The Microsoft® DirectSound® application programming interface (API) is
the audio component of the DirectX® Programmers Reference of the Platform Software
Development Kit (SDK). DirectSound provides low-latency mixing, hardware acceleration, and
direct access to the sound device. It provides this functionality while maintaining
compatibility with existing device drivers.
New in this release of DirectSound are capabilities for audio capture. Also new is support
for property sets, which enable application developers to take advantage of extended
services offered by sound cards and their associated drivers.