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How do I properly mix multiple inputs?

post #1 of 12
11/24/11 at 4:26pm
Thread Starter 

Anyone know of a way to mix audio from my soundcard with audio from my DAC into my amp which feeds my headphones without losing any quality? My plan is to pipe music directly to my DAC and everything else to the soundcard. I want to mix both sources of audio so that I can hear both at the same time. 

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post #2 of 12
11/24/11 at 4:43pm
Is the same computer feeding both your DAC and soundcard? Then it shouldn't be possible to mix the inputs; the computer either sends audio to the soundcard or the DAC, not both at the same time.
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post #3 of 12
11/24/11 at 4:45pm

http://software.muzychenko.net/eng/vac.htm

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post #4 of 12
11/24/11 at 4:46pm
Thread Starter 

Actually, in my media player, I can choose what device to output to, even if it's different from the default output device.

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post #5 of 12
11/24/11 at 4:48pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Parak View Post

http://software.muzychenko.net/eng/vac.htm



This is 2 external devices, so it's a hardware issue. I need a way to string up my soundcard and my usb DAC to my amp.

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post #6 of 12
11/24/11 at 4:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ramenchef View Post



This is 2 external devices, so it's a hardware issue. I need a way to string up my soundcard and my usb DAC to my amp.


 

If you're doing it externally, you'll probably wind up worrying/obsessing about potential quality loss (YMMV). I don't, so I used a vanilla audio mixer, which is nice since it gives me hardware knobs for controlling IO levels. You'll be taking in line level inputs from your two devices and outputting a single line out.


Edited by Parak - 11/24/11 at 4:56pm
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post #7 of 12
11/24/11 at 6:44pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Parak View Post


 

If you're doing it externally, you'll probably wind up worrying/obsessing about potential quality loss (YMMV). I don't, so I used a vanilla audio mixer, which is nice since it gives me hardware knobs for controlling IO levels. You'll be taking in line level inputs from your two devices and outputting a single line out.



mind linking it to me?

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post #8 of 12
11/24/11 at 7:03pm

Something along the lines of this. You'll also need those cables listed under frequently bought together - the inputs you want for each line on a mixer are 2x 1/4", for the left and right channels. Output can be either the same 2x 1/4" L/R or 2x RCA L/R.

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post #9 of 12
11/24/11 at 8:41pm

What hardware do you have there.

 

With VAC + Audiorepeater (comes with VAC) you should be able to split the audio stream to two or more audio devices.

 

There's also software based technique but, it's player specific (VST compatible player is needed (Winamp/Foobar/MC, MM, etc.)).

Use a VST output plug-in (couple examples; Voxengo Recorder, C. Budde's ASIO host)

http://www.voxengo.com/product/recorder/

http://www.savioursofsoul.de/Christian/vst-plugins/effect-plugins/utilities/

 

 

EDIT: The way you describe you goal is bit confusing.

 

 

Quote:

mix audio from my soundcard with audio from my DAC into my amp which feeds my headphones

 

Do you have two separate audio sources one feeding the soundcard and the other feeding external DAC? If tht is right then a hardware mixer as suggested is the way to go.

 

 

 

jiiteepee

 


Edited by jiiteepee - 11/24/11 at 9:02pm
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post #10 of 12
11/24/11 at 10:14pm
Thread Starter 

Yes, Default audio from my computer feeds my soundcard. music player feeds my DAC. I want to have the soundcard and DAC feed the same amp. I was mostly wondering if there was any noticeable decrease in audio quality if I just used a very basic splitter backwards vs a dedicated stereo mixer. What parak linked seems to work perfectly, but seems to be a bit complicated for what I want to do. I was more expecting something with just 2 knobs to control the volume of each input.

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post #11 of 12
11/24/11 at 10:56pm

Do not use a splitter backwards. It's a bit of a nono. Mixers are definitely overkill feature wise for what you need, but there's actually not much else that's cheaper that's also reasonable quality. It's funny how you can get exactly what you would want (very few features), but only at higher prices, as much as this thing, which is a few grand. Ah, audiophilia...

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post #12 of 12
11/25/11 at 8:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ramenchef View Post

I was more expecting something with just 2 knobs to control the volume of each input.



Something like... THIS?

That's a four channel mixer. Four mono inputs, and... shoot. That's probably a mono output, too.

But something along those lines. I'll keep looking.

 

EDIT: Behringer also has this.

But you'd want to look up reviews and specs and stuff (I don't have time right now).


Edited by andrewberge - 11/25/11 at 8:24am
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