Two pairs of speakers -analogue and USB - don't work together

[Hugo Tromp]

Hi,

I just bought the Ion Desk Rockers, two USB active monitor speakers and they work perfectly. I also have to Creative speakers with a regular mini-jack plug. Now I have the green mini-jack in my laptop and the Ion Desk Rockers trough USB port. The two speakers work fine, but I can't get them to work both.

In the attached image you can see the problem: I need to define a ''standard audio device'' in Windows 7 but I need TWO standard audio devices! Also, my Realtek HD audio manager does only recognize the analogue Create speakers.

Now, as you can see on the third image, my computer has two drivers: the Realtek HD drivers for the analogue speakers and the USB Audio CODEC.

My question is how to combine those two? Any help would really be appreciated!

Thanks in advance,
Hugo.

(My PC language is Dutch by the way but if you want I can change it to English so that you can have a clear view of the problem)

 

[stormy13]

Hugo welcome to the Seven Forums.

There is a very good reason that you can't get them to work together, the USB speakers are treated as (and have their own built in) a separate sound card that in no way has anything to do with the onboard audio. This is a case of either or, as you can't get both to work together.

 

[emaraszek]

According to this post on Microsoft Answers, it has something to do with "laws"

Multiple simultaneous audio outputs in windows 7 - Microsoft Answers

However, users there have suggested a software workaround called Virtual Audio Cable. I have no way of testing this personally, but I'd be interested to hear how things work out for you.

Software Link: Virtual Audio Cable Download - Softpedia

 

[Hugo Tromp]

Thanks for your quick reply! However, I still wonder whether I can't get the analogue speakers to work within the USB soundcard. Is there any way?

Thanks in advance,
Hugo.

 

[Hugo Tromp]

Thanks

According to this post on Microsoft Answers, it has something to do with "laws"

Multiple simultaneous audio outputs in windows 7 - Microsoft Answers

However, users there have suggested a software workaround called Virtual Audio Cable. I have no way of testing this personally, but I'd be interested to hear how things work out for you.

Software Link: Virtual Audio Cable Download - Softpedia

Thanks, I will try it out!

 

[emaraszek]

Thanks for your quick reply! However, I still wonder whether I can't get the analogue speakers to work within the USB soundcard. Is there any way?

Thanks in advance,
Hugo.

Windows 7 is apparently designed to only output to one audio device at a time, the explanation given is that this basically has something to do with copyright laws. Thus, since your USB speakers are technically another audio device, they will not output audio if the sound card is set to act as the default device.

If you had two pairs of speakers plugged into different ports on the same sound card then it would most likely work fine. However, the USB device is technically its own sound card, so to speak.

I was frustrated by this issue too as I often plug my laptop in to my TV via HDMI to watch movies. Each time I do I need to change the default audio device to HDMI and then back to the speakers when I'm done. Apparently some PCs automatically switch but mine doesn't. I might try out that Virtual Audio Cable software on my laptop when I get home from work today

 

[Hugo Tromp]

I can't really get it to work.... shit I really wanted this to work fine... and as I do audio editing I can't afford any latency

 

[emaraszek]

I can't really get it to work.... shit I really wanted this to work fine... and as I do audio editing I can't afford any latency

You could revert back to XP if you really need it to work LOL
Other then that I guess you could return the speakers for ones with an analog jack