Question Can someone point me toward a very simple audio interface?

[schwim]

Hello there everyone!

I'm using two PCs and use a KVM to switch keyboard and mouse but I would like to hear the audio from both PCs at the same time through my headphones(no mic shared between them).

I've done a lot of Googling and ..Amazoning? but all of the audio interfaces I find are both overly complex for my needs and more geared toward streaming, music making and the like. I don't need 48v phantom power, separate jacks for left and right, gain,e tc.

Does someone know of a device I can purchase that has two plugs for the mini jacks from the pc and either USB or mini jack out for the earbuds?

Thanks for your time!

 

[dwd999]

You might be able to do it this way: you would need 2 cables like this to connect to the two computer outputs:

https://www.amazon.com/CableCreatio...e+to+mini+jack+male+cable,aps,133&sr=8-3&th=1

then a combiner like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Headphone-Sp...683&sprefix=audio+y+cable,aps,136&sr=8-5&th=1

then a gender changer like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Ksmile®-Ster...ale+to+mini+jack+female+cable,aps,132&sr=8-13

that you could plug your headphones into. Maybe this would work but no guarantees.

 

[schwim]

You might be able to do it this way: you would need 2 cables like this to connect to the two computer outputs:

https://www.amazon.com/CableCreation-Auxiliary-Compatible-Headphones-iPhones/dp/B01K3WX89O/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3CV2YAXJ747G2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2iVg6QwMYjWFU0nil0_91szJBtXMnDQuAv9bQ2TuB5Zq634UOPW17GQ3I1DNHBcYEVXwUhOKU6uTfjXooMqoj1dp2jjK0hoV2EvHlgjiPz6G3s08eekJvD_kon0wGbgjwCbbuZsonhVXHNLJiCteEYqg3gF0dW6DJBafQvohYdLolJ9ieGIEi8kZUHyiuiI3T-kUjG83F4nhRp-ktL_fZbV5-hMVTo5Tw60lMWnkpFA.1H5MooyU1XQPmvZhkWN8qQd7Yy1BozlNQtGPd1X_Pow&dib_tag=se&keywords=mini+jack+male+to+mini+jack+male+cable&qid=1712187285&sprefix=mini+jack+male+to+mini+jack+male+cable,aps,133&sr=8-3&th=1

then a combiner like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Headphone-Splitter-Syncwire-Nylon-Braided-Stereo/dp/B07431YDWM/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1H2VAO98KMAKI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.04CsvS-hNBOJFQaV3QhLDEk5GAVlf98EOOhtHmmANOp7WkT7ktE76Qa4nOizEjKsZdbnBqDDnc3ZI2J03ssmxCascVgufxKgibPrlqlFEvt0qOTVeKkCQfTXU9YwgXqZ2PYfxTfCl8H2RUvkUz1EyEhqbRMX5JHQVbe23u0YAC9m4fPtIT4pZ16XtVwHPoIsqEVuW73w3URRVD626DIFNwv89bkz0SVKbYI4zKp7s7I.712m8EwUJDD-psCsE0DtiLZi7R4Eojmr3Q_DzLUp3K8&dib_tag=se&keywords=audio+y+cable&qid=1712186683&sprefix=audio+y+cable,aps,136&sr=8-5&th=1

then a gender changer like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Ksmile®-Stereo-Adaptor-Connectors-Plated/dp/B01C9U3XI4/ref=sr_1_13?crid=36HWAZ6MVC4RN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0wr26Nlbg62qXgTa5tY7fFuz01cQSzFNInWqJP4Cbi3aFP5X_wG5KUEHjxoaSkka22uySmbaQJrG_ha2TH8EUBbQyX-JXTe2VySmLBQyhSRtZX_bMaVJ_2DdZ1Fs9zC3nSt7enXrzAhbbt3008NbZtCf3OTJQHahKacnLBidIGT_RlY_i6aojVtnURR5UFjnyGocDvoAtRrjI4fNgUZ_18bsi1QX67cunnsiLEJzvMc.38NR8Qes5AHQndkSotUzlNINhuJCMMPXWfEpIsX57ss&dib_tag=se&keywords=mini+jack+female+to+mini+jack+female+cable&qid=1712187171&sprefix=mini+jack+female+to+mini+jack+female+cable,aps,132&sr=8-13

that you could plug your headphones into. Maybe this would work but no guarantees.

Hi there and thanks for the help!

Unfortunately those splitters only work well in one direction and it's not the direction I need. When combining two sources via a splitter cable, the signal gets real bad and the audio output is terrible. They do work great, however for two headphones from one signal.

 

[schwim]

I read something about a ground loop noise isolator being able to clean up conjoined signal, so I ordered one and will see if that allows me to use a simple splitter.

 

[kira-faye]

I read something about a ground loop noise isolator being able to clean up conjoined signal, so I ordered one and will see if that allows me to use a simple splitter.

Interesting thought. Don't see why it wouldn't work.

 

[Ralston18]

@schwim

And to add a couple of other suggestions, give some thought (if and as necessary) to the various audio configurations/pinouts.

TS, TRS, TRRS. And there are different standards.

FYI:

https://www.cablechick.com.au/blog/understanding-trrs-and-audio-jacks/

If the TS, TRS, TRRS connections are mismatched then any adapters, splitters, etc.. may be moot.

The end requirement being that you can listen (speaker/headset) to two different sets of conversations at the same time and be able to join in (mic) to either conversation as necessary. Do you want both sets of conversations being able to always hear you at the same time?

Or is the requirement to select the specific conversation?

Also try to sketch out the desired devices and device connections including ports, plugs, adapters down to the pin level.

Two reasons for sketching it out: 1) Be able to establish the "big picture" and 2) discover or avoid audio ground loops.

 

[schwim]

Thank you so much for taking the time to help me. I will give the link a read when I get back home.

I should have explained in better detail what I'm trying to achieve. I'm sure it makes a difference but often I go into these things kind of with a half baked original post in my head.

The situation looks kind of like this: I've got two PCs, one of which I use almost entirely for gaming and media and the other which I use for basically everything else. By everything else I mean working on websites , coding, using the web to buy things off of Amazon, riding documents and spreadsheets, etc. The gaming machine is running windows 11 and has a traditional sound card as well as plenty of USB ports for audio out. The PC that I do most of my stuff on is running the latest version of Linux mint. It does not have a sound card so I use a USB. Jack to retrieve the audio off of that.

While on one machine I may be watching a YouTube video or Netflix movie or playing a game, on the other machine. In a discord channel or doing something on the web that requires audio from that side as well. This one would be the only one I would ever need a microphone for so I don't need to split the microphone between the two machines. I just need to hear the audio from both machines.

I looked into audio interfaces but I can't find anything that is well suited for what I'm looking for. They are almost all the same Chinese clone devices of a mono instrument jack, a microphone jack and then settings for like gain and phantom power and stuff like that. That's why I'm going to try the splitter in reverse because I simply can't find anything that just merges two mnijacks to one as an audio interface. So I'm not dealing with these ground issues and stuff like that.

 

[kira-faye]

Look on local Craigslist/Facebook Marketplace for a cheap used mixing board.

 

[Paperdoc]

This might be simple, BUT it only gives you ONE of the two stereo channels from EACH computer - one in each ear. However, it has no trouble with mixing two signals onto one channel.

ASSUME that, at each computer, you can get a signal in stereo out from a standard 3.5mm jack. Get yourself two of these cables. EACH of them will convert a single stereo jack into two female RCA connectors, one for each channel of the stereo.

https://www.amazon.com/JX-Splitter-...3.5mm+aux+to+2+rca+female,aps,134&sr=8-6&th=1

Now get one of these adapters that has two separate male RCA connectors and a single female 3.5mm stereo jack.

https://www.amazon.com/ulafbwur-Ste...3.5mm+aux+to+2+rca+female,aps,134&sr=8-1&th=1

You do NOT need these exact items - can probably get similar ones in any electronics shop. Run the two cables from the computers to your central site. For each cable plug ONE of the two male RCA plugs on that last adapter into ONE female end of a cable. Now plug the male 3.5mm plug stereo EARPHONE connector on the end of your headset cable into that adapter's female output. In your headset you will hear ONE channel of sound from the first computer in one ear, and ONE channel of sound from the second computer in the other ear. They will NOT be mixed in both ears, and you will NOT get full stereo sound from either computer.

 

[kira-faye]

This might be simple, BUT it only gives you ONE of the two stereo channels from EACH computer - one in each ear. However, it has no trouble with mixing two signals onto one channel.

ASSUME that, at each computer, you can get a signal in stereo out from a standard 3.5mm jack. Get yourself two of these cables. EACH of them will convert a single stereo jack into two female RCA connectors, one for each channel of the stereo.

https://www.amazon.com/JX-Splitter-Auxiliary-Compatible-Computer/dp/B08QVM6BYQ/ref=sr_1_6?crid=13YVFHINT6GRD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ABqG2ama4xrmXaKsO3bAUNL1AtkCDP9ulRBD6851Q8FrnGg10H04n0LRfvi7wEY9ZE6mG4VIugOYhVS_v7Ei_QH3BSw8GL_uD4dVViluPIKJ5_HXfy12GvMjpm221s78TaCA_XAsppuQcrYVNK5nnENWu8pI91UHSWjoE9H17Yxjq0YefOt0xhy0mG4A2xMd4Zrba8mosPi_dtRqo9nfy0hBGGh2wzyoDXx7nUJ3wqU.8HdWP2MDpeEcisnUgHXb4x6C9ulG1ACwXha0XJv-QVU&dib_tag=se&keywords=3.5mm+aux+to+2+rca+female&qid=1712288173&sprefix=3.5mm+aux+to+2+rca+female,aps,134&sr=8-6&th=1

Now get one of these adapters that has two separate male RCA connectors and a single female 3.5mm stereo jack.

https://www.amazon.com/ulafbwur-Stereo-Adapter-Splitter-Flimikun/dp/B0CMHC7664/ref=sr_1_1?crid=13YVFHINT6GRD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ABqG2ama4xrmXaKsO3bAUNL1AtkCDP9ulRBD6851Q8FrnGg10H04n0LRfvi7wEY9ZE6mG4VIugOYhVS_v7Ei_QH3BSw8GL_uD4dVViluPIKJ5_HXfy12GvMjpm221s78TaCA_XAsppuQcrYVNK5nnENWu8pI91UHSWjoE9H17Yxjq0YefOt0xhy0mG4A2xMd4Zrba8mosPi_dtRqo9nfy0hBGGh2wzyoDXx7nUJ3wqU.8HdWP2MDpeEcisnUgHXb4x6C9ulG1ACwXha0XJv-QVU&dib_tag=se&keywords=3.5mm+aux+to+2+rca+female&qid=1712288488&sprefix=3.5mm+aux+to+2+rca+female,aps,134&sr=8-1&th=1

You do NOT need these exact items - can probably get similar ones in any electronics shop. Run the two cables from the computers to your central site. For each cable plug ONE of the two male RCA plugs on that last adapter into ONE female end of a cable. Now plug the male 3.5mm plug stereo EARPHONE connector on the end of your headset cable into that adapter's female output. In your headset you will hear ONE channel of sound from the first computer in one ear, and ONE channel of sound from the second computer in the other ear. They will NOT be mixed in both ears, and you will NOT get full stereo sound from either computer.

I mean it's better than nothing, but not at all what the OP was looking to do.

 

[schwim]

Thanks very much for the suggestion but wouldn't work well for me as I'm hard of hearing and require sound in both ears to understand what I'm hearing.

I think I might have found a solution, if it works, I'll share what I found.

 

[schwim]

I found a solution. Thanks to @kira-faye 's comment regarding mixers, I changed my search terms. Looking for a "minijack mixer" got me to this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0824Q3WY8?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Three inputs, two outputs, corded or battery power and volume control for inputs and master, it's absolutely perfect.

Now I just need to build something to house this mess of pc's, a kvm, mixer and all the cables.

Thank you all for your help , it was invaluable.

 

[35below0]

You've found a solution already, but i was going to ask does it have to be headphones? Because for speakers i know some can take two inputs. I have the Edifier R1280T powered shelf speakers and the active speaker can take two inputs (but cannot itself mute one of them). That model doesn't have a headphone jack though, nor bluetooth but i bring it up just as an example.