Headphones vs. Line Out - a Hassle

Just took delivery of a shiny new Mac Pro and noticed that, when I plug headphones into the jack beneath the Power button, I must manually select Headphones through System Preferences (In System Preferences, "Headphones" becomes "Internal Speakers" when headphones are unplugged). To get sound back, through my "Line Out" speakers, I must, once again, manually select this option in System Prefs. My G5 recognized the insertion of the headphone jack regardless of which "Out" option had been selected - Internal Speakers/Headphones, Line Out (or Digital Line Out). I use headphones frequently, and all the opening and closing of System Prefs is a hassle. Is this the way Apple designed the new Mac Pro? if so, is there a script, Automator, or 3rd party workaround which allows you to easily "toggle" between headphones and Line Out speakers? Thanks.

I swear my G5(s) didn't work like this until one day I did something, and my Mac Pro does it as well. There has to be a setting somewhere for this.
Message was edited by: Seth Willits

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Audigy 2 ZS | Separate Line out 1 (headphones) and Line out 2 (speakers)?

Hello,
I was wondering if it's possible to Setup a 4 speaker setup, having headphones in Line out 1 and my stereo speakers in Line out 2, and using something like Virtual Audio Cable to reroute audio from Teamspeak to my headphones, and everything else to my speakers? I don't have a front headphones panel. I have attempted to reroute audio but it doesn't seem to work. Am I doing something wrong or is there a different way?
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GX740 - Anyone get two TRUE separate audio streams out Headphones and LINE OUT?

Hoping for an update on this. I asked MSI via their support section and wow... what a FAIL that was:
Quote
Do you have new specific drivers that allow TRUE 4 channel output? 2 out the headphones and 2 separate out the LINE OUT as implied by the design? I've tried everything and it doesn't work.
I've tried ASIO4YOU drivers - doesn't work.
I've tried every RealTek driver out there - nothing.
Yes, I've set the RealTek driver to do multiple out but it sends the audio out the HDMI port, NOT THE LINE!
I know this can be done cause you can set the REALTEK for 7.1 and you get separate streams out the headphones and line-out ports!
Please - you've sold a laptop with "Headphone Out" and "Line Out" yet it fails to actually do that - NEW DRIVERS PLEASE?
Posted: Feb 11, 2011 by Peter Stone
All Posts
Dear Customer,
Please go to msi global website to download the audio driver,then install it.
audio driver:
http://www.msi.com/service/download/nbdriver-15227.html
Needless to say, that did nothing. In fact, I can't understand how I could of received such an answer given it made no sense what-so-ever. Download the driver that came with it? One that's now almost a year old?
Regardless... I've tried that one. I've tried the latest RealTek drivers. I've tried a multitude of ASIO drivers. NOTHING WORKS. Yes, I've set the RealTek to send TWO SEPARATE STREAMS. That does NOTHING. The only thing I've been able to ascertain is that you can send one stream out the headphone/line out (same thing) AND one out the HD port which is useless.
Here's the pain in the ass: If you go to the RealTek setup and change it to 7.1 and hit TEST, you DO hear separate output out the HEADPHONE JACK and the THIRD Audio Out jack which is the side fills so I know this laptop CAN spit audio out two separate outputs sitting on the side of the computer.
Why do I want to do this:
Simple. I'm lugging around an external audio interface for DJing and it's a pain. I'd rather just tap the headphones out for, well, headphones and send the line out or that third audio output to the DJ mixer. Done! I've tried MIXMEISTER, VIRTUAL DJ, NOTHING WORKS! I can select various strangely named outputs insinuating speaker out, speaker out + 1, etc... but no... it doesn't work at all...
Sooooooooo... has ANYONE been able to get this to work? I'd love to know...

Yea Stu... been through this part... Playback devices show the typical:
1. Speakers (Realtek) -> Plays on ext. speakers but sounds like just treble. Headphone Out plays this stream.
2. RealTek HD Audio 2nd output -> Plays on ext. speakers but sounds like bass/mids. No treble. NO OUTPUT PLAYS THIS. Plug anything in and sound from the speakers just shuts off
3. Realtek HDMI Output (Not selectable)
4. Realtek Digital Output (Not selectable)
So yea, it seems right out of the box there is a problem with the sound on this unit. Choosing speakers sounds like crap (no mid/bass) and choosing HD Audio 2nd output sounds like crap (all mid/bass no treble).
There is no discrete dual audio out the jacks.
HOWEVER - Go choose 7.1 from the realtek setup and do a test. Well what do you know, DISCRETE 2ND AUDIO OUTPUT OUT THE HEADPHONE JACK AND THE 3RD OUTPUT JACK OF THE 4 IN A ROW. This PROVES you can have two discrete stereo audio streams coming out the output jacks. Just need someone to write the driver for it.
Here's the thing. This laptop HAS 4 1/8" JACKS. SEE:
Here's what the manual says about the output jacks:
Mic In:

Headphone jack - Line out?

Hi!
I want to connect my Nano to a headphone amp. I was wondering if the headphone jack on the ipod is considered a line out?
I know that some docks have a line out whose signal comes directly from the USB connection.
Any thoughts?
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The headphone jack would work.
However, the quality and volume will be okay, but not great.
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Memory Address:?0xD8000000-0xDBFFFFFF
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PNP Device ID:?PCI\VEN_0DE&DEV_0059&SUBSYS_0C3028&REV_A2\3&72 E68DD&0&68
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I/O Port:?0x0000EC00-0x0000ECFF
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EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM HERE!
I havent got another motherboard to test my x-fi xtreme music on, but it's a very frustrating problem, if i boot up from cold the soundcard is either not recognised or is recognised but there's no sound output.
My motherboard is ASUS P5E3 Pro,
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Ive played about with just about every bios setting i can find (theres a lot on this board) and still no luck, i've got the latest bios flashed and everything is upto date, as a musician this problem is very irritating, having to reboot the computer about 3 times to get the sound working! even then theres problems with sound drop-outs.
Makes no difference if i use windowsXP or windows7 the problem still remains, i might ask asus to make a bios update for this problem because im not sure if creative have the answers.

5800 XPressMusic headphone / line out question.

Hi
Is it possible to use the 3.5mm output as a line level output e.g. for a hifi / car stereo input ?
Or is the headphone stage amp always in the signal path ?
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It is indeed possible. My phone has died again, so I don't have it in front of me, but I often used mine in the car through an FM transmitter, When you plug the thing in, it asks you to select 'headphones' or 'line out'. There might be one other option. Just select 'line out' and enjoy your music at good driving volumes...

How do I get a line out signal from my macpro mid-2012

I went to Preferences, Sound, Output. The only option is HEADPHONES.
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I am using a digital mixer now controled with the Mac and don't want to mess with two peripherals when working a job.
I have only recently moved from DOS/Windows machines after 30 years with them. My last Windows laptop was a Toshiba. Whenever I plugged something into the 1/8" port it would ask, "Headphones or Line Out?"

Do you have a 13" model? I believe (I could be wrong) that the 2012 13" model only supports line in, no line out. You used to be able to switch the port to in or out but I don't think that feature is available in newer models (again, I could be wrong - I don't have a 13" to test).
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Any thoughts? Anyway to achieve this?
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Extra line outs on sound blaster Live 24 bit c

I have my headphones in line out but it is damaged and wont play both channels. How do i configure the other line outs to work and be a substitute headphone socket. I put the phones in them but no sound happens.

Hello. [url="http://support.creative.com/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?catID=&subCatID=206&prodID=035 &prodName=Li've!%2024-bit&subCatName=Li've!&CatName=Sound+Blaster">Look here.[/url]?Have a?nice day.

Qosmio X770-11C - how to disable on board speakers when using Line Out?

Hi,
Is there any way to disable on board speakers when the line out is used.
Currently if I plug in a cable to the hadphone socket and choose lineout on the realtek control panel, the sound is output to the line out as expected but also through the internal speakers.
Is there any way to stop this, and only have sound going out through the line out?
thanks
Graeme

If you want to hear sound on headset only you must choose Headphone option.
Disconnect cable and connect it again. When you see small window on the screen where you can choose between headphone and line out options choose headphone and you will hear sound on external device only.
In case you have disabled this popup dialog you can activate it manually. Open Realtek manager connect external device and when you see activated black point on the right side make double click there and change settings.

Line Out has disappeared

I recently installed a copy of Logic Pro on my laptop so I could do some mastering and editing on the plane. After installing and loading the "add-ons" the only output that is availabler ( Logic, itunes, anything) is the headphone out, the Line Out option has disappeared. Up to that that point the system had a headphone and Line out (plugged my external speaker into that port). Anyone know how I get the lineout back so that the system recognizes it? The internal Mac Pro speakers are not sufficient for general use for me.
Configuration
2.3 GH Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB of memory
OSX 10.7.5

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Line out / headphone jack quits working

I'm having a problem that is becoming more consistent. I am using my MacBook with eternal speakers attached to the line out jack. All is well. I pull the plug and insert my headphones and the system plays through the internal speaker - no sound through the headphones. I remove / reinsert to no avail. The ultimate solution varies. Sometimes I can plug the external speakers back in and they work, and then switch to headphones again. Sometimes, that doesn't work and the only solution I've found is to reboot.
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Welcome to Apple Discussions!
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Connect 5G to stereo - headphone jack vs. line out

Is it better to connect my iPod to my home stereo using the 3.5mm headphone jack or buying the Apple Dock and using the 3.5mm "line out" (assuming either would go into the "AUX" RCA inputs on my stereo)?
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Headphones vs. Line Out - a Hassle

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