PC Controlled Sound

Archived from groups: rec.audio.tech (More info?)

Anyone aware of what type of product(s) can take audio from a sound card and
split it to various speaker "pairs/zones". I want it so that software on
the PC can control which zones get the music

I found one thing that looks okay... http://www.hacs.com/ab8ss.html (of
course with my luck its out of stock). Even with that thing; I'm not sure
what type of amplifier I need.

Any advice/guidance is greatly appreciated.

Frank

Archived from groups: rec.audio.tech (More info?)

"Laurence Payne" <l@laurenceDELETEpayne.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:7qfqe0leci0k8f1vse7kgh89a77f2gqnni@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 08 Jul 2004 02:05:53 GMT, "Frank A" <notme@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> >Anyone aware of what type of product(s) can take audio from a sound card
and
> >split it to various speaker "pairs/zones". I want it so that software on
> >the PC can control which zones get the music
> >
> >I found one thing that looks okay... http://www.hacs.com/ab8ss.html (of
> >course with my luck its out of stock). Even with that thing; I'm not
sure
> >what type of amplifier I need.
> >
> >Any advice/guidance is greatly appreciated.
>
>
> That unit appears to be a speaker routing system. Feed it from the
> speaker outputs of whatever amplifier would normally drive the
> speakers. It allows for two inputs from separate amplifiers. You
> appear not to need this facility.
>
> This seems to do what you require. Maybe they offer a cheaper
> version with a single input? It seems to be down to you to write
> software to control it via a serial port on your computer, though a
> sample qbasic routine is offered.

Yea that item did seem to do what I wanted... my question was with what type
of Amplifier I would use with it... I'm not sure what I would need to
connect between the PC and the unit.

What do you think?

Archived from groups: rec.audio.tech (More info?)

"Laurence Payne" <l@laurenceDELETEpayne.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:vn1re0pb6famqum1bm8cc4fj0897vpfq9u@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 08 Jul 2004 16:16:58 GMT, "Frank A" <notme@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> >>
> >> That unit appears to be a speaker routing system. Feed it from the
> >> speaker outputs of whatever amplifier would normally drive the
> >> speakers. It allows for two inputs from separate amplifiers. You
> >> appear not to need this facility.
> >>
> >> This seems to do what you require. Maybe they offer a cheaper
> >> version with a single input? It seems to be down to you to write
> >> software to control it via a serial port on your computer, though a
> >> sample qbasic routine is offered.
> >
> >Yea that item did seem to do what I wanted... my question was with what
type
> >of Amplifier I would use with it... I'm not sure what I would need to
> >connect between the PC and the unit.
>
> I repeat - whatever amplifier you would normally use to drive the
> speakers, if they were sitting next to your computer.
>
> I guess you'll be wanting something better than the plastic "computer"
> speakers, designed for very close-up listening? If you're using
> speakers designed to go with a domestic hi-fi amp, use one of them.
>
> Are there any special requirements? Very long speaker runs? Need
> for top quality?

Long speaker runs would be a yes I guess... I plan on having the output of
this control multiple rooms on different floors of the house. For now the
Amp/Speakers will be mid level and then I might upgrade later on.

The reason I ask about the Amp is that my speakers for my computer dont seem
to use the same type connectors as that unit.... so I wasn't sure if there
was a special type of amp that would.

Frank