System Tray Audio Device Switcher
Published by Kev March 30th, 2006 in reviews, techI actively use both a Bluetooth headset (a Logitech® Mobile Pro™) and a Rode NT1 microphone on my computer. The headset I use for making and taking Skype calls and listening to podcasts at home, while the microphone I use for narrating video tutorials and recording podcasts. The problem is, switching between these audio sources is a minor pain (which becomes a major pain through repitition), requiring a trip to the Control Panel every time.
Thankfully, I’ve found this free utility called, in various places, System Tray Audio Device Switcher, SysADS, SADS, and System Tray Audio Device Manager. It lives in my Windows system tray and allows me to select my playback and recording device with just a couple of clicks. The program hasn’t been updated since its release in 2003, but it works on Windows XP SP2 just fine (I’m not holding my breath that it’ll work quite so well in Vista, however).
Even with this utility, most Windows programs can’t switch audio devices while running. Windows Media Player, for example, will latch onto the selected playback device when it starts up, and will continue outputting to it even if you switch devices while it’s running. More flexible programs like Skype do allow you to switch devices at any time, but only by overriding the system default device in the program’s own settings.
In short, this utility does save me the trip to the Control Panel to change audio devices, but I still need to restart any audio programs I may have already open in order for the switch to affect them.
Here’s hoping things get better, not worse, in Vista.
hey, this information was actually helpful to me! (Like you I have multiple audio devices — skype on bluetooth headset, regular speakers for music (through a usb external soundcard), regular headphones on internal sound card). Thanks for putting this information up.
txh for usefull link, works well. my HW configuration was nearly the same as yours - and also the problems/needs. Now solved. THX.
Gabor
The Link is dead..but i found an equal software that works fine with my 2 Soundcards + USB-Headset:
http://www.toflo.de/Downloads/Tools/Soundcard-Switcher/
Thx for the Link Duderino!
works fine here too!
Marc
Thanks Duderino!
I used another application to switch Soundcards: STADS.
But I like the QuickSoundSwitch much more because it offers much more options (like setting back the soundcard on startup, hotkeys..
The System Tray Audio Device Manager 1.0 still seems to be down anyway.. is there any other location to download it?
Thanks! Link seems to be working again…I’m gonna try both QuickSoundSwitch and STAD to see which one is better although both are probably equally good. The only difference I’ve heard so far is that Quicksoundswitch is just a simple .exe app that does not need to be installed.
There is a new Version of QuickSoundSwitch 2.0.
it can create special shortcuts of your Games & Apps to switch and adjust the Soundcard automatically just before the program starts up.
It also suports Hotkeys now…
This Version already looks quite good to me
But, I still can not download STAD I guess the link is dead again, so I can not compare…
Hi there,
I just updated the QuickSoundSwitch (using the “update” in the Main-screen) .. the new Version has some really nice new features.. specially the Niknames have been on my wishlist
Regarding your Download-Question you can dl STADS here:
http://www.mp3vcr.com/stads/
But STADS is really poor compared with the Quick Sound Switch (specially because its 20 times bigger).
Also STADS seems to have some problems with Web-Cams (its showing my Webcam in the Soundcard - List)
Anyway, I’m happy with the QSS..just hope it also works on Windows Vista..
I have to switch the primary card severall times a day which was a pain in the a**.
So I was searching for a tool like this for a long time!
Sound Switch is exactly what I needed!!!!
Thank you all!
R.
QSS is a s**t!! Every time it starts i have to reconfigure every damn channel. I hope STADS works for me!!
Great! This is just what I was looking for. I’m using two soundcards in my PC, the crappy integrated one for my crappy speakers and Audigy 2 for my hifi headphones, so I have to switch between cards once in a while.