I recently had a problem on a job where no matter what we did, we could not control the left/right balance programmatically on two specific PC’s.
We tried using various methods:
- Windows Media player API
- DirectSound APi
- WinMM.dll
- Praying
None of them worked although you could control the balance using the Windows sound vol (sndvol.exe) program from the taskbar.
We decided to try and use the same method so out came Depends.exe and we loaded the sndvol.exe to see what libraries and methods it was loading. We discovered a likely method called mixerSetControlDetails() and promptly started to google it to discover how it worked.
The following example is the result. After a lot of searching for c# code samples, I found a chinese site that had a code listing that I could modify to possibly fix our problem.
Well to cut a long story very short (not much time today), I got it working and implemented into the project. The code is below so feel free to use as you wish.
SoundControl.cs
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
class SoundControl
{
#region declarations
const int MAXPNAMELEN = 32;
const int MIXER_SHORT_NAME_CHARS = 16;
const int MIXER_LONG_NAME_CHARS = 64;
[Flags]
enum MIXERLINE_LINEF : uint
{
ACTIVE = 0x00000001,
DISCONNECTED = 0x00008000,
SOURCE = 0x80000000
}
[Flags]
enum MIXER : uint
{
GETLINEINFOF_DESTINATION = 0x00000000,
GETLINEINFOF_SOURCE = 0x00000001,
GETLINEINFOF_LINEID = 0x00000002,
GETLINEINFOF_COMPONENTTYPE = 0x00000003,
GETLINEINFOF_TARGETTYPE = 0x00000004,
GETLINEINFOF_QUERYMASK = 0x0000000F,
GETLINECONTROLSF_ALL = 0x00000000,
GETLINECONTROLSF_ONEBYID = 0x00000001,
GETLINECONTROLSF_ONEBYTYPE = 0x00000002,
GETLINECONTROLSF_QUERYMASK = 0x0000000F,
GETCONTROLDETAILSF_VALUE = 0x00000000,
GETCONTROLDETAILSF_LISTTEXT = 0x00000001,
GETCONTROLDETAILSF_QUERYMASK = 0x0000000F,
OBJECTF_MIXER = 0x00000000,
OBJECTF_WAVEOUT = 0x10000000,
OBJECTF_WAVEIN = 0x20000000,
OBJECTF_MIDIOUT = 0x30000000,
OBJECTF_MIDIIN = 0x40000000,
OBJECTF_AUX = 0x50000000,
OBJECTF_HANDLE = 0x80000000,
OBJECTF_HMIXER = OBJECTF_HANDLE | OBJECTF_MIXER,
OBJECTF_HWAVEOUT = OBJECTF_HANDLE | OBJECTF_WAVEOUT,
OBJECTF_HWAVEIN = OBJECTF_HANDLE | OBJECTF_WAVEIN,
OBJECTF_HMIDIOUT = OBJECTF_HANDLE | OBJECTF_MIDIOUT,
OBJECTF_HMIDIIN = OBJECTF_HANDLE | OBJECTF_MIDIIN
}
[Flags]
enum MIXERCONTROL_CT : uint
{
CLASS_MASK = 0xF0000000,
CLASS_CUSTOM = 0x00000000,
CLASS_METER = 0x10000000,
CLASS_SWITCH = 0x20000000,
CLASS_NUMBER = 0x30000000,
CLASS_SLIDER = 0x40000000,
CLASS_FADER = 0x50000000,
CLASS_TIME = 0x60000000,
CLASS_LIST = 0x70000000,
SUBCLASS_MASK = 0x0F000000,
SC_SWITCH_BOOLEAN = 0x00000000,
SC_SWITCH_BUTTON = 0x01000000,
SC_METER_POLLED = 0x00000000,
SC_TIME_MICROSECS = 0x00000000,
SC_TIME_MILLISECS = 0x01000000,
SC_LIST_SINGLE = 0x00000000,
SC_LIST_MULTIPLE = 0x01000000,
UNITS_MASK = 0x00FF0000,
UNITS_CUSTOM = 0x00000000,
UNITS_BOOLEAN = 0x00010000,
UNITS_SIGNED = 0x00020000,
UNITS_UNSIGNED = 0x00030000,
UNITS_DECIBELS = 0x00040000, /* in 10ths */
UNITS_PERCENT = 0x00050000, /* in 10ths */
}
[Flags]
enum MIXERCONTROL_CONTROLTYPE : uint
{
CUSTOM = MIXERCONTROL_CT.CLASS_CUSTOM | MIXERCONTROL_CT.UNITS_CUSTOM,
BOOLEANMETER = MIXERCONTROL_CT.CLASS_METER | MIXERCONTROL_CT.SC_METER_POLLED | MIXERCONTROL_CT.UNITS_BOOLEAN,
SIGNEDMETER = MIXERCONTROL_CT.CLASS_METER | MIXERCONTROL_CT.SC_METER_POLLED | MIXERCONTROL_CT.UNITS_SIGNED,
PEAKMETER = SIGNEDMETER + 1,
UNSIGNEDMETER = MIXERCONTROL_CT.CLASS_METER | MIXERCONTROL_CT.SC_METER_POLLED | MIXERCONTROL_CT.UNITS_UNSIGNED,
BOOLEAN = MIXERCONTROL_CT.CLASS_SWITCH | MIXERCONTROL_CT.SC_SWITCH_BOOLEAN | MIXERCONTROL_CT.UNITS_BOOLEAN,
ONOFF = BOOLEAN + 1,
MUTE = BOOLEAN + 2,
MONO = BOOLEAN + 3,
LOUDNESS = BOOLEAN + 4,
STEREOENH = BOOLEAN + 5,
BASS_BOOST = BOOLEAN + 0x00002277,
BUTTON = MIXERCONTROL_CT.CLASS_SWITCH | MIXERCONTROL_CT.SC_SWITCH_BUTTON | MIXERCONTROL_CT.UNITS_BOOLEAN,
DECIBELS = MIXERCONTROL_CT.CLASS_NUMBER | MIXERCONTROL_CT.UNITS_DECIBELS,
SIGNED = MIXERCONTROL_CT.CLASS_NUMBER | MIXERCONTROL_CT.UNITS_SIGNED,
UNSIGNED = MIXERCONTROL_CT.CLASS_NUMBER | MIXERCONTROL_CT.UNITS_UNSIGNED,
PERCENT = MIXERCONTROL_CT.CLASS_NUMBER | MIXERCONTROL_CT.UNITS_PERCENT,
SLIDER = MIXERCONTROL_CT.CLASS_SLIDER | MIXERCONTROL_CT.UNITS_SIGNED,
PAN = SLIDER + 1,
QSOUNDPAN = SLIDER + 2,
FADER = MIXERCONTROL_CT.CLASS_FADER | MIXERCONTROL_CT.UNITS_UNSIGNED,
VOLUME = FADER + 1,
BASS = FADER + 2,
TREBLE = FADER + 3,
EQUALIZER = FADER + 4,
SINGLESELECT = MIXERCONTROL_CT.CLASS_LIST | MIXERCONTROL_CT.SC_LIST_SINGLE | MIXERCONTROL_CT.UNITS_BOOLEAN,
MUX = SINGLESELECT + 1,
MULTIPLESELECT = MIXERCONTROL_CT.CLASS_LIST | MIXERCONTROL_CT.SC_LIST_MULTIPLE | MIXERCONTROL_CT.UNITS_BOOLEAN,
MIXER = MULTIPLESELECT + 1,
MICROTIME = MIXERCONTROL_CT.CLASS_TIME | MIXERCONTROL_CT.SC_TIME_MICROSECS | MIXERCONTROL_CT.UNITS_UNSIGNED,
MILLITIME = MIXERCONTROL_CT.CLASS_TIME | MIXERCONTROL_CT.SC_TIME_MILLISECS | MIXERCONTROL_CT.UNITS_UNSIGNED
}
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
struct MIXERLINE
{
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
public struct TargetInfo
{
public uint dwType;
public uint dwDeviceID;
public ushort wMid;
public ushort wPid;
public uint vDriverVersion;
[MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = MAXPNAMELEN)]
public string szPname;
}
public uint cbStruct;
public uint dwDestination;
public uint dwSource;
public uint dwLineID;
public MIXERLINE_LINEF fdwLine;
public uint dwUser;
public uint dwComponentType;
public uint cChannels;
public uint cConnection;
public uint cControls;
[MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = MIXER_SHORT_NAME_CHARS)]
public string szShortName;
[MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = MIXER_LONG_NAME_CHARS)]
public string szName;
public TargetInfo Target;
}
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
struct MIXERCONTROL
{
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Explicit)]
public struct BoundsInfo
{
[FieldOffset(0)]
public int lMinimum;
[FieldOffset(4)]
public int lMaximum;
[FieldOffset(0)]
public uint dwMinimum;
[FieldOffset(4)]
public uint dwMaximum;
[FieldOffset(8), MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValArray, SizeConst = 4)]
public uint[] dwReserved;
}
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Explicit)]
public struct MetricsInfo
{
[FieldOffset(0)]
public uint cSteps;
[FieldOffset(0)]
public uint cbCustomData;
[FieldOffset(4), MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValArray, SizeConst = 5)]
public uint[] dwReserved;
}
public uint cbStruct;
public uint dwControlID;
public MIXERCONTROL_CONTROLTYPE dwControlType;
public uint fdwControl;
public uint cMultipleItems;
[MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = MIXER_SHORT_NAME_CHARS)]
public string szShortName;
[MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = MIXER_LONG_NAME_CHARS)]
public string szName;
public BoundsInfo Bounds;
public MetricsInfo Metrics;
}
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Explicit)]
struct MIXERLINECONTROLS
{
[FieldOffset(0)]
public uint cbStruct;
[FieldOffset(4)]
public uint dwLineID;
[FieldOffset(8)]
public uint dwControlID;
[FieldOffset(8)] // not a typo! overlaps previous field
public uint dwControlType;
[FieldOffset(12)]
public uint cControls;
[FieldOffset(16)]
public uint cbmxctrl;
[FieldOffset(20)]
public IntPtr pamxctrl;
}
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Explicit)]
struct MIXERCONTROLDETAILS
{
[FieldOffset(0)]
public uint cbStruct;
[FieldOffset(4)]
public uint dwControlID;
[FieldOffset(8)]
public uint cChannels;
[FieldOffset(12)]
public IntPtr hwndOwner;
[FieldOffset(12)] // not a typo!
public uint cMultipleItems;
[FieldOffset(16)]
public uint cbDetails;
[FieldOffset(20)]
public IntPtr paDetails;
}
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
struct VOLUME
{
public int left;
public int right;
}
struct MixerInfo
{
public uint volumeCtl;
public uint muteCtl;
public int minVolume;
public int maxVolume;
}
[DllImport("WinMM.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
static extern uint mixerGetLineInfo(IntPtr hmxobj, ref MIXERLINE pmxl, MIXER flags);
[DllImport("WinMM.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
static extern uint mixerGetLineControls(IntPtr hmxobj, ref MIXERLINECONTROLS pmxlc, MIXER flags);
[DllImport("WinMM.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
static extern uint mixerGetControlDetails(IntPtr hmxobj, ref MIXERCONTROLDETAILS pmxcd, MIXER flags);
[DllImport("WinMM.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
static extern uint mixerSetControlDetails(IntPtr hmxobj, ref MIXERCONTROLDETAILS pmxcd, MIXER flags);
#endregion declarations
#region private methods
static MixerInfo GetMixerControls()
{
MIXERLINE mxl = new MIXERLINE();
MIXERLINECONTROLS mlc = new MIXERLINECONTROLS();
mxl.cbStruct = (uint)Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(MIXERLINE));
mlc.cbStruct = (uint)Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(MIXERLINECONTROLS));
mixerGetLineInfo(IntPtr.Zero, ref mxl, MIXER.OBJECTF_MIXER | MIXER.GETLINEINFOF_DESTINATION);
mlc.dwLineID = mxl.dwLineID;
mlc.cControls = mxl.cControls;
mlc.cbmxctrl = (uint)Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(MIXERCONTROL));
mlc.pamxctrl = Marshal.AllocHGlobal((int)(mlc.cbmxctrl * mlc.cControls));
mixerGetLineControls(IntPtr.Zero, ref mlc, MIXER.OBJECTF_MIXER | MIXER.GETLINECONTROLSF_ALL);
MixerInfo rtn = new MixerInfo();
for (int i = 0; i < mlc.cControls; i++)
{
MIXERCONTROL mxc = (MIXERCONTROL)Marshal.PtrToStructure((IntPtr)((int)mlc.pamxctrl + (int)mlc.cbmxctrl * i), typeof(MIXERCONTROL));
switch (mxc.dwControlType)
{
case MIXERCONTROL_CONTROLTYPE.VOLUME:
rtn.volumeCtl = mxc.dwControlID;
rtn.minVolume = mxc.Bounds.lMinimum;
rtn.maxVolume = mxc.Bounds.lMaximum;
break;
case MIXERCONTROL_CONTROLTYPE.MUTE:
rtn.muteCtl = mxc.dwControlID;
break;
}
}
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(mlc.pamxctrl);
return rtn;
}
static VOLUME GetVolume(MixerInfo mi)
{
MIXERCONTROLDETAILS mcd = new MIXERCONTROLDETAILS();
mcd.cbStruct = (uint)Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(MIXERCONTROLDETAILS));
mcd.dwControlID = mi.volumeCtl;
mcd.cMultipleItems = 0;
mcd.cChannels = 2;
mcd.cbDetails = (uint)Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(VOLUME));
mcd.paDetails = Marshal.AllocHGlobal((int)mcd.cbDetails);
mixerGetControlDetails(IntPtr.Zero, ref mcd, MIXER.GETCONTROLDETAILSF_VALUE | MIXER.OBJECTF_MIXER);
VOLUME rtn = (VOLUME)Marshal.PtrToStructure(mcd.paDetails, typeof(VOLUME));
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(mcd.paDetails);
return rtn;
}
static bool IsMuted(MixerInfo mi)
{
MIXERCONTROLDETAILS mcd = new MIXERCONTROLDETAILS();
mcd.cbStruct = (uint)Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(MIXERCONTROLDETAILS));
mcd.dwControlID = mi.muteCtl;
mcd.cMultipleItems = 0;
mcd.cChannels = 1;
mcd.cbDetails = 4;
mcd.paDetails = Marshal.AllocHGlobal((int)mcd.cbDetails);
mixerGetControlDetails(IntPtr.Zero, ref mcd, MIXER.GETCONTROLDETAILSF_VALUE | MIXER.OBJECTF_MIXER);
int rtn = Marshal.ReadInt32(mcd.paDetails);
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(mcd.paDetails);
return rtn != 0;
}
static void MuteIt(MixerInfo mi, bool left, bool right)
{
VOLUME volume = GetVolume(mi);
if (!left && !right) // mute off
{
volume.left = 65530;
volume.right = 65530;
}
else if (left) //mute left channel
{
volume.left = 0;
volume.right = 65530;
}
else if (right) // mute right channel
{
volume.left = 65530;
volume.right = 0;
}
SetVolume(mi, volume);
}
static void SetVolume(MixerInfo mi, VOLUME volume)
{
MIXERCONTROLDETAILS mcd = new MIXERCONTROLDETAILS();
mcd.cbStruct = (uint)Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(MIXERCONTROLDETAILS));
mcd.dwControlID = mi.volumeCtl;
mcd.cMultipleItems = 0;
mcd.cChannels = 2;
mcd.cbDetails = (uint)Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(VOLUME));
mcd.paDetails = Marshal.AllocHGlobal((int)mcd.cbDetails);
Marshal.StructureToPtr(volume, mcd.paDetails, false);
mixerSetControlDetails(IntPtr.Zero, ref mcd, MIXER.GETCONTROLDETAILSF_VALUE | MIXER.OBJECTF_MIXER);
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(mcd.paDetails);
}
#endregion private methods
#region public methods
/// <summary>
/// Mutes the left hand channel and transfers audio fully to the right
/// </summary>
public void MuteLeftChannel()
{
MixerInfo mi = GetMixerControls();
MuteIt(mi, false, true);
}
/// <summary>
/// Mutes the right hand channel and transfers audio fully to the left
/// </summary>
public void MuteRightChannel()
{
MixerInfo mi = GetMixerControls();
MuteIt(mi, true, false);
}
public void MuteOff()
{
MixerInfo mi = GetMixerControls();
MuteIt(mi, false, false);
}
#endregion public methods
}
You call it as follows:
private void CreateSoundControl()
{
if (sndMute != null) return;
sndMute = new SoundControl();
}
private void btnRight_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
CreateSoundControl();
sndMute.MuteRightChannel();
}
private void btnLeft_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
CreateSoundControl();
sndMute.MuteLeftChannel();
}
private void btnCenter_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
CreateSoundControl();
sndMute.MuteOff();
}
Download the source files here
Enjoy – remember if your machine blows up or crashes, do not blame me 🙂