skype + 2 headsets on one computer

3

I want to make this work: - 1 computer - 1 skype account - 2 headsets (for 2 people)

It's for making conference call with 2 computers but with 3 people (2 of them in the same computer under 1 skype account).

How I can do this?

lak-b

Posted 2009-12-29T13:39:44.900

Reputation: 181

Answers

4

You should get 2 audio splitters - one for the headphone slot and one for the mic slot.

Then connect both the headphone connectors to the splitter which is inserted in the headphone slot, and both the mic connectors to the splitter which is inserted in the mic slot.

This will allow you to have 2 headphone sets connected to your computer at the same time.

I use this for my current computer for skype so I know its possible.

This is what it looks like:

alt text

This model is better if the space between your headphone and mic port is small

Or this seems to be more flexible:

alt text

rzlines

Posted 2009-12-29T13:39:44.900

Reputation: 7 006

I know about splitters. For audio splitting is ok (not so cool, but acceptable). But does splitting work for mic? – lak-b – 2009-12-29T14:30:31.960

yes it does work for mics, I use it everyday and the sound quality is perfect on both ends – rzlines – 2009-12-29T18:39:29.710

0

rzlines' answer is, electrically, kind of weird. It may work, but I would guess it's because the headsets are identical and you're not talking over each other. The audio quality is almost certainly degraded, however. See this article on why using a Y-splitter backwards is bad.

If you use this kind of "Y-adapter" to combine two line level audio signal you are effectively shorting two equipment output to each other. Audio equipments are not designed for this.

The "right way" to do this would be to use a tiny little mixer to mix your microphone signals before going to the input of your sound card (or build the project described in the article referenced above).

However, what I would recommend in your situation is to simply split your headphone output and use a simple desktop microphone to pick up both of your voices. When you think about typical conference-calling systems in company boardrooms, they're usually just using an omnidirectional condenser in the middle of the table.

NReilingh

Posted 2009-12-29T13:39:44.900

Reputation: 5 539

1I use this setup currently with different company headphones. Its a tried and tested method and I speak here out of user experience. I have almost same sound and mic quality while using just a single pair or while splitting it. Although it would be nice if they find it convenient to use just one microphone. Even I thought that this kind of a setup would not work initially but it did and I stuck with it. – rzlines – 2011-01-01T18:20:31.600

0

You can always do the call on the PC with a microphone and speakers. I often use my laptop's built in mic and speakers when joining a Skype conference with more than one person in the room.

Dave Webb

Posted 2009-12-29T13:39:44.900

Reputation: 10 126

I do calls in such way for now. But I want to use 2 headsets :) – lak-b – 2009-12-29T14:32:02.783