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?

Answer 1

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

Answer 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!

Answer 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

Answer 4

The following works for Creative X-FI. I'm sure the same concept could be adapted to work with Windows default. Enter the following in Notepad, save as 2-1.vbs. To make a 5.1 shortcut, change the 2 in WshShell.SendKeys("{2}" ) into a 5, save as 5-1.vbs Again, this is for Creative X-FI.

Option Explicit

Dim WshShell
Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell" )
'
'
' ----> Lines that begin with ' are disabled, just foot notes.
'
' Start up the Audio Console
WshShell.CurrentDirectory = "C:\Program Files (x86)\Creative\AudioCS\"
WshShell.Run "CTAudCS.exe"
' lets open the console
While WshShell.AppActivate("Audio Control Panel") = FALSE
wscript.sleep 200
WshShell.AppActivate "Audio Control Panel"
Wend
'
' send some keystrokes to get the speaker settings box activated
'
'
WshShell.SendKeys("{TAB}{TAB}{TAB}{RIGHT}{TAB}{TAB}" )

'
' set the speaker selection to 2.1
'
WshShell.SendKeys("{2}" )
'
' exit Audio Control Panel -panel
'
WshShell.SendKeys("{TAB}{ENTER}" )

WScript.Quit(0)

Answer 5

Another solution is to use a utility from Nir Sofer (NirSoft) — SoundVolumeView (it's freeware, like all the others on his site). It can be used to view and set various properties of all sound components in the system. Basically it has UI, but also has command-line support. Additionally there is a console only version of SoundVolumeView — SoundVolumeCommandLine (svcl.exe).

Among other parameters it can switch speaker configuration in Windows. For example, to switch to Stereo (Full-range speakers are off) you can use the following command (you need to change the device name according to your system):

"<Path to SoundVolumeView>\SoundVolumeView.exe" /SetSpeakersConfig "Sound Blaster Z\Device\Speakers\Render" 0x3 0x3 0x0

Then you can create a shortcut with this command or use a third-party utility like AutoHotkey.

Here is an excerpt from the help:

/SetSpeakersConfig [Device Name] [Channel Mask] [Optional Speakers] [Full Range Speakers]

Sets the desired speakers configuration (Stereo, Quadraphonic, 5.1 Surround, 7.1 Surround, and so on). The [Channel Mask], [Optional Speakers] and [Full Range Speakers] parameters are integer values that represent the speakers configuration. You can use Hexadecimal numbers in these parameters by specifying '0x' prefix.
You don't have to deeply understand the meaning of these values. Simply set the desired speakers configuration from the user interface of Windows, and then copy the 3 values from the 'Speakers Config' column.

Here's some examples:

Set the speakers configuration to Stereo (With all speakers selected):

SoundVolumeView.exe /SetSpeakersConfig "Realtek High Definition Audio\Device\Speakers\Render" 0x3 0x3 0x3

Set the speakers configuration to Quadraphonic (With all speakers selected):

SoundVolumeView.exe /SetSpeakersConfig "Realtek High Definition Audio\Device\Speakers\Render" 0x33 0x33 0x33

Set the speakers configuration to 5.1 Surround (With all speakers selected):

SoundVolumeView.exe /SetSpeakersConfig "Realtek High Definition Audio\Device\Speakers\Render" 0x3f 0x3f 0x3f

Answer 6

You can try used program Volume², it have function change audio devices with keyboard hotkeys