It is possible to have two separate audio outputs on Windows 10. This can be useful in various scenarios, such as when you want to play audio through both your computer speakers and a headset simultaneously, or if you want to send audio to different devices for different purposes.
To configure multiple audio outputs manually, you can follow these steps:
1. Right-click on the volume icon located in the system tray at the bottom right corner of your screen and select “Sounds” from the context menu. This will open the Sound settings window.
2. In the Sound settings window, go to the “Playback” tab. Here, you will see a list of all the audio devices connected to your computer.
3. Identify the audio devices you want to use as separate outputs. For example, if you have both speakers and a headset connected, they will appear as separate devices in the list.
4. Right-click on the device you want to use as the secondary audio output, and select “Set as Default Device” from the context menu. This will make that device the default audio output for all applications.
5. Now, to enable audio playback on the second device, you need to enable the Stereo Mix option. Unfortunately, this option is not visible by default on Windows 10, so you need to enable it manually.
6. Right-click on an empty area in the “Playback” tab of the Sound settings window and select “Show Disabled Devices” and “Show Disconnected Devices” from the context menu. This will display all the hidden audio devices.
7. Look for the “Stereo Mix” or “What U Hear” option in the list of devices. Right-click on it and select “Enable” from the context menu. If you cannot find the Stereo Mix option, it might be because your sound card or audio drivers do not support it. In that case, you may need to update your drivers or search for alternative solutions online.
8. Once the Stereo Mix option is enabled, right-click on it and select “Set as Default Device”. This will make it the secondary audio output for your system.
9. Now, you can adjust the volume levels for each audio output individually. To do this, go to the “Playback” tab, select the desired audio device, and click on the “Properties” button. In the Properties window, go to the “Levels” tab, where you can adjust the volume slider for that specific device.
10. With the audio outputs configured, you can now play audio through both devices simultaneously. Simply select the desired output device in the application or media player you are using. Most applications allow you to choose the audio output device within their settings or preferences.
It is worth mentioning that not all applications support the selection of specific audio output devices. In such cases, the default audio output device will be used. Additionally, keep in mind that using multiple audio outputs simultaneously may require more system resources and could potentially impact performance.
Configuring multiple audio outputs on Windows 10 manually is relatively straightforward and can be done by setting one device as the default audio output and enabling the Stereo Mix option for the secondary device. This allows you to play audio through both devices simultaneously and gives you more flexibility in managing your audio output.