Setting playback device by executing a batch file / powershell script - audio

Question

I've got my computer(Windows 7) hooked up to the TV, and i very often change output device for sound between Digital Audio (S/PDIF)(High definition audio device) and my headset (2- Corsair CA-HS1 USB Headset)
I wanna be able to execute a batch/script file who changes this for me so i don't have to "right click volume > playback devices > "Mark output device" and click "set default".
I know it's a luxury problem, but hey, maybe I can learn something from someone?
All help appreciated!

Answer 1

This is how I set 'Line 1' as the playback device:
start /min "" G:\......\nircmd.exe setdefaultsounddevice "Line 1"
NirCmd is a small command-line utility which you can download that allows you to do some useful tasks without displaying any user interface.

Answer 2

I had the exact same requirement as yourself, and AFTER stumbling across your posting I found the following:
https://web.archive.org/web/20131231034118/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/06/16/windows-7-tip-how-to-change-the-default-audio-device-with-a-hot/
Unfortunately it's not a native Windows function; it requires the download of a small open-source scripting tool called AutoHotKey, but it works nicely and only requires a small amount of memory (1 ~ 2.5Mb)
The script provided in the original article doesn't work for me. It's searching for Enabled/Disabled devices and changing that value, as opposed to changing the default device.
I've edited it to switch between 2 default devices now.
It works by opening your Sound control panel (mmsys.cpl), then scrolling down the list of playback devices to the second item in the list (that's the {Down 2} part).
This is because my Speakers are the second item in my list.
It then checks to see if the device is default or not. If not, it sets it as the default and closes the window. If it's already the default, it scrolls down another 2 times and sets that as the default.
So, you'll need to ammend the {Down 2} lines to fit your own list of devices.
#+a::
Run, mmsys.cpl
WinWait,Sound
ControlSend,SysListView321,{Down 2}
ControlGet, selectedDevice, List, Focused, SysListView321
Loop, Parse, selectedDevice, %A_Tab%
if a_index <> 3
continue
else
{
if A_LoopField <> Default Device
{
ControlClick,&Set Default
ControlClick,OK
WinWaitClose
SoundPlay, *-1
return
}
else
{
ControlSend,SysListView321,{Down 2}
ControlClick,&Set Default
ControlClick,OK
WinWaitClose
SoundPlay, *-1
return
}
}

Answer 3

To follow up on Dale Newton's post, NirCmd is a great way to do this. On top of that if you pair it with AutoHotKey you can create an executable that will change your devices without opening pesky CMD windows every time you run it. For example, I have two sources that I switch between all the time, one is my headphones and they other is my monitor. For my monitor I created an ahk script that does this:
#NoEnv
SendMode Input
SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir% ;I have nircmd in the same folder as these scripts
Run, nircmd setdefaultsounddevice "Acer X34-8" 1
Run, nircmd setdefaultsounddevice "Acer X34-8" 2
And another for my headphones with the last two lines changed to:
Run, nircmd setdefaultsounddevice "Headset Earphone" 1
Run, nircmd setdefaultsounddevice "Headset Earphone" 2
Afterwards you can compile each ahk script into an exe and bind each exe to a keyboard macro so you can execute them with a couple key presses. Personally I am using a Corsair K95 so I use their software to bind these to my 'G' keys.
Also to note, if you are in your sound preferences you can rename any of the devices to avoid naming conflicts.

Answer 4

I had a HDMI device that keeps changing it's name, so none of the existing solutions worked for me.
I eventually ended up with this powershell and use of the NirCmd app.
#File: TV.ps1
$name = "SMART*"
# list active audio playback devices. (Note for cature devices change Render to Capture)
$device = Get-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MMDevices\Audio\Render\*\" | where {$_."DeviceState" -eq 1} | foreach-object -Process {(Get-ItemPropertyValue -Path ($_.PSPath + "\Properties\") -Name "{a45c254e-df1c-4efd-8020-67d146a850e0},2")} | Where-Object {$_ -like $name}
C:\bin\NIRCMDC setdefaultsounddevice $device 1
C:\bin\NIRCMDC setdefaultsounddevice $device 2

Answer 5

As far as I understand there is no way to do this programmatically. This is a deliberate design, since Microsoft does not want applications to override audio setting set by user.
You will find same answer here but if you solutions that manipulate windows you can have a look here.

Answer 6

The following script is written in Windows 7 and uses sendkeys. It is based on other snippets I found but adds to them to ensure selection is consistent and stray windows are not left displayed.
You may want to adjust SleepTime for your system if it still plays up.
Call the script using a shortcut with the index of the item you wish to select in the Playback Devices window as first parameter.
You can create a new 'toolbar' on your 'taskbar' to select each device with a single click:
Taskbar toolbar picture
'===============================================================================
'This script uses sendkeys to select the Sound Output device
'First parameter should be the desired device number in 'Playback Devices' list
'===============================================================================
Option Explicit
Const SleepTime = 200
Dim WindSh
'===============================================================================
'MAIN ROTUINE
'===============================================================================
'Check the command line input
if ( Wscript.Arguments.Count <> 1) then
MsgBox "You must provide a single integer argument representing the device number", vbinformation + vbokonly, Wscript.ScriptName
Wscript.Quit 1
elseif ( false = IsNumeric( Wscript.Arguments.Item(0) ) ) then
MsgBox "The argument provided was not an integer number: " & Wscript.Arguments.Item(0), vbinformation + vbokonly, Wscript.ScriptName
Wscript.Quit 2
End If
set WindSh = CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")
WindSh.run("control.exe mmsys.cpl")
do while (WindSh.AppActivate("Sound") = false)
WScript.Sleep SleepTime
loop
WindSh.sendkeys("{DOWN " & Clng( Wscript.Arguments.Item(0) ) & "}")
WScript.Sleep SleepTime
WindSh.sendkeys("{TAB 2}")
WScript.Sleep SleepTime
WindSh.sendkeys("{ENTER}")
WScript.Sleep SleepTime
WindSh.sendkeys("%{F4}")
WScript.Sleep SleepTime
if (WindSh.AppActivate("Sound") = true) then
WindSh.sendkeys("%{F4}")
end if

Answer 7

Might not be related to switching the audio device around via script, but I also have my computer hooked up to my TV via HDMI.
When I want to watch video files on the TV I use Media Player Classic Home Cinema - this lets me specify the audio device for MPH:HC in the options without switching over my default sound device on the entire computer.
If your usage is similar to mine maybe MPC:HC will solve your problem for you.

Answer 8

Note that if you use nircmd setdefaultsounddevice speakers in an enterprise or educational environment login script, the sound will still come out from the speakers when headphones are plugged in.