I have two computers with audio output, and I'd like to monitor both, simultaneously, with one set of speakers. What do I need?
I know I could feed the line-out of one computer into the line-in of the other, and turn on software mixing, but I want this to work regardless of whether one or the other computer is on or off.
So, I'm looking for a hardware solution. Could I use some kind of microphone Y-cable, or should I be using a mixer device – and if so, why, and what is the simplest/cheapest kind of mixer I could get away with?
Chris W. ReaChris W. Rea
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6 Answers
What you need is a simple mixer. It will function independently of your computers, and (unlike a y-cable) you'll have a master volume control.
If you only have two stereo sources, something small like this Behringer Xenyx 502 or a similar one from any other company will do nicely. Pick the brand based on what's most important to you (tone, features, price, whatever) and look for companies whose reputation matches that. For example, Behringer is known for being inexpensive, but someone like, say Mackie, will be more expensive but be more durable, perhaps have less noise, that sort of thing.
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You can often make your own passive 'mixer' similar to a Y-cable. You just need to put isolation resistors in series with each output before tying them together, or the two outputs will see each other as short circuits and destroy each other. The resistor method is not as good as a real mixer, but it can work in some circumstances.
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endolithendolith
You need a mixer. You need a mixer that can take two stereo channels. You could probably find something for 40 bucks or so.
Lennart RegebroLennart Regebro
There's a device that does this available at http://www.stoweblank.com/tinymix. It's basically a simple mixer.
Tim Terrebone
The problem with a Y adapter is that the audio signal is fed into both devices -and- the speakers, which attenuates the signal, and could potentially cause damage -- if both sources are active, they add together.
To see the attenuation effect, plug in the Y cable, turn on a (quiet) source of audio, then unplug one device. Louder, eh? That difference is the signal being fed from one source to the other.
So yes, there's a chance of harm, even though it's remote, if anything on that Y-cable is particularly expensive, I'd think twice about it. With more than 2 devices, I wouldn't risk it.
Tim Terrebone
You could try a Y adapter. 2 ins 1 out. Should sound acceptable if plugged in correctly. Won't be the most clean of solutions however.
Sam
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Can I use this, or something similar, to simultaneously feed two inputs into one set of speakers?
I have the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 system which has a stereo 3.5mm male connector. I'd like send the sound from my PC 3.5mm stereo female, and my bluetooth adaptor, which will be connected to my Echo Dot, to those speakers. I have a cable that will combine the two RCA outputs from that device into 3.5mm stereo female.
What I think I need is 2 x 3.5mm male stereo into 1 x 3.5mm female? I think the cable will simply combine the two sound outputs into one if both are playing at the same time?
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I have the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 system which has a stereo 3.5mm male connector. I'd like send the sound from my PC 3.5mm stereo female, and my bluetooth adaptor, which will be connected to my Echo Dot, to those speakers. I have a cable that will combine the two RCA outputs from that device into 3.5mm stereo female.
What I think I need is 2 x 3.5mm male stereo into 1 x 3.5mm female? I think the cable will simply combine the two sound outputs into one if both are playing at the same time?
Thanks! Arma 3 mcc mission generator.
in PC & Mac Hardware and Software#1
i need a little help..
I need to know if there is such a device that will allow me to route the sound from my pc and xbox 360 into my aego m speakers (which only have one sound input)..
Basically im looking for a splitter thing with two 3.5mm sound inputs on it, then an output to the speakers.?
Im sure there is something but i cant find it
Thanks in advance
I need to know if there is such a device that will allow me to route the sound from my pc and xbox 360 into my aego m speakers (which only have one sound input)..
Basically im looking for a splitter thing with two 3.5mm sound inputs on it, then an output to the speakers.?
Im sure there is something but i cant find it
Thanks in advance
Comments
- #2Under no circumstances what so ever use a 'splitter' in reverse to combine two audio outputs into one. Doing so will at the very least knacker the sound quality and could knacker the sound cards.
You should only ever use a splitter as a splitter. ie to feed one device output to two other device inputs. Never ever to feed two outputs to one input. You should only ever switch multiple outputs to a single input, so that only one is connected at any one time.
Something like this will do the job perfectly. Even if it is not the best looking bit of kit on the market.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=9328
If you want something a bit prettier
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=97932
Then just use as many phono to phono or phono to mini jack leads as you need to hook everything up.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=35928
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=35898 - #3nice info..thanks!!
wow that first one is ugly!
i might just go for the second one, it is a bit pricey though
Thanks!! - #4What if you want to have both audio outputs playing at the same time? I have 2 PCs and want to hear sound output from both simultaneously. Would I have to us use a mixer?
Is there a cheap mixer available coz all the ones I found seemed a bit on the expensive side for such a simple task.
Why is the splitter in reverse so bad? - #5Check out www.Thomann.defor the following little gem. We use several of these for breakout room in conferences.
THE T.MIX TX 1002 FX @ £46.27. - #6Why do you not simply use a speaker with two inputs? I use Edirol MA-7A. Perfect.
- #7Both products look very good however I already have a set of Speakers and I have been using a splitter switch in reverse for 3 years now. The above post has got me a bit worried though.
How much of a risk is it?
What is the cheapest solution to resolve it safely? (I don't need anything to adjust volume etc. just 2 sound sources into 1 set of speakers).
Thanks - #8Basically a splitter in reverse joins two OUTPUTS together. Something they were never designed to cope with. This will have an impact on the signal levels depending on the impedance of the outputs.
Outputs by and large are low impedance, inputs are high impedance. If you plug an out put to an output it will be totally missmatched and will more than likely result in a greatly attenuated signal level compared to if it was plugged by itself. In some circumstances an output can appear to be a short circuit which will totally knacker the signal level and in a poorly designed output stage can destroy the electronics driving it!
If you have a switch so that only one output is connected at any one time then you avoid all that risk. The kind of thing i am advising against is something such as this..
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=1221
which is really designed to feed two pairs of headphones from a single socket. In this the two min-jack sockets are wired in parallel to the plug so if you plug two outputs into the sockets then you have directly joined them together. - #9Oo Err....
That's exactly the setup I've had for the last three years
SO if it's been okay for 3 years does that mean it's safe?
I need to hear sound from both PCs at the same time so if I want to only use one pair of speakers will I have to use a simple mixer such as
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=31137&&source=14&doy=27m3 - #10
Some outputs have a resistor between the last amplifier stage and the phono/jack socket on the back. This resistor will protect against the worse excesses of what you can do to the output.Oo Err....
That's exactly the setup I've had for the last three years
SO if it's been okay for 3 years does that mean it's safe?
I need to hear sound from both PCs at the same time so if I want to only use one pair of speakers will I have to use a simple mixer such as
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=31137&&source=14&doy=27m3
if both bits of kit have these series resistors and they are over a kilo-ohm or so then you will get away with joining them without causing any actual harm to the electronics. however such an output is designed to drive an input with an impedance of 10 times that value or higher. So it will reduce the audio level to a degree.
Which leads to increased noise and other unwanted nasties. In extreme cases it can even severely distort one or both feeds or drastically alter the frequency response, all effects I have heard.
That Maplin mixer you linked to appears to be for microphones only so would probably not work too well for line level sources. the stated input and output impedances certainly support that. And it does seem to need power so probably does have some electronics inside which may protest if they get the wrong signal level. (mics being vastly lower level than the output of a PC sound card).
A better bet would be this Behringer X502 device. Stupidly good value for money - £35 for something that is just about Pro quality! It has one mic input and two stereo line inputs. So you could hook up your two sources and buy a mic and sing along to your favourite tunes
Only downside is that you will need some 6.5mm jack plugs to connect it up instead of the 3.5mm jacks you will find on most PC sound cards. It does however use Phonos for the output as well as jacks. If the sorces are PC sound card with standard mini jack sockets then a lead like this should take care of that, 3.5mm stereo jack to 2x 6.5mm jack. Or if one or more of the sorces is phono out then this lead will be needed, 2x phono to 2x 6.5mm jack.
And you can even plug a pair of headphones into it for private listening without needing external speakers.
Better info about the mixer on the Behringer website..
http://www.behringer.com/502/index.cfm?lang=ENG
I have a Bluetooth speaker that I’d like to stream my Spotify music to while at the same time having my YouTube video from Chrome output sound to my monitor speaker. I’m using a DP cable. Is this possible to do in Windows 10?
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Two Audio Sources One Speaker Reviews
PandariaPandaria
4 Answers
I found two applications that allows you to do this.
CheVolume (Paid) - 7 day trial version available
Audio Router (Free) - open source alternative to CheVolume
Note: If not working you need to enable stereo mix in sound properties. Refer this video or this GIF.
Update after spring 2018
With windows 10 spring update 2018, Microsoft is offering a similar solution. You can check the below GIF or this youtube video.
Update December 2018
EarTrumpet - Quick, simple control of all your audio devices from the taskbar. Get it here.
Supported operating systems
- Windows 10 1803 (April 2018 Update)
- Windows 10 1809 (October 2018Update)
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Though Codelt already answered the question, it should be known that the terrific Pulse Audio has builds available for Windows:
Pulse Audio has been providing this feature on Linux desktops for about four or five years, therefore it is stable and reliable. Additionally, it is very scriptable so the user can have it automatically route based on conditions after some configuration. So far as I know neither of the mentioned Windows-only software are scriptable.
dotancohendotancohen7,1981010 gold badges4949 silver badges8282 bronze badges
You can now do this in later builds of Windows 10.
I don't know on which build it started.
Go to Settings --> Sound.
At the bottom, there's Other sound options -->App volume and device preferences.
I don't know on which build it started.
Go to Settings --> Sound.
At the bottom, there's Other sound options -->App volume and device preferences.
DarkwingDuckPHDarkwingDuckPH
- Right click on sound icon near clock.
- Select Open Sound Configuration.
- Scroll down until Device preferences and ..
- Change configuration.
Juan Carlos Marcano TriasJuan Carlos Marcano Trias