Windows 7 Multiple Audio Playback Setup

[sadhuka]

Hello,

I currently have a dual screen setup, the primary a computer monitor and the secondary an HDTV hooked up via HDMI cable. Accordingly I have 2 sound setups; a set of speakers at my desk and the other is the TV's speakers.

The problem is most programs have no option to choose the audio playback device. Everything goes to the default in Windows, so I have to manually change it every time to either the TV or the speakers. I only really use the HDTV to watch videos and want only the sound from that specific program to play on the TV, and everything else on my desk speakers.

I had a workaround to this in Vista. By setting the default audio device to the HDTV Windows would automatically switch the audio output to the speakers when disabling the secondary monitor which could be done easily with UltraMon. Windows 7 audio playback doesn't seem to detect this change so I'm wondering if anyone knows of a solution or workaround.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[sadhuka]

Update:

Just updated my audio drivers so now the HDMI audio device becomes disabled when the monitor is.

My only question now is if theres a way to choose the audio output for specific programs.

 

[torrentg]

Some yes, some no. The only way to find out is to open them and look in settings.

Winamp = yes
Sound Forge = yes
Cubase = yes
Sonar = yes
PowerDVD = no
WMP/WMC = no
VLC=no

In case of no, sound plays through default only.

 

[sadhuka]

Yeah, and unfortunately most of the programs I use don't have a built in setting. I'm surprised to see that even Windows Media Center doesn't have an option. I found an option in PowerDVD 9 which is nice. Hopefully more developers will catch on to the fact that more and more people are using dual setups with HDTV and need the option.

I'd really like to find a 3rd party app that can control audio output for specific programs but I'd really like to see UltraMon add support for controlling audio output according to which monitor a program is running on.