choose audio output by application?

[rallynavvie]

With my HTPC I'm still using onboard audio (since I don't need gaming audio decoding like EAX). The optical output is connected to my receiver and the stereo speaker ouput is connected to a set of PC speakers.

What I'd like to do is choose which applications only use the optical output and leave the rest output only to the PC speakers. For instance I really only want iTunes, Media Center, and Quicktime to output to the receiver and all system sounds to output on the PC speakers. The problem is when listening to most of my music collection I have to turn the receiver up due to the variance in levels of the music (I have an extensive classical/opera collection, go figure) and while using some other program an error beep in Windows will damn near knock me out of my chair

Even if I need to buy an additional or 2 additional sound cards to support my output choices I'd do it, but I can't even find audio device selections other than in the Windows cpl. Granted the other drawback to onboard is a simple driver which may not support that much in the way of options. Perhaps one of the Creative cards supports this?

[yoda313]

don't know if it helps but I just checked media player classic and it has a choice to choose spdif or pc speakers. Maybe that would help limit your switching problems???

[rallynavvie]

That'd be great if I used WMP, though it makes me think I should be able to alter the output channel on Media Center at least. However when I'm watching TV in Media Center I'm usually loafing on the couch rather than working at the computer, but I usually have the news on while I'm working at my computer in the evening.

I did just realize that the optical audio output isn't controlled by the system volume or mute, just a simple stream. I guess that's what I should have expected, I just didn't realize it until last night when I hit the mute button on the MCE remote instead of the receiver remote. Took me a second after seeing the subtitles come on to figure it out

[Soopafresh]

I noticed in the latest ffdshow builds that you can specify which apps may access ffdshow for codecs.