diff --git a/hal/audio_extn/utils.c b/hal/audio_extn/utils.c
index a1867d1..24dee64 100644
--- a/hal/audio_extn/utils.c
+++ b/hal/audio_extn/utils.c
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@
 
 const struct string_to_enum s_flag_name_to_enum_table[] = {
     STRING_TO_ENUM(AUDIO_OUTPUT_FLAG_DIRECT),
+    STRING_TO_ENUM(AUDIO_OUTPUT_FLAG_DIRECT_PCM),
     STRING_TO_ENUM(AUDIO_OUTPUT_FLAG_PRIMARY),
     STRING_TO_ENUM(AUDIO_OUTPUT_FLAG_FAST),
     STRING_TO_ENUM(AUDIO_OUTPUT_FLAG_DEEP_BUFFER),
diff --git a/hal/audio_hw.c b/hal/audio_hw.c
index fcb4e41..7c83168 100644
--- a/hal/audio_hw.c
+++ b/hal/audio_hw.c
@@ -177,6 +177,8 @@
     [USECASE_AUDIO_PLAYBACK_OFFLOAD8] = "compress-offload-playback8",
     [USECASE_AUDIO_PLAYBACK_OFFLOAD9] = "compress-offload-playback9",
 #endif
+    [USECASE_AUDIO_DIRECT_PCM_OFFLOAD] = "compress-offload-playback2",
+
     [USECASE_AUDIO_RECORD] = "audio-record",
     [USECASE_AUDIO_RECORD_COMPRESS] = "audio-record-compress",
     [USECASE_AUDIO_RECORD_LOW_LATENCY] = "low-latency-record",
@@ -221,6 +223,7 @@
     USECASE_AUDIO_PLAYBACK_OFFLOAD8,
     USECASE_AUDIO_PLAYBACK_OFFLOAD9,
 #endif
+    USECASE_AUDIO_DIRECT_PCM_OFFLOAD,
 };
 
 #define STRING_TO_ENUM(string) { #string, string }
@@ -310,6 +313,7 @@
         format == AUDIO_FORMAT_AAC_ADTS_HE_V2 ||
         format == AUDIO_FORMAT_PCM_16_BIT_OFFLOAD ||
         format == AUDIO_FORMAT_PCM_24_BIT_OFFLOAD ||
+        format == AUDIO_FORMAT_PCM_16_BIT ||
         format == AUDIO_FORMAT_FLAC ||
         format == AUDIO_FORMAT_ALAC ||
         format == AUDIO_FORMAT_APE ||
@@ -336,6 +340,7 @@
         id = SND_AUDIOCODEC_AAC;
         break;
     case AUDIO_FORMAT_PCM_OFFLOAD:
+    case AUDIO_FORMAT_PCM:
         id = SND_AUDIOCODEC_PCM;
         break;
     case AUDIO_FORMAT_FLAC:
@@ -2778,7 +2783,7 @@
 
     if ((flags & AUDIO_OUTPUT_FLAG_COMPRESS_OFFLOAD) &&
              (SND_CARD_STATE_OFFLINE == get_snd_card_state(adev))) {
-        ALOGE(" sound card is not active rejecting compress output open request");
+        ALOGE("sound card is not active rejecting compress output open request");
         return -EINVAL;
     }
 
@@ -2848,7 +2853,9 @@
                   __func__, ret);
             goto error_open;
         }
-    } else if (out->flags & AUDIO_OUTPUT_FLAG_COMPRESS_OFFLOAD) {
+    } else if ((out->flags & AUDIO_OUTPUT_FLAG_COMPRESS_OFFLOAD) ||
+               (out->flags & AUDIO_OUTPUT_FLAG_DIRECT_PCM)) {
+
         if (config->offload_info.version != AUDIO_INFO_INITIALIZER.version ||
             config->offload_info.size != AUDIO_INFO_INITIALIZER.size) {
             ALOGE("%s: Unsupported Offload information", __func__);
@@ -2869,7 +2876,7 @@
 
         if (!is_supported_format(config->offload_info.format) &&
                 !audio_extn_is_dolby_format(config->offload_info.format)) {
-            ALOGE("%s: Unsupported audio format", __func__);
+            ALOGE("%s: Unsupported audio format %x " , __func__, config->offload_info.format);
             ret = -EINVAL;
             goto error_open;
         }
@@ -2882,7 +2889,13 @@
             goto error_open;
         }
 
-        out->usecase = get_offload_usecase(adev);
+        if (out->flags & AUDIO_OUTPUT_FLAG_DIRECT_PCM) {
+            ALOGV("%s:: inserting DIRECT_PCM _USECASE", __func__);
+            out->usecase = USECASE_AUDIO_DIRECT_PCM_OFFLOAD;
+        } else {
+            ALOGV("%s:: inserting OFFLOAD_USECASE", __func__);
+            out->usecase = get_offload_usecase(adev);
+        }
         if (config->offload_info.channel_mask)
             out->channel_mask = config->offload_info.channel_mask;
         else if (config->channel_mask) {
@@ -2906,7 +2919,9 @@
         else
             out->compr_config.codec->id =
                 get_snd_codec_id(config->offload_info.format);
-        if ((config->offload_info.format & AUDIO_FORMAT_MAIN_MASK) == AUDIO_FORMAT_PCM_OFFLOAD) {
+
+        if (((config->offload_info.format & AUDIO_FORMAT_MAIN_MASK) == AUDIO_FORMAT_PCM_OFFLOAD)||
+             ((config->offload_info.format & AUDIO_FORMAT_MAIN_MASK) == AUDIO_FORMAT_PCM)) {
             out->compr_config.fragment_size =
                platform_get_pcm_offload_buffer_size(&config->offload_info);
         } else if (audio_extn_dolby_is_passthrough_stream(out->flags)) {
@@ -2934,8 +2949,10 @@
             out->compr_config.codec->format = SND_AUDIOSTREAMFORMAT_MP4ADTS;
         if (config->offload_info.format == AUDIO_FORMAT_PCM_16_BIT_OFFLOAD)
             out->compr_config.codec->format = SNDRV_PCM_FORMAT_S16_LE;
-        if(config->offload_info.format == AUDIO_FORMAT_PCM_24_BIT_OFFLOAD)
+        if (config->offload_info.format == AUDIO_FORMAT_PCM_24_BIT_OFFLOAD)
             out->compr_config.codec->format = SNDRV_PCM_FORMAT_S24_LE;
+        if (config->offload_info.format == AUDIO_FORMAT_PCM_16_BIT)
+            out->compr_config.codec->format = SNDRV_PCM_FORMAT_S16_LE;
 
         if (out->bit_width == 24) {
             out->compr_config.codec->format = SNDRV_PCM_FORMAT_S24_LE;
@@ -3076,7 +3093,7 @@
 
     *stream_out = &out->stream;
     ALOGD("%s: Stream (%p) picks up usecase (%s)", __func__, &out->stream,
-        use_case_table[out->usecase]);
+           use_case_table[out->usecase]);
 
     if (out->flags & AUDIO_OUTPUT_FLAG_COMPRESS_OFFLOAD)
         audio_extn_dts_notify_playback_state(out->usecase, 0, out->sample_rate,
diff --git a/hal/audio_hw.h b/hal/audio_hw.h
index 5e61d36..c2f37d4 100644
--- a/hal/audio_hw.h
+++ b/hal/audio_hw.h
@@ -95,6 +95,8 @@
     USECASE_AUDIO_PLAYBACK_OFFLOAD9,
 #endif
 
+    USECASE_AUDIO_DIRECT_PCM_OFFLOAD,
+
     /* FM usecase */
     USECASE_AUDIO_PLAYBACK_FM,
 
diff --git a/hal/msm8916/platform.c b/hal/msm8916/platform.c
index 5115b4c..2303e9d 100644
--- a/hal/msm8916/platform.c
+++ b/hal/msm8916/platform.c
@@ -259,6 +259,8 @@
     [USECASE_AUDIO_PLAYBACK_OFFLOAD8] = {-1, -1},
     [USECASE_AUDIO_PLAYBACK_OFFLOAD9] = {-1, -1},
 #endif
+    [USECASE_AUDIO_DIRECT_PCM_OFFLOAD] =
+                     {PLAYBACK_OFFLOAD_DEVICE, PLAYBACK_OFFLOAD_DEVICE},
     [USECASE_AUDIO_RECORD] = {AUDIO_RECORD_PCM_DEVICE, AUDIO_RECORD_PCM_DEVICE},
     [USECASE_AUDIO_RECORD_COMPRESS] = {COMPRESS_CAPTURE_DEVICE, COMPRESS_CAPTURE_DEVICE},
     [USECASE_AUDIO_RECORD_LOW_LATENCY] = {LOWLATENCY_PCM_DEVICE,
@@ -628,6 +630,7 @@
     {TO_NAME_INDEX(USECASE_AUDIO_PLAYBACK_OFFLOAD8)},
     {TO_NAME_INDEX(USECASE_AUDIO_PLAYBACK_OFFLOAD9)},
 #endif
+    {TO_NAME_INDEX(USECASE_AUDIO_DIRECT_PCM_OFFLOAD)},
     {TO_NAME_INDEX(USECASE_AUDIO_RECORD)},
     {TO_NAME_INDEX(USECASE_AUDIO_RECORD_LOW_LATENCY)},
     {TO_NAME_INDEX(USECASE_VOICE_CALL)},
@@ -3365,6 +3368,7 @@
     case USECASE_AUDIO_PLAYBACK_DEEP_BUFFER:
     case USECASE_AUDIO_PLAYBACK_MULTI_CH:
     case USECASE_AUDIO_PLAYBACK_OFFLOAD:
+    case USECASE_AUDIO_DIRECT_PCM_OFFLOAD:
         needs_event = true;
         break;
     /* concurrent playback in low latency allowed */
@@ -3426,6 +3430,7 @@
     case USECASE_AUDIO_PLAYBACK_DEEP_BUFFER:
     case USECASE_AUDIO_PLAYBACK_MULTI_CH:
     case USECASE_AUDIO_PLAYBACK_OFFLOAD:
+    case USECASE_AUDIO_DIRECT_PCM_OFFLOAD:
         needs_event = true;
         break;
     /* concurrent playback in low latency allowed */
diff --git a/hal/msm8974/platform.c b/hal/msm8974/platform.c
index 242e2dc..f341241 100644
--- a/hal/msm8974/platform.c
+++ b/hal/msm8974/platform.c
@@ -255,6 +255,10 @@
     [USECASE_AUDIO_PLAYBACK_OFFLOAD9] =
                      {PLAYBACK_OFFLOAD_DEVICE9, PLAYBACK_OFFLOAD_DEVICE9},
 #endif
+
+    [USECASE_AUDIO_DIRECT_PCM_OFFLOAD] =
+                     {PLAYBACK_OFFLOAD_DEVICE2, PLAYBACK_OFFLOAD_DEVICE2},
+
     [USECASE_AUDIO_RECORD] = {AUDIO_RECORD_PCM_DEVICE, AUDIO_RECORD_PCM_DEVICE},
     [USECASE_AUDIO_RECORD_COMPRESS] = {COMPRESS_CAPTURE_DEVICE, COMPRESS_CAPTURE_DEVICE},
     [USECASE_AUDIO_RECORD_LOW_LATENCY] = {LOWLATENCY_PCM_DEVICE,
@@ -606,6 +610,7 @@
     {TO_NAME_INDEX(USECASE_AUDIO_PLAYBACK_OFFLOAD8)},
     {TO_NAME_INDEX(USECASE_AUDIO_PLAYBACK_OFFLOAD9)},
 #endif
+    {TO_NAME_INDEX(USECASE_AUDIO_DIRECT_PCM_OFFLOAD)},
     {TO_NAME_INDEX(USECASE_AUDIO_RECORD)},
     {TO_NAME_INDEX(USECASE_AUDIO_RECORD_LOW_LATENCY)},
     {TO_NAME_INDEX(USECASE_VOICE_CALL)},
diff --git a/hal/msm8974/platform.h b/hal/msm8974/platform.h
index 5471b3c..b8f8cee 100644
--- a/hal/msm8974/platform.h
+++ b/hal/msm8974/platform.h
@@ -266,6 +266,9 @@
 #endif
 #endif
 
+// for DIRECT_PCM
+#define PLAYBACK_OFFLOAD_DEVICE2 17
+
 #define COMPRESS_VOIP_CALL_PCM_DEVICE 3
 
 #ifdef PLATFORM_MSM8610
diff --git a/policy_hal/AudioPolicyManager.cpp b/policy_hal/AudioPolicyManager.cpp
index a2a62c6..f105e15 100644
--- a/policy_hal/AudioPolicyManager.cpp
+++ b/policy_hal/AudioPolicyManager.cpp
@@ -1127,6 +1127,45 @@
     }
     return false;
 }
+
+status_t AudioPolicyManagerCustom::getOutputForAttr(const audio_attributes_t *attr,
+                                              audio_io_handle_t *output,
+                                              audio_session_t session,
+                                              audio_stream_type_t *stream,
+                                              uid_t uid,
+                                              uint32_t samplingRate,
+                                              audio_format_t format,
+                                              audio_channel_mask_t channelMask,
+                                              audio_output_flags_t flags,
+                                              audio_port_handle_t selectedDeviceId,
+                                              const audio_offload_info_t *offloadInfo)
+{
+    audio_offload_info_t tOffloadInfo = AUDIO_INFO_INITIALIZER;
+
+    bool pcmOffloadEnabled = property_get_bool("audio.offload.track.enable", false);
+
+    if (offloadInfo == NULL && pcmOffloadEnabled) {
+        tOffloadInfo.sample_rate  = samplingRate;
+        tOffloadInfo.channel_mask = channelMask;
+        tOffloadInfo.format = format;
+        tOffloadInfo.stream_type = *stream;
+        tOffloadInfo.bit_width = 16;    //hard coded for PCM_16
+        if (attr != NULL) {
+            ALOGV("found attribute .. setting usage %d ", attr->usage);
+            tOffloadInfo.usage = attr->usage;
+        } else {
+            ALOGD("%s:: attribute is NULL .. no usage set", __func__);
+        }
+        offloadInfo = &tOffloadInfo;
+    }
+
+    return AudioPolicyManager::getOutputForAttr(attr, output, session, stream,
+                                                (uid_t)uid, (uint32_t)samplingRate,
+                                                format, (audio_channel_mask_t)channelMask,
+                                                flags, (audio_port_handle_t)selectedDeviceId,
+                                                offloadInfo);
+}
+
 audio_io_handle_t AudioPolicyManagerCustom::getOutputForDevice(
         audio_devices_t device,
         audio_session_t session __unused,
@@ -1342,7 +1381,7 @@
             flags = AUDIO_OUTPUT_FLAG_FAST;
     }
     // open a direct output if required by specified parameters
-    //force direct flag if offload flag is set: offloading implies a direct output stream
+    // force direct flag if offload flag is set: offloading implies a direct output stream
     // and all common behaviors are driven by checking only the direct flag
     // this should normally be set appropriately in the policy configuration file
     if ((flags & AUDIO_OUTPUT_FLAG_COMPRESS_OFFLOAD) != 0) {
@@ -1351,6 +1390,18 @@
     if ((flags & AUDIO_OUTPUT_FLAG_HW_AV_SYNC) != 0) {
         flags = (audio_output_flags_t)(flags | AUDIO_OUTPUT_FLAG_DIRECT);
     }
+
+    // Do offload magic here
+    if ((flags == AUDIO_OUTPUT_FLAG_NONE) && (stream == AUDIO_STREAM_MUSIC) &&
+        (offloadInfo != NULL) &&
+        ((offloadInfo->usage == AUDIO_USAGE_MEDIA ||
+        (offloadInfo->usage == AUDIO_USAGE_GAME)))) {
+        if ((flags & AUDIO_OUTPUT_FLAG_DIRECT) == 0) {
+            ALOGD("AudioCustomHAL --> Force Direct Flag ..");
+            flags = (audio_output_flags_t)(flags | AUDIO_OUTPUT_FLAG_DIRECT);
+        }
+    }
+
     // only allow deep buffering for music stream type
     if (stream != AUDIO_STREAM_MUSIC) {
         flags = (audio_output_flags_t)(flags &~AUDIO_OUTPUT_FLAG_DEEP_BUFFER);
@@ -1520,7 +1571,7 @@
     ALOGW_IF((output == 0), "getOutput() could not find output for stream %d, samplingRate %d,"
             "format %d, channels %x, flags %x", stream, samplingRate, format, channelMask, flags);
 
-    ALOGV("  getOutputForDevice() returns output %d", output);
+    ALOGV("getOutputForDevice() returns output %d", output);
 
     return output;
 }
diff --git a/policy_hal/AudioPolicyManager.h b/policy_hal/AudioPolicyManager.h
index 7b7535d..b5a4461 100644
--- a/policy_hal/AudioPolicyManager.h
+++ b/policy_hal/AudioPolicyManager.h
@@ -137,6 +137,18 @@
                 audio_channel_mask_t channelMask,
                 audio_output_flags_t flags,
                 const audio_offload_info_t *offloadInfo);
+        // internal method to fill offload info in case of Direct PCM
+        status_t getOutputForAttr(const audio_attributes_t *attr,
+                audio_io_handle_t *output,
+                audio_session_t session,
+                audio_stream_type_t *stream,
+                uid_t uid,
+                uint32_t samplingRate,
+                audio_format_t format,
+                audio_channel_mask_t channelMask,
+                audio_output_flags_t flags,
+                audio_port_handle_t selectedDeviceId,
+                const audio_offload_info_t *offloadInfo);
         // Used for voip + voice concurrency usecase
         int mPrevPhoneState;
         int mvoice_call_state;