Question:

How can I use Stereo Mix on Windows 11 to output audio to multiple devices?

I have a MSI PRO DP21 mini PC with Windows 11 Home 22H2, and I want to play my mp3 music collection with iTunes on two sets of speakers: Logitech wired speakers and Insignia Bluetooth speakers. I followed the instructions from this article: [How to Use 2 Audio Outputs at the Same Time on Windows 11](https://www.howtogeek.com/749153/how-to-use-2-audio-outputs-at-the-same-time-on-windows-11/), but I could not find the Stereo Mix option in the Sound settings. The article mentions that I need a digital audio workstation (DAW) application or a sound card that supports multi-channel audio output. Do I need to buy a new sound card or install a DAW application? If so, which one do you recommend for a beginner user? Can I use more than two speakers if I have multiple sound cards? Thank you for your help.

Answer:

If you want to play audio from your Windows 11 PC to more than one device, such as speakers and headphones, you might have heard of a feature called Stereo Mix. Stereo Mix is a virtual audio device that can capture and mix the sound from all your playback devices and send it to another output device. This way, you can hear the same audio on different devices at the same time.

However, not all PCs have the Stereo Mix option available. This depends on your sound card and driver compatibility. Some sound cards do not support Stereo Mix, while some drivers do not enable it by default. If you have a MSI PRO DP21 mini PC with Windows 11 Home 22H2, you might not see the Stereo Mix option in your Sound settings.

Fortunately, there are other ways to use Stereo Mix on Windows 11, even if your PC does not have it. You can either use a digital audio workstation (DAW) application or a sound card that supports multi-channel audio output. Here are the steps to follow for each method:

Using a DAW Application

A DAW application is a software that allows you to record, edit, and produce audio. Some DAW applications also have the ability to route audio from different sources to different outputs. This means you can use a DAW application to simulate the Stereo Mix feature on Windows 11.

One of the most popular and easy-to-use DAW applications is Audacity. Audacity is a free, open-source, and cross-platform audio editor that can record and play audio from multiple devices. You can download Audacity from its official website: [https://www.audacityteam.org/](https://www.audacityteam.org/).

To use Audacity to output audio to multiple devices, follow these steps:

1. Install and launch Audacity on your Windows 11 PC.

2. Go to Edit > Preferences > Devices and select your primary audio device as the Playback Device. This is the device that you want to play audio from, such as iTunes. For example, if you want to play audio from your Logitech speakers, select them as the playback device.

3. Select Windows WASAPI as the Host and Stereo as the Channels. Click OK to save the changes.

4. Go to Transport > Transport Options > Software Playthrough and make sure it is checked. This will enable Audacity to capture the audio from your playback device and send it to another output device.

5. Go to Edit > Preferences > Recording and select your secondary audio device as the Recording Device. This is the device that you want to play audio to, such as headphones. For example, if you want to play audio to your Insignia Bluetooth speakers, select them as the recording device.

6. Select Windows WASAPI as the Host and Stereo as the Channels. Click OK to save the changes.

7. Click the Record button on the toolbar. Audacity will start recording the audio from your playback device and playing it to your recording device. You should hear the same audio on both devices.

8. To stop the audio, click the Stop button on the toolbar. You can also pause and resume the audio by clicking the Pause button.

Note: You can adjust the volume of each device by using the Mixer Toolbar or the Volume Slider on the bottom right corner of the Audacity window.

Using a Sound Card

Another way to use Stereo Mix on Windows 11 is to use a sound card that supports multi-channel audio output. A sound card is a hardware device that processes and outputs audio signals. Some sound cards have multiple audio ports that can be configured to output audio to different devices.

One of the most common and affordable sound cards that support multi-channel audio output is the Creative Sound Blaster Audigy FX. This sound card has a 5.1 surround sound output that can be connected to up to six speakers or headphones. You can buy this sound card from online retailers such as Amazon or Newegg.

To use the Creative Sound Blaster Audigy FX to output audio to multiple devices, follow these steps:

1. Install the sound card on your Windows 11 PC according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer. You might need to open your PC case and insert the sound card into a PCI Express slot on your motherboard.

2. Connect your audio devices to the sound card using the appropriate cables. For example, if you want to connect your Logitech speakers and your Insignia Bluetooth speakers, you can use the following ports:

• Connect the Logitech speakers to the Front Out port using a 3.5mm audio cable.
• Connect the Insignia Bluetooth speakers to the Rear Out port using a 3.5mm audio cable and a Bluetooth transmitter.

3. Install the driver and software for the sound card from the CD or the website provided by the manufacturer. You might need to restart your PC after the installation.

4. Launch the Sound Blaster Audigy FX Control Panel from the Start menu or the system tray. This is the software that allows you to configure the sound card settings.

5. Go to Speakers/Headphones > Speaker Configuration and select 5.1 Surround as the Speaker/Headphone Selection. This will enable the sound card to output audio to all the connected devices.

6. Go to Speakers/Headphones > Speaker Settings and adjust the Volume and Balance of each device as desired. You can also use the Test button to check the sound quality of each device.

7. Click OK to save the changes and exit the control panel.

Note: You can also use the Windows Sound Settings to change the default playback device and volume of each device.

Using More Than Two Speakers

If you want to use more than two speakers with your Windows 11 PC, you can either use multiple sound cards or a DAW application that supports more than two audio outputs. However, these methods might require more advanced skills and equipment.

Using multiple sound cards is similar to using one sound card, except that you need to install and connect more than one sound card to your PC and configure them separately. You also need to make sure that your PC has enough PCI Express slots and power supply to support multiple sound cards.

Using a DAW application that supports more than two audio outputs is similar to using Audacity, except that you need to use a DAW application that can route audio from different sources to different outputs. Some examples of such DAW applications are Reaper, FL Studio, and Ableton Live. You also need to make sure that your audio devices are compatible with the DAW application and the audio format.

Conclusion

In

this article, we have explained how to use Stereo Mix on Windows 11 to output audio to multiple devices. We have also discussed the alternatives to Stereo Mix, such as using a DAW application or a sound card that supports multi-channel audio output. We hope this article has helped you to enjoy your audio on different devices at the same time.