How to send different audio channels to different screens using VLC

How to send different audio channels to different screens using VLC

In the following guide we will walk you through on how to stream a different audio channel to different screens by using VLC.

Please note that the following guide may be slightly advanced for some users.

 

Requirements

VLC has already been installed following the guide available here.

We now proceed with one extra configuration change in VLC Open VLC normal, via Start => Programs => VLC Click on Tools => Preferences and select the Audio tab

Set the Output module to directx audio output

Each zero client to be added to the system should be properly named it in the network USB utility. This will help us later us later on.

Please use any naming convention that suits you.

Now that each zero client has been properly named, we will proceed by assigning 1 to the PC:

When we add the zero client to the PC, it will create a sound device. We will now give that new sound device the same name as the zero client.

Right click the speaker on your taskbar, and click on Sounds

This will open a new window, select the Playback tab. You will notice the new device (C- Media USB Headphone Set)

Highlight that new device, right click it and select Properties.

On the new window general tab, set the name identically to the zero client. BR is this example, and click OK.

The audio device will now appear with the new name

Add the next zero client and repeat previous steps, until all zero client and audio devices are completed.

Going back to VLC => Tools => Preferences => Audio tab => Devices will now show all your sound devices properly named

Select the first renamed one, and click Save

Go to VLC config folder, usually at C:\Users\YourPCUserAccount\AppData\Roaming\vlc using Windows Explorer (don't forget to tick Hidden Items)

Open the vlcrc (vlc config file) with Windows Notepad

Within Windows Notepad, click Edit => Find and search for directx-audio-device

You will get an output similar to the following, your hexadecimal value between the parenthesis will be different

Copy the value to a file as (name of device: hexadecimal value including parenthesis), e.g.: TL: {1E80E451-6685-4A99-AFA7-668F111EA11E}

Close the file, go back to VLC and change the audio device to the next one and repeat all steps untill you have all the values, e.g. (your value will be different):

TL: {1E80E451-6685-4A99-AFA7-668F111EA11E}
BL: {2ECB9721-DB85-4784-BF23-AE8946D40BDD}
TR: {5950C8B4-5FDB-4961-A2E1-05BB1102CFFA}
BR: {5D22D7BE-AE00-4EF2-A3EA-505381938B74}

When done with all devices, set VLC audio device back to Default, and don't forget to click Save and close VLC.

Now we are ready to go.

Setting up Monitors AnyWhere to run VLC with sound

After you’ve successfully installed VLC and configured all audio devices, we can go on and set the configuration in Monitors AnyWhere:

Choose your desired screen. In this example, we will select TL (top left) and press on the New button from the list at the bottom.

The first field (Application field) is used to select the application you wish to open, Select VLC from the dropdown list or click on the Browse button to open it from the following folder:

C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe

On the second field, browse to your video file, then add the following, replacing the bold value by your screen value:

--aout=aout_directx --directx-audio-device={B96F0590-C1CF-4B55-8434-C5537920EDD2}{1E80E451-6685-4A99-AFA7-668F111EA11E}

Your entire line will look similar to (path to video file + option with hexadecimal value):

C:\Apps\Demo\minions.mp4 --aout=aout_directx --directx-audio-device={B96F0590-C1CF-4B55-8434-C5537920EDD2}{1E80E451-6685-4A99-AFA7-668F111EA11E}

Finally click Save and Send and VLC will start running with sound on the selected screen.

IMPORTANT:

If the path to the file you are using contains spaces, you will need to use quotes. e.g.: "C:\Program Files\Demo and test\minions.mp4" --aout=aout_directx --directx-audio-device={B96F0590-C1CF-4B55-8434-C5537920EDD2}{1E80E451-6685-4A99-AFA7-668F111EA11E}

 

Repeat all stages above for each screen, replacing the hexadecimal value.

You can easily set this app to run automatically when Monitors AnyWhere starts, by using our Start-up options.