Multiple simultaneous audio outputs in windows 7

Anonymous
2009-12-04T01:29:16+00:00

I have seen multiple questions about enabling multiple audio outputs simultaneously in windows vista and 7, like example SPDIF and analog output, everytime answer is that its not supported by windows 7. Why is that? Why isnt it supported it worked fine in XP, could you guys give some details why isnt it supported anymore?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2012-01-09T06:15:33+00:00

Actually I have a very simple easy solution. It is very possible to have multiple audio outputs in win7. Well at least for this persons issue. I am the same way, I want to watch movies on my tv through the pc via hdmi but dont want to hear the sound of stuff on the pc through the tv speakers or vice versa.  So here is the simple solution.

If you use windows media player for watching the video its very easy.

  1. open windows media player
  2. right click, click tools, then options
  3. click devices tab
  4. click speakers, then properties
  5. select audio device (select HDMI output)
  6. click ok, then ok again.

All sounds through windows media player will now be played through the hdmi output and all other sounds from vlc media player, youtube, etc. will continue to play through the pc speakers.

It took me about 2 weeks to find that out. But it works.

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  1. Anonymous
    2009-12-08T21:09:32+00:00

    Hi Hamm3r,

    Multiple audio output is not supported by windows 7. It is by design. However you can contact the hardware manufacturer for other possibilities.

    Thank you and Regards.           

    Thahaseena M

    Microsoft Answers Support Engineer.

    Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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  3. Anonymous
    2009-12-11T06:21:03+00:00

    Welcome to the wonderful world of Microsoft.  This is the common form of many of their answers.  "Contact your hardware manufacturer, because it's not software related."  Which really means -- I don't feel like taking the time to give you a meaningful answer, because I don't know.  However in this specific case, you actually got an honest answer.  It isn't supported by Windows 7.  Why?  Because Microsoft is kinda stupid sometimes when it comes to which features they believe are worth-while to include with an operating system.  I'm sure you did some searching on the net before posting here, as I have done the same.  This is a very wide-spread concern.  After almost two hours of sifting through various forums and sites, I have come up with no solution yet.  I have come across multiple suggestions that got close, but not quite...  The answer lies somewhere in the 3rd Party Software scene, and I refuse to give up til I find the answer.  I will post my findings for you and many other disgruntled microsoft users.  It just bothers me that Microsoft ignores their customer base so much due to the fact that once you've purchased the product they get no extra money from trying to fix their mistakes.  While I search around for an answer to this issue, would you please post your sound cards' manufacturers and model numbers?  I may be able to find a fix specific to your devices.

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