I use USB headphones. I also use regular speakers connected to my sound card. Windows makes it a multi-step process to switch from headphones to speakers.
I tired of this, so I wrote a program to rectify the situation and I called it Soundswitch because I’m a wordsmith. You can find this program here:
Available here.
Basic Use and Installation
Unzip it to the directory of your choice.
Look in the Sound applet in control panel to see which two sound devices you want to switch between. In the following image, the two I switch between are labeled 1 and 4. Thus, in the ini file, I used 1 for Source1 and 4 for Source2. Update: Note that the number of items will vary based upon whether you have “Show Disabled Devices” and “Show Disconnected Devices” checked (Right click anywhere in the list to see these). For the purposes of Sound Switch make sure both options are checked before counting the items. The screenshot below doesn’t reflect this.
The ini by default has the switch key assigned to Ctrl-Alt-F12. Edit this as you like.
Tested on Win7 x64 and Vista x32.  Update: XP no longer works with the latest updates. Use this older version for XP compatibility: soundswitch
Any comments on this are welcome and I’ll try to fix any bugs reported.
Version 2 Notes
I’ve added a good number of features in the latest version. All accessible through the .ini file.
- “Scroll” through each enabled item in your Sound panel.
- Hide the tray icon
- Switch between two speaker configurations for your current active playback device
- Switch/scroll just the default comm device, default playback device, or both
- Hotkey to terminate the program
well, I was going to hit the “donate” button because I’d finally found a wonderful program that would solve my problem… until I found out Windows XP isn’t supported, yet the legacy version is claimed to work with it. This is really crappy on the developer’s part for not keeping records on how the program he wrote & claims works with Windows XP. To not support Windows XP when a large portion of the population uses it as their primary OS, this is amateurish, at best.
@tiffany: What are you talking about? You would be the first person to report the legacy version not working with XP.
I’m also not sure what you are referring to by “not keeping records”. What other records would you like me to keep other than the record of the version which works? I have a link to that version right there in the post.
Yes, you do have a link to the version that works with XP right there in your post . . . However, the .exe file doesn’t open up.
When I rightclick on the soundswitch icon in the tray, “Script paused” is checked.
Un-checking that makes no difference, and next time I rightclick it, it remains checked.
Oh well, I guess I have to figure out some other way to switch between the devices. Thanks anyway.
Just downloaded the beta version. I have windows 8.
I didn’t work for me. There is no step by step instructions manual for beginners like me.
I still have the same stress by switching audio devices manually.
PLEASE Help
Sincerely,
Rene
It’s like i’m almost get it to work, but something i screwed up in the ini file.
I have install SoundSwith and ” SuperAntiSpyware ”
tell me !! Virus Critical Threats -Trojan Agent/Gen Kazy ” ?
Is possbile ? Thank you
regards
gertou
Downloaded it (3.0 dev2 64-bit for windows 7) and it works great. Thanks dude – donation coming your way.
Hi, i just downloaded it and change the source so its fits with me, but can someone help me with the keybinds? cant get it to work. Would realy appreciate it. Thx 🙂
Can you please make the config file easier to set-up? I don’t really get it. Maybe I’m just dumb :s
Great tool. Donation made.
Cant find the download link?
I can not make it work in win 8 in Spanish 😥
help me!!
in the .ini file i add this:
[Sound Devices]
Source1=Altavoces Creative SB X-Fi
Source2=Altavoces Logitech G930 Headset
[Speakers]
Set1 = 2
Set2 = 3
[Strings]
;Español
WindowsTitle = Sonido
WindowsTab = Reproducón
DefaultDevice = Dispocitivo Predeterminado
DefaultDeviceAltLetter = p
DefaultCommDevice = Dispocitivo de Cominicación Predeterminado
DefaultCommDeviceAltLetter = c
Ready = Listo
Default = Predeterminar
I can confirm it’s not working with french version of windows 8.1. Since this almost never happens a warning would be great 😡
@Ivan Valle: no spanish either, only english.
Worked flawlessly!
Thank you.
I have a pair of Turtle Beach PX21 headsets, that work with this program only if I do not plug in the 3.5mm cable. When only the USB cable is plugged in, it works, but not when the 3.5 cable is plugged in. what am I missing???
@youngmcse: This program works entirely based upon the information presented in the Sound applet devices list (http://blog.contriving.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/410x460xsound_panel.jpg.pagespeed.ic.gZIejjD6uR.jpg).
My guess is that when you plug in the 3.5mm cable something in that list changes and then messes up the configuration.
Thank you very much for creating this program! 😀 I’m tired of manually changing the default playback device. This program saves so much time.
Thank you so much, works great on Win8.1 with my G930 and speakers!
any way to have this auto start in windows 8.1?
Vizionblind
http://askleo.com/how-do-i-add-a-program-to-auto-start-in-windows-8/
thank you.
This doesn’t work on Windows 8, Dutch language.
Could you make a native WinAPI version of this?
Apparently this works only in English Windows version. Tested today with Win 8.1 Finnish without success.
– yakko
I can’t get older XP version to work. Instructions and screen shots above seem to apply to more recent Windows OS’s. Can I get instructions for XP?
XP “Sound and Audio Devices” has Audio tab. Under “Sound Playback” there is a drop-down list that shows 2 devices on my machine (SigmaTel Audio (speakers on sound card) and Logitech Wireless Headset (USB headset). I assume those are Source 1 & 2. So I set my ini file as below. Pressing Ctrl-F12 causes the “Sound and Audio Devices” window to flash as if it were trying to change devices, but sound continues to come only from speakers.
Ini file:
[Sound Playback Devices]
Source1=1
Source2=4
[HotKey]
;^ = Ctrl ! = Alt + = Shift # = Win
;
;Examples:
;
; “!f” – Alt-f
; “^#s” – Ctrl-WinKey-s
Keys=^{F12}
I don’t know if you are still working on this, but is there a way to stop the audio box pop-up from coming up when you press the hotkey?
It’s not that big of a problem, I just find it a little annoying, i think i have minor OCD 😯
The default shortcut key is ctrl+windowskey+f12 🙂 I had to read the ini to figure this out.
Thank you for this little app. I will be sending a donation in appreciation.