Input Monitoring FAQ

Question

Dell ships its notebook computers with the ability to monitor the input jack turned off. This means that you can't hear an audio signal routed through the mic or line-in jack even though you can record the audio and hear it when you play back the recording. On many older models an edit in the Windows Registry will enable monitoring and let you hear the audio in real time. On laptops with a modern version of Windows, just use the Listen tab. There are 7 different sets of instructions below, sorted by operating system, audio chip, and audio drivers:1. Models with Windows XP and a Sigmatel STAC 975x Audio Chip2. Models with Windows XP, a Sigmatel STAC 92xxHD Audio Chip, and a Sigmatel driver released before 12/04/073. Models with Windows XP, a Sigmatel STAC 92xxHD Audio Chip, and a Sigmatel driver R171789 4. Models with Windows Vista and Sigmatel STAC 92xxHD Audio Chip5. Models with Windows XP, an IDT 92HDxx Audio Chip, and IDT driver R213367 (5.10.0.6159)6. Models with Windows XP, an IDT 92HDxx Audio Chip, and IDT driver R267815 (5.10.0.6274) 7. Use the 'Listen' Tab on Newer Models ================================================================================ Instruction Set 1 -- for models withWindows XP and a Sigmatel STAC97 Audio Chip & driver This first set of instructions is only for these older models with the Sigmatel STAC97xx audio chip running Windows XP : Inspirons 1100, 1150, 1200, 2200, 2600, 2650, 5100, 5150, 5160, 6000, 8500, 8600, 9100, 9200, 9300, 300m, 500m, 510m, 600m, 700m, 710m, XPS/XPS M170, XPS gen2 etc. Latitudes D400, D410, D500, D505, D510, D600, D610, D800, D810 etc.Precision Mobile Workstations M20, M60, M70  or any others with the Sigmatel STAC97xx chip and Windows XP. [It is wise to create a System Restore point before editing the Registry. To create a new Restore Point go to Start/Help & Support/System Restore and tick 'Create a restore point'. Even better is to save a backup copy of the Registry by using its 'Export' utility.] 1. Go to Start menu and click on Run. Type 'regedit' without quotes and click OK to open the Registry.2. At the top of the list, highlight My Computer.3. Under the Edit menu, select Find.4. Type in 'DisableMicFromPlayback' without quotes and click 'find next'.5. Highlight DisableMicFromPlayback. Right click on it and select Modify.6. Highlight 01 and change to 00. Click OK.7. Optional (but 8600 users should do this) find 'EnablePoPBypass' and set the value to 00.8. Optional (but 600 & 6000 should do this) find 'DisableMicSelect' and set the value to 00.9. Exit the Registry and restart the computer. Next, configure the system mixer:1. Open Volume Control by right clicking on the speaker icon on the taskbar, or go to Start/Control Panel/ Sound & Audio Devices Properties/Advanced (button).2. Under the Options menu, select Properties.3. Under 'show the following volume controls' check the box next to Microphone. Click OK.4. A mic control appears in the Volume Control. Make sure the mute box is unchecked.5. If your external audio source (a stereo or tv tuner etc that you have connected to the mic jack) has a way to control its volume level, turn it down to control excessive input volume. (Thanks to forum member dilleyo who figured this out, and to jk79 who later clarified and explained it to me in terms I could understand. I have put it into this step-by-step format for those of us who are not familiar with editing the Registry.) This is the direct Registry path to the key:Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\ControlSet001\Control\Class\{4D36E96C-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0005\Settings.  (back to top)===============================================================================Instruction Set 2 -- for models withWindows XP, Sigmatel STAC 92xxHD Audio Chip, and pre-12/07 driver The following set of instructions is only for these and similar models with the Sigmatel 92xxHD audio chip running Windows XP, and using a Sigmatel XP driver that was released before 12/04/07 :Inspirons B120, B130/1300, 6400/E1505, 9400/E1705, E1405/640m, XPS M140/630m, 1420, 1520, 1720Latitude D420, D520, D620, D820, etc. and some others with the Sigmatel 92xx HD chip and Windows XP. These instructions will not work with most models that were released in 2008 and after, including Latitude 6400 & 6500, and Studio models. [It is wise to create a System Restore point before editing the Registry. To create a new Restore Point go to Start/Help & Support/System Restore and tick 'Create a restore point'. Even better is to save a backup copy of the Registry by using its 'Export' utility.] 1. Go to the Start menu and click on Run. Type 'regedit' without quotes and click OK to open the Registry.2. At the top of the list, highlight My Computer.3. Under the Edit menu, select Find.4. Type in 'EnableInputMonitor' without quotes and click 'find next'.5. Highlight EnableInputMonitor. Right click on it and select Modify.6. Highlight 00 and change to 01. Click OK.7. Repeat 'find next' (F3) several more times and keep changing values to 01 until the 'EnableInputMonitor''s coming up are of the proper value.8. Find a key named 'EnableIntSpkrMute' and change its value from 01 to 00.9. Exit the Registry and restart the computer. Next, configure the system mixer:1. Open Volume Control by right clicking on the speaker icon on the taskbar, or go to Start/Control Panel/ Sound & Audio Devices Properties/Advanced (button).2. Under the Options menu, select Properties.3.Under 'show the following volume controls' check the box next to Input Monitor. Click OK.4. Make sure the mute box is unchecked. Unfortunately the slider itself will be frozen in place and won't control the outputted volume. (Thanks to forum members emann15 and The Performing Flea for figuring this out. I have put it into this step-by-step format for those of us who are not familiar with editing the Registry). This is the direct Registry path to the key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class\{4D36E96C-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0005\Settings\filter\Rear (back to top) ==================================================================================== Instruction Set 3 -- for models withWindows XP, Sigmatel STAC 92xxHD Audio Chip, and R171789 driver On 12/04/07, Dell released a Sigmatel XP driver that featured 'stereo mix', R171789  (5.10.0.5515, A11). The following models can use this driver and in most cases probably do have it installed, because it is the current driver:Inspirons: 1501, 640m / E1405, 9400/E1705, 1420, 1520, 1720, 1721, B120, 1300/B130, 6400/E1505Latitudes:  XT, 120L, 131L, D420, D430, D520, D530, D531, D620. D630, 630c, D631, D820, D830Precisions:  M65, M90, M2300, M4300, M6300Vostros:  1000, 1400, 1500, 1700XPS:  M1730, M1210, M1330, M1710XPS/Inspiron M140/630mIt has been reported that this also works on an Inspiron 1525 with a Sigmatel R180044 driver. [It is wise to create a System Restore point before editing the Registry. To create a new Restore Point go to Start/Help & Support/System Restore and tick 'Create a restore point'. Even better is to save a backup copy of the Registry by using its 'Export' utility.] 1. Go to the Start menu and click on Run. Type 'regedit' without quotes and click OK to open the Registry.2. At the top of the list, highlight My Computer.3. Under the Edit menu, select Find.4. Type in 'EnableInputMonitor' without quotes and click 'find next'.5. Highlight EnableInputMonitor. Right click on it and select Modify.6. Highlight 00 and change to 01. Click OK.7. Repeat 'find next' (F3) several more times and keep changing values to 01 until the 'EnableInputMonitor''s coming up are of the proper value.8. Find a key named 'EnableIntSpkrMute' and change its value from 01 to 00.9. Find a key named 'DigitalInputMonitor' and change its value to 00.10. Find a key named 'RecMonitorMute' and change its value to 00.11. Exit the Registry and restart the computer.Next, configure the system mixer: 1. Open Volume Control by right clicking on the speaker icon on the taskbar, or go to Start/Control Panel/ Sound & Audio Devices Properties/Advanced (button).2. Under the Options menu, select Properties.3.Under 'show the following volume controls' check the box next to Input Monitor. Click OK.4. Make sure the mute box is unchecked. Unfortunately the slider itself will be frozen in place and won't control the outputted volume.(Thanks to forum member Michael_J  who posted this edit on 9-11-08.) (back to top) ==================================================================================Instruction Set 4 -- for models withWindows Vista & Sigmatel STAC 92xxHD Audio Chip This set of instructions is only for models with the Sigmatel 92xxHD audio chip running Vista (see the above section for the partial list of models with 92xx chips). Not for models with Realtek or most IDT audio chips. These instructions are known to work with:Inspirons: E1505/6400, E1705/9400, and 1525.(Reportedly also works on Inspiron 1318 with the Sigmatel 9228 audio chip and an IDT  driver.)XPS: M1530Sigmatel Vista Drivers: the instructions will work on most models that are using a pre-2008 Sigmatel driver, and also these newer drivers:R171786 (6.10.0.5614 A03)R171788 (6.10.0.5614 A09)R190517 (v6.10.0.5866)R218148 (6.10.0.5866, A03) [It is wise to create a System Restore point before editing the Registry. To create a new Restore Point go to Start/Help & Support/System Restore and tick 'Create a restore point'. Even better is to save a backup copy of the Registry by using its 'Export' utility.] 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[Exception: an Inspiron 1525 should navigate to   ...\0007\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.) (Thanks to forum members ethan_hines, fuzzy34, chef moore and feathead for figuring this out. Thanks to Bob_Ebz and dgkpcon for providing additional information.) (back to top)====================================================================================== Instruction Set 5 -- for models with Windows XP ANDIDT 92HDxx Driver R213367 (5.10.0.6159)These instructions are known to work with the Precision Mobile WorkStation M6400 with XP Pro SP3. They might also possibly work with :Latitudes: E4200, E4300, E5400, E5500, E6400, E6400 ATG, E6500, XT2, Z600Dell Precision Mobile WorkStations: M2400, M4400[It is wise to create a System Restore point before editing the Registry. To create a new Restore Point go to Start/Help & Support/System Restore and tick 'Create a restore point'. Even better is to save a backup copy of the Registry by using its 'Export' utility.] 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}\0005\Settings\filter\rear4. Find a key named 'EnableIntSpkrMute' and change its value from 01 to 00.5. Find a key named 'RecMonitorMute' and change its value to 00.6. For each of those values use the F3 key to search for more instances of them.7. Click on the key 'rear' to select it.8. In the right pane, right click and select New > Binary Value.9. Type 'DigitalInputMonitor' without quotes and then press Enter.10. Right click on the new name and select 'Modify'.11. In the 'Value data' box, set to 01, then click OK.12. Exit the Registry and restart the computer.Thank you forum member chikinz for figuring this out and supplying these instructions. Chikinz also made some other changes in the 'rear' folder which he is not sure mattered but might be a good idea to try:DisableLineInFromRender changed to 00DisableMicInFromRender changed to 00EnableInputMonitor changed to 01For each of these values he used F3 to search for more. (back to top)====================================================================================Instruction Set 6 -- for models with Windows XP ANDIDT 92HDxx Driver R267815 (5.10.0.6274, A11)These instructions are known to work with the Latitude E6410 with XP. They might also possibly work with :Latitudes: E4200, E4300, E4310, E5400, E5410, E5500, E5510, E6400, E6400 ATG, E6400 XFR, E6410, E6410 ATG, E6500, E6510, XT2, XT2_XFR, Z600Dell Precision Mobile WorkStations: M4500[It is wise to create a System Restore point before editing the Registry. To create a new Restore Point go to Start/Help & Support/System Restore and tick 'Create a restore point'. Even better is to save a backup copy of the Registry by using its 'Export' utility.] 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}\0024\Settings\filter\rear4. Find a key named 'EnableIntSpkrMute' and change its value from  01 to 00.5. Click on the key 'rear' to select it.6. In the right pane, right click and select New > Binary Value.7. Type 'DigitalInputMonitor' without quotes and then press Enter.8. Right click on the new name and select 'Modify'.9. In the 'Value data' box, set to 01, then click OK.10. Exit the Registry and restart the computer.Forum member szabozo figured this out and shared these instructions. Note: szabozo tried this with the newer IDT driver R267823 (5.10.0.6281, A12) but it did not work with that driver. (back to top) =========================================================================== Instruction Set 7 -- Use the 'Listen Tab' in Windows 7 and 8 Modern Windows operating systems have a built-in monitoring feature and do not need the Registry edits described above. Locate the audio (speaker) icon next to the clock on the taskbar. Right click on the icon and then left click on 'Recording Devices'. The Recording tab of the Sound properties will open. Select your input device from the list and then click 'Properties'. The next screen has several tabs across the top. Click on the 'Listen' tab. Place a check next to 'Listen to this device'. Make any other settings you want to and click 'Apply', then 'OK'. (back to top)====================================================================================================================================== Edited on 11-27-2007Edited on 01-19-2009Edited on 02-07-2009Edited on 07-08-2009Edited on 02-16-2010Edited on 07-19-2010Edited on 08-15-2010 Edited on 03-17-2014

Jim Coates · Accepted Answer

Please do not reply in this thread which is a FAQ. If you have comments or questions please start a new thread. Thanks, I appreciate it.

Isaiah.Price · Answer

If only had got it earlier! Thanks for the sharing.

Locked Topics – Laptops General

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