Redirect speaker outputs to other device in Windows

[smartroad]

So here is my setup, I have created an bass shaker that gives low frequency effects (vibrations) into the chair I sit on - trust me it is awesome! But here is the problem I have, I need the woofer/sub output to a specific soundcard output.

Mostly I game with my soundbar above my monitor, which is only stereo. I can (and have to test) switched to a 5.1 output on the soundcard to send the sub output to the shaker. However I loose some sound effects that are coming out of the speakers I do not have attached (center and surround). Also this setup wouldn't work when I use the big screen, as the sound is directed via the HDMI cable and played by the TV (again stereo).

What I really need is a virtual sound card that Windows would send audio to and then it could send the channels to different sound cards. So for example at my desk I would have the left, right, center and surrounds sent to the soundcard that my soundbar attaches to, and the sub channel to the built in soundcard the sub/shaker is attached to.

Does anyone know of software that allows me to do this?

[AndyB]

this might be what you need https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/librar ... 34(v=vs.85).aspx

[TorTorden]

You should be able to go into properties after defining surround (unless you use a DTS\DD compression) and deselect what speakers you don't have.

Or you could try a more hardware solution of splitting the output directly and hook the transducer on the same as your stereo speakers.
Add a highpass filter before the transducer and you won't have to change windows sound settings at all.

[thebs]

this might be what you need https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/librar ... 34(v=vs.85).aspx

Indeed, what he maybe be looking for is the "Stereo Mix" recording device. This basically acts like an "internal microphone."

There's a good YouTube video of this that shows the Stereo Mix in the recording device list, being disabled by default.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb_VU8LfQZA

The great thing about the "Stereo Mix" is that it's the raw output before any encoding. E.g., I default to outputting Elite to my 2-channel headphones (DelanClip attached), but then use the Stereo Mix to output it to my Digital Out, which is 5.1.

This way my wife can come over and watch, although in my case, there is a slight delay between the two. The headphones are over the ear, so I don't hear it at all.

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I.e., the headphones get it first (default output device), but then the (software) encoding to 5.1 takes a fraction of a second to follow. YMMV, and be better, based on if you have hardware encoding, or a direct, 6-channel analog output.

One more thing, for encoded outputs -- e.g., optical to 5.1 or 7.1 -- understand cheap software audio cards -- e.g., built-in RealTek 8xx series -- don't always ship with the 5.1 encoding software from Dolby or others. They don't license the software, so they don't work. There are a few hacks out there to attempt to load an unlicensed copy, but they don't always work, or cause other issues. I had this problem, and then hacked it.

[SemlerPDX]

I use my Desktop Speakers, my Logitech G35 Headset, my Bluetooth Headset once in awhile, and a Buttkicker Gamer 2 to send the LFE vibrations to my computer chair -- I use VoiceMeeter Banana (and VB Audio Cables A, B, and HiFi) to route all those sounds around. I use it a lot for streaming and recording output management myself.

It's freeware (donation suggested I believe) and it can have 5 inputs and 3 outputs with optional up/downmix as well as EQ options. It can do exactly what you described, and though you may have found an option already (this is a rather old thread) others may still benefit from reading this as it came up in my own search for further ED Audio solutions. I'm also a Mobius PvE player out of HIP 10716 (for now) - glad to help anyone out with audio ?'s

[DarkMere]

So here is my setup, I have created an bass shaker that gives low frequency effects (vibrations) into the chair I sit on - trust me it is awesome!

Forgive me, I just have a dirty mind

Hope you find the solution to your problem.

[thebs]

I use my Desktop Speakers, my Logitech G35 Headset, my Bluetooth Headset once in awhile, and a Buttkicker Gamer 2 to send the LFE vibrations to my computer chair -- I use VoiceMeeter Banana (and VB Audio Cables A, B, and HiFi) to route all those sounds around. I use it a lot for streaming and recording output management myself. It's freeware (donation suggested I believe) and it can have 5 inputs and 3 outputs with optional up/downmix as well as EQ options. It can do exactly what you described, and though you may have found an option already (this is a rather old thread) others may still benefit from reading this as it came up in my own search for further ED Audio solutions.

It's really sad 3rd party software is required to do this on Windows. The entire audio/video subsystem in even Windows 10 is still extremely basic, and Microsoft was well behind even Linux on media players and solutions in the late '90s**. The base Windows mixer redirect (like my aforementioned solution) is a kludge to begin with, including timing and synchronization issues, and any 3rd party software that can provide drivers that improves the situation is greatly recommended.

**

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Most people assume otherwise because some encodings are IP encumbered, so they have to be loaded after-the-fact, as they cannot be redistributed unlicensed. Although, quite ironically, even Microsoft shipped a Windows version with some unlicensed, pirated A/V codecs, as one engineer had trouble securing the legally licensed ones, and they made it to the release media to the not-so-joy of the IP holders.

In any case, this is one area where Apple got right from virtually Day 1, and also license and control some of the IP themselves. What they don't, they usually acquire ... even from Linux and open source developers.

In the early '00s, the Advanced Linux Sound Architecture (ALSA) addressed the physical hardware mixing very well, but didn't address virtualized interfaces, including remote network redirection --which is what Linux and Open Systems are all about, everything can be networked, unlike Windows. PulseAudio addressed this, and works directly with ALSA, and is preferred as the mixer by ALSA, especially and required so for networking and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). PulseAudio only get a 'bad name' because a few distributions didn't take it seriously, including one popular one (enough that even a few desktop environment maintainers called that distro out for not taking PA seriously -- even if the masses thought it was PA, blindly defending the distro), while many others had no issues, and still have no issues.

In all cases, Windows is just pathetic in comparison, and '90s technology.