Preferences

The Preferences window is where you configure Lumix to work with your audio hardware, plugin libraries, and customize the application to your workflow. Access it from the View menu.

Opening Preferences

Access Preferences via:

Menu Bar → View → Preferences
The window appears centered at 720x720 pixels
Cannot be resized or collapsed

The Preferences window must be closed before you can interact with other parts of Lumix.

Preferences Tabs

Preferences are organized into tabs across the top:

Look and Feel
Audio
Plugins
Other

Appearance and theme customization (planned feature)

Audio Tab

Configure your audio interface and playback settings.

Audio Device

Select your audio driver and output device:

Driver Type

Choose between available audio drivers:

WASAPI

Windows Audio Session API - Standard Windows driver with exclusive mode support

ASIO

Low-latency professional audio driver (requires ASIO-compatible interface)

Selecting a Driver:

Click the Driver Type dropdown
Choose WASAPI or ASIO
Lumix reinitializes audio system with new driver

ASIO option is disabled if no ASIO drivers are installed on your system. Install your audio interface’s ASIO driver first.

Audio Device

Select your physical audio output: WASAPI Devices:

Lists all Windows audio devices
Shows device name (e.g., “Speakers”, “Headphones”, “USB Audio Device”)
Uses exclusive mode for better performance

ASIO Devices:

Lists installed ASIO drivers
Typically shows audio interface brand/model
Direct hardware communication for minimal latency

Changing Devices:

Click the Audio Device dropdown
Select your desired output
Audio system reinitializes immediately

Channel Configuration

Channel configuration options appear only when using ASIO drivers.

Input Config - Configure input channel routing (planned) Output Config - Configure output channel routing (planned)

WASAPI Latency

This setting is currently disabled but will control the buffer size for WASAPI exclusive mode.

Adjust the latency/buffer size for WASAPI mode:

Range: 15ms - 500ms
Default: 50ms
Units: Milliseconds
Control: Drag slider or double-click to reset to default

Latency Impact:

Lower (15-30ms) - Responsive playback, higher CPU usage
Medium (50-100ms) - Balanced performance
Higher (200-500ms) - Safer for slower systems, noticeable delay

Hardware Setup (ASIO)

When using ASIO, access your audio interface’s control panel:

Click Hardware Setup button
Your interface’s native control panel opens
Configure buffer size, sample rate, routing, etc.
Changes apply immediately in Lumix

ASIO buffer size is controlled in the hardware control panel, not in Lumix. Set it to 128-256 samples for a balance of low latency and stability.

Sample Rate

Sample rate selection is currently disabled. Lumix uses your audio device’s default sample rate.

Displays the current sample rate: In/Out Sample Rate - Shows active sample rate (e.g., 44100, 48000, 96000) Common Sample Rates:

22050 Hz - Low quality, small files
44100 Hz - CD quality, standard for music
48000 Hz - Video standard, professional audio
96000 Hz - High resolution, larger files
192000 Hz - Ultra high resolution, very large files

Latency Display

Latency reporting is not yet implemented. These fields will show actual input/output latency in a future update.

Planned features:

Buffer Size - Current audio buffer in samples
Input Latency - Delay from input to processing
Output Latency - Delay from processing to output

Plugins Tab

Manage plugin locations and window behavior.

Plug-In Sources

Configure where Lumix looks for plugins:

VST2 Plug-In Custom Folder

Set the root folder for your VST2 plugins:

Click Browse

Click the Browse button next to VST2 folder path

Navigate to VST folder

Use the folder picker to find your VST2 plugins directory (e.g., C:\Program Files\Steinberg\vstplugins)

Confirm selection

Click OK to set the path

Browse plugins

Plugins from this folder now appear in Sidebar → Plug-Ins tab

Current Path Display:

Shows full path if configured: C:\Program Files\Steinberg\vstplugins
Shows “No VST2 folder set” if not configured (grayed text)

Lumix recursively scans subfolders, so you can organize plugins into manufacturer/category folders.

Plug-In Windows

Control how plugin GUI windows behave:

Multiple Plug-in Windows

Allow multiple plugin GUIs to be open simultaneously:

On - Open as many plugin windows as needed (default: Off)
Off - Opening a new plugin window closes the previous one

Use Cases:

On - When comparing settings across plugins
Off - Cleaner desktop, less window management

Auto-Hide Plug-In Windows

Automatically hide plugin windows when switching away:

On - Windows hide when you click Lumix main window (default: Off)
Off - Windows stay visible until manually closed

Use Cases:

On - Reduce desktop clutter, windows restore on plugin focus
Off - Always-visible plugin controls

Auto-Open Plug-In Windows

Automatically open plugin GUI when added to track:

On - Plugin window opens immediately on drag-drop (default: Off)
Off - Click wrench icon to manually open window

Use Cases:

On - Immediate access to configure new plugins
Off - Add plugins without interrupting workflow

Toggle Controls

Plugin window options use orange toggle buttons:

Orange background - Setting is ON
Gray background - Setting is OFF
Click to toggle between states

Look and Feel Tab

This tab is planned for future implementation. It will include theme selection, color schemes, font sizes, and UI customization options.

Planned features:

Color theme selection (dark/light/custom)
Accent color customization
Font size and family
UI scale factor
Waveform color schemes

Other Tab

Additional preference categories will be added here as Lumix development continues.

Planned features:

Keyboard shortcut customization
Project defaults (BPM, time signature, etc.)
Autosave settings
File path preferences

Configuration Persistence

Lumix saves your preferences automatically:

On Change - Settings save immediately when modified
No Save Button - Changes apply and persist instantly
Restart Not Required - Most changes take effect immediately

Changing audio drivers or devices will temporarily interrupt playback as the audio system reinitializes.

Audio Driver Comparison

Feature	WASAPI	ASIO
Availability	All Windows systems	Requires ASIO driver
Latency	Medium (15-500ms)	Very Low (1-10ms typical)
Configuration	Simple (Lumix only)	Hardware control panel
CPU Usage	Moderate	Low
Best For	Casual use, built-in audio	Professional interfaces

Choosing a Driver

Use WASAPI When:

Using built-in computer audio or simple USB audio
No ASIO driver available for your hardware
Latency under 50ms is acceptable
You want simple, one-click configuration

Use ASIO When:

You have a professional audio interface
Recording live inputs (MIDI keyboard, vocals, guitar)
Need the absolute lowest latency (under 10ms)
Working with VST instruments in real-time

Troubleshooting

No Audio Output

Check device selection

Verify the correct output device is selected in Audio Device dropdown

Check driver compatibility

If using ASIO, ensure your interface’s driver is properly installed

Test in hardware panel

Click Hardware Setup (ASIO) and test output in the interface control panel

Reinitialize audio

Try switching drivers (WASAPI ↔ ASIO) to reinitialize the audio system

ASIO Option Grayed Out

Cause: No ASIO drivers detected on system Solution:

Install your audio interface’s ASIO driver from manufacturer’s website
Restart Lumix
ASIO option should now be available

Plugins Not Appearing

Cause: VST2 folder not configured or incorrect path Solution:

Go to Preferences → Plugins tab
Click Browse next to VST2 Plug-In Custom Folder
Select the correct folder (usually C:\Program Files\Steinberg\vstplugins or similar)
Check Sidebar → Plug-Ins tab for plugins

High CPU Usage / Crackling Audio

Cause: Buffer size too small / latency too low Solution:

WASAPI: Increase latency slider to 100-200ms (when enabled)
ASIO: Open Hardware Setup and increase buffer size to 512 or 1024 samples

Best Practices

Audio Setup
Plugin Management
Performance

Start with defaults - Use recommended settings before tweaking
Test thoroughly - Play a project after changing audio settings
Note your settings - Document working configurations
Match sample rates - Ensure all audio files match device sample rate

Technical Details

Audio Initialization

When you change audio settings, Lumix calls:

// Set new driver
AudioSettings.SetDriver(AudioDriver.Wasapi);

// Reinitialize with new settings
AudioSettings.Init(true); // true = force reinit

// Update output device
AudioSettings.UpdateAudioOutput(outputDevice, deviceName);

WASAPI Exclusive Mode

Lumix uses WASAPI in exclusive mode for better performance:

var wasapi = new WasapiOut(
    device.Value, 
    AudioClientShareMode.Exclusive,  // Exclusive mode
    true,                             // Use event sync
    (int)AudioSettings.WasapiLatency  // Latency in ms
);

Exclusive mode bypasses Windows audio mixing for lower latency and better quality.

Plugin Preferences Storage

Plugin settings are stored in static properties:

public static class PluginsPreferences
{
    public static string VST2PluginsPath { get; set; }
    public static bool MultiplePluginWindows { get; set; }
    public static bool AutoHidePluginWindows { get; set; }
    public static bool AutoOpenPluginWindows { get; set; }
}

These persist between sessions via serialization.

Sidebar

Browse plugins from your configured VST2 folder

Devices View

Load and manage plugins on tracks

Audio Engine

How Lumix processes audio internally

Supported Formats

Audio and MIDI file compatibility

Get Started

Core Concepts

Audio Features

MIDI Features

Plugins

User Interface

Development

​Preferences

​Opening Preferences

​Preferences Tabs

​Audio Tab

​Audio Device

​Driver Type

WASAPI

ASIO

​Audio Device

​Channel Configuration

​WASAPI Latency

​Hardware Setup (ASIO)

​Sample Rate

​Latency Display

​Plugins Tab

​Plug-In Sources

​VST2 Plug-In Custom Folder

​Plug-In Windows

​Multiple Plug-in Windows

​Auto-Hide Plug-In Windows

​Auto-Open Plug-In Windows

​Toggle Controls

​Look and Feel Tab

​Other Tab

​Configuration Persistence

​Audio Driver Comparison

​Choosing a Driver

​Troubleshooting

​No Audio Output

​ASIO Option Grayed Out

​Plugins Not Appearing

​High CPU Usage / Crackling Audio

​Best Practices

​Technical Details

​Audio Initialization

​WASAPI Exclusive Mode

​Plugin Preferences Storage

​Related Documentation

Sidebar

Devices View

Audio Engine

Supported Formats

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Preferences

Opening Preferences

Preferences Tabs

Audio Tab

Audio Device

Driver Type

Audio Device

Channel Configuration

WASAPI Latency

Hardware Setup (ASIO)

Sample Rate

Latency Display

Plugins Tab

Plug-In Sources

VST2 Plug-In Custom Folder

Plug-In Windows

Multiple Plug-in Windows

Auto-Hide Plug-In Windows

Auto-Open Plug-In Windows

Toggle Controls

Look and Feel Tab

Other Tab

Configuration Persistence

Audio Driver Comparison

Choosing a Driver

Troubleshooting

No Audio Output

ASIO Option Grayed Out

Plugins Not Appearing

High CPU Usage / Crackling Audio

Best Practices

Technical Details

Audio Initialization

WASAPI Exclusive Mode

Plugin Preferences Storage

Related Documentation