How to get front and rear audio ports to work at the same time?
 

Folks,

When you have a motherboard with onboard audio in a case with headphone and mic ports at the front, is it a matter of simply choosing which sockets the audio will come out of or is there a clever way to get both to work... so the rear ports would drive the speakers and the front ports could be used for headphones.... or am I just asking the impossible? :confused:

Cheers!

Rez

Re: How to get front and rear audio ports to work at the same time?
 

You mean have headphones playing audio AND speakers playing audio, rather than the 'phones muting the speakers when plugged in?

Re: How to get front and rear audio ports to work at the same time?
 

I guess I'm after the latter.... sound is normally ported through the rear socket to the speakers but if I plug the headphones in then the speakers get muted and the sound is only through the headphones.

Cheers!

Rez

Re: How to get front and rear audio ports to work at the same time?
 

It Depends very much on the PC.

Usually when you plug something into the front jack that cuts off the rear jack.
However on some systems that behaviour is controlled by software rather than a physical connection so it's possible to get it to turn them both on.

what make/model is your audio chip?

Re: How to get front and rear audio ports to work at the same time?
 

It'd do that by default.
You might want to plug your speakers in the back AND your headphones into the back with an adaptor like this one.
Job done.

http://www.digitalpromo.co.uk/35mm-s...ket-p-682.html

Re: How to get front and rear audio ports to work at the same time?
 

Thanks for all the response guys!

The system has just been built with a brand new Asus P5B motherboard sporting SoundMAX ADI AD1988A 8 channel HD audio.

The case is an Antec 300 with a lead from the front with two plugs on... one marked HDA and the other AC97.

I've currently got the AC97 plug connected though I suspect the front panel will work with either... though if I'm honest I'm not quite sure what HD audio is all about!

Cheers!

Rez

Re: How to get front and rear audio ports to work at the same time?
 

is there any kind of soundmax application on the pc.

If it's software controlled then that's where I'd look.

Other alternative if you don't mind open the case is to add a 2nd audio card.

I've got an x-fi card in my Dtop but I leave the onboard Audio enabled because I find it convenient to use that for things like skype.

Re: How to get front and rear audio ports to work at the same time?
 

Attachment 17040

See attachment, that's how I do it on mine, i would guess it'll be similar or identical on yours.

Re: How to get front and rear audio ports to work at the same time?
 

It's specific to those realtek chips though, my housemates is the same

Re: How to get front and rear audio ports to work at the same time?
 

Thanks very much for the help guys!

Oddly the Soundmax software doesn't seem to want to work under Vista... but as a last resort I've hooked up the HDA plug instead of the AC97 and both sets of ports now work so thanks again!

Cheers!

Rez

Re: How to get front and rear audio ports to work at the same time?
 

Try the control panel > sounds and then selecting the rear output as the deafult then if you want to use the headphones seelct it on the app

Re: How to get front and rear audio ports to work at the same time?
 

I have a USB headset that automatically sets itself as the default audio device when plugged in, means that even on older chipsets you can do what you want :D

Re: How to get front and rear audio ports to work at the same time?
 

Can't believe I didn't think of that. :dunce: