A really killer audio util for computer users

[s1rrah]

Since using Windows 7 ... about two years now, I've been mostly happy (I've been on the same original install since Jan of 2011, when I built my current 2700K music/gaming machine and things are clicking along fine thus far).

 

But one process I've always wanted to streamline was the switching among various audio devices (since Windows 7, and I think that trash heap that was Vista, introduced a more granular approach to audio channel management, which, in the long run is a good thing but it also brings with it some tedium).  

 

Typically, one must right click the default Windows 7 speaker icon in the task bar, then select "playback devices" and then select whatever playback device you want (Speakers, SPDIF Interface, USB 1.0 Device, Optical, etc.) and then click "OK." ... A real fecking chore, that. 

 

But just recently I found a little homebrew utility that, like when I first discovered the Core Temp utility, has literally changed the way I use my computer on a daily basis; and, since I predominately listen to FLACS via optical out and headphones, and also watch a lot of movies via my 5.1 speakers, I find myself switching among devices quite frequently.

 

Enter Win7AudioSwitcher.

 

It puts a little icon in the taskbar and all you do is right click it and then select whatever audio device you want to use. It works like a magic trick. It's free. Some dude made it and gave it away. There used to be a page on SourceForge but I can't find it now. It's very stable, light weight and also puts a (user decided) OSD "gadget" on the screen showing your current config. Sorry about the Softpedia link, it's the best I could find. You'll have to wade through the ads and fake "download" images. But it's there if you want to download it.

 

Here's another link: http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/Win7AudioSwitcher-Download-202022.html

 

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Some images...

 

The taskbar "selector" bit:

 

 

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And, the optionally displayed desktop "widget"

 

 

 

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Super cool util.