Splitting USB output

brenoneill1

Hi All,

I need to send audio output to two different live online services. Does anyone know of any kit that would accept one usb input and provide 2 usb outputs? I know how usb works and realise that a standard usb hub won't work - are their any digital audio gurus here who might be amble to advise me?

I'm trying to avoid a 2 microphone, 2 preamp situation if possible.

Many thanks,
Brendan

Kerry_2008

Are the split usb outputs going to seperate devices?

KeithTS

What's your input, what's your output?

brenoneill1

Kerry_2008 wrote: »

Are the split usb outputs going to seperate devices?

Yes, 2 laptops, each uploading the audio feed to a different live auction site.

Thanks,
Brendan

TheChizler

Not possible with USB. Is there a reason you have to use the two laptops? Why not stream to both with the first one? If you have to stick with two you could listen to the stream from the first with the second and re-send it.

brenoneill1

KeithTS wrote: »

What's your input, what's your output?

Input is a USB from a Warfedale 802 mixer, output is usb to a laptop.

Thanks,
Brendan

brenoneill1

TheChizler wrote: »

Not possible with USB. Is there a reason you have to use the two laptops? Why not stream to both with the first one? If you have to stick with two you could listen to the stream from the first with the second and re-send it.

Each laptop is uploading to a different live auction site, serving online bidders.

Thanks,
Brendan

TheChizler

brenoneill1 wrote: »

Each laptop is uploading to a different live auction site, serving online bidders.

Thanks,
Brendan

But is there a reason the same laptop can't upload to both sites?

JoyPad

The question is wrong.
You do not need to split USB, ever. The USB is a serial bus, a way to transfer data between two digital devices. No more, no less.

brenoneill1

TheChizler wrote: »

But is there a reason the same laptop can't upload to both sites?

Yes. Each system allows an operator to update the current bid amount with bids taken from the auction room, telephone bids, or bids from the other online service. In addition, each is connected to an external monitor showing the bid information to the auctioneer on the podium. One laptop further feeds current lot pictures to TV screens in the saleroom. So the laptops are doing a fair bit as it is.

Given the vagaries of Internet speeds and quality, I don't want to risk introducing any delays between the audio and the current bid status, as someone might lose out on an item if they were bidding based on the sound feed.

Thanks,
Brendan

brenoneill1

JoyPad wrote: »

The question is wrong.
You do not need to split USB, ever. The USB is a serial bus, a way to transfer data between two digital devices. No more, no less.

Thanks for your comment. As per my original post, I know how usb works. I was hoping that maybe a bit of kit existed that took the original usb output, decoded the digital audio, then sent a separate signal to two usb outputs.

Thanks,
Brendan

TheChizler

brenoneill1 wrote: »

Yes. Each system allows an operator to update the current bid amount with bids taken from the auction room, telephone bids, or bids from the other online service. In addition, each is connected to an external monitor showing the bid information to the auctioneer on the podium. One laptop further feeds current lot pictures to TV screens in the saleroom. So the laptops are doing a fair bit as it is.

Given the vagaries of Internet speeds and quality, I don't want to risk introducing any delays between the audio and the current bid status, as someone might lose out on an item if they were bidding based on the sound feed.

Thanks,
Brendan

I don't think having the same laptop uploading to two different sites is going to cause a massive load, you're more likely do introduce an offset between the two feeds by using two laptops processing the audio differently. People listening to the streams are likely to have different delays anyway.

If you do need to use two laptops it would be easiest to take the aux output from the amp if it has one, split it, and feed it into the microphone input of the two laptops.

JoyPad

brenoneill1 wrote: »

As per my original post, I know how usb works.

You obviously don't. The data that is passed between an audio device and a computer is not simply a wrap around the digital audio. It is highly dependent on the device, and it's why you must have the exact driver that matches that device. Otherwise, we could have a single driver for all audio devices, which is obviously not the case.

Audio signal -> DAC => digital data over USB => driver -> Audio data

Del2005

brenoneill1 wrote: »

Yes. Each system allows an operator to update the current bid amount with bids taken from the auction room, telephone bids, or bids from the other online service. In addition, each is connected to an external monitor showing the bid information to the auctioneer on the podium. One laptop further feeds current lot pictures to TV screens in the saleroom. So the laptops are doing a fair bit as it is.

Given the vagaries of Internet speeds and quality, I don't want to risk introducing any delays between the audio and the current bid status, as someone might lose out on an item if they were bidding based on the sound feed.

Thanks,
Brendan

I've been next to people on the same network watching live sports and there is always a delay between our feeds, some as much as several seconds. Using 2 different feeds you will be introducing more variables.

You need to build a PC to do what you want.

brenoneill1

TheChizler wrote: »

I don't think having the same laptop uploading to two different sites is going to cause a massive load, you're more likely do introduce an offset between the two feeds by using two laptops processing the audio differently. People listening to the streams are likely to have different delays anyway.

If you do need to use two laptops it would be easiest to take the aux output from the amp if it has one, split it, and feed it into the microphone input of the two laptops.

Hmm...definite food for thought there, thanks. I've always used the USB input - hadn't considered the microphone input. I'll look into that.

Thanks,
Brendan

brenoneill1

JoyPad wrote: »

You obviously don't. The data that is passed between an audio device and a computer is not simply a wrap around the digital audio. It is highly dependent on the device, and it's why you must have the exact driver that matches that device. Otherwise, we could have a single driver for all audio devices, which is obviously not the case.

Audio signal -> DAC => digital data over USB => driver -> Audio data

Surely this does not prevent someone from creating a device that takes the digital data, clones it, then sends it in 2 streams to USB out, then driver -> Audio data?

Thanks,
Brendan

Spocker

Why don't you connect the USB to one of the laptops, and the main outputs to the other laptop?

brenoneill1

Spocker wrote: »

Why don't you connect the USB to one of the laptops, and the main outputs to the other laptop?

The USB comes from a little Warfedale mixer, as the audio also goes to speakers in the auction room. I don't have it with me at the moment, but I will check what other outputs may be available.

Thanks,
Brendan

KeithTS

USB audio can transport multiple channels. A quick look at the manual for the 802 mixer indicates that you can output 2 independent stereo channels. So, you should be able to receive each of these at the one laptop and upload USB Channel A to site A, USB Channel B to site B.
Latency shouldn't be an issue, even without any fancy audio drivers, it should be few ms.

A quick test to see the latency is to download a free DAW, check out the free trial for Reaper:
https://www.reaper.fm/

Connect your mixer.
In Reaper open up a new project with two tracks.
Set the input to track 1 as Output1 from the mixer.
Set the input to track 2 as Output2 from the mixer.
Record something. Play both back, you shouldn't hear any latency between them.
If you do, post back.
If you don't, it shows that the 2 USB audio channels getting to your laptop are fine.

brenoneill1

brenoneill1 wrote: »

Hi All,

I need to send audio output to two different live online services. Does anyone know of any kit that would accept one usb input and provide 2 usb outputs? I know how usb works and realise that a standard usb hub won't work - are their any digital audio gurus here who might be amble to advise me?

I'm trying to avoid a 2 microphone, 2 preamp situation if possible.

Many thanks,
Brendan

Thanks to all who responded to my post - you have provided me with several potential solutions that I will investigate.

Thanks,
Brendan

pm1977x

This Virtual Audio Cable might help


https://vac.muzychenko.net/en/

brenoneill1

pm1977x wrote: »

This Virtual Audio Cable might help


https://vac.muzychenko.net/en/

Thank you, I'll check it out.

Thanks,
Brendan