The PCM-ness is determined by the WAVEFORMATEX you pass to IAudioClient::Initialize, not by anything you pass to IAudioClient2::SetClientProperties. Since you're using exclusive mode anyway, I don't think passing the "raw mode" flag will have much of an effect. You can think of "raw mode" as a way to get the "I can bypass processing that I really don't want because X" benefits of exclusive mode without having to put up with the nasty "but nothing else can play now" drawbacks. If you're really interested in direct kernel streaming, there's a sample here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=18989 The DirectKS sample application program demonstrates how a user-mode client can achieve direct access to kernel streaming (KS) filters. You might also explore the ASIO streaming model, which is another way to talk directly to the driver. (This isn't a Microsoft API, though, so Microsoft won't be able to support you.) Like Frank, I'm interested to know *why* you want to get so close to the metal. Can you give some more detail?