Dual Audio on pc?

**klown07** · 06-29-12 at 09:44 PM

Hello, I need help with something. I am hearing impaired but want to give over the ear headphones a try. I have windows 7 Ultimate 64bit, a Gigabyte Z68 motherboard, an eClaro audio card, and a GTX 680. I have my 42inch hdtv and a 27inch asus monitor both connected to my PC. A lot of times my wife wants to watch Netflix or Hulu on the TV, something maybe I don't want to watch. So I browse the internet or play a game, but I am forced to play with no sound in my game when she is watching something at the same time. My question is, is it possible to use a wireless headset and have sound in my game at the same time that my wife is using our 5.1 speakers for a movie on VLC media player or a streaming video using a browser? If so, what are the steps to go about it? Thanks for your time, hope this is possible!

restjack · 06-29-12 at 09:52 PM

as far as i am aware there is no way to do this

**nerdyplayer** · 06-29-12 at 10:00 PM

well there are some games that if it is in the audio, you can set it to go to whatever one you choose. so it is not impossible, but it depends on what you are doing.

you may be able to pick your wireless headphones for those. but as for things like youtube, i do not believe so.

**klown07** · 06-29-12 at 10:13 PM

Hmm, alright thanks for the replies. I thought I would ask first before I buy some headphones.

**PunKeD_GuRu** · 06-29-12 at 10:23 PM

I know in windows XP, I used to be able to set the game audio to use my sound card (or usb sound card) while windows would use the normal speakers...

Was good as music could run on normal speakers, while Ventrilo/A game would use the headset.
When it changed to vista, I had problems doing this, when it changed to 7, I just don't see how atall.

Valid_Username · 06-29-12 at 10:37 PM

To expand on what PG is saying.....
You just need another audio device, like a USB (external) audio adapter.
There are some really cheap ones like these for a couple of bucks:

^ Although the quality can be a bit variable with the ultra-cheapos like those. ^
There are better ones with additional digital I/O and suchlike, right up to full featured (cased) sound cards from known brands.
Since you're probably using the onboard audio from your mainboard, you might be able to just add in an old PCI card (or newer PCIe) - personally, I'd stick with USB because I haven't experienced any conflicts so far using onboard and USB, but plug-in sound cards can be a bloody nightmare.

USB units like the above should install without additional drivers - just check in > control panel > sounds and audio devices, and you should be able to choose which is the 'default device' among other things.
Once running you then just need to choose between your two audio devices from within any given software that you're using (in preferences or options etc.).
Pretty much all media players for example should have audio output options.

^ Those are my options from Media Player Classic. ^

**klown07** · 06-29-12 at 10:46 PM

I'm using the eClaro pcie card for Audio connected to some logitech 5.1 surround speakers. But i had no idea about those usb audio devices. I really got to look in to that. that is pointing me in the right direction, thanks a lot. Going to do some research!

koumouri · 06-29-12 at 10:59 PM

couldn't he just use his video card as an audio device if he is using hdmi or something else that will carry audio and then use his sound card for something else like his headphones.

**Mbbest** · 06-29-12 at 11:15 PM

I think it would be possible as long as you have 2 hardware independent audio renders, tho, I dont know how exactly...from my mind it would be logical to set audio/video player in settings to use 1 card and game (directx) to use second one.

wrt54gs7 · 06-29-12 at 11:30 PM

Have you tried virtual audio cable?

Code: Select All

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Audio_Cable

Loora · 06-30-12 at 12:09 AM

You can do this but, as already pointed out, you need 2 independent audio devices. With XP this would have been quite easy but since Vista dumped pretty much all the advanced audio management stuff and hardware support things got a little more confusing :)

You'll need to set your windows default audio device to whatever device you want to use for games and select the other audio device for output from your mediaplayer (from inside the mediaplayer). That's basically all there is to it. Your mediaplayer must support selecting an audio device for output independent from windows audio settings (most mediaplayers let you do this). In your case I believe picking a passthrough option for ac3/dts stuff via spdif/toslink/hdmi should work the way you want it.

I'd recommend using your onboard audio device for mediaplayer passthrough and buy a decent soundcard (internal or USB/FW doesn't really matter) to use as windows default device for games/voip/whatever.

And that's really all there is to it. I am running a similar setup myself using Vista.

mecagoendiez · 06-30-12 at 09:23 AM

If you have a PCI/PCI-e audio card and onboard audio you can assign some programs to use one card or the other.
Not sure about internet browser, but if your wife watches netflix with something else than the browser, then you can make that program to use a card of your choice.
I believe that MediaplayerClassic can be used to watch netflix, and you can assign it any sound output. Even you can start two instances of MediaplayerClassic and use an audio out for each.

**klown07** · 06-30-12 at 09:28 AM

I didn't know that about mediaplayer classic and netflix, i got to also look in to that. Lotsa of helpful tips, thanks everyone

**googleisyourfriend** · 06-30-12 at 11:54 AM

I use USB headphones, I have my USB headphones set as the primary sound device (for my gaming) and have VLC set to use my 5.1 speakers (go my gf can watch movies)

I don't know how to set up a separate audio device for web browsers or hulu/netflix though.

06-29-12 at 11:30 PM	#10
wrt54gs7 Newcomer Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: %systemroot% Posts: 23	Have you tried virtual audio cable? Code: Select All http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Audio_Cable

06-29-12 at 09:52 PM	#2
restjack Newcomer Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 3	as far as i am aware there is no way to do this

06-29-12 at 10:00 PM	#3
nerdyplayer Apprentice Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 278	well there are some games that if it is in the audio, you can set it to go to whatever one you choose. so it is not impossible, but it depends on what you are doing. you may be able to pick your wireless headphones for those. but as for things like youtube, i do not believe so.

06-29-12 at 10:13 PM	#4
klown07 ¤ŽØMßî€Š¤ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: tehINTERNET Posts: 2,403	Hmm, alright thanks for the replies. I thought I would ask first before I buy some headphones.

06-29-12 at 10:23 PM	#5
PunKeD_GuRu Bored Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: England! =) Posts: 1,101	I know in windows XP, I used to be able to set the game audio to use my sound card (or usb sound card) while windows would use the normal speakers... Was good as music could run on normal speakers, while Ventrilo/A game would use the headset. When it changed to vista, I had problems doing this, when it changed to 7, I just don't see how atall.

06-29-12 at 10:37 PM	#6
Valid_Username Expert Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK Posts: 720	To expand on what PG is saying..... You just need another audio device, like a USB (external) audio adapter. There are some really cheap ones like these for a couple of bucks: ^ Although the quality can be a bit variable with the ultra-cheapos like those. ^ There are better ones with additional digital I/O and suchlike, right up to full featured (cased) sound cards from known brands. Since you're probably using the onboard audio from your mainboard, you might be able to just add in an old PCI card (or newer PCIe) - personally, I'd stick with USB because I haven't experienced any conflicts so far using onboard and USB, but plug-in sound cards can be a bloody nightmare. USB units like the above should install without additional drivers - just check in > control panel > sounds and audio devices, and you should be able to choose which is the 'default device' among other things. Once running you then just need to choose between your two audio devices from within any given software that you're using (in preferences or options etc.). Pretty much all media players for example should have audio output options. ^ Those are my options from Media Player Classic. ^

06-29-12 at 10:46 PM	#7
klown07 ¤ŽØMßî€Š¤ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: tehINTERNET Posts: 2,403	I'm using the eClaro pcie card for Audio connected to some logitech 5.1 surround speakers. But i had no idea about those usb audio devices. I really got to look in to that. that is pointing me in the right direction, thanks a lot. Going to do some research!

06-29-12 at 10:59 PM	#8
koumouri Newcomer Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 87	couldn't he just use his video card as an audio device if he is using hdmi or something else that will carry audio and then use his sound card for something else like his headphones.

06-29-12 at 11:15 PM	#9
Mbbest No kitty! bad kitty!!! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Southpark Posts: 1,660	I think it would be possible as long as you have 2 hardware independent audio renders, tho, I dont know how exactly...from my mind it would be logical to set audio/video player in settings to use 1 card and game (directx) to use second one.

06-30-12 at 12:09 AM	#11
Loora Apprentice Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 437	You can do this but, as already pointed out, you need 2 independent audio devices. With XP this would have been quite easy but since Vista dumped pretty much all the advanced audio management stuff and hardware support things got a little more confusing :) You'll need to set your windows default audio device to whatever device you want to use for games and select the other audio device for output from your mediaplayer (from inside the mediaplayer). That's basically all there is to it. Your mediaplayer must support selecting an audio device for output independent from windows audio settings (most mediaplayers let you do this). In your case I believe picking a passthrough option for ac3/dts stuff via spdif/toslink/hdmi should work the way you want it. I'd recommend using your onboard audio device for mediaplayer passthrough and buy a decent soundcard (internal or USB/FW doesn't really matter) to use as windows default device for games/voip/whatever. And that's really all there is to it. I am running a similar setup myself using Vista.

06-30-12 at 09:23 AM	#12
mecagoendiez Apprentice Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 275	If you have a PCI/PCI-e audio card and onboard audio you can assign some programs to use one card or the other. Not sure about internet browser, but if your wife watches netflix with something else than the browser, then you can make that program to use a card of your choice. I believe that MediaplayerClassic can be used to watch netflix, and you can assign it any sound output. Even you can start two instances of MediaplayerClassic and use an audio out for each.

06-30-12 at 09:28 AM	#13
klown07 ¤ŽØMßî€Š¤ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: tehINTERNET Posts: 2,403	I didn't know that about mediaplayer classic and netflix, i got to also look in to that. Lotsa of helpful tips, thanks everyone

06-30-12 at 11:54 AM	#14
googleisyourfriend Apprentice Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Pandora Posts: 327	I use USB headphones, I have my USB headphones set as the primary sound device (for my gaming) and have VLC set to use my 5.1 speakers (go my gf can watch movies) I don't know how to set up a separate audio device for web browsers or hulu/netflix though.