I`m getting no help, so I`ll try here.....

If you REALLY want a challenge....:)
posted earlier, trying again.....

I`ve looked everywhere..this is the impossible question! (vu meter)
Ok, so I`ve hunted the internet and newsgroups high & low and now I`ve come to you!

PLEASE tell me theres an easy way to get the instantaneous value of audio output from ANY soundcard.

All I want to is collect data to display on the nifty vu meter I`ve made!

I dont mind using a directsound buffer (as long as I can access an already existing buffer created by, say, Mediaplayer)

I have dx8 sdk and even that does not help me.

There are a few old postings about of some API that only works with 16-bit cards (eg Microsoft`s audiolvl.exe) but thats no good these days!

Bet you dont know the answer!!

If you do, heres another challenge (similar subject)

If I want to send audio from mediaplayer to just the front or just the rear two speakers of a four-speaker soundblaster card - how do i do that?

Again, plenty of documentation on enumerating soundcards (API or DirectX8 in vb) - but how do you enumerate the number of channels such that you can let the user of the app decide to use front or rear speakers, or both?)

My brain hurts.

Looking forward to you comments - let me know if you are having the same troubles even if you can`t help. I feel very alone!!!

Is Cliff Richards still around?:D