Possible to run headset and speakers in win7?

[james]

I use a logitech g930 usb headset and a 5 speaker set up with subwoofer. I just got a buttkicker 2 and want to run the headset and a buttkicker 2 at the same time in win7. What do i need to do to acomplish this. I've tried sound settings switching but wont work. I now use a plantronics wired headset without the stereo sound  with it but it's not as nice as the g930.

[Pigslilspaz]

I sadly wouldn't be able to do it, the front audio panel on my case crapped out. 

[CptA]

Short answer: Yes and No.

Yes it can work...if you use an all analog setup, and no it won't work if you try to mix analog and USB sound/speakers/headset.

My own system uses an analog Creative Labs X-Fi Titanium Fatality Champion.

This is a high-quality analog add-on sound card plugged into a PCI-E slot, and a front mounted control panel that mounts into a 5 1/4" or 3 1/2" external drive bay, that you plug your ANALOG headset (Headphones & Microphone) into.

It allows setting the speakers to automatically mute when a headset is plugged into the front panel, OR to output sound to both headset and speakers.

Automatically muting the speakers is important in my household as it helps to prevent Wife/Kid ack when I'm playing AH2 and other games.

Be carefull when running both headset and speakers as sound from the speakers can feed into the Microphone and cause a very noisy and annoying feedback loop.

Depending on your speaker setup, plug the Buttkicker into either the Line Out (Green - for 2/4 channel) jack or the Center/Sub-Woofer (Orange - for 5.1/7.1 channel) jack on the sound card's back panel.

See the detailed instructions on Buttkicker's website.

Please also note this important notice from the Buttkicker website:

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT USB HEADPHONES / SPEAKERS:

ButtKicker brand products will not work with USB Speakers or Headphones because computers are NOT able to output audio to more than one device at a time. If USB Headphones or Speakers are plugged into your computer, no audio signal will be available using the regular analog mini 3.5 jacks which both the ButtKicker amplier and many external speakers require.

Good Luck.

CptA

[james]

Thanks captA, I was hoping if I had put a sound card in I would be able to mix usb with analog. Gotta find a good stereo wired headset now. Thanks man.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT USB HEADPHONES / SPEAKERS:

ButtKicker brand products will not work with USB Speakers or Headphones because computers are NOT able to output audio to more than one device at a time. If USB Headphones or Speakers are plugged into your computer, no audio signal will be available using the regular analog mini 3.5 jacks which both the ButtKicker amplier and many external speakers require.

This is where you're wrong. On linux you can easily create a virtual second audiosource and have it play on analog ports with the same time with usb. So it's not a computer problem but a flaw in windows.

[zack1234]

I had both headset and speakers working with realtec software.
It was a driver issue which caused both to work simultaneously.
I updated drivers and it reverted back to one only source.
I have G35 USB headset now so windows as you say defaults to only one.

When I get in tonight I will get my old plug headphones out and try if again, both headset and speakers.

[CptA]

MrRipley,

Please note that in the first post he clearly states that he is running Win7...not Linux.

Also note that I clearly stated that BUTTKICKER says it won't work that way not me.

AH2 is a Windows based game...not Linux. Short of using some kind of windows emulator like Wine, I don't think he is going to be using Linux with his setup.

Thanks for the input, but please stop confusing the issue.

CptA