[Openal] Implementing an adjustable master volume

[Daniel PEACOCK]

Hi,

Adding a few more comments to this thread ...

> My question is how this listener gain interacts with OS volume controls.

The Windows XP + Vista Master Volume affects all OpenAL device's output
volume.

> Can I be certain that the user will hear something if the listener gain
> is 1.0 even if the master volume control of the Windows mixer is set to
> zero or do these controls overwrite the gain set in OpenAL?

If the Master Volume is 0 - the OpenAL application will be silent (and
everything else!).

> Are there differences with generic/native OpenAL implementations?

There are a few differences ...

Windows XP
==========

Generic Software and Generic Hardware output volume is affected by the OS
"Wave" Playback volume slider.
A native device (e.g. SB X-Fi and SB Audigy series) is NOT affected by the
OS "Wave" Playback volume slider.

Windows Vista
=============

Generic Software is affected by the Per-Application Volume Slider
[Generic Hardware is not available]
A native device is NOT affected by the Per-Application Volume Slider


The native device is essentially by-passing all of the OS audio stack which
is why it has these differences (and why it has all the other benefits)

> If the OpenAL gain is indeed affected by OS volume controls, what is the
> best way to handle this?

As other people have said - let the user handle this themselves.

> Implement OS specific code to control the OS
> mixer controls or is there a general way of doing this?

See above ;0)

Dan