output choice

I got a question. I have several plugs in the sound card. They are labeled as seperate outputs. The question is, where in Windows can I change which output is being used? I want to be able to keep my headphones and my speakers plugged in, but use the speakers for things like music, and be able to switch to the headphones for games and the like.

 

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Most computers and sound cards I know only have one speaker level output which doubles for headphones. I got one of those front panel multiple jacks kits with cables so now I have my record, line in, output, USB and firewire on the front of my machine. Makes it easy to switch headphones for speakers, though actually, I run it over to my SOHO office receiver and run it through those speakers using the Aux input. I also put extensions on my receiver so I can hook up the line to the computer to the record out on my receiver and change the plug, on the front of my computer, to the record in to capture stuff from tapes and the radio. Having those jacks on the front of the computer really helps.

 

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Only one jack on the back of your computer will work with headphones and speakers.

Line Out = industry standard for interdevice communication, i.e. radio to tape player
Speaker Out (there may be other names) = has enough power to make headphones and speakers work
Line in and Mic are both inputs.

getting a signal splitter is the only way to have both headphones and speakers plugged in simultaneously. Mr. Chips' suggestion is also a good one: make the switch convenient.

 

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Oops, I meant to say that I put the line out (or recorder out) from my receiver hooked up to my line in (not record in as that is amplified especially for a microphone) on my computer. I also have an eighth inch stereo splitter that I use sometimes to have both speakers and headphones connected though seldom end up with that configuration. Whatever.

 

Well, then why do they label it like they do on stereos? Three discinct plugs, labelled one, two and three, though I think one is labeled for a second set of speakers, for like a surround sound type thing.

 

Look at the manual for your main board. Sometimes, in my years as a computer technician and consultant, I placed little labels next to the jacks on the back as the text or graphics were either undecipherable or missing. If you don't have the manual, perhaps it could be found on the web. Just a similar make and/or model should be enough to find the jack's designations on the web.