Audio Out Switching with Mac & HDTV?

[Paulyboy]

I would like to hook up my iMac to my HDTV. Both are in different rooms. When I'm using the HDTV with Plex or Boxee (controlled by my iPod Touch with Rowmote) I'd want the sound to come through the HDTV's speakers. When I'm using my iMac I'd want the sound to come through the speakers hooked up to my iMac.

So my question is if there's an easy way to switch which source I want the sound outputted to without having unplug and replug stuff from my iMac's audio out port constantly? Perhaps an audio splitter of some sort but how would I control which device the sound is outputting to? Would be nice if there was a software solution for this.

I'm totally clueless about this kind of thing so I figured this would be the best place to ask. Thanks in advance for any help.

-PN

 

[kyleaa]

Whenever you plug into the built in audio output it will disable the speakers on the iMac.

I believe you could get around this if you add a USB sound output device. The software Audio Hijack Pro will allow you to route the output of different programs to different system outputs . If I had my bluetooth headphones handy I could test this out for you.

 

[Paulyboy]

Whenever you plug into the built in audio output it will disable the speakers on the iMac.

I believe you could get around this if you add a USB sound output device. The software Audio Hijack Pro will allow you to route the output of different programs to different system outputs . If I had my bluetooth headphones handy I could test this out for you.

[snipped image quote - yellow]

Interesting. Thanks Kyle.

I have a pair of external speakers plugged into the built in audio output of my iMac now. The HDTV would be nearby, but in another room. Would something like one of these do the trick?

http://www.byterunner.com/byterunner/category=USB+to+Audio+Adapters+-+USB+Sound+Cards

If so could I then just select which speakers (the ones attached to my iMac or the ones attached to my HDTV) I want to use via the sound preferences in Leopard? Or would I also need that app you referred to above?

Thanks again,

-PN

 

[kyleaa]

Interesting. Thanks Kyle.

I have a pair of external speakers plugged into the built in audio output of my iMac now. The HDTV would be nearby, but in another room. Would something like one of these do the trick?

http://www.byterunner.com/byterunner/category=USB+to+Audio+Adapters+-+USB+Sound+Cards

If so could I then just select which speakers (the ones attached to my iMac or the ones attached to my HDTV) I want to use via the sound preferences in Leopard? Or would I also need that app you referred to above?

Thanks again,

-PN

Something along those lines would be what I was talking about - I don't know if those specific items would be Mac Compatible. You could just switch the output in system preferences - the software I was suggesting would allow you to route output from different programs to different outputs at the same time.