Extremely Menacing Vibrations

July 7, 2006 10:19 AM

Merging PC audio sources?

I have two desktop machines in my basement that get used for gaming and media output. I am wondering if there is an easy way to route the audio from one machine to the other, creating a conjoined output? I've got the ability to run cables if need be and I have a wireless router. Most of my searching is returning results for "distributed audio" throughout your entire house or something along those lines, or chintzy "switches" that change between single audio sources. The audio will be directed from one of the machines to a receiver or a set of standard speakers, one of which will be in a remote location. All machines are running XP. Hardware or software, I'll try anything.

posted by prostyle to technology (4 comments total)

Line Out from the first PC over to Line In on the second PC?
posted by utsutsu at 10:21 AM on July 7, 2006

Yes, do that and then you can use the mixer to adjust the volume of both streams independently.
posted by Rhomboid at 10:31 AM on July 7, 2006

Oh boy, I was definitely over thinking that problem. Thanks guys.
posted by prostyle at 10:53 AM on July 7, 2006

The Line Out trick will work okay. I've run that setup before.

If you think you might scale past 2 audio sources, though, I'd recommend thinking about a mixer. I haven't tried it, but I'm looking to pick one up for my two computers and a radio setup. You get a volume slider (actually, basically a whole equalizer) for each input, so if I want to quickly switch to one, it's easy to do. (Or if one is louder than the others.) Plus, many provide for a couple outlets, allowing me to choose between headphones or speakers without having to lean under my desk and switch all the time.

BTW, I'm puzzled by your title.
posted by fogster at 10:56 AM on July 7, 2006