# Getting Started

## Install or update v0.2.19

1. Check the [requirements](Requirements.md): Windows 11 x64 and a working stereo output. The release includes its .NET runtime.
2. Open the [latest release](https://github.com/Vxiey/VxSound/releases/latest).
3. Download **VxSound-Setup-v0.2.19-win-x64.exe** and run it with administrator approval.
4. Finish Setup, then launch VxSound as your normal Windows user.

Setup updates both the desktop app and Windows audio service. If an older in-app updater stops at 100% with a file-in-use error, fully exit VxSound, including the tray, and run this Setup manually once. The new build includes the updater, service-access, routing and settings-persistence fixes. SHA-256 files accompany each release download.

From v0.2.18 onward, **Settings → VxSound updates** selects Setup for installed/full-ZIP copies. After verification, VxSound closes when Setup opens. Approve its Windows administrator prompt and complete the installer; reopen VxSound if you cancel Setup. Portable EXEs update only themselves; extracting the ZIP does not register the service. Setup preserves local settings, profiles and listening data.

For development builds, use the latest successful **Windows build and validation** run in Actions; artifact names include the current version. These are development packages rather than the recommended release installer.

## First launch

In the bottom output bar, select the physical stereo output you actually want to hear. If the device is missing, reconnect it and use **Devices → Refresh**.

Then:

1. Open **Sound studio**.
2. Select **Game**, **Chat** or **Music**.
3. Start with Neutral or another profile.
4. Load one of the built-in reference clips: **Music**, **Spatial**, **Gaming** or **Movie**.
5. Press **Play**.
6. Adjust the graphic bands or parametric filters for the selected profile, plus Bass, Treble and output level.
7. Compare with bypass/original at the same playback level.
8. Save a custom profile instead of overwriting the built-in starting point.

## Use your own audio

The file player supports WAV, MP3 and AIFF. Use **Open audio** or drag one supported file into the VxSound window. Seeking and pause/resume let you repeat the same passage while changing settings.

## Before enabling live routing

File preview does not require virtual audio devices. The live Gaming/Music/Chat mixer does. Read [Mixer & Routing](Mixer-and-Routing.md) before changing application outputs.

## Personal tuning

After selecting your physical output, open **Devices** and bind a label for the headset/connection. Then open **My hearing** for per-ear adjustment or the guided listening test.

The listening test uses low fixed-level tones and does not automatically increase the level when a tone is not heard. See [Personal Audio](Personal-Audio.md).

## Where VxSound stores local data

VxSound uses `%LOCALAPPDATA%\VxSound` for local settings and generated/cached data. Important areas include:

- `settings.json` — current application/personal settings;
- `profiles` — user profiles;
- `listening` — listening-test history and resumable drafts;
- `test-audio` — generated synthetic reference WAV files.

Do not edit files while VxSound is writing them.

## Next pages

Continue with [Sound Studio](Sound-Studio.md), [Reference Audio](Reference-Audio.md) and [Profiles](Profiles.md).

## Diagnose a problem

See [Troubleshooting](Troubleshooting.md) and [Debugging](Debugging.md) for session debug mode, service errors and exporting a diagnostic ZIP.