Networking and audio question

[Jisp]

Hi all. I'm having a problem I hope someone may help me with. I have PC#1, which runs to the Aux input of a stand-alone amplifier and speakers on my desk. I have networked PC#2 to PC#1 and 'piggybacked' the audio from it to the same Aux input of the amplifier. What happens now is usually that whichever PC is turned on first somehow gets 'rights' to the amp in that the audio from the second PC to be turned on is almost inaudible. When I reverse the booting of the machines the same applies. The amp unfortunately has only one Aux input and I would like to have audio from both machines available at any one time. Any ideas ????? Thanks - Michael

[Matz]

Hi Michael - Welcome to Woody's Lounge!

Well, there are a few options I can think of. I have a music set up with my PC as I use it as a studio, but I have a 8 channel mixer to deal with the various audio outputs from my machine into my stereo amp.

i am not sure why one PC seems to 'grab' the input (the one that is booted first) but it is probably due to the way you have 'piggybacked' as you say the audio connectors!

I would suggest either an inexpensive stereo mixer to put both outputs from the 2 PC's into before they go into the amp, maybe have a look on ebay or maplin? (or make your own if you're feeling brave!)
Another suggestion would be to feed the output from one PC into the input on the other PC and use the windows mixer on that PC to allow the signal from the 'Line In' out into the output of that PC, which you connect to the amp.

hope that helps?

[Jisp]

Thanks for your thoughtful reply M'tz. I have done as you suggested and put the audio from PC1 into the line in of PC2 and it works fine. I should have thought of doing that. This will get me out of trouble for now and I will take a further look into a simple mixer. I have checked the kit form projects availiable at the larger electrical store chains here in Aus and have found nothing yet but I'll keep hunting. I'm still unsure myself why one audio line seemed to block the other. By piggybacking I meant that I was using a 2into1 type RCA connector on the back of the amp. Never mind, it simply didn't work. Thanks once again - Michael.

[Matz]

Cool, glad it works well. I not sure why didn't work either... of course you could get an amp with more than 1 AUX input...
...or use a spare TAPE input <img src=/S/evilgrin.gif border=0 alt=evilgrin width=15 height=15>