Vista - Audio Devices

I have a USB headset that I leave plugged in 24x7. I use it for a VoIP
application that I run pretty frequently. I also have a standard pair of
speakers/subwoofer. Both devices have the appropriate drivers installed and
are functional.

My question is this. Aside from application settings, is there any way to
control which audio device a program will use? Say I'm running some third
party software for playing MP3s. I have my headset on and decide that I
want to take it off and shift my audio output for *one* particular
application to my speakers instead. Assuming this application doesn't have
an internal setting for device output, is there a way to quickly shift the
audio to my speakers?

Thanks!

That's a great question that isn't answered in XP or in Vista. Your drivers
should include some sort of utility for controlling/re-directing output on
the fly, but I think it's over their heads. Of course, in the Windows sound
control panel, you can change preferred devices, but it's sure a pain in the
neck to go do that just because you have a Skype call coming in . . .

One of these days, PCs will be user-friendly. And we'll all look back at
2007, and we'll laugh.

-- Dave


"James" <minorkeys@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:elf%236ZR%23GHA.4472@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>I have a USB headset that I leave plugged in 24x7. I use it for a VoIP
>application that I run pretty frequently. I also have a standard pair of
>speakers/subwoofer. Both devices have the appropriate drivers installed
>and are functional.
>
> My question is this. Aside from application settings, is there any way to
> control which audio device a program will use? Say I'm running some third
> party software for playing MP3s. I have my headset on and decide that I
> want to take it off and shift my audio output for *one* particular
> application to my speakers instead. Assuming this application doesn't
> have an internal setting for device output, is there a way to quickly
> shift the audio to my speakers?
>
> Thanks!
>