# SetSoftwareFormat does not help in setting the speaker mode!

**URL:** https://qa.fmod.com/t/setsoftwareformat-does-not-help-in-setting-the-speaker-mode/12606
**Category:** FMOD Studio
**Created:** [July 19, 2016, 8:21pm UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/setsoftwareformat-does-not-help-in-setting-the-speaker-mode/12606 "2016-07-19T20:21:14Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![golghp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/90ced4/32.png) [@golghp](https://qa.fmod.com/u/golghp)
#### Post date: [July 19, 2016, 8:21pm UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/setsoftwareformat-does-not-help-in-setting-the-speaker-mode/12606/1 "2016-07-19T20:21:14Z")

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Hello,

I’m using FMOD in my recent project. I have a dedicated Blaster sound card installed on my system which lets me set the speaker mode in control panel to MONO, STEREO or 5.1.

I have both 3D and 2D sounds in the project. I was trying to change the speaker mode. I know that I should setSoftwareFormat method to change it.  
I figured out how to use this method and I have successfully changed the speaker mode from Stereo to Mono. I was expecting to hear any difference when I move the listener while listening to a 3D sound since the sound I’ll hear from both speakers (using a headphone) should be the same. But it’s not happening which means that setting the speaker mode to Mono in setSoftwareFormat is not working as what I expected.  
Is there a more efficient way of doing this or I’m just expecting an impossible functionality.  
Thank you in advance.

Goli

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### Author: ![brett](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/qa.fmod.com/brett/32/261_2.png) [@brett](https://qa.fmod.com/u/brett)
#### Post date: [July 21, 2016, 3:44am UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/setsoftwareformat-does-not-help-in-setting-the-speaker-mode/12606/2 "2016-07-21T03:44:49Z")

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FMOD does not change your speaker mode.

The user has a speaker mode set to whatever they need it to be set to, in their audio settings/control panel in windows.

Also when you create an FMOD Studio project, in the settings/preferences for the build target you set it to a speaker mode (per platform if you like) .

At runtime you must only use System::setSoftwareFormat to set it to the same mode that the project has. That is it.

The only time a speaker mode is changed, is in the windows control panel.  
If you only want stereo, then set the project to stereo and the speakermode in System::setSoftwareFormat to stereo as well. They should always match.
