Kernel streaming

In Microsoft Windows terminology, Kernel Streaming is a technique that supports kernel-mode processing of streamed data. It enables efficient real-time streaming for multimedia devices such as sound cards and TV tuner cards. Kernel streaming allows a device driver to create DirectShow-like filters and pins in kernel mode, providing access to hardware, lower latency communication and still be used within a DirectShow filter graph.

Music players such as foobar2000 and Winamp sometimes support kernel streaming through plugins. Compared to the regular "wave out method" in Microsoft Windows, kernel streaming requires less CPU time. This comes at the expense of bypassing the KMixer and Windows volume control. One popular use of kernel streaming is "online broadcasting," via which one can broadcast a song through the internet to others.

See also

* Windows legacy audio components

External links

* [http://foobar2000.org/components/index.html foobar2000 plug-in] — Kernel Streaming plug-in for foobar2000
* [http://www.stevemonks.com/ksplugin/ Winamp Kernel Streaming Plugin]
* [http://wiki.silverblade.co.uk/index.php?title=ReactOS:Sound:Kernel_Streaming Kernel Streaming components] (documented for re-implementation in ReactOS)