Audio device configuration lives in Settings → Audio (the gear button at the right edge of the transport bar). Driver type, buffer size and sample rate are the three settings that decide how responsive Muse feels — worth 60 seconds to check.
Driver type
The driver decides how your computer talks to your sound card, and the difference is not subtle — the legacy MME driver takes around 110 ms from pressing Play to hearing sound, while WASAPI takes around 16 ms. Muse picks the fastest driver your device supports automatically and lists drivers fastest-first, so you normally don’t need to touch this. If you do:
- WASAPI — the lowest latency Muse offers on Windows, with or without an audio interface. This is the default.
- MME / DirectSound — legacy fallbacks. Only use these if WASAPI fails.
- CoreAudio — used automatically on macOS; there is nothing to choose.
Muse does not support ASIO drivers, so none appears in the driver list. Most audio interfaces also install a standard Windows driver, and Muse reaches the interface through WASAPI.
Buffer size and crackling
Buffer size trades latency against stability. 128–256 samples feels tight and performance-ready; drop to 64 if your CPU handles it. If you hear crackling, pops or dropouts, raise the buffer to 512 or more — that is almost always the fix. Change it in Settings → Audio.
Sample rate
Set the sample rate to match your audio interface. 48000 Hz is a safe default. A mismatch between Muse and the device can cause failed device starts or wrong-speed playback.
Input and output devices
Pick your input (microphone or interface) and output (speakers or headphones) devices in Settings → Audio. Each dropdown shows the device name with its channel count. Real-time input level meters below the input selector let you confirm a signal is arriving before you record. A green status dot means the devices are connected and streaming.
Microphone access
Allow microphone access when the operating system asks on first launch if you plan to record audio. If you declined it, re-enable it in your OS privacy settings (Windows: Settings → Privacy → Microphone; macOS: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone), then restart Muse.