09:35, 05 Mar 2023, author: Ermakova M.

Microsoft is working to improve sound and visuals in Windows 11

Developers are working on optimizing usage and improving color reproduction, the possibilities offered by its operating system.

Microsoft is working to improve the experience offered in Windows 11 in areas such as sound control and display colors on the screen. This in itself isn't surprising, especially given the update deployment model the company has been using since the release of Windows 10, which seems to open up more opportunities to make certain sweeping changes over the operating system's lifecycle.

In terms of sound control, Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25309 for the Dev Channel includes a new audio mixer that can be accessed from quick settings available on the same taskbar. Its main feature is that it allows you to adjust the volume on a per-app basis, thus eliminating the need to open a window or focus on an app to set it up, in addition to allowing quick on-the-go sharing between audio devices connected and recognized by the operating system.

In addition to per-app volume control and audio device selector, Microsoft has made it easier for users to use Windows Sonic with a quick list of installed spatial audio technology. Additional spatial audio technologies such as Dolby and DTS can be found in the Microsoft Store.

Another interesting aspect of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25309 is the addition of Automatic Color Management (ACM), system-level hardware accelerated color management supported by some SDR displays. This feature is available in advanced display settings and allows you to display application and system colors more accurately.

Enabling ACM requires a driver configured for WDDM version 3.0 or later, the use of a dedicated Radeon RX 400 or later, or an AMD integrated Ryzen processor, a dedicated DG1 or later, or an Alder Lake integrated processor or later from Intel, while enabling ACM requires the driver to be configured for WDDM version 3.0 or later.

Improvements in audio management and color deployment are not yet available in the Windows 11 stable branch. However, this is a good sign that Microsoft is working on optimizing usage and improving the color experience offered by its operating system.