Game audio bar is now ALWAYS visible (TASK 4 gating removed, 2026-08-15): the show/hide machinery kept hiding the desktop/game meter whenever no full-screen game with sound was up or no TRAX music played, which the creator read as the meter being lost. Deleted IGameAudioDetector/GameAudioDetector/GameAudioHysteresis (Services/), the VM's 250ms DispatcherTimer poll + OnGameAudioActiveChanged/OnGameAudioPollTick + IsGameAudioBarVisible + _gameAudioBarActive/_gameAudioTimer/_gameAudioDetector, and the two detector test files (GameAudioDetectorTests, GameAudioHysteresisTests); MainWindow.xaml drops the Visibility binding so the bar renders unconditionally. Desktop audio is just automatic WASAPI loopback now. Docs in the same commit: ai.md (audio section + Services inventory), Services/index.md, ViewModels/index.md, TASKS.md TASK 9 item 7 follow-up, HANDOFF.md shipped state + stale poll-timer landmine removed. Build 0 warnings, 189 tests passing (8 detector tests removed)

HANDOFF.md

@@ -7,11 +7,17 @@
 
 ## Session state (last updated: 2026-08-15)
 
-- **Branch:** `main`, tracking `origin/main`. Working tree: the **TASK 24 polish batch** below is
+- **Branch:** `main`, tracking `origin/main`. Working tree: the **TASK 24 polish batch** + the **game
-  committed + pushed. Local branches `social-bar`/`webcam-validation` untouched (no secrets).
+  audio bar always-visible change** (below) are committed + pushed. Local branches
+  `social-bar`/`webcam-validation` untouched (no secrets).
+- **GAME AUDIO BAR ALWAYS VISIBLE — COMMITTED + PUSHED 2026-08-15.** The TASK 4 show/hide gating was a
+  UX bug: the desktop/game meter kept vanishing whenever no full-screen game with sound was up (or no
+  TRAX music played). The whole `IGameAudioDetector`/`GameAudioDetector`/`GameAudioHysteresis` stack +
+  the VM's 250ms poll timer + its two test files were **deleted**; the bar is now permanently overlaid
+  at the bottom of the preview. Build **0 warnings**, full suite green.
 - **TASK 24 — POST-PAUSE POLISH BATCH — SHIPPED + COMMITTED + PUSHED 2026-08-15.** All 8 creator
   review issues fixed in one branch (details below). Build **0 warnings**, full suite **197 passing**
-  (ONE integration test for this branch: `AudioPipelineTests.Mix_HonorsProviderGains_AndGameMute_KillsTheLoopback`).
+  (ONE integration test for that branch: `AudioPipelineTests.Mix_HonorsProviderGains_AndGameMute_KillsTheLoopback`).
 - **AUDIO MILESTONE (TASK 9) — SHIPPED + COMMITTED + PUSHED.** Real stream audio + voice filters +
   auto-duck + free TRAX background music. Commits `6d71ace` (milestone) + `f2f6401` (secrets cleanup),
   force-pushed (`725f5a7...f2f6401`).
@@ -61,6 +67,23 @@ The creator's review of the TASK 9 build, all fixed in one branch (full record i
 **THE ONE integration test:** `Mix_HonorsProviderGains_AndGameMute_KillsTheLoopback` — real mixer +
 `AudioGainProvider` gains through the pipe harness: scaled loopback audible at 0.5, silence after mute.
 
+## Game audio bar — always visible 2026-08-15 (what changed)
+
+The creator reported the desktop/game sound meter "lost" — it was the TASK 4 show/hide gating
+(`_gameAudioBarActive || IsMusicPlaying`): the bar only rendered while a full-screen game produced
+sound or TRAX played, so it sat hidden during normal use. Fix = the bar is now **always visible**:
+
+- **Deleted** `Services/IGameAudioDetector.cs`, `Services/GameAudioDetector.cs`,
+  `Services/GameAudioHysteresis.cs`, `ytLive.Tests/GameAudioDetectorTests.cs`,
+  `ytLive.Tests/GameAudioHysteresisTests.cs` — the stack's only output (`_gameAudioBarActive`) fed
+  `IsGameAudioBarVisible`, which no longer exists.
+- **MainViewModel.cs:** removed `_gameAudioTimer` (250ms `DispatcherTimer`), `_gameAudioDetector`,
+  `_gameAudioBarActive`, the constructor wiring, `OnGameAudioActiveChanged`, `OnGameAudioPollTick`,
+  `IsGameAudioBarVisible`, and the `IsMusicPlaying` → visibility notification. Desktop audio is just
+  automatic WASAPI loopback now.
+- **MainWindow.xaml:** dropped the `Visibility` binding on the preview-overlay game bar; it renders
+  unconditionally (TRAX button + "Desktop Audio" label + meter + mute + volume unchanged).
+
 ## TASK 9 audio milestone — SHIPPED 2026-08-14 (what changed)
 
 The creator's feature review settled this as the single next branch ("all the audio issues done and
@@ -108,8 +131,6 @@ track (YouTube mutes VODs with copyrighted music — future feature), `PremiumUr
     only after `Started`, yellow on `Failed`.
   - Zero mic devices at startup = red dot AND the mixer is never started, so
     loopback + the game bar can't run either (no capture at all) — acceptable.
-  - The game detector is polled on the UI thread via a 250ms `DispatcherTimer`;
-    `OnGameAudioPollTick` wraps `Poll()` in try/catch + `AppLog`.
   - The pump reads the active scene on a background thread while the UI can still
     edit it — a concurrent-mutation exception is contained (logged + `Failed` +
     the pump stops), not a crash.

MainWindow.xaml

@@ -754,16 +754,14 @@
                         </Border>
 
                         <!-- Desktop/game audio bar: overlaid at the bottom of the
-                             preview while a full-screen game is producing sound or
+                             preview, always visible. Meter + mute + volume control
-                             TRAX music is playing (the game audio detector). Meter
+                             live here; desktop audio itself is automatic WASAPI
-                             + mute + volume control live here; desktop audio itself
+                             loopback. Volume + mute are stream-honest AND scale the
-                             is automatic WASAPI loopback. Volume + mute are
+                             TRAX music in the headphones, so the creator hears the
-                             stream-honest AND scale the TRAX music in the
+                             control work. -->
-                             headphones, so the creator hears the control work. -->
                         <Border HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Bottom"
                                 Background="#D9000000" CornerRadius="6" Padding="12,8"
-                                Margin="0,0,0,12"
+                                Margin="0,0,0,12">
-                                Visibility="{Binding IsGameAudioBarVisible, Converter={StaticResource BoolToVis}}">
                             <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal">
                                 <!-- TRAX sits left of the "Desktop Audio" label
                                      (the creator's pick): it rides the desktop

Services/GameAudioDetector.cs

@@ -1,46 +0,0 @@
-namespace ytLive.Services;
-
-/// <summary>
-/// Default <see cref="IGameAudioDetector"/>: samples a full-screen monitor
-/// provider (the existing <c>IFullScreenDetector</c>) and the live loopback
-/// level and advances a <see cref="GameAudioHysteresis"/>. The pure transitions
-/// live in GameAudioHysteresis (unit-tested); this wrapper owns the providers
-/// and the raised-changed event. WPF-free — the VM owns the poll timer.
-/// </summary>
-public sealed class GameAudioDetector : IGameAudioDetector
-{
-    private const float SoundFloor = 0.005f;
-
-    private readonly Func<int?> _foregroundFullScreenMonitorProvider;
-    private readonly Func<float> _loopbackLevelProvider;
-    private readonly Func<DateTime> _now;
-    private readonly GameAudioHysteresis _hysteresis = new();
-
-    /// <param name="foregroundFullScreenMonitorProvider">Returns the monitor a
-    /// full-screen foreground window covers, or null when windowed/none.</param>
-    /// <param name="loopbackLevelProvider">Current smoothed desktop/game level (0..1).</param>
-    /// <param name="now">Clock for the hysteresis windows; injectable for tests.</param>
-    public GameAudioDetector(
-        Func<int?> foregroundFullScreenMonitorProvider,
-        Func<float> loopbackLevelProvider,
-        Func<DateTime>? now = null)
-    {
-        _foregroundFullScreenMonitorProvider = foregroundFullScreenMonitorProvider;
-        _loopbackLevelProvider = loopbackLevelProvider;
-        _now = now ?? (() => DateTime.Now);
-    }
-
-    public bool IsGameAudioActive => _hysteresis.IsActive;
-
-    public event Action<bool>? IsGameAudioActiveChanged;
-
-    public void Poll()
-    {
-        var before = _hysteresis.IsActive;
-        var isFullScreen = _foregroundFullScreenMonitorProvider() != null;
-        var hasSound = _loopbackLevelProvider() > SoundFloor;
-        _hysteresis.Update(isFullScreen, hasSound, _now());
-        if (before != _hysteresis.IsActive)
-            IsGameAudioActiveChanged?.Invoke(_hysteresis.IsActive);
-    }
-}

Services/GameAudioHysteresis.cs

@@ -1,57 +0,0 @@
-namespace ytLive.Services;
-
-/// <summary>
-/// Pure show/hide state machine for the game audio bar (TASK 4 game audio).
-/// SHOW: a full-screen foreground app has been producing desktop audio for at
-/// least <see cref="ShowAfterSound"/> — "a working game with sound". HIDE: the
-/// app leaves fullscreen/foreground for <see cref="HideAfterWindowed"/> — the
-/// game is no longer up in the preview. Silence NEVER hides an active bar; it
-/// only matters for the initial show. No timers; <see cref="Update"/> is fed by
-/// the caller with a clock.
-/// </summary>
-public sealed class GameAudioHysteresis
-{
-    private readonly TimeSpan _showAfterSound = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(500);
-    private readonly TimeSpan _hideAfterWindowed = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(1);
-
-    private DateTime? _soundSince;
-    private DateTime? _windowedSince;
-
-    public bool IsActive { get; private set; }
-
-    public void Update(bool isFullScreen, bool hasSound, DateTime now)
-    {
-        if (isFullScreen)
-        {
-            _windowedSince = null;
-            if (IsActive)
-                return;
-
-            if (!hasSound)
-            {
-                _soundSince = null;
-                return;
-            }
-
-            _soundSince ??= now;
-            if (now - _soundSince >= _showAfterSound)
-                IsActive = true;
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            _soundSince = null;
-            if (!IsActive)
-            {
-                _windowedSince = null;
-                return;
-            }
-
-            _windowedSince ??= now;
-            if (now - _windowedSince >= _hideAfterWindowed)
-            {
-                IsActive = false;
-                _windowedSince = null;
-            }
-        }
-    }
-}

Services/IGameAudioDetector.cs

@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
-namespace ytLive.Services;
-
-/// <summary>
-/// Detects "a working game with sound is up in the preview" (TASK 4 game audio
-/// bar): becomes active once a full-screen foreground app is producing desktop
-/// audio, and stays active as long as that full-screen app remains — silence
-/// never hides the bar, only the game leaving fullscreen/foreground does. Seam
-/// so the VM and tests never touch Win32 or audio interop directly.
-/// </summary>
-public interface IGameAudioDetector
-{
-    /// <summary>True while the game audio bar should be visible.</summary>
-    bool IsGameAudioActive { get; }
-
-    /// <summary>Raised when the bar should appear or disappear.</summary>
-    event Action<bool>? IsGameAudioActiveChanged;
-
-    /// <summary>Samples the injected providers and advances the state machine.</summary>
-    void Poll();
-}

Services/index.md

@@ -51,9 +51,6 @@ External-facing logic: YouTube API, persistence. See
 | `Audio/AudioMixer.cs` | Owns both sources; capture starts once at startup (`MainViewModel.StartMicCaptureAsync`) and stops on `Shutdown` — NOT go-live (preview monitoring). Mic samples → `AudioLevelMeter` → `MicLevelChanged`; loopback samples → the game bar's meter via `LoopbackLevelChanged`. Surfaces mic connection state: `MicConnected`/`MicFailed` (drives the status dot) + `RestartMic()` (device swap mid-session, keeps loopback). Failures log via `AppLog`; mic failure zeroes the meter, loopback failure doesn't kill the mic. Note: the meter `Push` is unconditional (the `?.` on the event would otherwise skip the argument when nothing is subscribed) |
 | `Audio/AudioLevelMeter.cs` | Pure smoothed RMS level (0..1): `Push(AudioSample)` + `Reset` — the unit-tested math behind `AudioLevel` and `GameAudioLevel`. `ToDisplay(float)` maps the raw linear RMS onto the meter's display scale (−60..0 dBFS spread across 0..1, with **+10 dB input amplification** so real speech peaks hit the red zone at maxed volume) — real speech/game RMS (~0.01..0.1) would otherwise leave a flat scale looking dead; ≤0.001 linear reads as zero (never idles on background noise) |
 | `Audio/WaveToFloat.cs` | Pure WASAPI buffer → float conversion: IEEE float 32-bit direct, PCM 16-bit normalized, `WaveFormatExtensible` IEEE-float subformat GUID, trailing partial samples ignored |
-| `IGameAudioDetector.cs` | **TASK 4 game audio bar seam**: `IsGameAudioActive` + `IsGameAudioActiveChanged` + `Poll()` — detects "a working game with sound is up in the preview" |
-| `GameAudioHysteresis.cs` | Pure show/hide state machine for the game bar: SHOW = full-screen app holds sound ~500ms; HIDE = the app leaves fullscreen ~1s. **Silence never hides an active bar** — only the game leaving the preview does (creator's rule). No timers; `Update(isFullScreen, hasSound, now)` |
-| `GameAudioDetector.cs` | Default `IGameAudioDetector`: composes a full-screen monitor provider (`IFullScreenDetector.GetForegroundFullScreenMonitorIndex`) + the live loopback level (floor 0.5%) into a `GameAudioHysteresis`. WPF-free; the VM owns the 250ms poll timer |
 
 Related: constructed in [`ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs`](../ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs)
 (no DI container yet). Models in [`Models/index.md`](../Models/index.md).

TASKS.md

@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ the validator → persisted), compositor bar overlay (top/bottom + above-flash),
    - **Right-click** → always opens the in-app track picker (`TraxButton_PreviewMouseRightButtonUp`, code-behind pattern like `GameSpeaker_MouseLeftButtonUp`, `e.Handled = true` so no context menu).
    - **Tooltip** → playing/loaded track name; "No track — right-click to choose background music" when empty.
    - **No slider** — volume is the 0.20 constant. Picker = plain OS `OpenFileDialog` filtered to mp3/wav/m4a/aac/flac/ogg.
-7. ✅ **Sound bar shows music** — `IsGameAudioBarVisible = gameDetectorProducingSound || isMusicPlaying`; relabelled "Game Audio Capture" → **"Desktop Audio"** (TRAX rides the same channel).
+7. ✅ **Sound bar shows music** — `IsGameAudioBarVisible = gameDetectorProducingSound || isMusicPlaying`; relabelled "Game Audio Capture" → **"Desktop Audio"** (TRAX rides the same channel). **Follow-up (2026-08-15): the gating is gone — the game audio bar is ALWAYS visible** (the `IGameAudioDetector`/`GameAudioDetector`/`GameAudioHysteresis` stack + the VM's 250ms poll timer and their tests were deleted; the bar kept hiding the desktop meter when no full-screen game with sound was up, and the creator wants it pinned).
 8. ✅ **Capture hardening (design changed at build time)** — the plan's "force IEEE-float 48 kHz on both WASAPI sources" was **dropped**: NAudio 2.2.1's `WasapiCapture` exposes no overridable `GetDefaultMixFormat`, so both sources capture the device's own mix format and the mixer's pure `TinyResampler` normalizes any rate/channel count to 48 kHz stereo (the resampler IS the design, not a fallback). Stop path disposes the audio pipe (EOF) in `MainViewModel.StopStream` before the pump stops, so both ffmpeg inputs end in order.
 9. ✅ **Schema v9** — single-row `Music` (`TrackPath`, `IsEnabled`; volume is the 0.20 constant) + migration in `LayoutStore.cs` (`user_version` 9; `Save` gained an optional `Music? music = null` param so existing 3-arg callers still compile; load query + null reset).
 10. ✅ **Docs in the same commit** — `ai.md` audio section rewritten ("one knob per input", 2-in mix, auto-duck, TRAX free, VOD-mute wrinkle), TASK 22's status, this task's status, HANDOFF.

ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs

@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
     private readonly DispatcherTimer _liveTimer;
     private readonly DispatcherTimer _volumeFlashTimer;
     private readonly DispatcherTimer _gameVolumeFlashTimer;
-    private readonly DispatcherTimer _gameAudioTimer;
 
     private Scene? _activeScene;
     private SceneElement? _selectedElement;
@@ -50,7 +49,6 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
     private double _gameVolume = 1.0;
     private bool _gameMuted;
     private double? _gameVolumeBeforeMute;
-    private bool _gameAudioBarActive;
 
     // TRAX (TASK 9): free background music at a fixed quiet volume, playing to
     // the default device so it rides the loopback into the stream. The dot is
@@ -122,7 +120,6 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
     private readonly IFullScreenDetector _fullScreenDetector;
     private readonly ScreenCaptureManager _screenCaptureManager;
     private readonly ScreenCaptureSourceFactory _screenCaptureFactory;
-    private readonly IGameAudioDetector _gameAudioDetector;
     private int? _lastForegroundFullScreenMonitor;
     private CancellationTokenSource? _deactivateCts;
     private ImageSource? _backdropImage;
@@ -491,14 +488,8 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
         _ => "No mic connected — click to choose a microphone",
     };
 
-    // ─── Game audio bar (desktop/game): visible only while a full-screen game
+    // ─── Game audio bar (desktop/game): always visible — a mirror of the mic bar
-    // ─── is producing sound (IGameAudioDetector). Meter + mute + volume mirror
+    // ─── (meter + mute + volume). Desktop/game audio is automatic (WASAPI loopback). ───
-    // ─── the mic bar. ───
-
-    /// <summary>True while the game audio bar should be shown: a full-screen game
-    /// producing sound (IGameAudioDetector) OR background music playing (TASK 9)
-    /// — the meter bounces during scene setup even with no game up.</summary>
-    public bool IsGameAudioBarVisible => _gameAudioBarActive || IsMusicPlaying;
 
     /// <summary>True while the TRAX background track is playing.</summary>
     public bool IsMusicPlaying
@@ -510,7 +501,6 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
             {
                 OnPropertyChanged(nameof(TraxDotBrush));
                 OnPropertyChanged(nameof(TraxToolTip));
-                OnPropertyChanged(nameof(IsGameAudioBarVisible));
             }
         }
     }
@@ -1202,13 +1192,6 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
         foreach (var display in _fullScreenDetector.GetDisplays())
             Displays.Add(display);
 
-        _gameAudioDetector = new GameAudioDetector(
-            () => _fullScreenDetector.GetForegroundFullScreenMonitorIndex(),
-            () => (float)GameAudioLevel);
-        _gameAudioDetector.IsGameAudioActiveChanged += OnGameAudioActiveChanged;
-        _gameAudioTimer = new DispatcherTimer { Interval = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(250) };
-        _gameAudioTimer.Tick += OnGameAudioPollTick;
-        _gameAudioTimer.Start();
         _screenCaptureFactory = new ScreenCaptureSourceFactory(
             () => new WindowInteropHelper(System.Windows.Application.Current?.MainWindow).Handle);
         _screenCaptureManager = new ScreenCaptureManager(
@@ -1546,7 +1529,6 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
     {
         _saveDebounce?.Stop();
         SaveLayoutNow();
-        _gameAudioTimer.Stop();
         _audioMixer.Dispose();
         _framePump.Dispose();
         _cameraManager.Dispose();
@@ -2261,24 +2243,6 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
         }
     }
 
-    private void OnGameAudioActiveChanged(bool active)
-    {
-        _gameAudioBarActive = active;
-        OnPropertyChanged(nameof(IsGameAudioBarVisible));
-    }
-
-    private void OnGameAudioPollTick(object? sender, EventArgs e)
-    {
-        try
-        {
-            _gameAudioDetector.Poll();
-        }
-        catch (Exception ex)
-        {
-            AppLog.Write($"Game audio detection failed: {ex.Message}");
-        }
-    }
-
     // Scene-element → latest frame, for the live compositor. The map mirrors the
     // preview: webcam by DeviceId, live captures (the backdrop) by CaptureKey,
     // images/background by AssetId. A null frame leaves the element transparent.

ai.md

@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ C# / WPF (.NET 8) following MVVM:
 |------|------|
 | `Models/` | Plain data types — Scene, Source (incl. `ClipShape`, `IsMirrored`, `VideoImageSource`), QualityOption, StreamConfig, StreamHealth, YouTubeChannel, ChatMessage, **Socials (`SocialService` enum + `SocialEntry`/`SocialsConfig` + `SocialServiceIcons`) — the social bar** |
 | `ViewModels/` | MainViewModel — exposes collections + commands for the UI; GoLiveViewModel, ReuseImageViewModel, CameraPickerViewModel, **SocialsDialogViewModel** |
-| `Services/` | YouTube OAuth2, stream/broadcast management, live chat polling, LayoutStore (SQLite), **SocialValidator (`ISocialValidator` seam + `HttpSocialValidator` default)**, **webcam: `VideoFrame` seam + `CameraDeviceInfo`/`ICameraEnumerator`/`ICameraFrameSource` interfaces + `MediaCaptureCameraEnumerator`/`MediaCaptureFrameSource` (WinRT) + `CameraManager`**, **screen capture: `IFullScreenDetector`/`Win32FullScreenDetector` + `IScreenCaptureSource`/`ScreenCaptureFrameSource` (WinRT GraphicsCapture) + `ScreenCaptureManager` + `ScreenCaptureSourceFactory` + `Direct3D11Helper`/`CaptureInterop` (COM bridges)**, **compositor: `SceneCompositor` + `CompositorOptions` + pure `StretchMath` + `StaticPixelCache` (see "Scene compositor")**, **audio: `IAudioSource` seam + `WasapiLoopbackAudioSource`/`WasapiMicAudioSource` (NAudio WASAPI) + `AudioMixer` + pure `AudioLevelMeter`/`WaveToFloat`/`VoiceFilterChain`/`LowShelfFilter`/`HighShelfFilter`/`NoiseGate`/`Compressor`/`AutoDucker`/`AudioRingBuffer`/`TinyResampler` + `MusicPlayer` + `IAudioPipeWriter`/`NamedPipeAudioWriter` + game bar: `IGameAudioDetector`/`GameAudioHysteresis`/`GameAudioDetector` (see "Live audio capture")**, **encoder: `IFfmpegEncoder`/`FfmpegEncoder` + `IEncoderProcess`/`FfmpegEncoderProcess` + `IFfmpegLocator`/`FfmpegLocator` + pure `FfmpegArgs`/`FfmpegProgressParser`/`FfmpegEncoderPicker` + the `FramePump` frame producer (see "Live encoder" + "Live frame pipeline")** |
+| `Services/` | YouTube OAuth2, stream/broadcast management, live chat polling, LayoutStore (SQLite), **SocialValidator (`ISocialValidator` seam + `HttpSocialValidator` default)**, **webcam: `VideoFrame` seam + `CameraDeviceInfo`/`ICameraEnumerator`/`ICameraFrameSource` interfaces + `MediaCaptureCameraEnumerator`/`MediaCaptureFrameSource` (WinRT) + `CameraManager`**, **screen capture: `IFullScreenDetector`/`Win32FullScreenDetector` + `IScreenCaptureSource`/`ScreenCaptureFrameSource` (WinRT GraphicsCapture) + `ScreenCaptureManager` + `ScreenCaptureSourceFactory` + `Direct3D11Helper`/`CaptureInterop` (COM bridges)**, **compositor: `SceneCompositor` + `CompositorOptions` + pure `StretchMath` + `StaticPixelCache` (see "Scene compositor")**, **audio: `IAudioSource` seam + `WasapiLoopbackAudioSource`/`WasapiMicAudioSource` (NAudio WASAPI) + `AudioMixer` + pure `AudioLevelMeter`/`WaveToFloat`/`VoiceFilterChain`/`LowShelfFilter`/`HighShelfFilter`/`NoiseGate`/`Compressor`/`AutoDucker`/`AudioRingBuffer`/`TinyResampler` + `MusicPlayer` + `IAudioPipeWriter`/`NamedPipeAudioWriter` (see "Live audio capture")**, **encoder: `IFfmpegEncoder`/`FfmpegEncoder` + `IEncoderProcess`/`FfmpegEncoderProcess` + `IFfmpegLocator`/`FfmpegLocator` + pure `FfmpegArgs`/`FfmpegProgressParser`/`FfmpegEncoderPicker` + the `FramePump` frame producer (see "Live encoder" + "Live frame pipeline")** |
 | `Helpers/` | ViewModelBase (INotifyPropertyChanged), RelayCommand, ImageCache, AppLog (file logger), FocusPreservingListBox, OAuthCredentials, **TokenStore (DPAPI session persistence)**, visibility converters |
 | `Themes/` | `Controls.xaml` — the single dark-theme source, merged once in `App.xaml` (see `Themes/index.md`) |
 | `MainWindow.xaml` | Dark theme; layout: top bar (controls), center (preview), left (scenes/sources), right (chat), bottom (health) |
@@ -435,13 +435,7 @@ devices, no timers).
   `SaveMicSourceName`), and the VM restores it at construction BEFORE the mixer's first `Start` — so a
   restart reconnects the same already-vetted device (green) or reports it missing (yellow), instead of
   silently falling back to the default endpoint.**
-- **Game audio bar** (desktop/game, only while a full-screen game is up in the preview):
+- **Game audio bar** (desktop/game, **always visible** — TASK 4's `IGameAudioDetector` show/hide gating was **removed 2026-08-15**: the bar used to appear only while a full-screen game with sound was up, which kept hiding the creator's desktop meter; the detector stack is gone, desktop audio is just automatic WASAPI loopback): overlaid **at the bottom of the preview window** (bottom-center, dark translucent
-  `IGameAudioDetector` seam (`Services/IGameAudioDetector.cs`), pure `GameAudioHysteresis` (SHOW after
-  ~500ms of fullscreen + sound, HIDE after ~1s away from fullscreen, **silence never hides an active
-  bar**), and the default `GameAudioDetector` composing `IFullScreenDetector` + the live loopback level
-  (floor 0.5%). WPF-free — the VM owns a 250ms `DispatcherTimer` that polls it and flips
-  `IsGameAudioBarVisible` (`_gameAudioBarActive || IsMusicPlaying` — music bounces the bar even with no
-  game). The bar is **overlaid at the bottom of the preview window** (bottom-center, dark translucent
   chip, a mirror of the mic bar: meter + mute + volume slider). It's monitoring UI **in the preview
   grid** — the meter is display-only, but its **volume slider + mute are stream-honest** (via
   `AudioGainProvider.LoopbackGain`) **and drive TRAX locally** (`MusicPlayer.LocalGain`). Relabelled

ytLive.Tests/GameAudioDetectorTests.cs

@@ -1,76 +0,0 @@
-using Xunit;
-using ytLive.Services;
-
-namespace ytLive.Tests;
-
-/// <summary>
-/// TASK 4 game audio bar: the default detector's provider wiring — it composes
-/// the full-screen monitor + loopback level into the hysteresis and raises
-/// IsGameAudioActiveChanged on transitions. The transition math itself lives in
-/// GameAudioHysteresisTests.
-/// </summary>
-public class GameAudioDetectorTests
-{
-    [Fact]
-    public void Poll_RaisesChanged_WhenGameAppearsAndLeaves()
-    {
-        var now = new DateTime(2026, 8, 13, 12, 0, 0);
-        int? monitor = 0;
-        var level = 0f;
-        var detector = new GameAudioDetector(() => monitor, () => level, () => now);
-        var changes = new List<bool>();
-        detector.IsGameAudioActiveChanged += a => changes.Add(a);
-
-        level = 0.9f;
-        detector.Poll();
-        Assert.False(detector.IsGameAudioActive);
-
-        now = now.AddMilliseconds(600);
-        detector.Poll();
-        Assert.True(detector.IsGameAudioActive);
-        Assert.Equal(new[] { true }, changes);
-
-        level = 0f;
-        now = now.AddSeconds(2);
-        detector.Poll();
-        Assert.True(detector.IsGameAudioActive);
-        Assert.Equal(new[] { true }, changes);
-
-        monitor = null;
-        detector.Poll();
-        Assert.True(detector.IsGameAudioActive);
-
-        now = now.AddSeconds(2);
-        detector.Poll();
-        Assert.False(detector.IsGameAudioActive);
-        Assert.Equal(new[] { true, false }, changes);
-    }
-
-    [Fact]
-    public void Poll_StaysInactive_WhenNoFullScreenMonitor()
-    {
-        var detector = new GameAudioDetector(() => null, () => 0.9f);
-        var changes = 0;
-        detector.IsGameAudioActiveChanged += _ => changes++;
-
-        for (var i = 0; i < 5; i++)
-            detector.Poll();
-
-        Assert.False(detector.IsGameAudioActive);
-        Assert.Equal(0, changes);
-    }
-
-    [Fact]
-    public void Poll_StaysInactive_WhileLoopbackSilent()
-    {
-        var detector = new GameAudioDetector(() => 0, () => 0f);
-        var changes = 0;
-        detector.IsGameAudioActiveChanged += _ => changes++;
-
-        for (var i = 0; i < 5; i++)
-            detector.Poll();
-
-        Assert.False(detector.IsGameAudioActive);
-        Assert.Equal(0, changes);
-    }
-}

ytLive.Tests/GameAudioHysteresisTests.cs

@@ -1,82 +0,0 @@
-using Xunit;
-using ytLive.Services;
-
-namespace ytLive.Tests;
-
-/// <summary>
-/// TASK 4 game audio bar: the pure show/hide state machine. Show = a full-screen
-/// app holds sound for half a second; hide = the app leaves fullscreen for a
-/// second. Silence never hides an active bar — only the game leaving the preview
-/// does (per the creator's rule).
-/// </summary>
-public class GameAudioHysteresisTests
-{
-    private static readonly DateTime T0 = new(2026, 8, 13, 12, 0, 0);
-
-    [Fact]
-    public void StaysInactive_WhileSilent()
-    {
-        var h = new GameAudioHysteresis();
-
-        for (var i = 0; i < 30; i++)
-        {
-            h.Update(true, false, T0.AddSeconds(i));
-            Assert.False(h.IsActive);
-        }
-    }
-
-    [Fact]
-    public void StaysInactive_UntilSoundHoldsHalfSecond()
-    {
-        var h = new GameAudioHysteresis();
-        h.Update(true, true, T0);
-        Assert.False(h.IsActive);
-        h.Update(true, true, T0.AddMilliseconds(400));
-        Assert.False(h.IsActive);
-
-        h.Update(true, true, T0.AddMilliseconds(600));
-        Assert.True(h.IsActive);
-    }
-
-    [Fact]
-    public void NeverHides_WhileGameStillFullScreen_EvenWhenSilent()
-    {
-        var h = new GameAudioHysteresis();
-        h.Update(true, true, T0);
-        h.Update(true, true, T0.AddSeconds(1));
-        Assert.True(h.IsActive);
-
-        for (var i = 2; i < 40; i++)
-        {
-            h.Update(true, false, T0.AddSeconds(i));
-            Assert.True(h.IsActive);
-        }
-    }
-
-    [Fact]
-    public void Hides_AfterAppLeavesFullScreen()
-    {
-        var h = new GameAudioHysteresis();
-        h.Update(true, true, T0);
-        h.Update(true, true, T0.AddSeconds(1));
-        Assert.True(h.IsActive);
-
-        h.Update(false, true, T0.AddSeconds(2));
-        Assert.True(h.IsActive);
-
-        h.Update(false, true, T0.AddSeconds(4));
-        Assert.False(h.IsActive);
-    }
-
-    [Fact]
-    public void StaysInactive_WhenNoFullScreen_EvenWithSound()
-    {
-        var h = new GameAudioHysteresis();
-
-        for (var i = 0; i < 30; i++)
-        {
-            h.Update(false, true, T0.AddSeconds(i));
-            Assert.False(h.IsActive);
-        }
-    }
-}