Having sound outputted to multiple sources

[Duckling]

For instance say I want to output sound through both my external sound card, HDMI audio output and Laptop speakers.

How would I accomplish this?

I'd actually like to how like 7.1 surround

right now my sound is hooked up like this

USB to M-Audio Fast-Track Pro

which is hooked up to both a 5.1 surround reciever through S/PDIF

and Outputted through RCA to regular computer speakers with a subwoffer

similar to this model
http://gianivanablog.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/creative-sbs-a300.jpg

Also my computer is hooked up to a TV through HDMI which also can be used as a sound source.

Right now the FT Pro only outputs to the surround speakers.

How can I output to all sources.

 

[torrentg]

Windows sounds can only go through one output at a time. So that would be your default playback device i.e. the FT Pro,

Now, if you run a program like Winamp or PowerDVD, or any audio editing software, from within that software, you can choose an output for only that program instead of default. Only the media being played will be heard at this output. Not Windows sounds.

You can't clone or synchronize the outputs to all be the same, as you're asking. That would be a very useful feature that Microsoft could implement with little effort in a SP, I'm guessing. Perhaps if you search the net, you could find a 3rd party app to do this. I haven't seen any though.

Here's an interesting page I found about it:

http://www.windows7taskforce.com/view/76

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
The trick is of course to use other bits of hardware to "split" your single sound source into multiple inputs. When you do this make sure that you don't "Load" the output from the computer too much.

A really easy way with Composite output is to have this going into a Scart lead which you plug as the input source to a "multiple Scart" box with say 3 / 4 outputs or "phono lead splitters".

With HDMI you could do something similar. I haven't tried splitting HDMI but I'm sure there's hardware out there. Usually computer sound cards aren't the "Highest of Hi-Fi" - even the best won't really compete with a proper audiophile's "Hi Fi sound system" so phono leads are generally good enough.

Computer sound cards are generally OK for watching movies / TV or playing games but for serious music listening -- I think not - but that's another issue.

You need to "Match impediances" for maximum power transfer (Physics 101 - maximum power transfer theorem - impediance of source should equal impediance of target). The "powered" multi scart boxes are usually fine for this purpose.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Duckling]

Well thats why I have the fast track pro