Pipe audio through KVM via USB?

[sydbarrett74]

Hello all,
I have a LinXcel 4-port USB KVM switch. What I'd like to do is be able to pipe my audio through the KVM switch so I only have to use one set of speakers. Is this possible? I was thinking USB somehow supported this? What hardware would I need?

 

[JPMNICK]

I know they sell KVM's with speaker ports in them. I do not think you will be able to do this though. I will stay tuned if one of the more knowledgeable memebers can help

 

[phisrow]

You could obtain a USB audio adapter(functionally a sound card hanging off the USB bus). This would allow your soundcard to connect only to the computer that had focus at any one time. Trouble is, though, that USB audio adapters aren't really designed as hotswap devices. You might get lucky, you might not. I would suggest any of the following, or a combination: A) Grab a cheap adapter and find out, e.g. (http://www.geeks.com/details.a...=qIZcQf2InalQAmWi12CI) This will be pretty cheap, and even if it doesn't work, you have a new toy. Disadvantage, of course, is that a cheap audio adapter isn't going to be a replacement for an expensive soundcard. B) Replace your KVM with one that has audio support. This won't be cheap, at all. C) Obtain basic 4 channel audio mixer (yours for not too much from ebay, or build your own). You'll have to manually balance sound with this one; but it will solve the problem more cheaply than a new KVM, and even allow you to combine audio streams between computers(e.g. audio warnings from all boxes, plus music from your secondary, and game sounds from your primary).