C521 audio problem.

Question

A friend of mine recently decided to take the plunge, and get herself a new computer. She decided the Dell™ Dimension™ C521 would her purposes, but was unsure about the audio. She showed me what she had put together before purchasing, and I noticed 'Integrated Sound Blaster® Audigy™ ADVANCED HD software' I wasn't sure on this, and told her to ring Dell and ask if that was an Audigy card and not just software. She was assured by the person she spoke to that it was an Audigy card, so she went ahead and ordered the machine. When she got the PC, she noticed straight away that she had no option on the recording side of the Audio other than LineIn, RearMic and Microphone. Looking into it further, I realized it had an onboard sound chip, and some Creative software. She needs to be able to Mix Microphone and MP3, and she doesn't have this option. She then phoned Dell as she feels she had been sold something that doesn't her purposes, and she is getting bounced from place to place as no one what to take responsibility for what they told her about the sound card. After much frustration it just seemed as simple to fit a PCI sound card herself, but the C521 is a narrow case, and a standard PCI doesn't fit. The backplate is too wide! Since then after reading various posts on forums she has tried different drivers that according to some people will give her the stereo mix / music option on the record side of the sound card, but none have worked. Her last option seems to be to use a an external USB soundcard, that might her purposes, but I can't seem to find out whether it would or not. I would be interested if anyone had any ideas on how to remedy this, as she is pulling her hair out! She feels she has spent a lot of money buying something that doesn't do what she needs. (she reads quizzes and needs to play music and use the microphone at the same time)

fireberd · Answer

She has 21 days, from the date it was shipped, to ask Dell for a return authorization and either get a different system, not the compact system she has, or a refund.    But, what she wants to do, she could do with an external mixer and then into the PC's 'line in'.  That is with any PC, not just the one she has.  I think she is trying to do something that a PC's sound is not designed to do. You can't input Mic and the Line In or Mic and play something on the PC and mix it.  Possibly some high priced recording software may do that, but that's all.    The mic input on a PC is ONLY for a 'computer mic' which is made for speaking, not for singing.  Regular commercial 'PA' mic's will not work as they have too low a signal.   Bottom line, the external mixer with the Mic and MP3 input or whatever she wants input and then to the PC is about the only option.

UK_Bloke · Answer

fireberd thanks for the reply! I think your I may have confused you with my long post. What she is trying to do is play music (MP3s)and use her microphone at the time. You can do this on most PCs using the Stereo Mix option on the recording side of the sound card (Creative call it What U hear) On the output side of most sound cards you have Mic / MP3 / Stereo mic for this purpose.

All she has is line in / Rear Mic / Microphone. I and many others do this without any external devices for doing quizzes on the likes of Paltalk and Yahoo. I think her best option is to return the PC and get the E520 that doesn't use the slim case hers does so she can fit a "standard" PCI sound card.

I just cant understand why Dell would want to move away from standards such as ATX etc. I have seen a few posts of this forum where people have been advised to fit a PCI sound card, but it's not going to fit in the C521 with it's narrow case. I don't know if it's the same with graphics cards, but why suddenly use something that's half inch smaller than the norm?

The most annoying part is she was told this PC had an Audigy sound card, and it doesn't.

She may well have gone over the 21 days you mentioned in your post trying to solve the problem, and has spent hours on the phone to Dell.

This thread also might serve as a warning to others who think they can upgrade their PCs or use them as described above.

Dimension520 · Answer

Same problem with my Dimension E520 - no stereo mix ! Don't know if a Standard PCI Soundcard will fit in a E520 I had to use the only free slot for my WLAN-Card. I also do not want to buy a external (USB-) Soundcard. I absolutely expected that function from a so called M E D I A - PC ! (and continuing in doing so !) I hope that there is a proper driver-solution that will solve our problem !

fireberd · Answer

The 'What you hear' or 'system mixer' is not an option with the Dell integrated audio systems.  There is a non-Dell driver available (I've seen reference to it on this forum section) that is supposed to add that function.  I can't recommend it, so if you want to do a search for it - 'use at your own risk'.   As far as 'standard' desktops (not the compact versions) a standard PCI sound card will fit and work well if you have an open PCI slot.  I have an E510 and I installed a Sound Blaster Audigy 2 in mine.

kr3lc · Answer

The problem as I understand it is exactly what I reported to Dell 3 weeks ago and  just days after getting my new C521 with integrated sound and Vista. The Line In and the Mic In simply cannot be monitored live like they could on every previous computer I've owned, including my last two Dells. There is an entire separate thread on this matter. There are many waiting on a fix and some have tried installing the XP driver for the audio and are reporting success. I haven't tried that myself yet.

UK_Bloke · Answer

Just to let you know this problem has been resolved. After correspondence via e-mail and then the phone, Dell have given a full refund and the PC has been retured.

nandoprieto · Answer

I have the same problem but I think the solution should not be to return the PC.

kr3lc:
You have said that "There is an entire separate thread on this matter" and that "some have tried installing the XP driver for the audio and are reporting success".

Do you know exactly where is the thread?

Thank you in advance for any help.

Locked Topics – Desktops General

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