Help setting up multiple sound cards in a single Windows box

NicePants42 · 03-22-2007, 10:44 AM

Ok, so I've got on board sound, and X-fi, and a USB audio device for a VoIP headset. The problem is, Windows seems to want to use the most recently installed solution by default, and the only way I know of to control what audio device actually outputs the audio is to enable/disable audio devices in the device manager.

My question is this: Is there a way that I can configure Windows to use certain audio solutions in certain circumstances? For instance, if I wanted to leave my X-fi and my USB audio solution enabled, could I tell Windows to use the X-fi for games, music and movies, and use the USB solution only for programs like Skype?

Anyone know if this is possible in Vista?

Thanks in advance for your help, TG.

Rob Williams · 03-22-2007, 12:48 PM

I am not sure that you could tell specific applications which sound card to use, because most refer to the default. Unless the program itself allows you to select a sound card, then it's probably not possible.

However, you don't need to go into the device manager and do things that way. If you right-click the speaker in your system tray and hit properties, you can change the default sound card for both playback and recording that way. I have to do that on my Windows PC to switch between primary speakers and my headset.

I don't have Vista installed right now to see how it handles things, but I can't see it being any different. I do know that one advantage to Vista is that you can control the volumes to each open application, but I'm still not sure about setting a sound card to a specific application.

madstork91 · 03-22-2007, 10:05 PM

I got this one

I too have an on board sound card (a great one at that) and an X-fi card. Here is how it works in XP:

Whatever you set to the default device will initially be your well... default device. You can however in most (I cant even think of the name of the one program I didnt see this option) change the sound card setting from the default to the card of your choice. You will see this in the instance of windows media player under options.

As for your USB device, set it as the default sound recording and im assuming that it will be the default input device.

NicePants42 · 03-22-2007, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Williams

I am not sure that you could tell specific applications which sound card to use, because most refer to the default. Unless the program itself allows you to select a sound card, then it's probably not possible.

However, you don't need to go into the device manager and do things that way. If you right-click the speaker in your system tray and hit properties, you can change the default sound card for both playback and recording that way. I have to do that on my Windows PC to switch between primary speakers and my headset.

I don't have Vista installed right now to see how it handles things, but I can't see it being any different. I do know that one advantage to Vista is that you can control the volumes to each open application, but I'm still not sure about setting a sound card to a specific application.

Thanks for the reply. I've managed to get it sorted out.

Rob Williams · 03-22-2007, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicePants42

Thanks for the reply. I've managed to get it sorted out.

Did you happen to figure out a way to have it automatically set a specific application to a certain sound card? If so, I'd love to know!

madstork91 · 03-23-2007, 11:56 AM

name an application rob...

Rob Williams · 03-23-2007, 12:59 PM

I don't mean a "specific" application, I mean being able to make it so a certain application would use the same sound card each time. It's possible to do so, but I'm just not sure if it's possible in Windows. I don't feel like installing Vista to find out.

Rory Buszka · 03-23-2007, 06:34 PM

There are some programs like Teamspeak and Audacity that can choose an audio output device that's different from the default one. One of my friends uses an Audigy4 sound card for his music and video playback and system sounds, and uses the onboard sound on his motherboard for Teamspeak. This way, his TS conversations don't go echoing through his entire house, but his music does. The front panel audio jacks on his case are connected to the motherboard's onboard sound.

NicePants42 · 03-27-2007, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Williams

I don't mean a "specific" application, I mean being able to make it so a certain application would use the same sound card each time. It's possible to do so, but I'm just not sure if it's possible in Windows. I don't feel like installing Vista to find out.

MadStork gave a nice picture on how to set up default audio in Windows from the Control Panel.

However, if you want a certain program to use a certain sound solution other than the default, you can't use Windows to set this up. Rather, the particular program you want to adjust must give you the option of selecting your sound solution.

In my particular case, I had a keyboard with onboard sound that I wanted to use with Skype, and an X-fi for everything else. So I set the X-fi to default, and (since Skype lets you set the audio device) I was able to navigate Skype's menus to use the keyboard's audio with Skype.

[Shameless plug]
Review of the device that prompted the question. I used a picture virtually identical to Stork's when detailing the setup.
[/Shameless plug]

madstork91 · 03-27-2007, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicePants42

MadStork gave a nice picture on how to set up default audio in Windows from the Control Panel.

...

[Shameless plug]
Review of the device that prompted the question. I used a picture virtually identical to Stork's when detailing the setup.
[/Shameless plug]

Wouldnt be the first time I've been used for, or refered to in, such a thing. Doubt it will be the last.

Damn... I dont even get paid for this shit. :-/ Then again... I love just being around you guys. I learn something everyday.

Rob Williams · 03-27-2007, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicePants42

MadStork gave a nice picture on how to set up default audio in Windows from the Control Panel.

I wasn't asking how to set a default device... I gave instructions on how to do that in the post before that one.

Either way, what I want to be done, can't be done. That's all I am going to assume. Why it's not possible, I don't know. It sounds like something simple to accomplish.

NicePants42 · 03-27-2007, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madstork91

Wouldnt be the first time I've been used for, or refered to in, such a thing. Doubt it will be the last.

Damn... I dont even get paid for this shit. :-/ Then again... I love just being around you guys. I learn something everyday.

I didn't get paid either, and if I had to give credit to someone for answering my question, it'd have to go to Rob W. and Matthias99 and Markbnj at Anandtech. Unfortunately I did not see your picture until this morning; I commented out of respect for the similar way in which we went about trying to provide eloquent instructions pertaining to this question.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Williams

I wasn't asking how to set a default device... I gave instructions on how to do that in the post before that one.

Either way, what I want to be done, can't be done. That's all I am going to assume. Why it's not possible, I don't know. It sounds like something simple to accomplish.

I didn't mean to tell you something you already know, I was only trying to make it very clear that (AFAIK) Windows only allows setting a default device for certain fuctions, while setting specific devices for specific programs requires that the program allow you to set those values.

madstork91 · 03-28-2007, 11:44 AM

You win this round rob... you win this round...

03-22-2007, 10:44 AM	#1
NicePants42 Partition Master Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 369	Help setting up multiple sound cards in a single Windows box Ok, so I've got on board sound, and X-fi, and a USB audio device for a VoIP headset. The problem is, Windows seems to want to use the most recently installed solution by default, and the only way I know of to control what audio device actually outputs the audio is to enable/disable audio devices in the device manager. My question is this: Is there a way that I can configure Windows to use certain audio solutions in certain circumstances? For instance, if I wanted to leave my X-fi and my USB audio solution enabled, could I tell Windows to use the X-fi for games, music and movies, and use the USB solution only for programs like Skype? Anyone know if this is possible in Vista? Thanks in advance for your help, TG.

03-22-2007, 12:48 PM	#2
Rob Williams Editor-in-Chief Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Atlantic Canada Posts: 13,231	I am not sure that you could tell specific applications which sound card to use, because most refer to the default. Unless the program itself allows you to select a sound card, then it's probably not possible. However, you don't need to go into the device manager and do things that way. If you right-click the speaker in your system tray and hit properties, you can change the default sound card for both playback and recording that way. I have to do that on my Windows PC to switch between primary speakers and my headset. I don't have Vista installed right now to see how it handles things, but I can't see it being any different. I do know that one advantage to Vista is that you can control the volumes to each open application, but I'm still not sure about setting a sound card to a specific application. __________________ Intel Core i7-990X EE @ 3.43GHz, GIGABYTE X58A-UD5, Kingston 12GB DDR3-1333, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 2GB Kingston HyperX 3K 240GB SSD, WD VR 1TB, WD 2TB, Seagate 2TB, LG BD-ROM, ASUS DVD-RW, Corsair 1000HX, Corsair H60 Cooler Corsair 800D, Dell 2408WFP 24", ASUS Xonar Essence STX, Gentoo (KDE 4.10, 3.7 Kernel) "Take care to get what you like, or you will be forced to like what you get!" - H.P. Baxxter <Toad772> I don't always drink alcohol, but when I do, I take it too far.

03-22-2007, 10:05 PM	#3
madstork91 The One, The Only... Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: TEXAS! Posts: 1,434	I got this one I too have an on board sound card (a great one at that) and an X-fi card. Here is how it works in XP: Whatever you set to the default device will initially be your well... default device. You can however in most (I cant even think of the name of the one program I didnt see this option) change the sound card setting from the default to the card of your choice. You will see this in the instance of windows media player under options. As for your USB device, set it as the default sound recording and im assuming that it will be the default input device. __________________ ..

03-23-2007, 11:56 AM	#6
madstork91 The One, The Only... Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: TEXAS! Posts: 1,434	name an application rob... __________________ ..

03-23-2007, 12:59 PM	#7
Rob Williams Editor-in-Chief Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Atlantic Canada Posts: 13,231	I don't mean a "specific" application, I mean being able to make it so a certain application would use the same sound card each time. It's possible to do so, but I'm just not sure if it's possible in Windows. I don't feel like installing Vista to find out. __________________ Intel Core i7-990X EE @ 3.43GHz, GIGABYTE X58A-UD5, Kingston 12GB DDR3-1333, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 2GB Kingston HyperX 3K 240GB SSD, WD VR 1TB, WD 2TB, Seagate 2TB, LG BD-ROM, ASUS DVD-RW, Corsair 1000HX, Corsair H60 Cooler Corsair 800D, Dell 2408WFP 24", ASUS Xonar Essence STX, Gentoo (KDE 4.10, 3.7 Kernel) "Take care to get what you like, or you will be forced to like what you get!" - H.P. Baxxter <Toad772> I don't always drink alcohol, but when I do, I take it too far.

03-23-2007, 06:34 PM	#8
Rory Buszka Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 388	There are some programs like Teamspeak and Audacity that can choose an audio output device that's different from the default one. One of my friends uses an Audigy4 sound card for his music and video playback and system sounds, and uses the onboard sound on his motherboard for Teamspeak. This way, his TS conversations don't go echoing through his entire house, but his music does. The front panel audio jacks on his case are connected to the motherboard's onboard sound. __________________ Best Regards, Rory Buszka

03-28-2007, 11:44 AM	#13
madstork91 The One, The Only... Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: TEXAS! Posts: 1,434	You win this round rob... you win this round... __________________ ..

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