How to set up a multiple speakers to one notebook?

Question

I am going to perform an experiment with 3 different sound tracks emitted simultaneously by 3 speakers and I would like to know how the apparatus need to be set up to one notebook.

Any suggestions are welcomed. Is it possible to make somehow such settings in Audacity (Ubuntu solution is preferred)?

Answer 1

For this setup, you will need :

• an USB external audio interface that offers at least 3 analog outputs. Check that the chosen interface software driver is well supported on GNU/Linux/Ubuntu.
• a software player that allow playing several tracks at once. It also must be able to route individual tracks to dedicated interface outputs. I am not sure that Audacity will do for three outputs, but Ardour will for sure.

You might have a look at Ubuntu Studio, a distribution that includes Ardour.

Answer 2

With some DJ software you can do it, but I think that this solution is not for Ubuntu: In Native Instruments Traktor, you can route each deck to a different output, but you need to have also a compatible soundcard (I mean, at least 3 outputs).

You will be good with mono output because you talk about one speaker per track, so if a soundcard offers 2 stereo outputs, you have then 4 mono outputs, so this can be done easily.

If you cannot use NI Traktor, try using this concept in some similar software.

Cheers.