Can you suggest a straightforward audio interface?
Can you suggest a straightforward audio interface?
Hello there everyone!
I'm trying to connect two PCs using a KVM to switch keyboard and mouse, but I want to listen to audio from both simultaneously through headphones without sharing a microphone.
I've searched a lot online and tried Amazon options, but all the interfaces I found are too complicated for my needs and focus more on streaming or music production.
I don't require 48V phantom power, separate jacks for left and right, or any extra gain settings.
Do you know of a device I can buy that has two plugs for the mini jacks from the PCs and either USB or mini jack outputs for earbuds?
Thanks for your time!
You could achieve this by using two cables to link to the two computer outputs:
https://www.amazon.com/CableCreatio...e+...le,aps,133&sr=8-3&th=1
followed by a combiner at:
https://www.amazon.com/Headphone-Sp...683&sprefix=audio+y+cable,aps,136&sr=8-5&th=1
then a gender changer at:
https://www.amazon.com/Ksmile®-Ster...al...le,aps,132&sr=8-13
You might connect your headphones to them, though there are no guarantees.
Hi there and thanks for the assistance!
It seems those splitters are only effective in one direction, which isn't what I require. When merging two sources through a splitter cable, the quality drops significantly and the sound is poor. They function well in other scenarios, though using them for two headphones from a single signal isn't ideal.
And to consider additional ideas, please review the various audio setups and pinouts carefully.
TS, TRS, TRRS are available, but standards differ.
For reference: https://www.cablechick.com.au/blog/under...dio-jacks/
If these connections don’t match, adapters or splitters might not help.
The goal is to be able to hear two different conversation streams simultaneously and join in via mic at either one, depending on the situation.
Do you prefer having both streams audible at once, or should you be able to choose which one to follow?
Also, outline the intended devices and their connections, including ports, plugs, and adapters down to the pin level.
I want to clarify two points: 1) I need a clear overview of the setup, and 2) help prevent audio ground loops.
Thank you for your assistance. I plan to review the link upon my return. I should have provided a more detailed explanation of what I'm aiming for. It would help if I could clarify my intentions more clearly, as I often work with incomplete ideas in my mind.
The scenario is this: I have two PCs. One is primarily used for gaming and media, while the other handles most of my work—such as web development, coding, shopping on Amazon, and managing documents and spreadsheets. The gaming PC runs Windows 11 and has a traditional sound card plus several USB audio outputs. The other PC, which I use for everything else, is running the latest Linux Mint version and lacks a sound card, so I connect an external one.
On these machines, I sometimes switch between them depending on what I'm doing—watching videos, streaming, coding, or browsing. Because of this, I don’t need to split my microphone between the two devices; I just want to capture audio from both at once.
I’ve researched audio interfaces but haven’t found a suitable option that fits my needs. Most available ones are either Chinese clones with limited functionality or similar setups. That’s why I’m considering using a splitter in reverse, as I can’t find a device that simply combines two mini jacks into one audio interface.
Search online marketplaces for an affordable second-hand mixing board.
It could be straightforward, but it only provides one stereo channel from each computer—one for each ear. It also handles mixing two signals onto a single channel without issues.
At each computer, you can obtain a stereo output from a standard 3.5mm jack. Purchase two of these cables. Each will transform a single stereo jack into two RCA connectors, one for each channel.
Select an adapter with two separate male RCA connectors and a single female 3.5mm stereo jack.
You don’t need the exact products—similar options are available at any electronics store. Connect the two cables from the computers to your central location. Take one of the two male RCA plugs on the last adapter and insert it into one of the female ends of a cable. Attach the male 3.5mm plug with the stereo earphone connector onto the end of your headset cable, then connect the female output of the adapter to that plug. In your headset, you’ll receive sound from one computer in each ear, but not both at once, so you won’t experience full stereo from either source.
It's better than nothing, yet it doesn't match what the original person intended.