups and Devices by clicking Tools > Outputs/Devices > View Outputs and Devices (see Listing 1). You can then save it to file or print it. If a device is not detected as a connected device, a Not Connected indicator (* NC) will appear next to the device. Windows Default Playback Device is not counted in the Total Devices count (as it is not a physical device).

Listing 1. View Outputs and Devices

=================
Output Groups
=================

Total Groups: 5 (Group 0-4)
___________
Group 0
Name: Stage Towers
Contains 1 device(s).
Device 1, Stage Towers, Id: 937430947834167215



___________
Group 1
Name: Lobby PA
Contains 1 device(s).
Device 2, Lobby PA, Id: 574271480106272358



___________
Group 2
Name: Lobby PA and Courtyard
Contains 2 device(s).
Device 2, Lobby PA, Id: 574271480106272358
Device 3, Courtyard, Id: 886462652073781555



___________
Group 3
Name: Courtyard
Contains 1 device(s).
Device 3, Courtyard, Id: 886462652073781555



___________
Group 4
Name: All Speaker Zones
Contains 3 device(s).
Device 1, Stage Towers, Id: 937430947834167215
Device 2, Lobby PA, Id: 574271480106272358
Device 3, Courtyard, Id: 886462652073781555


(*NC) = Device Not Connected / Not Initialized


===========
Devices
===========

Total Known Devices: 3
Total Connected Devices: 3

Windows Default Playback Device:
Set to: Stage Towers

____________
Device 0
Logical Name: Windows Default Playback Device
System Name: Windows Default Playback Device
Id: 0
Connected


____________
Device 1
Logical Name: Stage Towers
System Name: Speakers (2- Generic USB Audio
Id: 937430947834167215
Connected


____________
Device 2
Logical Name: Lobby PA
System Name: Speakers / Headphones (Realtek
Id: 574271480106272358
Connected


____________
Device 3
Logical Name: Courtyard
System Name: Speakers (Generic USB Audio Dev
Id: 886462652073781555
Connected

Language

To Page Top