I have multiple sound cards, and I have a question about them.?

I have two sound cards, one is an on board (built into the motherboard) card, and a pci add-on card. And I can only get one to work at a time, I was wondering, how to get both of them to work together, or an easy way to switch back and forth between the two.








P.S. I do need both of them.

I have multiple sound cards, and I have a question about them.?
No, there is not.
Reply:No, if you have a legacy system running Windows. I assume you have "modern" hardware. I've installed a XP based computer with three sound cards running before. It had a timing issue, but it was solved with a driver update. Just make sure IRQ Steering is enabled. But, like the previous posters said, it's a lot easier with Linux. ;)





Quick switch?





Control Panel


--%26gt; Sound Speech and Audio Devices


--%26gt; Sound and Audio Devices


--%26gt; Audio Tab


--%26gt; Sound Playback


--%26gt; Default Device (switch cards)
Reply:Honestly i dont think you can use both at one time its either one or another, its pulling the audio to either the onboard or pci card.
Reply:First, why do you need both of them? Second, what OS? I will assume some forms of Microsoft OS seeing as a Mac has enough channels for surround, and if you used Linux, you would not need to ask such a question. The answer: you cant. At least not without permissions conflicts and a BSOD or two. The way Windows audio is configured, it will only pay attention to one set of I/O channels at a time. You can try it in the Hardware Control Panel. Engage card 1, restart, and play audio. Now engage card 2, without disabling card 1. Restart, and card 1 will automatically be disabled. Easiest way to go would be go Linux. Short of that, a 7 channel surround card should give you all the channels you could ever want. ----If you feel brave, try to find a freeware audio manager. With that, Windows might allow the 3rd party software to control one card, letting the OS control the other.
Reply:You can't use both at the same time. That would create conflicts in your system. You're best off just using the sound card. Disable the mobo sound.
Reply:Nope....it just isnt gonna happen...