Monitor Screen does not go into standby, when "audials play" app runs.
This might be not a bug, but an intentional feature of the audials app.
In my case however this means 30W superfluous power consumption.
Normally, when I logout, pressing Windows key + L, the screen goes off after one minute, but running apps continue, until the computer goes to standby.
If I do not want this than I can prevent it with Microsoft Powertoys "Awake". (available for free in Microsoft Store) It can even adjust after wich time the computer is shut down, without changing the normal energy saving settings.
This will not work when audials runs.
So, for me, this "feature" is not useful, because I have better solution.
I looked for "settings" or so in audials, to change this, but could not find anything.
Of course I can disable the monitor by switching off power, but then, my monitor needs a lot of time to boot, longer than the computer itself.
Otherwise I like audials very much, it is the best Radio App, that I have tried so far!
I have one proposal: I use audials together with active speakers, which have no stereo balance adjustment. It would be nice if a balance adjustment could be implemented into the audials equalizer.
Edit:
I got a solution for the problem:
Install Nircmd.exe, available from www.nirsoft.net and put it into your path.
The command "nircmd monitor off" will switch the monitor off, even then when the audials app runs.
This solves the problem for me.
Edit2:
Unfortunately this is not a good solution.
When I switch the monitor off with the command "nircmd monitor off" while audials is running, then the monitor goes off, but power consumption of the PC rises by 10W. Apparently audials and nircmd are fighting, audials wants to switch the monitor on but nircmd switches it off.
This does not happen, when audials does not run.
So this is a solution, but a bad solution.
-
Thanks for the answer.
I do not think so.
The problem happens on my desktop PC, which has an ASUS mainboard and a Ryzen 7 CPU with integrated graphics.
Everything is pretty vanilla.
Happens also on a Lenovo Ideapad laptop which is brandnew and has a Ryzen 5 CPU with integrated graphics..
(I have no other Windows computers to compare)All other apps work.
I use now "Mini Radio Player", available in Microsoft store instead. This keeps the PC alive, when it plays, but the monitor goes off normally as it should after some time.
-
you’ve done some excellent troubleshooting! You are correct: many media apps like Audials use a "Power Request" (specifically DisplayRequest) to prevent the screen from dimming or the system from sleeping while music or video is playing. This ensures the stream isn't interrupted, but as you've discovered, it can be incredibly frustrating when you want the hardware to rest while the software works.
The 10W spike you noticed with NirCmd is likely a "software battle." Audials is constantly pinging Windows to say "I am active, keep the display driver engaged," while NirCmd is trying to force a low-power state on the monitor. This loop creates CPU/GPU overhead, hence the extra power draw.
Here are a few ways to handle this more efficiently:
1. Override the Power Request (The "Pro" Way)
Windows allows you to manually tell the system to ignore specific apps that ask to keep the screen on.Open the Command Prompt as Administrator.
Type: powercfg /requests
Look for "Audials" under the DISPLAY or EXECUTION category.
Run this command (replacing processname.exe with the exact name kia university found in the step above, likely Audials.exe):
powercfg /requestsoverride PROCESS "processname.exe" DISPLAY
This tells Windows: "Even if Audials asks to keep the screen on, ignore it and follow my normal power plan."
2. The "Blank Screensaver" Trick
If the driver conflict is too aggressive for an override, try using a Blank Screensaver.Set your screensaver to "Blank" (which displays a pure black hex #000000 screen).
On most modern LED/LCD monitors, displaying pure black significantly drops the power draw of the panel itself, even if the "backlight" remains technically on. It’s not as good as a total sleep state, but it avoids the "10W battle" between NirCmd and Audials.
3. Regarding your Balance Adjustment proposal
Since you mentioned your active speakers lack a balance knob, you don't actually have to wait for Audials to update their equalizer. You can do this at the System Level in Windows:Right-click the Speaker icon in your taskbar > Sound Settings.
Click on your output device (the active speakers).
Under Output settings, you will see Left channel and Right channel sliders.
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
2 comments