virtualbox.org

Hi All,

Since I did not find particular information on this topic anywhere on this forum (and also on the Internet), I'd like to start a thread to list running (proved) Audio software that VirtualBox can handle in Windows Guests.

Another reason for this post is that I'm aware of a number of Windows-based audio producers that would like to move to other OSs, but are afraid they'll not be able to use their software of preference. This is a major stopper, since most of the industry-level audio production software is released for Windows and sometimes MacOS. On the other hand, it seems that even a basic/stripped WinXP/2000 OS is good enough to run powerful modern software packages such as Ableton Live, Propellerhead Reason et al.

Audio production software is known for it's latency sensibility, and most modern packages work with the sound card in a way that allows minimal latencies (4-12ms). Other appliances (such as external sound cards, controllers or DPSs) rely on bandwidth-consuming, yet perfectly synchronized USB communication... which was not really working with VBox versions prior 3.0. Fortunately a overall latency of less than 100ms seems to be feasible for most everyday tasks (such as sequencing and mastering).

I noted there was a thread on working games with a nice form, so I'll be using it as a basis:

Application name (developer, version):
VBox version
Linux version
Windows version
VBox additions installed?
HowTo (install/run/uninstall)
Soundcard (vendor, model)
Minimal latency achieved (ms)
Workarounds/notes?
Screenshot (optional, in case of glitches)

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So, here are details about two major applications seeming to be working :

Application name : Propellerhead Reason 4.0
VBox version : 3.x or 2.x
Linux version : Ubuntu 9.x and 8.x
Windows version : WinXP SP2
VBox additions installed? Yes, 3.x
HowTo install/run/uninstall use the DX Integrated audio device
Workarounds/notes? there are occasional glitches when GUI elements move, particularly in the host OS. kinda seems to be working better with 2.x than 3.x
Soundcard Integrated Intel ICH9
Minimal latency achieved 98ms with 4096 bytes buffer

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Application name : Ableton Live 8
VBox version : 2.x
Linux version : Ubuntu 8.04
Windows version : WinXP SP2
VBox additions installed? Yes, 1.1.x
HowTo install/run/uninstall use the DX Integrated audio device
Workarounds/notes? there are occasional glitches with lower buffer options
Minimal latency achieved 140ms with 8192 bytes buffer
Soundcard Integrated Intel ICH9

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Application name : Foobar 2000, 0.9.5
VBox version : 2.x and 3.x
Linux version : Ubuntu 8.x and 9.x
Windows version : WinXP SP2
VBox additions installed? Yes
HowTo install/run/uninstall no specifics
Workarounds/notes? occasional sound glitches with 3.x. worked very stable with 2.4.x
Minimal latency achieved n/a
Soundcard Integrated Intel ICH9

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Have not tried Final Scratch with VBox 3.x, but it was not working with 2.x due to USB synchronization issues. I guess most USB soundcards will also fail with 2.x due to the same reason.

Hope this makes sense.

Trying to get my good old SoundBlaster Extigy external sound card to work on the Windows 98 guest with Windows 8.1 host.
How to get the USB released to the guest?

Don't wake up the dead.
Cross posting is not allowed. Locking this 6 years old topic...