Microsoft Enhances Windows for Musicians and Audio Professionals

A significant number of media creators have chosen Apple Mac systems for their creative workflows, predominantly due to the extensive software ecosystem and Apple’s dedication to enhancing the experience for creative and media experts. In response, Microsoft is making strides to attract music industry talent with exciting updates to Windows.

At the recent Qualcomm Snapdragon Summit, Microsoft introduced a series of enhancements aimed at elevating the experience for musicians and audio professionals using Windows PCs. A notable addition is the support for MIDI 2.0, which will remain compatible with MIDI 1.0 APIs and devices. Furthermore, Microsoft has collaborated with Qualcomm and Yamaha to develop a new USB Audio Class 2 Driver optimized for Windows.

Though these enhancements are initially targeted at Windows on Arm PCs, plans are in place for them to be extended to Intel and AMD x86-64 systems in the near future. Below is a comprehensive list of the announced features.

• Musical Software for Arm64
  • Steinberg Cubase and Nuendo available in preview this week
  • Cockos Reaper now in preview
  • Reason Studios Reason slated for early 2025 preview
• Audio Hardware for Arm64
  • Focusrite’s vendor-specific USB Audio / ASIO driver preview scheduled for early 2025
  • Steinberg/Yamaha’s vendor-specific USB Audio / ASIO driver preview anticipated in 2025
• In-Box Support for Arm64
  • Mid-2025 previews for ASIO and low-latency USB Audio Class 2 driver, with inclusion in Windows once finalized
  • MIDI 2.0 (through Windows MIDI Services) previews expected in Windows Insider builds this November, with retail inclusion early next year.

Pete Brown, Principal Software Engineer at Microsoft commented on the new music-centric enhancements in Windows:

With the introduction of the new MIDI framework and in-box ASIO support, alongside three remarkable DAW applications and two series of audio interfaces equipped with advanced drivers for Arm64, we are primed to significantly enhance the music creation experience on Windows. I am incredibly enthusiastic about how these initiatives are converging at this pivotal moment.

These developments highlight Microsoft’s dedication to the music sector and its ambition to rival Apple in the realm of creative tools. As updates continue, Windows could evolve into an increasingly robust and adaptable platform for musicians and audio specialists moving forward.

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