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Change audio device based on displays?


sina94

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I got an LCD TV and will be using it has a secondary display for my PC (as soon as my DVI-to-VGA adapter gets here).  I like having the audio run through the TV so I can adjust it with the remote, etc.  but if the TV is off or I'm using an input other than my PC I have no audio (or if my PC attempts to put my TV in standby. . .  ). 

Is there any way I could have my PC output audio to my TV if I'm using that, but to my computer speakers if I'm not using the TV (like if I'm just listening to music, or listening for incoming mails/IMs/etc. )? Possibly with a dual sound card setup?

Seems plausible. . .  but I don't know if it could actually detect if the TV is on or off, or using a different input.  If not automated, then perhaps a hotkey that would toggle displays and audio devices?

I haven't done much with dual monitors, and I've done nothing with dual sound cards, but it seems like something like this should be possible.  Any ideas?

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More theorizing, since I don't actually code:

If you can't check whether a monitor is on/off directly, I'm assuming it has to be on to read the DDC information (maximum resolution, etc.)... couldn't you do a check to see if that information is available? If not, the monitor is either off or not connected.

Just an idea.

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I personally run my pc through my stereo systems aux port, but would not use the TV unless it had some sort of killer speaker system. If all you want is remote control for the pc's audio, then try this: http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/accessories/5a20/

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I'd like to have just the one remote for volume, inputs, menu, etc. And my displays are quite a ways apart... so you get that disconnected feeling if you're using the speakers while watching the TV. o_0

And I'm more or less just curious if something like this could be done.

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Unfortunately some thing like this isn't easily achievable even on Linux (there for it's even more difficult/annoying on windows).

On Linux you would have to write a script that changed the default alsa/oss device. The trouble there would be you would have to kill -HUP every process using the device to get it to switch over to the new device.

All I can surest on windows is to change the default out put device and then restart every program that's using it manually.

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Yeah. I could see how that might be a problem.

What about... is it possible to output audio to two devices simultaneously? Even indirectly? I know I've used the native Windows stereo mixer to capture sound before... could you do something similar and then output it to the second device? Then maybe you could mute whichever device you don't want to output sound?

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1/8 to y adapter to rca cable to any AUX device, ex: stereo, tv, etc.

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