Hey gamers, are you wanting to get your audio set up in case you want to get immersed in a deep story game or locked in when playing a fast pace Battle Royal? We got you covered! Here are some questions some games have about our backup device switch!
FAQ: How does Sonar work and what is a Playback Device?
Q: What is a Playback device in Sonar
A: Playback Device in Sonar refers to the output device that delivers the final audio to your ears. Therefore, selecting the correct Playback Device in Sonar is crucial.
Q: How does Sonar work?
A: Sonar operates by routing all your PC's audio through specific channels tailored for different types of audio content, including Game, Chat, Media, Aux, and Microphone. Once your audio is channeled, Sonar enhances it by applying a variety of audio effects that you've selected, such as EQ presets, spatial audio, and noise canceling. After processing, the improved audio is delivered to your chosen output device, which is referred to as the Playback Device. This process ensures that you experience the best possible sound quality tailored to your preferences and the type of audio you are listening to.
FAQ: What Happens When a playback Device Becomes Unavailable
Q: What happens when one of the devices I am using as a playback device is not available anymore (e.g., device unplugged, disconnected, or not working correctly)?
A: If the Playback Device you're using with Sonar is no longer available—maybe it's been unplugged, disconnected, or it's just not functioning properly—Sonar has a built-in solution to handle this situation smoothly. Here's how it works:
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Sonar keeps a list of all the audio devices connected to your PC. This list is accessible in the GG settings page (GG settings page/Sonar/Backup device switch), each Sonar Channel (Game, Chat, Media, Aux, and Microphone) has its own list of Playback Devices.
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If your current Playback Device is suddenly unavailable, Sonar will automatically switch to the next available device in the list for that specific channel.
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This automatic switch is part of the Backup Device Switch feature, ensuring that your audio experience continues with minimal interruption.
Backup Device Switch feature is on by default, but it can be personalized or switched off. You can manage settings and preferences for this feature anytime in a dedicated GG settings page: GG settings page/Sonar/Backup device switch.
FAQ: Managing Backup Playback Device Preferences in Sonar
Q: How can I control which device Sonar selects as a backup when my primary device is unavailable?
A: To manage which Playback Device Sonar chooses as a backup when your primary device is unavailable, follow these steps:
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Navigate to the GG settings page and locate the Sonar Backup Device Switch Section (GG settings page/Sonar/Backup device switch). Within this section, you'll find a list of all your Playback Devices for each Sonar Channel (Game, Chat, Media, Aux, and Microphone). This list acts as a pool of potential backup devices that Sonar can use if your primary device becomes unavailable.
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Sonar will prioritize the devices based on their order in the list. Simply drag and drop the devices within the list to arrange them according to your preference. The device positioned at the top of the list will have the highest priority and will be selected first as a backup by Sonar.
By customizing the order of the Playback Devices in the list, you can ensure that Sonar selects your preferred backup device automatically.
Q: Can I prevent Sonar from selecting certain devices, like monitors or graphics cards, as Playback Devices?
A: Absolutely. To ensure Sonar does not select certain devices as Playback Devices, you can exclude them by following these steps:
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Navigate to the GG settings page and locate the Sonar Backup Device Switch Section (GG settings page/Sonar/Backup device switch). Here, you will see the list of Playback Devices for each Sonar Channel (Game, Chat, Media, Aux, and Microphone), along with an exclusion list. The exclusion list is where you can specify devices that Sonar should never use as a backup.
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To exclude a device, simply drag it from the Playback Devices list and drop it into the excluded device list. Once a device is in the excluded device list, Sonar will disregard it when automatically selecting a backup device.
By managing the excluded device list, you maintain full control over which devices Sonar can or cannot use for playback, ensuring that only your preferred audio devices are selected.
Q: Why is a device I previously excluded being selected again by Sonar as a Playback Device?
A: If you find that Sonar is selecting a device you had previously excluded as a Playback Device, it could be due to one of two reasons related to how Windows recognizes devices:
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Device Driver Updates: When you update the drivers for a device, such as a graphics card, Windows may register the updated device as a new entity with a unique ID. Sonar mirrors this behavior and sees the updated device as a new addition to the system. As a result, the device is reintroduced to the Playback Devices list in Sonar and may be selected as a Playback Device.
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Different USB Port Connection: If you connect the same device to a different USB port on your computer, Windows might treat it as a new device, assigning it a fresh ID. Sonar does it too and adds it to the Playback Devices list. The device is then eligible to be selected by Sonar as a Playback Device. In both cases, Sonar is responding to changes in device identification triggered by Windows. To resolve this, you would need to exclude the device again in Sonar after such updates or changes in connection ports.
Q: Can I simplify the management of my Playback Device and backup lists if I use the same device for all channels?
A: Yes, Sonar provides a convenient feature for users who prefer to use the same Playback Device across all channels. To streamline device management and backup preferences, follow these steps:
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Open the GG settings page and go to the Sonar backup device switch section (GG settings page/Sonar/Backup device switch).
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Choose your main channel, which will serve as the reference channel (this can be Game, Chat, Media, or Aux).
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Once on your chosen reference channel's tab, look for the option to "link all output channels" and check the checkbox.
By enabling this option, the settings from your reference channel, including excluded devices and priority order, will be applied to all channels. This means that any device you exclude or prioritize in the reference channel will be consistently excluded or given priority across all channels after linking. This feature simplifies the management process, ensuring that your preferences are uniformly maintained across Game, Chat, Media, Aux, and Microphone channels.
FAQ: Disabling/Customizing Automatic Device Selection in Sonar
Q : How can completely stop Sonar from automatically selecting a new Playback device ?
A: To stop Sonar from automatically switching to a new device, you can disable the Backup Device Switch feature. Here's how:
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Open the GG settings page and go to the Sonar backup device switch section (GG settings page/Sonar/Backup device switch).
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Find the Automatic Backup Device Switch option within the Sonar settings.
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Disable the Automatic Backup Device Switch feature with the toggle.
Once this feature is turned off, Sonar will maintain the use of your manually selected Playback Device, even if it becomes unavailable.
Q: How can I prevent Sonar from automatically selecting a new device after a boot/reboot?
A: If you wish to stop Sonar from changing devices automatically after a system boot or reboot, you can disable a specific setting. Follow these steps:
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Open the GG settings page and go to the Sonar backup device switch section (GG settings page/Sonar/Backup device switch).
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Locate the Automatic Backup Device Switch at boot/reboot feature within the Sonar settings.
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Turn off this feature with the toggle.
By disabling this option, Sonar will retain the Playback Device you've manually chosen, regardless of its availability after restarting your computer.
Q: How can I make Sonar Automatic Backup device switch to ignore the status of my SteelSeries wireless headset ?
A: To have Sonar ignore the on/off status of your SteelSeries wireless headset, you need to adjust a particular setting. Here's what to do:
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Open the GG settings page and go to the Sonar backup device switch section (GG settings page/Sonar/Backup device switch).
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In the Backup Device Switch settings, find the option Consider my wireless device as unavailable if it's plugged in but not powered on.
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Disable this option with the toggle.
With this setting disabled:
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Sonar will not switch to another device when your SteelSeries wireless headset is off, as long as the dongle/wireless station remains connected.
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Sonar will not automatically select your SteelSeries wireless headset as the Playback Device when you turn it on.
This ensures that Sonar respects your preference for using or not using the SteelSeries wireless headset as a Playback Device, regardless of its power status.