<SNIP> > > > https://www.amazon.de/dp/B00EK1OTZC/ref=pe_3044161_189395811_TE_SCE_dp_1 > > > > OK, that device is pretty simple. If you set this device as the default Alsa device can you get simple audio, from YouTube for example, out through the headphone jack? We know the mic input works. If both of those work then what does discord do? > > I'm lost here. The headphone jack in the interface is just a monitor. > I don't think there's any connection with the headphone jack in the > motherboard? (I can't test it anyway with my headphones---different > jack sizes) >
I understand the jack size difference. Your MB jack is 3.5mm, the headphone jack on the Behringer is 1/4". All the headphones I've purchased for years came with an adapter to plug into 1/4" jack but if your didn't they can be purchased at Amazon or general stereo/TV type stores. (Best Buy as an example in the U.S.) Search for "3.5mm to 1/4 adapter". I'll explain the headphone monitor function in a moment. You are correct that the headphone jack on the Behringer has nothing to do with the headphone jack on the computer. The Behringer is a complete sound card with 2 inputs and 2 output at the end of a USB cable. It has phono jack outputs on the back which would allow you to hook it to your stereo inputs to hear computer audio. In that sense it's no different than a CD player or tape deck. To use the outputs on the back would simply come down to telling Linux I want to use the Behringer USB device as my sound card and all sound would be router there. Once the audio is correctly going to your stereo you should also hear the audio over the headphone jack. The monitor function associated with the headphones is different on cards like this. Notice that the switch says "Direct Monitor". Imagine that I am recording a song. I already have some of it recorded, say drums, bass and piano. Now I want to record vocals so (wearing headphones so I can hear what I'm supposed to sing along with) I sing into the microphone but there is latency in the system. The vocal gets converted to digital by an internal A/D converter, sent down the USB cable, routed to the recording application - in Linux lets say that's Ardour. Ardour records it onto disk but it also sends my vocal back to the Behringer so I hear myself in the headphones. The probably is that my vocal is delayed by 25mS or more. It sounds out of time and I'm confused. It sounds like an echo. Look at the diagram here to see what I'm trying to explain: https://manual.ardour.org/synchronization/latency-and-latency-compensation/ Direct monitoring changes the signal path in the picture on the Ardour page. It still sends my vocal down the USB cable and Ardour still records it but it __ALSO__ sends my vocal __DIRECTLY__ from the mic to the headphones skipping the whole digital path in the picture. There is no delay. I hear myself in time with the music. It feels natural and I perform my part of the song brilliantly and go on to make millions of dollars. (Well, maybe...) Direct monitoring probably won't matter i your application because the real-time nature of what you're speaking won't be effected very much and probably discord or zoom won't send it back out to the card, but only send it to the people you are meeting with. Hope this helps, Mark
