how should i split my audio?

[slifer]

Alright guys so I have a few output sources.. I have a set of speakers, headphones and I have a passthrough on my keyboard. So how should I split the audio? Should i just purchase splitters? Wouldn't that make it so that I can hear through all sources?

 

Would I be able to sometimes be able to turn off sound on my speakers and have only my headphones playing sounds (mostlikely when skyping) What would I need to do this? Or would I have to unplug and replug everytime?

[ShearMe]

You can set it up to do whatever you want, but you can't always easily switch between a one-or-the-other setup and a both-at-the-same-time setup. How do you want them set up?

[slifer]

You can set it up to do whatever you want, but you can't always easily switch between a one-or-the-other setup and a both-at-the-same-time setup. How do you want them set up?

 

Is there a way where I can turn off the output whenever I want to do something different? Like when I'm going to watch a movie on my computer perhaps I will watch it on the speakers, so I could turn off the headphones. Or when I'm in a voice call and want to turn off audio thats going into the speaker and only have it for the headphones. I have 3mm jacks for all of this stuff.

[ShearMe]

Is there a way where I can turn off the output whenever I want to do something different? Like when I'm going to watch a movie on my computer perhaps I will watch it on the speakers, so I could turn off the headphones. Or when I'm in a voice call and want to turn off audio thats going into the speaker and only have it for the headphones. I have 3mm jacks for all of this stuff.

 

You can easily do that in windows by switching outputs in the sound properties so long as you have two devices (front panel and rear mobo outputs count as separate devices). Audio Switcher is a free program that makes the process a bit faster by cutting down on the number of clicks it takes.

[slifer]

You can easily do that in windows by switching outputs in the sound properties so long as you have two devices (front panel and rear mobo outputs count as separate devices). Audio Switcher is a free program that makes the process a bit faster by cutting down on the number of clicks it takes.

 

If I have both of them connected right now via the backpanel is there options for that? Cause using the front panel would be awkward

[ShearMe]

If I have both of them connected right now via the backpanel is there options for that? Cause using the front panel would be awkward

 

Some realtek drivers allow you to change what individuals jacks output. If yours don't, then no.

What keyboard are you using? You said it had a passthrough on it? 

[slifer]

Some realtek drivers allow you to change what individuals jacks output. If yours don't, then no.

What keyboard are you using? You said it had a passthrough on it? 

 

I'm using a Razer Blackwidow Chroma

[ShearMe]

I'm using a Razer Blackwidow Chroma

 

Ah, nah, that wont make a difference in a way that I hoped.

 

Welp, cheapest way is to use a splitter, and turn off the speakers when you're not using them, unplug the headphones when you're using the speakers (use the keyboard's passthrough on one of the splitter's outputs if reaching the back of your computer isn't fun). Next cheapest way is a simple audio switch (example). Next step up from that is an external soundcard - Syba DAC is my favorite.

[slifer]

Ah, nah, that wont make a difference in a way that I hoped.

 

Welp, cheapest way is to use a splitter, and turn off the speakers when you're not using them, unplug the headphones when you're using the speakers (use the keyboard's passthrough on one of the splitter's outputs if reaching the back of your computer isn't fun). Next cheapest way is a simple audio switch (example). Next step up from that is an external soundcard - Syba DAC is my favorite.

 

Oooh that simple audio switch is probably what I'm looking for but I'll need to look for something that looks better LOL

[ShearMe]

Oooh that simple audio switch is probably what I'm looking for but I'll need to look for something that looks better LOL

 

Break out the spray paint. 

[slifer]

Change of plans, my Speakers are using Optical output while my headphones are going to use 3.5mm output. Will I be able to enable some programs to use both, headphones only and speakers only? The speakers are horrible for gaming imo, and the headsets give a ebtter experience gaming and for communication. the speakers would be used for movies and music. any input?

[ShearMe]

Change of plans, my Speakers are using Optical output while my headphones are going to use 3.5mm output. Will I be able to enable some programs to use both, headphones only and speakers only? The speakers are horrible for gaming imo, and the headsets give a ebtter experience gaming and for communication. the speakers would be used for movies and music. any input?

 

If the program doesn't have an internal setting of where to send the audio, there is no native way to do so in windows. You can set a "default communication device" in the sound properties, and this usually separates programs like skype and teamspeak from everything else, but most games don't have an internal setting. There is a program that fills this gap, CheVolume, but it is not free.

[slifer]

If the program doesn't have an internal setting of where to send the audio, there is no native way to do so in windows. You can set a "default communication device" in the sound properties, and this usually separates programs like skype and teamspeak from everything else, but most games don't have an internal setting. There is a program that fills this gap, CheVolume, but it is not free.

 

oh so theres no free way.. hmmm