A new kernel-mode API, ''Direct Kernel Streaming'', was also introduced in Windows 98 in order to bypass the KMixer and avoid problems associated with it.
It should be noted, however, that contrary to popular belief KMixer doesn't alter the sound in the majority of cases.<ref name="KMixerPolicy"/> Also, there are many ways to bypass KMixer without the need of an extra plugin to access DirectSound, ASIO, Direct Kernel Streaming or [[WASAPI#Audio stack architecture|WASAPI]]. In Windows XP, for example, the usage of [[DirectSound]] (which Winamp uses by default) with a hardware mixer is a way to bypass KMixer.<ref name="Kmixer_latency_MSDN">{{cite web
