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Thaumic Cast

Browser-wide capture

Normally, the extension asks your browser for one tab’s sound. Browser-wide capture asks Windows instead, for everything your browser is playing. It avoids the gaps tab capture can produce, at the price of casting every tab at once.

What it needs

Section titled “What it needs”
  • Windows 11. Windows 10 cannot do it (Windows Server 2022 can). If the extension says Windows 10 21H2, it is wrong: no Windows 10 can do it.
  • The desktop app, on the same computer as the browser. Thaumic Cast Server cannot capture a browser, and nor can a desktop app on another computer.

The switch shows only in your browser on Windows. Connected to Thaumic Cast Server, it is hidden unless it was already on. Where it cannot work, Settings says why under the switch:

  • “The server cannot capture a browser.” It was on, and the extension is now connected to Thaumic Cast Server. Untick it.
  • “The desktop app reports that it cannot capture this browser.” Not Windows 11, or the app is on another computer.

Turn it on

Section titled “Turn it on”
  1. On Windows, in the extension’s Settings, under Finer points, turn on Browser-wide capture.
  2. Start a cast as usual: open the extension, choose rooms, press Cast. The cast is listed as Whole browser.

It takes effect when you next start a cast. If the companion cannot do it, a cast will not start while it is ticked; untick it to cast from a tab instead.

What changes

Section titled “What changes”
What Tab capture (the default) Browser-wide capture
What is cast One tab Every tab, including the one you forgot was playing
Quality Your choice in Quality Always PCM; your choice is kept for later
Video sync Yes, on PCM casts No: it needs a cast of one tab
Keep the tab awake Used Not needed: there is no tab to keep awake
Gaps from the browser Possible Usually cured

A tab cast and a browser-wide cast cannot run together. Stop one before starting the other: the extension says Still casting a tab or Still casting the whole browser if you try.

A browser-wide cast that stopped

Section titled “A browser-wide cast that stopped”
  • “The browser process being captured ended, and took the audio with it.” The browser was closed or restarted. Cast again.
  • “The audio device was unplugged or swapped for another…” You changed headphones or speakers on the computer. Cast again.
Section titled “Related”