This article describes how to optimize audio for XenDesktop.

Instructions

You can modify the following settings for optimum audio performance in a XenDesktop environment. You can tune these settings as per your environmental basis.

Siphon the XML Blob from IMA on the Desktop Delivery Controller

1. On the Desktop Delivery Controller (DDC), navigate to the following directory:
   C:\Program Files\Citrix\Desktop Delivery Controller

2. Run the following command:

   PortICASetDefaults /o <Directory>:\<FileName.xml>

Consider the following adjustments:

Virtual Channel Priorities

Within the XML Blob, adjust the priorities of the Virtual Channels as required. Specify highest priority to Client Audio Mapping to achieve the best performance for audio.

Default

<value>CTXCAM ,1</value>

Client Audio Mapping over WAN

<value>CTXCAM ,0</value>

Note: If the clients are connecting without newer audio codecs, the preceding setting is not recommended on WAN.

PCM (pulse-coded modulation) Modifications

Default

<PCMSamplesPerSec>8000</PCMSamplesPerSec>
<PCMChannels>1</PCMChannels>
<PCMBitsPerSample>8</PCMBitsPerSample>

CD Quality

<PCMSamplesPerSec>44100</PCMSamplesPerSec>
<PCMChannels>2</PCMChannels>
<PCMBitsPerSample>16</PCMBitsPerSample>

 DVD Quality

<PCMSamplesPerSec>96000</PCMSamplesPerSec>
<PCMChannels>2</PCMChannels>
<PCMBitsPerSample>24</PCMBitsPerSample>

Importing the XML Adjustments Back into IMA

1. On the DDC, navigate to the following directory:
   C:\Program Files\Citrix\Desktop Delivery Controller

2. Run the following command to import the XML Blob back into IMA:

   PortICASetDefaults /i <Directory>:\<FileName.xml>

3. Restart IMA.

Procedure to Adjust Citrix Policy for Better Audio Performance

1. Open the Presentation Server Management Console.

2. Create a new policy.

3. Navigate to Client Devices > Resources > Audio > Sound Quality.

4. Select High, Medium, or Low depending on the environment.

Citrix TV contains the following video for this article:

http://www.citrix.com/tv/#videos/2452

The length of this video is 7:24 minutes.

Note: This video requires the Adobe Flash player plug-in for your browser.

PCM (Pulse Coded Modulation) - PCM is a set of uncompressed digital encodings with the following three (3) parameters:

Bits Per Sample
Channels
Sample Frequency

Virtual Channels

You have four priority levels to choose from:

• 0 - Highest Priority

• 1 - Medium

• 2 - Low

• 3 - Background Priority

Following is a list of Virtual Channels and a brief description: