# FAQ

## Is VxSound a system-wide audio driver?

Not yet. The current preview is a native Windows application with DSP, file playback and a live mixer. Separate live source routing relies on compatible virtual playback endpoints already installed on Windows.

## Can VxSound create separate Game, Music and Chat devices by itself?

No. Install compatible virtual playback endpoints separately, such as VB-CABLE. The included Windows audio service does not create those devices. A standard cable provides one independent path; see [Mixer & Routing](Mixer-and-Routing.md).

## Does VxSound support left and right EQ separately?

Yes. Sound profiles can use linked stereo bands or independent left/right ten-band values. Personal Audio also has separate left/right correction at a different stage of the signal path.

## Are the game profiles guaranteed to improve footsteps?

No. They are editable starting curves. EQ affects frequencies, not semantic sound objects, and a useful curve depends on the game mix, headphones, fit, output chain and listener.

## What are the Music, Spatial, Gaming and Movie buttons?

They are VxSound-owned synthetic reference clips generated locally from code. They provide repeatable material for comparing profiles without shipping external recordings.

## Are the reference clips downloaded?

No. They are generated locally as deterministic 48 kHz / 24-bit stereo WAV files and cached under VxSound's local application-data directory.

## Is the guided listening test an audiogram?

No. It is a relative listening workflow. It is not calibrated to hearing level, does not diagnose hearing loss and does not know the sound pressure at the ear.

## Why can a high-frequency point be unsupported?

Digital tone generation must fit the selected output's sample rate and VxSound's safety/quality limits. Unsupported points are kept separate from user responses.

## Does VxSound automatically build an EQ from missed tones?

No. A listening response does not automatically become EQ gain. Personal adjustments remain explicit user-controlled settings.

## Can I import and export profiles?

Yes. JSON profiles are validated and imported IDs are regenerated. Schema v4 supports graphic and parametric EQ plus provenance metadata; older schemas 1–3 remain import-compatible. Profiles marked local-only are blocked from normal export until redistribution is cleared.

## Where is my data stored?

Local state is under `%LOCALAPPDATA%\VxSound`. User profiles, listening history and generated reference audio are not stored in the Git repository.

## Does VxSound upload listening results?

The current design stores them locally. JSON/CSV sharing is an explicit export action.

## Does the limiter make any volume safe for hearing?

No. The limiter constrains digital sample peaks. It cannot know headphone sensitivity, amplifier gain, fit or acoustic SPL at your ears.

## What audio files can I preview?

The current file player supports WAV, MP3, AIFF and AIF.

## Why does boosted EQ sometimes reduce overall level?

Automatic headroom is applied to reduce digital clipping risk when filters create positive gain.

## Is VxSound open source?

Yes. VxSound project code is MIT-licensed. Third-party dependencies retain their own licenses and notices. External files imported by users are not automatically relicensed by VxSound.

## Where should I start contributing?

Read [Build & Testing](Build-and-Testing.md), [`CONTRIBUTING.md`](Contributing.md), the [architecture document](Architecture.md) and the [roadmap](Roadmap.md).