Sound passthrough to a VM

[jdcranke07]

Hey Peeps,

I'm trying to setup a VM that will be acting as a separate environment, like having a separate computer. I've been able to set the majority of this up just fine; however, I am running to a problem with sound. I'm using VMware Workstation 12. Host is Windows 10 Pro. VM will be using Windows 8.1.

Right now all sound goes to the host that is using an Asus Xonar Essence STX sound card. Ideally I would like to see if I can split the sound to where the host only plays what is coming through for the host and the VM's sound comes through separately for a more isolated environment. Would I be able to utilize the mobo's I/O for the VM? Would I need to install a 2nd sound card? Or is it not possible do to what I'm inquiring about?

Hopefully, I was clear enough to understand. If not please say so and I'll try to clarify more efficiently.

 

[Solandri]

How are you testing this? On my VMWare Workstation, the sound comes through on the client when I remote desktop to the VM. If I initiate the remote desktop session on the host, the sound comes through on the host. If I initiate the remote desktop session on my tablet, the sound comes through on the tablet.

The VM shouldn't be seeing your Xonar. Its sound device should be a generic audio device which Workstation then maps to your Xonar when you access the VM via the host, maps to the local sound card when you access the VM via another computer. Check the config settings for the VM. Under sound device, make sure it's set to auto detect (confusingly labeled as "detect host sound card" in Workstation 11). My guess would be you've specified the VM use the Xonar card specifically, so it's obediently piping sound through the host all the time.

If you're using something other than remote desktop (e.g. VNC), make sure it's configured to also pipe sound to the client.

 

[jdcranke07]

How are you testing this? On my VMWare Workstation, the sound comes through on the client when I remote desktop to the VM. If I initiate the remote desktop session on the host, the sound comes through on the host. If I initiate the remote desktop session on my tablet, the sound comes through on the tablet.

The VM shouldn't be seeing your Xonar. Its sound device should be a generic audio device which Workstation then maps to your Xonar when you access the VM via the host, maps to the local sound card when you access the VM via another computer. Check the config settings for the VM. Under sound device, make sure it's set to auto detect (confusingly labeled as "detect host sound card" in Workstation 11). My guess would be you've specified the VM use the Xonar card specifically, so it's obediently piping sound through the host all the time.

If you're using something other than remote desktop (e.g. VNC), make sure it's configured to also pipe sound to the client.

Well, you are right, I did have it specified. However, I was going through the GPU at the time, which was dumb. Before the hard disk got corrupted earlier, I was able to see the GPU audio, my Xonar, and two different Hi Def audio options (I assumed this was from the mobo directly). Now, I have a new VM that I created and I can only see the two generic Hi Def options. When I get everything installed again, I'll test it out to see if it working as you mentioned yours does. I also only have one tower with two screens and two sets of perifs that I'm using here, so there is no separate device I'm broadcasting to. I originally chose the GPU option since the 2nd monitor has built-in speakers I was trying to see if I could use. Part of the reason why I posted this question too was to see if I needed a 2nd set of standalone speakers to plug into the mobo or if I'd actually be able to use the speakers in the 2nd monitor.