Is there any way for Windows to play sound trough 2 different devices?

So I happen to have a pair of USB speakers that I like to use as a complement to my notebook's internal speakers. I use to do that on Linux, using Pulse Audio stream that creates a "virtual" device that is nothing more than the output being doubled through two real devices. Any application sees that virtual device and the actual result is the sound being projected through both pair of speakers (internal and external USB).

I wonder if there is a way of doing so in Windows. I did some googlin' and haven't found any hopeful words on that. It seems that Windows would simply deal with only one sound device at each time and there is nothing that one could do about it.

It seems odd, it must be something that people could use (having the sound output for two different places at the same time) and it doesn't make sense to me that no one has ever came up with a solution for that on Windows.

Anyone here have a clue?

 

running multiple output 'zones' is generally exclusive to media players more sophisticated than the native Windows Media Player.

 

I usually use Winamp to handle my music collection and Media Player Classic HC for videos and movies.

I could use solutions regarding those (or other software) but I would prefer something that would apply for all system, as I have on Linux.

 

ASIO driver should be able to do it. I remember being able to assign the left and right channels to each device before.

 

hmmm
I remember using Asio when I was playing with the computer inputs... some years ago.

I'll get it and see what I can do with it.
Thanks!

I still would like to see other solutions, if anybody know any.

 

Have you tried to use professional software like Traktor Pro?

 

hmm I never heard of it. I may take a look, but what it's supposed to do?

I just want to have the sound that's played on any Windows application to come out from two outputs at the same time (in the case, internal notebook speakers and USB speakers).

 

Sorry, I misunderstood, if you want to use it for ALL windows applications then is not for you.
It's a DJ software, that let's you choose up to 3 or 4 different audio output channels, but obviously just for music.

 

Thanks anyway, yukinok25.

I downloaded Asio4All driver, installed, but still haven't figured it out how to used it in order to manage output devices. I'm not at home now, I'll give a better try later.

 

Try going into your Sound Devices and "listen" to this device through Stereo Mix/What U Hear. Your listen device should be your secondary set of speakers.

 

I'm not quite sure what you meant. I looked around for any matching options for what you described and couldn't figure it out. My Windows is not in English thought.

Or did you meant just to show me that I could play different things at the same time through different sound devices?
That I know, but I actually want for both to play the same thing at the same time, complementing each other.
The internal speakers are quite high, the other is lower as a subwoofer and I like to combine them for a better sound experience.

 

Yes, this will play the same thing at the same time. In your recording devices there should be Stereo Mix or if using Creative, What U Hear. Right-click Properties -> Listen and check Listen to this Device. Then select your secondary speakers.

 

I just did that, it sounds way better just leaving the headphone as default speaker. What you need under recording devices is stereo mix. If you have that

1.) with the USB speakers pluged in set the laptop speakers as default
2.) set in recording devices stereo mix as default
3.) go to properties in stereo mix
4.) check off listen to this
5.) set playback device as the usb speakers
6.) click apply and you are done.

Without stereo mix as a recording device you would need to look else where........

 

Dragaus and TANWare, thanks for the info. It seems like it's the way. Already spared some reps for you.

Stereo mix was invisible here, I had to make it appear by right clicking on the recording devices list.

I may be missing something but I find that your replies are quite opposite, as one says I have to "listen" to the device and the other says I must check off the listen to this.

What I've done is:

1) Internal speakers as the default playback device;
2) Stereo Mix as the default recording device;
3) On Stereo Mix properties, check on "listen to this" and playback device as the USB speakers.

Haven't you got any problems with lagging between both playback devices?

 

That should be everything. I haven't heard/witnessed any lagging at all as long as you computer can handle it.

One last thing. Known problem is that if your using Windows 7 (even Vista probably), the listen to device won't/stops working. You would have to restart the audio service again to get it work. Cheers!

 

Thanks for the tip!

I had the impression to notice some lagging on the first time, but now it seems fine.
I had lagging issues on Linux, but I managed to get it working fine.

Regards!

 

good to hear you have it, that is what I had done essentially as well. I didn't state leaving the internal speakers as the default device as I was assuing it was the default. Listen to this supposedly means listen to whatever the default output device is.

I hadn't noticed any real lag issue either...............