Switch speaker configuration between stereo and 5.1 using shortcut

Question

I'm trying to find a way to quickly change speaker configuration between 5.1 and stereo in Windows 7; anything that I will be able to make a shortcut of on the desktop for quick access.

The issue arises from bluray discs with PCM tracks. In those cases, unless Windows has the speakers configured as 5.1, it won't be sent to the amplifier via Arcsoft's TMT3. However, when using winamp I want a stereo configuration so that it passes directly to the amp.

I believe I can do it with autohotkey but that has a rather steep learning curve and I'll leave it as a last resort.

Is there a built-in Windows command or other method to change speaker configuration?

Solution 1

Soundswitch may be a solution, as it can switch between two speaker configurations for your current active playback device.

Solution 2

Ok, I did some investigation into this question because I was getting annoyed at going through the config menu. I play games so if I don't switch it to stereo for headphone use the audio is all messed up in-game.

Step 1: Grab process monitor, a program from sysinternals that monitors a bunch of stuff, including registry access from targeted processes. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896645

Step 2: Run process monitor and open up the config menu in the playback devices panel. In the process mon there is a little target toolbar icon, pick this up and drag it to the config window. It will now look at that window and only pick up events from that process. You'll need to set the filters to only look at registry items, and clear the log. See this pic (since I can't post pictures in replies yet):

Step 3: Go set the config you want, so in the picture I'll set it to 5.1 surround. Then look in the process monitor window, you'll see access to registry keys of the form: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MMDevices\Audio\Render{SOME LONG GUID}\Properties That will be your device, now right click on the entry in process monitor and click 'Jump to...' and it will open up the registry editor.

Step 4: Make sure you are in the '{GUID}/Properties' key in the registry editor and goto File>export, then export as a registry key with a descriptive name (audio_surround.reg or whatever).

Step 5: Switch to the other config using the speaker setup panel and export the registry again, with a descriptive name (audio_stereo.reg).

Now you should have two .reg files that you can double-click on to set your config to be stereo or surround. There is definitely an easier way, but it requires windows programming knowledge to get the GUID of the audio device, and then actually understand what the heck those registry values mean. But it's a start if anyone wants to roll with it!

Solution 3

Found this for my problem... the VBScript didn't work in Windows 7 so I made my own in AutoIT v3

I made 2 little scripts, it works only for creative X-Fi

Switch to 2.0:

Run("C:\Program Files (x86)\Creative\AudioCS\CTAudCS.exe")
WinWaitActive("Configuratiescherm voor geluid")
Send("{TAB 3}")
Send("{RIGHT}")
Send("{TAB 2}")
Send("{ASC 050}")
Send("{TAB}")
Send("{ENTER}")

Switch to 5.1:

Run("C:\Program Files (x86)\Creative\AudioCS\CTAudCS.exe")
WinWaitActive("Configuratiescherm voor geluid")
Send("{TAB 3}")
Send("{RIGHT}")
Send("{TAB 2}")
Send("{ASC 053}")
Send("{TAB}")
Send("{ENTER}")

Install AutoIT v3 and put this in a .au3 file. or compile it to a exe

Comments

[Fanis Hatzidakis]

Excellent! This looks like a compiled autohotkey so it confirms my suspicion that no dedicated utility does this. An initial test didn't switch outputs but the site claims it can, so I'll play with it a bit more in the morning.

[Dustin Wyatt]

I'm the author of Soundswitch. It's a compiled AutoIT script. The source is available.

[Fanis Hatzidakis]

This looks like it works. Good reverse engineering thinking there. I am, however, without my surround speakers at the moment, which is why I think the receiver doesn't recognise 5.1 being passed into it from the PC and remains in the 2.1 configuration.

[Damien]

Actually, this doesn't work. As soon as you reboot, Windows changes everything including the device IDs and the values that are written to the registry.

[eresonance]

@Damien: Hmm, don't have this problem with my setup, which is using Asus drivers for a realtek device.

[fixer1234]

The little information at that link indicates that it does some stuff with hot keys, but nothing discusses changing the mode as described in the question. Link-only answers are discouraged in general because the link can break, leaving the answer useless. For software recommendations, the objective is an actual solution rather than listing a tool (the standards have been tightened since this question was posted). Please see this link on recommending software: meta.superuser.com/questions/5329/…