2 source hookup

C

CAMD

New Member
I have a Dell desktop with a SoundBlaster Live audio card and Harmon/Kardon HK395 subwoofer/satellite speakers. Sounds awesome! Now I recently got a comcast digital cable box and hooked it up to my Dell WFP2407 monitor directly so I can watch TV PIP while working on the computer. I got a Y-adapter to hook up the computer and TV sound sources into the one input of the speaker system. The two-picture sources as PIP works great. But the two sound sources do not.

Now here is the problem. When I hook up the TV sound (by itself) into the speakers, the sound is awesome. When I hook up the computer sound (by itself) to the speakers, it's also awesome. But with both connected by the Y-adapter, the volume is significantly muted and the sound is much worse. Even if the computer is totally silent, the TV sound is really poor. Apparently just the background signal from one source disrupts the signal from the second source. I also hooked up the TV sound into the "audio input" of the SoundBlaster card, but it's the same story.

So how can I have both sources attached to the speakers simultaneously and maintain the great sound??? Is there such a thing as a "one way" Y-adapter that doesn't let the two signals interfere with eachother? Any help would be appreciated.
 
A typical Y adapter is made for output, not input. Two sources going in conflict with each other(as you have clearly heard). What can you do, not too much with what you have... You could always use the input and maybe the microphone jack(should work fine without the boost enabled). Or perhaps invest in an audio switch of some sort...
 
Mixers

Are there any "mixers" available that would suit this purpose? I'm willing to spend a little bit, although not several hundred.
 
I don't know of any right off, but I have seen cheaper mixers used for dubbing and what not. Maybe you could find something rather cheap on ebay...

Are you using your mic port? That would be the best option... Or you could even rig up an additional input if you have a few spare ones on the inside of your computer. I know some older sound cards had 3 additional inputs inside the computer. The conversion shouldn't be hard ;)
 
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