[nbroers]

Hi,

Since the first Kodi stable release, I have had an issue where Kodi hogs the sound card on my Windows PC. If Kodi is open and I alt-tab to another application that plays sound (Chrome or Dolphin emulator) then there is no sound. Dolphin crashes with an audio error (Will post here when I am home). Audio is restored to chrome and Dolphin if I exit Kodi.

Surely this must be a common problem, but I don't find any similar posts. Please let me know how I can help to reproduce / fix this issue?

Thanks!

[Martijn]

then set it to DIRECTSOUND in audio settings
WASAPI steals all audio as intended

[nbroers]

Thanks, will try it out.

[veez999]

then set it to DIRECTSOUND in audio settings
WASAPI steals all audio as intended

 Sorry to revive such an old thread. 

The only issue if i change it to directsound, i dont get pure 5.1. Is there a workaround?

[jjd-uk]

then set it to DIRECTSOUND in audio settings
WASAPI steals all audio as intended

 Sorry to revive such an old thread. 

The only issue if i change it to directsound, i dont get pure 5.1. Is there a workaround?

No it's the way Windows works. You either share the audio device between applications meaning you have to sacrifice quality and some surround sound capabilities, or you must give an app exclusive access to the audio device to get best quality and full access to the audio device capabilities.