Patent ID: 8406435

Claim:
In a computer configured to accommodate multiple audio submixes, a method comprising the acts of: discovering multiple audio submixes exposed to an operating system of a computer, each audio submix being a coherent collection of one or more audio streams and each audio submix having adjustable audio properties, at least a portion of the adjustable audio properties being stored in a configuration store associated with the computer, and the discovering includes examining the configuration store; classifying each of the multiple discovered audio submixes into one of a plurality of assigned classifications, (insert as underlined) wherein at least a first audio submix is classified into a first assigned classification and at least a second audio submix is classified into a second assigned classification different than the first assigned classification; producing a user-interface (UI) listing the multiple discovered audio submixes based on the assigned classification, with user-adjustable controls configured to enable a user to adjust audio properties of each of the multiple discovered submixes, wherein adjustments for one submix are independent from adjustments of audio properties of other submixes, and wherein the UI displays the adjustable audio properties and the displayed adjustable audio properties are based on saved values of the adjustable audio properties, the saved values determined based on previous user adjustments of the adjustable audio properties; and in response to an adjustment for one submix, adjusting the audio properties of that submix so that such adjustment is independent from adjustments of audio properties of other submixes, wherein one or more of the multiple discovered audio submixes are associated with an inactive application, but the inactive application is installed or configured on the computer.