Question on an USB gaming headset and no sound out of system speakers

[DorkBoy]

Ok,
I have a speaker set and a T.V. Tuner card that connect into my soundcard. I play BF 2142 and started playing in squads where the squad members can communicate with each other. My soundcard has no more ?in? ports and I bought a USB gaming head set. I would like to communicate with the squad members on the head set but all of the sound from the game then comes out from the headset and not the spearkers. How do I use a headset (USB) and also have the game sound out of the speakers?

Thanks for any info,
Dorkboy


System specs:

Intel Intel Dual Core P4 3.0 Ghz 3000MHz
Motherboard: Intel 945
Memory: 2000 MB of Corsair PC4200
Video Card: ATI 512MB X1800XT
Hard Drive: Seagate 250.0 GB @ 7200 RPMS
Additional Hard Drives: SeaGate 160GB 7200RPM and WD 250GB 7200RPM for Storage
Monitor: 2405FP
DVD Manufacturer & Model: I/ODVD+RW 16X
DVD R/W: Lite On DVD-ROM 16X
Storage Interface: IDE,SATA
Sound Card: SB Live 5.1 Audigy X-Gamer
Internet Connection: TimeWarner RR Cable
Operating System: WinXP Pro
Other Components: Logitech Z560 Spks.
HP 1215

 

[Ichigo]

You can't. ^-^

Edit: Rather, unless you want voice chat through Ventrilo or Teamspeak, you're boned.

 

[JSt0rm]

I think you should be able to go to control panel>sound and audio devices>audio tab> and change your sound recording and sound playback to the audio cards you want.

 

[Dravic]

you cant do both(at the same time). that's the dirtly little secret about these lowsy usb headsets. You dont end up using your sound card features, and end up using usb audio.

You need a PC stereo head set that you can plug into you sound card.

I have a x-fi with a sens pc150 headset. The speakers are plugged into the sound card, and the headset is plugged into the tower audio ports. if you have tower audio ports you'll need to make sure they are connected to the sound cards internal aux port/jumpers.

they use to sell cool jumper boxes that plugged into the sound card then you could plug your headset and speakers into the box and just switch between which ones were live. I haven't seen them recently. The one i had i won from mplayer back in the day in a LINKS golf tourney.



did a little digging..somthing like this


computer speaker switch

 

[DorkBoy]

Originally posted by: Dravic
you cant do both(at the same time). that's the dirtly little secret about these lowsy usb headsets. You dont end up using your sound card features, and end up using usb audio.

You need a PC stereo head set that you can plug into you sound card.

I have a x-fi with a sens pc150 headset. The speakers are plugged into the sound card, and the headset is plugged into the tower audio ports. if you have tower audio ports you'll need to make sure they are connected to the sound cards internal aux port/jumpers.

they use to sell cool jumper boxes that plugged into the sound card then you could plug your headset and speakers into the box and just switch between which ones were live. I haven't seen them recently. The one i had i won from mplayer back in the day in a LINKS golf tourney.



did a little digging..somthing like this


computer speaker switch

Thanks

 

[JSt0rm]

hmm odd I have a usb headset and use it with other audio devices at the same time

 

[AStar617]

Ichigo's edit is right. Sorry Dravic, you are 100% wrong.

The USB headset is recognized as a separate audio device ("sound card") by XP and typically becomes the default device when plugged in, causing all system audio to route through it. This is by far its largest asset, as you simply go back into the audio settings in Control Panel, set the system default audio to your original sound card, then go into the preferences for Ventrilo or whatever voiceserver client you're using, and set its bindings *not* to Windows defaults, but hard-bound to the USB audio device. Now all game sounds come thru your main speakers, and team chat in your ears.

I've been playing Guild Wars like this for well over a year now.

 

[Dravic]

I'm not 100% wrong but thanks for the vote of confidence.. hehe

If the application allows you to choose a separate audio device then yes you can. I was referring to not being able to use 2 devices at the same time through windows preferred audio device, nor being able to specify which applications uses which device.

My bad I guess? put ya e-peen away

To me having the game sounds out of the speakers and the team chat through the headset seems a bit self defeating. I brought an x-fi so I can have all the nuances of 3d positional sounds. Listening to my 4.1 system being muddled since my head phones are on at the same time isn?t something I?m willing to do. If it works for you, cool..

I dont use my headset to supplement my audio, but instead as a secondary delivery device when i cant use the subwoofer due to kids, wife, etc....

 

[AStar617]

Sorry if I sounded harsh but long explanations following a misinterpretation of the original question tend to run rampant in these parts. I see the points in your answer, but remember OP's original question:

I would like to communicate with the squad members on the head set but all of the sound from the game then comes out from the headset and not the spearkers. How do I use a headset (USB) and also have the game sound out of the speakers?

Within the constraints of that question, "buy a computer speaker switch" simply isn't the right answer. Plus from OP's last post he seemed to accept that answer... there's no "e-peen" nurturing here, just matter-of-fact correction. No harm, no foul, man.

On a side note, I've had great success using monaural headsets positioned mostly off my ear (with volume compensation) to get the benefits of Ventrilo plus all the 3D positional audio goodness of a high-end soundcard. Like you, I hate using full headsets to communicate because it does get in the way of the game audio... I guess I lucked out by being cheap and not springing for a higher-end headset This isn't necessarily comfortable if you have a full binaural headset, but might be worth trying if you have a one-sided model like mine.