Output to 2 sound cards Simultaneously

I found better solution.

go to:

-playback devices (sound)

-Recording

right click and (show disabled devices)

then enable "Stereo Mix"

and set Stereo Mix as default

right click to stereo mix

properties and "Listen"

mark "Listen to the device"

and set "HDMI Output..."

hit OK

---

and VOILA

It worked for me

great solution man. THX. they should put this in windows FAQ :)

Yes, very good solution..downside, and it may only be with my onboard and the other sound card, there seems to be a delay between my 2 devices

I just read through all the previous posts here and I am amazed at the spectacular display of complete ignorance (dictionary definition - lack of experience or education) displayed therein.

While my purpose for installing two identical sound cards in my desktop computer is different from many of the situations described in the previous posts - I am interested in routing the sound output into two discrete quadraphonic sound systems from Cubase.  HOWEVER, the issue of installing and configuring two sound cards on a single computer is the topic under discussion here, so here is what I have learned from my recent (this past week) personal experience.

I installed two identical PCI Sound Blaster Audigy 2 sound cards in my computer running Windows 7 SP1.  I was concerned about potential conflicts, etc, but Windows 7 automatically configured the two sound cards to have different configurations and I was able to access all four stereo systems (two quad systems as I wished) SIMULTANEOUSLY (I had no need to change anything except the stereo system by clicking on it) in the Sound panel dialog box from the Control Panel.  I was able to select any of the stereo systems as the default simply by designating them as such.

With that issue resolved successfully I then opened up Cubase LE 6 and discovered that Cubase had also configured both sound cards independently and that I could access ALL of the outputs on the sound cards simultaneously and IN SYNC.  The latency issue is a prime one in outputting to all the speakers but that issue has not appeared in anything I have attempted to make it appear.

I do realize that my situation differs from many of the previous posts but the ease with which Windows 7  SP1 installed and configured both sound cards to allow me to access all outputs on both sound cards simultaneously tells me that every single one of the previous suggestions lacks that grain of truth!!!!! 

And while I do possess several computer certifications, A+ and MCSA among them, I had no need to do anything except install the sound cards in the motherboard and start my computer.  Which clearly completely eliminates ANY suggestions to use additional hardware/software to access them.   So I am completely unable to understand any of the problems I read about in previous posts in that regard. 

Again, my situation is different from others mentioned in the previous posts but the fact that Windows 7 SP1 did everything to install and configure the two sound cards AUTOMATICALLY I fail to understand the issues mentioned regarding the problems to make that happen.

I probably also should mention that I run a digital multimedia studio with 6 computers and my music computer is dedicated to ONLY music composition and nothing else as I have other computers to handle video, animation, graphics, online, etc so I do not need to try to configure that computer to do more than output to the stereo quadraphonic configuration I have mentioned.  I also do not need to install additional components/software on that same computer that might interfere with the ease of configuration and use of two sound cards.

I see the desire to have a computer do more than one thing as the element that has created the majority of the problems I have read in the previous posts.  And I DO understand the cost factor of having more than one computer as the culprit that causes people to try to configure a single computer to perform more than one function.

BUT, if you REALLY want to have a computer perform more than one (or two) functions that require completely different configurations of any kind you should EXPECT that you will have to REconfigure that computer EVERY time you change that function - that is the lesson that caused me to have multiple computers in my studio.  That is exactly what I was referring to in my first sentence - a lack of education and experience. 

Hopefully my comments will inform you as to the details regarding this situation.

the VAC solution listed below is good but there was a noticeable lag between my two sets of speakers; one set was connected to the sound card and the other set was connected to the motherboard (using onboard sound).

The solution I found that was the best was by using a VAC alternative.

Google VB audio software and you will have to download the program called vb audio voicemeeter (which is free).

Once installed, select the voice meeter input as your default playback device

(right click on the sound icon at bottom right of your desktop > playback devices > select voice meeter input)

Then run the voice meeter program.

The UI is basically split into 4 columns. The column that youre interested in is the far right (labelled "Hardware Out")

Underneath the title, you will see "A1" and A2".

Here is where you select your headphone and speakers

Both should be prefixed with "WDM" I think.

Genius. You are a star. I tried this, luckily had very similar setup. Exactly what I want. Now my speakers which aren't often on are connect seperately to my headphones. No need to unplug the headphones to play the speakers, Thank you so much Adip74