Introduction to DirectWIRE Loopback

GIGAPORT eX provides a feature that we call DirectWIRE Loopback. This function is provided both on the Mac and under Windows and it allows you to record what you playback internally. For instance, you can use it to playback any audio signal in any application while you record it with a different software or you could record the main master output signal of a DJ mix on the same computer. There are many possible applications, i.e. you can record what you are streaming online or you can save the output of a software synthesizer application. Essentially, you can make a 1:1 identical transfer of the playback signal digitally inside your system.

DirectWIRE Loopback under Windows

You will find in the Windows Sound control panel (you can open it via File > Windows Audio Settings in the GIGAPORT eX control panel) and in the audio input / output related settings of many applications that there is a 2 channel MME/WDM input device called GIGAPORT eX Loopback , as shown on this picture:

Also ASIO compatible applications can use 2 input channels that can be configured accordingly. How it works is that anything you play back via physical output channels 1 and 2 within the same or even from another application can be recorded internally. Note that the signals you play via the physical outputs 3 to 8 cannot be recorded internally, only the playback from output channels 1 and 2. The exception are those signals you assign from other playback channels to output 1 and 2 via the DirectWIRE Output Channels functionality.

DirectWIRE Loopback under OS X / macOS

You will find that there is a 2 channel input device that you can open for recording inside any audio application (internally the two channels are called Loopback 1 and Loopback 2 although most applications will simply show it as GIGAPORT eX). How it works is that anything you play back via physical output channels 1 and 2 within the same or even from another application can be recorded internally. The following picture shows these channels in the Audio MIDI Setup utility (you can find it under Applications > Utilities or call it from the GIGAPORT eX control panel via File > macOS Audio Settings):

Note that the signals you play via outputs 3 to 8 cannot be recorded internally, only the playback from output channels 1 and 2.