Two Sound Cards?

[teken8]

I have integrated Realtek audio and a PCI SoundBlaster Live installed on one system.

Unfortunately there is only one line-in/microphone input on the SB Live card, but I want to be able to use a mic and line-in simultaneously.

Is there any way I can enable my Realtek integrated-audio(which is disabled atm) to use that for line-in/mic input?

Can I have two sound cards in that sort of simultaneous configuration? Or, in any other--really cheap--way to have mic/line-in plugged in at the same time?

 

[Kevin1148]

I'm not sure about using the 2 cards together, but a cheap way would be to use a USB sound card, which are cheap and do the job. I bought some expensive 5.1 speakers and my SC had a hardware problem and wouldnt output on all of the speakers, so I bought myself a 5.1 USB card (which is TRUE 5.1 with 3 speaker outputs and Line in and mic) all for about 15 dollars off ebay. It came with some very handy software too.


here is a link -

http://cgi.ebay.com/True-USB-5-1CH-...6887026327QQcategoryZ3701QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

That is the exact same model as mine but I paid a lot less so look around.

be wary of these -

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-USB-VIRTUAL...27QQihZ013QQcategoryZ3701QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

As they are not true 5.1 and dont have dial line in and mic ports.


Sorry I couldnt help with configuring your 2 soundcards you already have, I hope someone can help

Kevin

 

[MonkeyX]

If you want to use two mics you may look into using usb mics. I have had good luck with that so far.

As for having two sound cards the main problem you would face is that windows will usually only use one default input setting (eg the SB Live) for your ins and one default out (eg RealTek)(side note: you may be able to split outs as wave and midi devices). I would also agree with Kevin that an external might be a bad idea and have seen many available quite cheep.

Another external idea would be just using a mixing board. I have seen many nice ones around at pawnshops and the like very inexpesive (as long as you want something basic). Just run whatever into it and use the line outs to your soundcard.

 

[LawnBoy]

You don't say what OS you're using, but look in Control Panel under Sounds (in XPpro it's under Sounds and Audio Devices). You can set the default device for playback and recording functions. XP makes the distinction between "sound recording" (aux in) and "voice recording" (mic in).

I've had up to 4 sound cards running on NT, 98, 2k, and XP. Sometimes you have to fiddle with interrupt settings, sometimes you don't.

 

[MonkeyX]

Good call on the aux in/ mic in settings guess i forgot about those. (been a while since I use a windows box for av recording) Did some informal tests using my girlfriend's computer (please don't tell it happens to be the only one I have available with windows on it! ) and LawnBoy is totally correct about both the settings and the IRQ fiddling! Worked great!

Just out of curiosity what caused a need for four soundcards LB?

 

[LawnBoy]

I have this homemade "laser show" rig that features mirrors glued to speaker voice coils. Laser beam bounces off this mirror (x-axis) onto that mirror (y-axis), draws pretty lissajou (spirograph) patterns. Split the laser into 4 beams, run 4 patterns at once.

Wows the kids, y'know? I rarely use it anymore except to draw in the smoke on the 4th of July.