anything wrong with hooking up xm AND radio to same line-in? - Page 2

Sonicxtacy02 · 01-15-2008, 08:08 PM

lol.. it doesnt.. and honestly i havent found a sound card with 2 line-in's for less than $200

krnpimpsta · 01-15-2008, 10:07 PM

i think the issue was that his sound card has one line lin and one mic in, but the mic input is disabled when anything is plugged into the line-in port. i was suggesting he pick up a sound card that can accept both inputs.

jontz · 01-16-2008, 08:13 AM

Ick...you do realize that most mic inputs are mono, not stereo, and they have such high gain that the connected device sounds like

krnpimpsta · 01-16-2008, 08:54 AM

good point. how about this? http://store.mp3car.com/Mp3Car_USB_a..._p/sat-007.htm - and then control the XM from your computer?

Sonicxtacy02 · 01-16-2008, 08:56 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by krnpimpsta

i think the issue was that his sound card has one line lin and one mic in, but the mic input is disabled when anything is plugged into the line-in port. i was suggesting he pick up a sound card that can accept both inputs.

thanks for the idea but he's correct.. mic-in's are TERRIBLE when it comes to the audio quality. I found this out as soon as i plugged the xm into it. Its bad as it is but TERRIBLE hooked up there lol.

FusionFanatic · 01-16-2008, 10:16 AM

if you don't want to use an input switch then it seems that your best option is to use the MP3car USB XM tuner. at $50 it's not a bad deal (beats buying a new sound card

).

Sonicxtacy02 · 01-16-2008, 10:23 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by ComputerGeek

if you don't want to use an input switch then it seems that your best option is to use the MP3car USB XM tuner. at $50 it's not a bad deal (beats buying a new sound card

).

thats what i have.. the audio doesnt go over usb though it still needs to be plugged into a line-in.

MatrixPC · 01-16-2008, 06:16 PM

How about other input connection like CD-IN, AUX-IN, ... Not sure if your card has that, but my SB Live! Value has those inputs.
But I think making one yourself is much cheaper. All you need is a 4PDT or 3PDT relay and couple of male/female 3.5mm jack/plug.
Or go to walmart game/audio/video section and pick up a Video/audio selector box + 3 set of RCA to 3.5mm cables and call it a day.

jontz · 01-16-2008, 08:25 PM

Matrix has a good point. If your sound card is PCI, it should have some sort of CD-ROM audio in, from the old days before audio came over the IDE cable. Perhaps you could hook in there?

FusionFanatic · 01-16-2008, 08:29 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Sonicxtacy02

Quote: Originally Posted by ComputerGeek

if you don't want to use an input switch then it seems that your best option is to use the MP3car USB XM tuner. at $50 it's not a bad deal (beats buying a new sound card

).

thats what i have.. the audio doesnt go over usb though it still needs to be plugged into a line-in.

crap.. I didn't even notice that...

oh well, I guess we're back to the source selector switch box then. the MK-1 accepts 3.5mm plugs and it's only $23

FusionFanatic · 01-16-2008, 08:34 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by jontz

If your sound card is PCI, it should have some sort of CD-ROM audio in, from the old days before audio came over the IDE cable

can that be used as a separate input that could be switched back and forth between line-in and CD-in?

jontz · 01-16-2008, 08:42 PM

Yep...just go into the windows mixer and mute the one you aren't using at the time.

FusionFanatic · 01-16-2008, 09:51 PM

hmmm... that would get aggravating after a while. it would also be hard/dangerous to do while driving.

a physical selector switch would be much better (and safer) IMO

Sonicxtacy02 · 01-17-2008, 08:50 AM

well my problem is i cant use a pci sound card as my case is about 6" x "8" x 2". I need an external sound card with an aux-in or cd-in. If i could find one i'd buy that before the selector. Muting the line that needs to be muted is done through the front end (in my case Road Runner)

jontz · 01-17-2008, 09:01 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by ComputerGeek

hmmm... that would get aggravating after a while. it would also be hard/dangerous to do while driving.

a physical selector switch would be much better (and safer) IMO

I didn't say it was a good idea, just that is was a possibility.

I only have about one good idea a year, and it's too early to waste it