View Full Version : 2 monitors connected to my PC. How can I manage the volume?


Adriano Moroni
November 22nd, 2018, 05:03 PM
Hi, sorry for the inexperience. I have connected two powered monitors to my PC and now I have the problem to manage the volume. I can't manage it from Windows 10, it's too complex. Unfortunately the audio controls are on a box and I can't manage them from there. I need a cable with a slider or knob to lower or raise the volume. Is it possible? How can I do it please? Thanks for some info.

Rick Reineke
November 22nd, 2018, 05:58 PM
If the audio is originating from a card in a PC, NirSoft's VolumeMouse and/or their Command-Line utilities tool works great and is quick and easy via the mouse wheel or shortcuts.
Links are in my post on Magix's Sound Forge forum. (https://www.magix.info/us/forum/sf-audio-studio-12-6-0-356-32-bit-volume-control-for-playback--1215863/#ca1419072).

Adriano Moroni
November 23rd, 2018, 02:39 AM
Thanks for your reply. Maybe you don't understand well my bad english or I don't understand you. Sorry!
Monitors audio are speakers. Monitors are quality speakers.

They have controls: volume, treble, bass on the side of the speaker. They are knobs.
I can't manage their audio by Windows 10 and I'd like to manage the volume by
wired remote control. I hope you understand.
Thanks for your availability.

Nate Haustein
November 23rd, 2018, 02:57 AM
Sounds like you need a USB audio interface. It connects to your speakers directly to control volume. There are many options. I use one from M-Audio: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1244190-REG/m_audio_mtrack2x2_m_track_2x2_usb.html//BI/2855/KBID/3801 (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1244190-REG/m_audio_mtrack2x2_m_track_2x2_usb.html//BI/2855/KBID/3801/BI/2855/KBID/3801)

Dave Baker
November 23rd, 2018, 03:24 AM
Surely all you need to do is turn the volume knobs on the speakers to maximum and then control volume from the audio widget on the taskbar, or doesn't Windows 10 have one?

Adriano Moroni
November 23rd, 2018, 03:33 AM
Sorry, but I need only a device similar to wired remote control. As I need lower or raise the volume only, I'd like a cheap device. I don't know its name.

Rick Reineke
November 23rd, 2018, 09:08 AM
Are the monitor speakers connected to a computer? Mac or PC?

Boyd Ostroff
November 23rd, 2018, 11:32 AM
My computer setup is different from yours - I have my monitors connected to the output of an HDMI audio de-embedder - but the situation is basically the same. I wanted a physical box I could put inline to manually adjust the studio monitor volume. Got one of these, it was inexpensive and does what I need in addition to providing headphone output.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/155408-REG/Rolls_HA43_PRO_HA43_4_Output.html/BI/2855/KBID/3801 (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/155408-REG/Rolls_HA43_PRO_HA43_4_Output.html/BI/2855/KBID/3801/BI/2855/KBID/3801)

This 4 channel device is really intended to connect multiple headphones, but I cabled it up such that channel 1 controls the left studio monitor and channel 2 controls the right. I used a 1/8" stereo TRS to RCA cable on each channel, but only connected the left speaker to channel 1 and the right speaker to channel 2. This lets me adjust the monitor balance easily while still allowing the connection of two headphones.

There are some other (more expensive) boxes that are specifically intended to control studio monitors, but I wanted to keep the cost down and am happy with the way this one works.

Adriano Moroni
November 23rd, 2018, 12:22 PM
I thank you for your availability but one hour ago I found it and bought it immediately.
https://www.bax-shop.it/potenziometri-volume/fostex-pc-1e-controllo-volume-nero-per-speaker-da-tavolo
I hope this device is good for me. I need only manage the volume.

Rick Reineke
November 23rd, 2018, 03:32 PM
That should work Adriano.

Boyd Ostroff
November 23rd, 2018, 04:21 PM
Should work, but does not appear to allow you to adjust the left/right stereo balance. That may not matter for your usage though.

Andrew Smith
November 23rd, 2018, 06:46 PM
I use a similar product for managing the sound levels for my speakers. The Nanopatch has worked well for me.

Worth noting is that I leave it on the floor and use my left foot to adjust the knob position, leaving my hands to continue with the keyboard and mouse. Just something that really works for me.

Andrew

Gary Nattrass
November 24th, 2018, 01:10 AM
A few suggestions:

1: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A967-Audio-Switch-Active-Speaker-Dual-Channel-Audio-Volume-Controller/292649058243?_trkparms=aid%3D555017%26algo%3DPL.CASSINI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160706105120%26meid%3D008 70a4f93d24606b84e2c3b718951a8%26pid%3D100508%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26%26itm%3D292649058243&_trksid=p2045573.c100508.m3226

2 (USB):https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-Controller-USB-Volume-Audio-Adjuster-PC-Speakers-Switch-Control-Module/332659331459?hash=item4d740a9183:g:xuMAAOSws9BbAvLb:rk:19:pf:0

3: https://www.gear4music.com/Recording-and-Computers/Behringer-MONITOR1-Passive-Monitor-Controller/20L4?origin=product-ads&campaign=PLA+Shop+-+GENERIC&adgroup=GENERIC&medium=vertical_search&network=google&merchant_id=1279443&product_id=94072d1&product_country=GB&product_partition_id=547879815326&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjrforLzs3gIVqLztCh1TGQ4rEAYYASABEgI-CPD_BwE

4: https://www.gear4music.com/Recording-and-Computers/Behringer-MONITOR2USB-Headphone-and-Speaker-Controller/1WMD?origin=product-ads&utm_campaign=PLA+Shop+-+Behringer&utm_medium=vertical_search&network=google&adgroup=1+-+Product+Level+-+Behringer&merchant_id=1279443&product_id=88933d1&product_country=GB&product_partition_id=84223257733&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjrforLzs3gIVqLztCh1TGQ4rEAYYAyABEgLSt_D_BwE

Rick Reineke
November 24th, 2018, 10:26 AM
I like the idea of the mute and mono switches on the Behringer Passive Monitor 1 Controller. It also has XLR and 1/4" connectors... unfortunately it's Behringer, which generally has a bad rep amongst audio pros.

Gary Nattrass
November 24th, 2018, 04:03 PM
I like the idea of the mute and mono switches on the Behringer Passive Monitor 1 Controller. It also has XLR and 1/4" connectors... unfortunately it's Behringer, which generally has a bad rep amongst audio pros.

I have an identical looking one badged stageline and it has been fine for many years.