Two sound cards?
So you're using Skype, right? Well, even if you're not, you may be able to make use of this info in other ways.
Typcially, you'd have a headset handy for making phone calls and speakers for listening to music. It seems to work ok, but it's just a minor inconvenience that you either plugin the headset when making/receiving calls or you leave the headset in all the time, even for music.
There is a better way... two sound cards!
Adding a second sound card, leave the speakers plugged in to the first card and attach the headset to the second card. Leave the original card as the default and set Skype to use the secondary card. In Skype, under Tools -> Options -> Sound Devices, there thre three settings. Audio In, Audio Out and Ringing. Set both Audio In/Out to be your new sound card (the one with the headset). Leave the Ringing set to "Windows default device" that way, you'll hear the ringing sound on your speakers.
That's all there is to it!
Buying a second sound card isn't an expensive addition, shopping at a local computer show or even online, you can find one for < $10. The more expensive sound cards add features like digital output, environmental effects, better midi, higher sampling rates, surround sound, etc and none of those features will help a voice call sound better.
Taking it one step further
If you make a lot of calls from your computer, you'll start to feel tied down by your headset (who doesn't have a cordless phone yet?). There's a solution for that too! BlueTooth. You can find BlueTooth headsets at most electronic stores and cell phone shops. If you have a new laptop, it may already have BT built-in. If not, you can buy a small USB adapter that adds BT to your computer (desktop or laptop). Now you're not tied to your computer by a wire.
Also note that since BT is wireless, you don't need to buy a second sound card.
Have fun Skyping :)
Typcially, you'd have a headset handy for making phone calls and speakers for listening to music. It seems to work ok, but it's just a minor inconvenience that you either plugin the headset when making/receiving calls or you leave the headset in all the time, even for music.
There is a better way... two sound cards!
Adding a second sound card, leave the speakers plugged in to the first card and attach the headset to the second card. Leave the original card as the default and set Skype to use the secondary card. In Skype, under Tools -> Options -> Sound Devices, there thre three settings. Audio In, Audio Out and Ringing. Set both Audio In/Out to be your new sound card (the one with the headset). Leave the Ringing set to "Windows default device" that way, you'll hear the ringing sound on your speakers.
That's all there is to it!
Buying a second sound card isn't an expensive addition, shopping at a local computer show or even online, you can find one for < $10. The more expensive sound cards add features like digital output, environmental effects, better midi, higher sampling rates, surround sound, etc and none of those features will help a voice call sound better.
Taking it one step further
If you make a lot of calls from your computer, you'll start to feel tied down by your headset (who doesn't have a cordless phone yet?). There's a solution for that too! BlueTooth. You can find BlueTooth headsets at most electronic stores and cell phone shops. If you have a new laptop, it may already have BT built-in. If not, you can buy a small USB adapter that adds BT to your computer (desktop or laptop). Now you're not tied to your computer by a wire.
Also note that since BT is wireless, you don't need to buy a second sound card.
Have fun Skyping :)
posted by The Amigo at 12:59 PM
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