One reciever, two sources? Can they share the same input?

[RichTJ99]

Plug the TV into the line input of the PC and use the free mixer that comes with Windows. Leave the reciever on DVD.

Collin,

I think I dismissed this idea too quickly because I didnt understand it.

Your saying, take the RCA output from the TV & instead of going to the reciever, convert it to the 1/8th stereo pin, pop it into the Line In on the PC, then take a 1/8th stereo pin (to RCA), & take it to the line out of the PC, then plug that into the reciever?

How should that work in terms of windows sending the TV sounds to the reciever?

Thanks,
Rich

 

[CollinR]

In your mixer you will adjust the line input to control the volume of the TV, you will use the wave level to control the level of the PC announcments.

You will match the system volume to that of the reciever.

Radio shack has 36" stereo headphone to 2-RCAs.

 

[DavidL]

With regards to leveraging the sound card as a mixer, MainLobby has a "MLMAudioDelta" and "MLMAudioRevo" plugins that allows full control over the sound card's matrix switching and mixing functions. You could use one of these two sound cards (which provides more capability and external control than most other sound cards - which is why we built a plugin to control them) to orchestrate what you are trying to do (and then some). The MainLobby Server software can then coordinate the blending and switching with it's logic and rules based system.

Another strategy to consider (PC based automation that has control over a sound card for mixing).

 

[RichTJ99]

Ok, so it sounds like I need two of the 36" RCA to Stereo plug. One goes from the TV Out (RCA) to the PC Line in, then the second same cable goes from the PC Line out/speaker out to the Reciever?

Where is the free sound mixer in windows ? Do you mean the volume controls?

 

[GraysonPeddie]

Yes, that's the one.

 

[beelzerob]

Rich, won't going through the sound card require that you keep your HTPC on at all times? I thought that was a constraint that you weren't sure you wanted.

 

[RichTJ99]

Rich, won't going through the sound card require that you keep your HTPC on at all times? I thought that was a constraint that you weren't sure you wanted.

Well, I sort of rethought that. I figure its a free option (minus the electric) so I will give it a shot & see how it works out.

 

[pkoslow]

Have a look a the Rane CP series mixes or the Biamp SPM models. Both are older pro solutions that pop up on Ebay often for less than $100. They're rack mountable if that's important to you and will allow you to pass the TV audio to your receiver in stereo and then connect the TTS output from your computer into a microphone input that will automatically "duck" the TV audio whenever a TTS announcement is made. This means the TV audio will be muted during announcements and then the TV audio will come back once the announcement is complete. The mixers have gain controls that will allow you to balance the audio volumes nicely before they go into the receivers input.

Some of the higher-end Biamp Models (SPM-522 and SPM-723) have serial control that some may find useful.

Here's an example of the Rane:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Rane-CP-52-Commercial-...1QQcmdZViewItem

Both the Rane & Biamp units run on kind of unique AC power supplies so be sure it's included if you purcahse one.

Cheers,
Paul

 

[RichTJ99]

So here is where I am now. My PC is way to loud for 24/7 (its really that stock intel fan on a socket 478 setup but thats another story of outdated equipment).

I have a TV, PC, & a Sony Reciever

The setup is as follows:

TV has the Stereo Audio Output, going from RCA to Stereo plug, this goes into the Line In of the PC. The PC has a Y splitter on the Line Out, one Line Out goes to the Sony Reciever Input (TV Input), the other Line out from the PC goes into the HDMI 2 (DVI + DVI Audio Input).

The setup sounds like it goes in a circle & I suppose it does to some extent.

It does work just fine though obviously (as stated), if the PC is off, the TV audio stops working (through the stereo).

This leaves me with two options:

1. Make the PC quieter to be left on 24/7.

or

2. Run a Stereo extension cable from the current 24/7 Homeseer/CCTV server to the living room (75-100 feet away via cable) Sony Reciever and get that audio mixer hardware.

I wouldnt mind somehow using the audio from my homeseer server (which is on 24/7) & having that merged with the TV audio but I dont think that would work without running loads of cable.

Before I had this setup, I had a laptop on 24/7 & it was plugged into the reciever, no TV went through the speakers. This extra fancy stuff is getting more complicated.

I sort of hate to leave the PC on all the time simply for HS2 announcements.

I do have a AB8SS that I didnt do anything with (yet).

 

[RichTJ99]

Can i use this cable:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product....=1&format=2

To split the audio out from the TV to the Reciever (channel dvd) & the PC - even though its video based (is RCA RCA)?

That way if the PC is off, I can change from TV to DVD & the audio will still be there?

 

[sic0048]

Can i use this cable:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product....=1&format=2

To split the audio out from the TV to the Reciever (channel dvd) & the PC - even though its video based (is RCA RCA)?

That way if the PC is off, I can change from TV to DVD & the audio will still be there?

Yes it should work. Even though that splitter is designed to take 1 video signal and split it into 2 video signals, it will work to take 1 audio signal and split it into 2 audio signals.

 

[beelzerob]

1. Make the PC quieter to be left on 24/7.

All the information you would ever care about for quiet computing is at silentpcreview.com. I pursued that quest for about a year before HA took all my time money and effort. But at least it steered me towards my Antec P-180B case, which I used as my regular use PC. I can BARELY hear it, and it sits at my knee, and it's the most powerful PC in our house. A great case like that, and careful selection of components (heatsink only video card and chipsets, etc) can do quite a bit to quiet things down. For good looking HTPC cases that are geared towards quiet, look at Silverstone. I love my LC-17 case.

 

[CollinR]

If you don't need a bunch of power my Intel Little valley is tiny, almost silent and the whole system is under 60 watt at full load.

 

[tmbrown97]

I have to pose a question for the audiophiles in the group... I love good quality music, but am a little cheap when it comes to buying the right equipment, so I can't answer this myself...

Wouldn't running 75ft. of cable to another room and back (basically 150-200ft. of cable) create a slight time-delay with the TV audio? I'm thinking if people care enough to adjust phase in an SUV, what happens when you introduce 200ft. of cable?

I'm not really in that situation with the audio, but I keep an off-the-shelf HP small-form-factor PC in my livingroom for internet and music on the TV - and it's quiet enough for me to not notice it...

 

[RichTJ99]

Well, I ended up getting a splitter coming from the TV audio out that goes to TV Input & the other TV audio out cable goes to the PC which mixes. The end result is if the PC is on, the DVD input needs to be on (PC mixes TV audio via the line in), if the PC is off (no HS2 announcements but) input is switched to TV on reciever.

It works fine but (always a but), if i put the line in input level at more than 20%, i get a reverberating echo effect (two speakerphones on in the same room on the same line).

Is this due to the cheapie onboard sound on my mobo? Is there a way to make the audio level louder? If the PC is on, the TV volume is low, if i turn up the volume while watching TV, the audio announcement from HS2 is blasting (not WAF friendly).

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Rich