[mythtv-users] Dual sound output from one card?

[Chad]

On 4/27/05, Paul Leppert <phlepper at gmail.com> wrote:
> Is it possible to send audio output to both the spdif and analog
> outputs of a soundblaster live! or audigy2 card via mythtv?
> 
> I am setting up my frontend to output video via the VGA output (to
> drive my HDTV monitory) and svideo (to send to a modulator for the
> whole house distribution).  I want to be able to do the same thing via
> the audio as well.  For my main viewing, I want the digital output
> (which I have today).  But for the signal that is sent to the
> modulator, that needs to be analog.  I know I can switch between the
> two (I haven't figured out yet how to get mythmusic to send a digital
> audio, so I have to switch between analog and digital on my receiver
> when I switch between mythtv and mythmusic), but can both be driven at
> the same time?
> 
> If not, is this supported via dual sound cards?  In that case, if I
> have a soundblaster card and integrated sound on the mobo (nvidia
> nforce), can I just enable the mobo sound and go from there?  Any
> pointers on how to make this happen (especially on an already working
> system (with the SB))?
> 
> thanks,
> phlepper
> 

Not too sure on both at the same time, but I would think so.  Using
alsamixer, I'd think you could adjust volume levels on both outputs
and have then both sending audio.  But.... I could be wrong.

However,
You definitely could use 2 audio cards.  It seems a lot of MOBO Man.
decide that if you are using a PCI sound, you don't need your onboard
sound, and disable it.  Asus seems to be this way.  So, assuming you
have 2 audio cards, you would enable 2 cards in your setup; /dev/dsp
and /dev/dsp1.  You could then control which output was used via
alsamixer, specifying the different card using (IIRC) the -c option. 
Shouldn't be too hard once you figure out how to use the 2 mixers.

Cool