Input Monitor (FAQ solution didn't work)

Question

Okay, I'm trying to run my PS3 audio through my Vostro 1500 Sigmatel sound card. I saw the registry workaround in the FAQ (and several other places just Googling). The only problem is, when I enable this, the PS3 sounds great but my computer doesn't play through my Logitech Z-2300's at nearly the same quality as they used to. If I remove the registry edit, the sound quality comes back, but then I can't use input monitoring anymore.

Anybody else expirence this/ has a solution?

thanks!

RunStop · Answer

I'd like an answer on this aswell. I have an Inspiron 1525 and have the same problem. No one from Dell seems to be bothered about giving a proper answer.

What registry values to I have to add/edit? What drivers do I have to use?

razorblade416 · Answer

well, the FAQ says to do this for Vista:

1. Go to the Start menu and click on Run.

2. Type 'regedit' without quotes and click OK to open the Registry.

3. Using the + signs in the left pane, navigate through the registry to get to this location:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class\{4D36E96C-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0000\Settings\filter\SpeakerHp

4. Click on the key SpeakerHP to select it. (Some systems seem to lack this key. In that case do this at 'Settings'.)

5. In the right pane, right click and select New > Binary Value.

6. Type 'EnableInputMonitor' without quotes and then press Enter.

7. Right click on the new name and select 'Modify'.

8. In the 'Value data' box, add 01 to the existing 0000 to make it 0000 01, then click OK.

9. Exit the Registry and restart the computer.

10. After restart, enable input monitor in Audio Properties.

(Right click your speaker in program tray. Click Playback devices. Right click on Speakers/Headphones and click properties. Click on levels tab. You will now see a box saying input monitor. Click the speaker picture to unmute it.)

What i'm saying is after doing that, it DID work technically BUT my PC sound didn't sound the same (it's like it disabled the subwoofer or something)

Message Edited by razorblade416 on 10-23-2008 07:16 PM

Jim Coates · Answer

razorblade416,

We wrote those instructions long before the current crop of Dell laptops and so they weren't meant to work with your driver, software , speaker configuration etc. Sorry that they didn't work for you. The instructions weren't written by technicians, but folks like yourself who tinkered around with their computers until they hit upon something that worked. If you find a solution please share it. Thanks.

RunStop,

The instructions are in the FAQ -- the thread that says **READ FIRST**. There are different instructions for XP and Vista. I know the XP version works on 1525's that have XP, but I don't know if the Vista version works on a 1525.

Jim

RunStop · Answer

'I know the XP version works on 1525's that have XP' No it doesn't Jimco.  I'm using XP now (on 1525) and I've tried your FAQ as well as other solutions - none of them work. My guess is that Dell jigged around with the drivers to prevent people using a registry hack. Message Edited by RunStop on 10-24-2008 12:10 PM

Jim Coates · Answer

RunStop,

I apologize for the error. My sentence should have been, "I know the Vista version works on 1525's that have Vista, but I don't know if the XP version works on a 1525."

Thanks for the correction, and now I can put your finding that it's no good in XP into my records.

I agree with you about the drivers which is why the instructions don't work on the newer models. About 10 months ago Dell released a new XP driver for 40 of the laptop models (but not the 1525) -- Sigmatel R171789, and the instructions no longer worked with that driver, but if the owners rolled back to their previous driver it would work.

Since then I think there has been only one new Sigmatek XP driver, the R180044 for the Inspiron 1525 & Vostro 500. Because it was the initial release for your model there is no older version you can roll back to.

Jim

RunStop · Answer

I tried installing a previous version of the XP SigmaTel drivers on the 1525 and I ended up with conflicts all over the place and unable to get sound working again.

I reinstalled Windows, playback is working as normal now.

Personally I'd appreciate if someone could direct me to a XP driver that works with the registry edit. Then I could install that in a clean Windows XP system.

Why does Dell put us through this hassle? Why not just enable line-in monitoring by default?

Message Edited by RunStop on 10-24-2008 04:52 PM

RunStop · Answer

Looks like I've two options after obtaining a pre-R171789 sound driver.

1. Install a fresh copy of Windows, install the drivers, and work from there.

2. Find a way to totally remove the current drivers on my current Windows system. Then, install the pre-R171789 old driver and hope that Windows installs them without too much hassle (which I've had before).

Look like I'll be going for the first option, unless someone can come up with a reliably way of doing the latter.

razorblade416 · Answer

runstop:

Go into your Device Manager, then right click your sound card and hit "remove", then restart. When it says "found new hardware", just hit "browse" or "manually choose driver", and install the old one. No need to install a fresh copy of windows.

razorblade416 · Answer

Thanks for the response jimco. I guess that would be the reason why it's not working for me. I hope Sigmatel or Dell will address this, or if someone finds out a workaround I'll try that too. Right now I'm just glad I could get my sound back to normal, even if I can't hear sound from the line-in.

Jim Coates · Answer

'pre-R171789 sound driver'   Here are all of them that I know of that were meant for Sigmatel92xxHD chips. The thing is that the xx stands for different versions and each driver was tailored to a specific version. However, there are plenty of instances in the past where a driver meant for one machine turned out to work on another.   R122161 v.5.10.0.4995, A06 7/12/2006  STAC 92XX HD,  2000, XP & XPx64 Inspiron 640m / E1405Inspiron 9400/E1705Inspiron B120Inspiron 1300/B130Inspiron 6400/E1505Latitude D420Latitude 120LLatitude D520Latitude D620Latitude D820Precision Mobile WorkStation M65Precision Mobile WorkStation M90XPS M1210XPS/Inspiron M140/630mXPS M1710XPS M2010   R134779 v.5.10.0.5143, A07  11/2/2006 STAC 92XX HD, Windows 2000, XP Inspiron 1501 Latitude 131L Latitude ATG D620 R153908 v.5.10.0.5401, A08 SIGMATEL STAC 92XX HD, 2000, XP & XPx64, 5/21/2007 Latitude D531 Latitude D631 Latitude D430 Latitude ATG D630 Latitude D630 Latitude D830 Vostro Notebook 1000 Precision Mobile WorkStation M4300 Reportedly works for Inspiron 1420,1520, 1521, 1720 and 1721 (AMD). R158235 v.5.10.0.5511, A09  STAC 92XX HD, 2000, XP & XPx64, 7/29/2007 Inspiron 1520 Vostro Notebook 1500 Precision Mobile WorkStation M6300 XPS M1730 Note: reportedly works for Vostro 1400, 1700 & XPS M1330 Speaking of the R171789 driver, here are Registry changes for enabling monitoring while using it, posted by Michael_J:     [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class\\{4D36E96C-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318\}\0015\Settings\filter\Rear] (0015 may be different on other systems) ...'DigitalInputMonitor'=hex:00 \par'EnableInputMonitor'=hex:01\par'EnableIntSpkrMute'=hex:00 \par'RecMonitorMute'=hex:00\par    While experimenting, before you install a new version follow razorblade416's advice then go to c:\Dell\Drivers\R...(Sigmatel driver file name beginning with the letter R) and delete that Sigmatel driver folder if it is still there.     Jim

razorblade416 · Answer

The user is trying to run their PS3 audio through their Vostro 1500 Sigmatel sound card. They found a registry workaround in the FAQ but enabling it affects the sound quality on their Logitech Z-2300 speakers. They are looking for a solution. Another user suggests a registry edit for the R171789 drivers which worked perfectly for them. They provide step-by-step instructions for a Vostro 1500 running Vista Ultimate 32bit. The user expresses gratitude and hopes that this solution helps others with new Dell laptop models running Windows Vista.

Jim Coates · Answer

razorblade416,

Sorry for the delay in responding; I have been having problems with my internet connection.

I'm glad that your experimenting paid off. A bonus with that R171789 driver is that it has stereo mix.

Jim

razorblade416 · Answer

Yeah, i know it has stereo mix, that driver was one of the many i installed trying to get input monitoring to work. I just didn't know that little registry trick for it to get what i wanted. Now I get both. Thanks again!

zeus_maxi · Answer

Just asking if the Input Monitoring for XP has been solved?

Can anyone give me a link?

proper instructions?

driver to install?

Registry editing instructions?

for 1525, XP -INPUT MONITORING? (hearing what you plug in to mic/line-in)

Please. Please.... I beg you. I'm really desperate. :(

zeus_maxi · Answer

Hi Jimco,   Any solution for the XP version of the input monitoring?? It worked on Vista, but I downgraded to XP, and reg-editing did not seem to work. I'm desperate.. ANYONE??

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Input Monitor (FAQ solution didn't work)

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