Managing Backup Playback Device in Sonar.

Here are some steps to find the controls which the device Sonar selected as backup when your main device is not on.

To manage which Playback Device Sonar chooses as a backup when your primary device is unavailable, follow these steps:

1. Please navigate to Sonar. Under each of the Virtual Audio Devices channels, like Game or Chat, for example, you will see a little bracket. Please click on it - this will provide you with access to the Device Manager. In this section, you'll see a list of all your Playback Devices for each Sonar Channel—like Game, Chat, Media, Aux, and Microphone. This is basically a backup device lineup that Sonar can tap into if your main device isn't available anymore.
2. Sonar will pick devices based on the order they're in on your list. Just drag and drop them to rearrange them however you like. The device at the top will get first dibs as a backup!

By doing these steps, this will set up your Sonar list to choose which device should be next in line if your main device is not turned on.

Can I prevent Sonar from selecting certain devices, like monitors or graphics cards, as Playback Devices?
Absolutely. To ensure Sonar does not select certain devices as Playback Devices, you can exclude them by following these steps:

Please navigate to the Device Manager directly via Sonar. You'll see a list of Playback Devices for each Sonar Channel (Game, Chat, Media, Aux, Microphone) plus an exclusion list. That's where you can add devices you never want Sonar to use as a backup.

To exclude a device, just drag it from the Playback Devices list and drop it into the excluded device list. Once it's there, Sonar won't automatically pick it as a backup anymore.

Can I prevent Sonar from selecting certain devices, like monitors or graphics cards, as Playback Devices?

Absolutely. To ensure Sonar does not select certain devices as Playback Devices, you can exclude them by following these steps:

1. Go to the GG settings page and find the Sonar Backup Device Switch section (GG settings page/Sonar/Backup device switch). You’ll see a list of Playback Devices for each Sonar Channel (Game, Chat, Media, Aux, Microphone) plus an exclusion list. That’s where you can add devices you never want Sonar to use as a backup.
   
   
2. To exclude a device, just drag it from the Playback Devices list and drop it into the excluded device list. Once it's there, Sonar won’t automatically pick it as a backup anymore.

By keeping track of the excluded device list, you get to decide which devices Sonar can use for playback and which ones it can't, so only your favorite audio devices are chosen

Why is a device I previously excluded being selected again by Sonar as a Playback Device?

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.

Can I simplify the management of my Playback Device and backup lists if I use the same device for all channels?

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:

1. Open the GG settings page and go to the Sonar backup device switch section (GG settings page/Sonar/Backup device switch). 
2. Choose your main channel, which will serve as the reference channel (this can be Game, Chat, Media, or Aux).
3. 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.