Just a comment on your System Mixer/What You Hear complaint. It's not limited to Dell, I have an Acer Laptop with RealTek audio and it DOES NOT have the System Mixer function. I have a home built desktop that uses an Intel motherboard which has SigmaTel audio on it, until recently it did not have the System Mixer function for Vista/Win 7 (a new/recent IDT driver version finally enabled the system mixer). I do PC support and I recently installed a new HP desktop for a client with SigmaTel audio and it too DOES NOT have the System Mixer. Finally, not all the SoundBlaster sound cards (for desktops) have the What You Hear (what SoundBlaster calls the system mixer) function. Thus you are not alone with not having this function and sadly didn't do enough "homework" before buying the new PC and assumed all PC's have this function.
There are some systems that have it and as you have found there are workarounds for SOME systems. Check the Windows 7 forum as some have found drivers that work with some PC's to get the System Mixer.
Firstly, I am in need of a straight forward, clear and with minimal technical speak, response to why I do not have 'Stereo Mix' or equivalent option available
Features like that are written into the .inf files of the audio driver. The driver was written for Dell by the audio chip maker, IDT. On its website IDT states that if a feature is missing that is because it was specified that way by the computer manufacturer
I have sifted at length through the postings on this Community network and found a few answers that came close to a solution but mostly they are all just 'workaround'' solutions
As one of the folks who has posted the solutions I am going to dispute that. Yes the "streaming software options" are just workarounds as well as the suggestion to connect the output jack to the input jack with a cable. However the other solutions we provided were actual real solutions on the models that they applied to. Unfortunately those solutions applied to models with Sigmatel audio, not to those with IDT audio like yours.
to which seem a requirement to fiddling with internal files.
In many cases the solution was to just install a different driver, or to install a certain XP driver into Vista by using Vista compatibility mode. I don't know what you were looking at but there usually was no "fiddling with internal files". (Some people confused the instructions for enabling stereo mix with the instructions to enable input monitoring -- those entailed a little Registry editing.) It is true that in the early years one of the solutions was to substitute one of the inf files in one particular driver with a modified version of the file, but that was a long time ago. Even that had no potential to mess with anything "deeper in the system". If the modified driver did not work one simply used "rollback driver" to reinstall the prior version.
but why should I have to pay for another product when it should come with my computer anyway?
Stereo Mix has not been a standard feature on the Dell laptops for years, ever since the advent of the HD audio protocol (stereo mix was standard on Dell laptops with motherboards that met the earlier AC97 audio protocol). It would be great if Dell were to state on the product page that stereo mix is or is not not enabled on a given model, but no manufacturers of any product I am aware of will list the features that are missing. And because stereo mix is no longer standard they probably don't consider that it is "missing". It is very bad that information like this is so difficult to find but it is reality that it is up to the consumer to determine whether a product has all of the features needed, and if not to return the product within the return period and buy something more suitable. I urge you to try everything that fireberd suggested and make sure to select "show disabled devices" to see all of your options. If nothing pans out then you should return your laptop if the lack of stereo mix is a deal breaker for you.
I would just like to support bigboy as another person who feels ripped off. I am tired of hearing this garbage like "should have done your homework" or a "lot of other computer makers did the same thing". Like that is supposed to make it okay. Stereo mix is a necessary and essential computer function for the millions of people thai hook up their computers to instruments to record music. Disabling it without proper notification is criminal and this evidently is what has been done. The only logical reason for this appears to be an under the table deal with the recording industry association.
Suppose you ordered a new car and turn signals were no longer available, when you got in to drive it, So then the carmaker says to you, well we decided to disable them. so you can use hand signals instead,
Bigboy , you have ever right to be upset about your purchase and so do I , about mine.
I don't think that either I or fireberd disputed his right to be upset. People have a right to their feelings. Nothing either of us said was supposed to mean it is okay for the feature to be unavailable. I disputed his characterization of the solutions we forum members have provided for folks in the past (with Sigmatel audio systems). Unfortunately we have no solutions like that for folks with IDT audio systems.
Stereo mix is a necessary and essential computer function for the millions of people thai hook up their computers to instruments to record music.
Could you provide an example of the kind of instrument for which you need stereo mix? The reason I ask is because If it is something like guitar or bass you cannot use stereo mix to record it. You would have to use line-in or mic as the recording source. You can only select one recording source at a time and since stereo mix cannot record external instruments it has to be one of the other sources.
In your thread on the Desktop Audio Board you wrote:
"Anyone who has ever hooked up a keyboard to a computer line in and out to the speakers knows that you will hear sound upon playing even before entering your recording software providing stereo mix is enabled and functioning."
Please go back and read my reply to bigboy439. When he mentioned deep system changes I suspected he had confused 'stereo mix' and 'input monitoring'. I wrote:
"I don't know what you were looking at but there usually was no "fiddling with internal files". (Some people confused the instructions for enabling stereo mix with the instructions to enable input monitoring -- those entailed a little Registry editing.)"
I believe you may have confused them also. If your keyboard is connected to the line-in jack, then you have to select 'line-in' to be able to record it. Even if you had 'stereo mix' as an option you could not select it while 'line-in ' was selected. It would not matter anyway, because 'stereo mix' is a recording source and has nothing whatever to do with input monitoring. I am surprised that the folks on the Desktop Audio Board did not explain that.
Here is a link to the instructions that I think bigboy had in mind when he was talking about "fiddling with internal files": You should not try to use these instructions because they apply to laptop computers with Sigmatel audio.
I know this info does not solve your problem but I hope it defines it better for you. As far as solutions, I just know about laptop audio and don't know what the desktop users usually do. If I had a desktop I would stick in an inexpensive PCI audio card and not bother with the integrated audio.
I use synthesizers mostly like the Yamaha motif and Korg T3 and nothing is coming out of the speakers, so this has really messed me up and evidently a lot of other people. I use line in either with my m audio card inputs or with the integrated sound blue line input. I can hear what I am playing when I use the m audio but the recording has bits of static through out. As far as the integrated realtek I hear nothing while playing, but the playback of the recording is there and without static.The m audio should work as I do have the latest driver for windows 7 64 bit installed. The m audio works perfectly now that I have it back in my old dell dimension. I am a pretty easy going person but when I pay hard earned money out , I expect a decent return on my investment. It is too bad that i didn;t attempt to record a song right away when I got this thing. I would've taken it back immediately. I am going to hammer away at this until I've done everything possible.to correct things. I just wanted this guy here to know that I share his feelings and totally understand what he is saying. Certainly, you are entitled to disagreeing with us and I do appreciate suggestions from anyone .It would be nice if Dell would just answer the questions I have submitted to them
Certainly, you are entitled to disagreeing with us and I do appreciate suggestions from anyone .I
Hey Jace,
I do not disagree with you. I think input monitoring should be enabled on all of the computers (it has never been enabled by default on the laptops -- I think because of the problem with laptop mics being so close to the speakers that feedback is an issue. I have no idea why it would be disabled on a desktop).
I disputed the way bigboy characterized the solutions I had given folks for the 'stereo mix' problem. Now I think he did not do that on purpose but because he got 'stereo mix' and 'input monitoring' confused.
Well thanks for your input. All I know is that on my dell dimension .I was able to hear what I was playing in real time plus tracks I had already recorded on my n'track studio software loud and clear and all I had was input connected to my synth and output to my computer speakers, Of course mixer was selected on the maudio output. I haven't used the sound max on the old computer recently ,but I know that i was able to do the same thing. This was pretty simple to set up and easy to do with either integrated sound or my own sound card. I am not using my 8100 now and it is disconnected on the floor . I am putting together my new song with video to upload on you tube.with my older dell dimension, Later this week I plan to reconnect the 8100 and try to contact Dell by phone..
I doubt that anyone at Dell will even know what you are talking about. Dell buys these audio chips from Realtec and IDT without anyone at the support level having any real understanding of audio. In other words they farm out the audio then wash their hands of it.
I think you might have better luck if you give the Desktop Audio Board another shot. It looks to me that what happened was that you framed your problem as being the lack of stereo mix (which has nothing to do with the problem), and the folks answering you just latched on to that in their replies. Their answers to you were were about stereo mix, not about your actual problem which is no input monitoring. You did describe your problem in the text but they seemed to have skipped over that part for some reason. Well, to cut them some slack, you told them the problem was lack of stereo mix, but still they should have understood the real problem from your description.
You should start a new thread and restate the problem, this time leaving out the words 'stereo mix' entirely. If you can get them to focus on the actual monitoring problem they may know of a solution.
Once again, 'stereo mix' is a recording source. It is not a mixer, nor the system mixer, nor input monitoring. If you have ever had a Sound Blaster card they called it 'whatyouhear'. On some computers it is called 'wave out'. What it does, when selected on the recording panel, is to let you internally record the output of the sound card (but not anything connected to the mic/line-in jack). This is useful for recording streaming audio off the internet, which is why some people like to say that the record industry made Dell leave it off their computers. Whatever the reason, it does not have anything to do with hearing the inputted audio signal in real time through the speakers. As I said before, you cannot even select line-in and stereo mix at the same time.
Stereo mix and input monitoring are entirely different functions that have become hopelessly confused in people's minds. But you need to use reasonably correct terminology when framing the problem to have a better chance of getting a relevant reply.
I understand what you are saying and I already have had experience with a dell chat rep . However I believe in going through a process to give a company a chance to correct a problem even though there may only be a slim chance of actual help. Perhaps stereo mix was the wrong phrase to use and no input monitoring or no system mixer available would have been a better choice. Like I said, I'll set up the computer again in a day or two and go from there. I noticed one alleged simple fix on the web which says to download the win 7 64 bit drivers from the realtek site rather than fron dell, install them and click on show disabled devices, Even if it does not work, it probably won't make matters worse.
fireberd
9 Legend
•
33.4K Posts
0
June 12th, 2010 04:00
Just a comment on your System Mixer/What You Hear complaint. It's not limited to Dell, I have an Acer Laptop with RealTek audio and it DOES NOT have the System Mixer function. I have a home built desktop that uses an Intel motherboard which has SigmaTel audio on it, until recently it did not have the System Mixer function for Vista/Win 7 (a new/recent IDT driver version finally enabled the system mixer). I do PC support and I recently installed a new HP desktop for a client with SigmaTel audio and it too DOES NOT have the System Mixer. Finally, not all the SoundBlaster sound cards (for desktops) have the What You Hear (what SoundBlaster calls the system mixer) function. Thus you are not alone with not having this function and sadly didn't do enough "homework" before buying the new PC and assumed all PC's have this function.
There are some systems that have it and as you have found there are workarounds for SOME systems. Check the Windows 7 forum as some have found drivers that work with some PC's to get the System Mixer.
Jim Coates
4 Operator
•
13.6K Posts
0
June 12th, 2010 07:00
Features like that are written into the .inf files of the audio driver. The driver was written for Dell by the audio chip maker, IDT. On its website IDT states that if a feature is missing that is because it was specified that way by the computer manufacturer
As one of the folks who has posted the solutions I am going to dispute that. Yes the "streaming software options" are just workarounds as well as the suggestion to connect the output jack to the input jack with a cable. However the other solutions we provided were actual real solutions on the models that they applied to. Unfortunately those solutions applied to models with Sigmatel audio, not to those with IDT audio like yours.
In many cases the solution was to just install a different driver, or to install a certain XP driver into Vista by using Vista compatibility mode. I don't know what you were looking at but there usually was no "fiddling with internal files". (Some people confused the instructions for enabling stereo mix with the instructions to enable input monitoring -- those entailed a little Registry editing.) It is true that in the early years one of the solutions was to substitute one of the inf files in one particular driver with a modified version of the file, but that was a long time ago. Even that had no potential to mess with anything "deeper in the system". If the modified driver did not work one simply used "rollback driver" to reinstall the prior version.
Stereo Mix has not been a standard feature on the Dell laptops for years, ever since the advent of the HD audio protocol (stereo mix was standard on Dell laptops with motherboards that met the earlier AC97 audio protocol). It would be great if Dell were to state on the product page that stereo mix is or is not not enabled on a given model, but no manufacturers of any product I am aware of will list the features that are missing. And because stereo mix is no longer standard they probably don't consider that it is "missing". It is very bad that information like this is so difficult to find but it is reality that it is up to the consumer to determine whether a product has all of the features needed, and if not to return the product within the return period and buy something more suitable. I urge you to try everything that fireberd suggested and make sure to select "show disabled devices" to see all of your options. If nothing pans out then you should return your laptop if the lack of stereo mix is a deal breaker for you.
jace999
13 Posts
0
June 22nd, 2010 02:00
I would just like to support bigboy as another person who feels ripped off. I am tired of hearing this garbage like "should have done your homework" or a "lot of other computer makers did the same thing". Like that is supposed to make it okay. Stereo mix is a necessary and essential computer function for the millions of people thai hook up their computers to instruments to record music. Disabling it without proper notification is criminal and this evidently is what has been done. The only logical reason for this appears to be an under the table deal with the recording industry association.
Suppose you ordered a new car and turn signals were no longer available, when you got in to drive it, So then the carmaker says to you, well we decided to disable them. so you can use hand signals instead,
Bigboy , you have ever right to be upset about your purchase and so do I , about mine.
Jace
Jim Coates
4 Operator
•
13.6K Posts
0
June 22nd, 2010 05:00
Jace,
I don't think that either I or fireberd disputed his right to be upset. People have a right to their feelings. Nothing either of us said was supposed to mean it is okay for the feature to be unavailable. I disputed his characterization of the solutions we forum members have provided for folks in the past (with Sigmatel audio systems). Unfortunately we have no solutions like that for folks with IDT audio systems.
Could you provide an example of the kind of instrument for which you need stereo mix? The reason I ask is because If it is something like guitar or bass you cannot use stereo mix to record it. You would have to use line-in or mic as the recording source. You can only select one recording source at a time and since stereo mix cannot record external instruments it has to be one of the other sources.
Jim Coates
4 Operator
•
13.6K Posts
0
June 22nd, 2010 06:00
Jace,
In your thread on the Desktop Audio Board you wrote:
"Anyone who has ever hooked up a keyboard to a computer line in and out to the speakers knows that you will hear sound upon playing even before entering your recording software providing stereo mix is enabled and functioning."
Please go back and read my reply to bigboy439. When he mentioned deep system changes I suspected he had confused 'stereo mix' and 'input monitoring'. I wrote:
"I don't know what you were looking at but there usually was no "fiddling with internal files". (Some people confused the instructions for enabling stereo mix with the instructions to enable input monitoring -- those entailed a little Registry editing.)"
I believe you may have confused them also. If your keyboard is connected to the line-in jack, then you have to select 'line-in' to be able to record it. Even if you had 'stereo mix' as an option you could not select it while 'line-in ' was selected. It would not matter anyway, because 'stereo mix' is a recording source and has nothing whatever to do with input monitoring. I am surprised that the folks on the Desktop Audio Board did not explain that.
Here is a link to the instructions that I think bigboy had in mind when he was talking about "fiddling with internal files": You should not try to use these instructions because they apply to laptop computers with Sigmatel audio.
How to Enable Input Monitoring
I know this info does not solve your problem but I hope it defines it better for you. As far as solutions, I just know about laptop audio and don't know what the desktop users usually do. If I had a desktop I would stick in an inexpensive PCI audio card and not bother with the integrated audio.
jace999
13 Posts
0
June 22nd, 2010 06:00
I use synthesizers mostly like the Yamaha motif and Korg T3 and nothing is coming out of the speakers, so this has really messed me up and evidently a lot of other people. I use line in either with my m audio card inputs or with the integrated sound blue line input. I can hear what I am playing when I use the m audio but the recording has bits of static through out. As far as the integrated realtek I hear nothing while playing, but the playback of the recording is there and without static.The m audio should work as I do have the latest driver for windows 7 64 bit installed. The m audio works perfectly now that I have it back in my old dell dimension. I am a pretty easy going person but when I pay hard earned money out , I expect a decent return on my investment. It is too bad that i didn;t attempt to record a song right away when I got this thing. I would've taken it back immediately. I am going to hammer away at this until I've done everything possible.to correct things. I just wanted this guy here to know that I share his feelings and totally understand what he is saying. Certainly, you are entitled to disagreeing with us and I do appreciate suggestions from anyone .It would be nice if Dell would just answer the questions I have submitted to them
Jace
jace
Jim Coates
4 Operator
•
13.6K Posts
0
June 22nd, 2010 07:00
Hey Jace,
I do not disagree with you. I think input monitoring should be enabled on all of the computers (it has never been enabled by default on the laptops -- I think because of the problem with laptop mics being so close to the speakers that feedback is an issue. I have no idea why it would be disabled on a desktop).
I disputed the way bigboy characterized the solutions I had given folks for the 'stereo mix' problem. Now I think he did not do that on purpose but because he got 'stereo mix' and 'input monitoring' confused.
jace999
13 Posts
0
June 22nd, 2010 07:00
Well thanks for your input. All I know is that on my dell dimension .I was able to hear what I was playing in real time plus tracks I had already recorded on my n'track studio software loud and clear and all I had was input connected to my synth and output to my computer speakers, Of course mixer was selected on the maudio output. I haven't used the sound max on the old computer recently ,but I know that i was able to do the same thing. This was pretty simple to set up and easy to do with either integrated sound or my own sound card. I am not using my 8100 now and it is disconnected on the floor . I am putting together my new song with video to upload on you tube.with my older dell dimension, Later this week I plan to reconnect the 8100 and try to contact Dell by phone..
Jace
Jim Coates
4 Operator
•
13.6K Posts
0
June 22nd, 2010 11:00
I doubt that anyone at Dell will even know what you are talking about. Dell buys these audio chips from Realtec and IDT without anyone at the support level having any real understanding of audio. In other words they farm out the audio then wash their hands of it.
I think you might have better luck if you give the Desktop Audio Board another shot. It looks to me that what happened was that you framed your problem as being the lack of stereo mix (which has nothing to do with the problem), and the folks answering you just latched on to that in their replies. Their answers to you were were about stereo mix, not about your actual problem which is no input monitoring. You did describe your problem in the text but they seemed to have skipped over that part for some reason. Well, to cut them some slack, you told them the problem was lack of stereo mix, but still they should have understood the real problem from your description.
You should start a new thread and restate the problem, this time leaving out the words 'stereo mix' entirely. If you can get them to focus on the actual monitoring problem they may know of a solution.
Once again, 'stereo mix' is a recording source. It is not a mixer, nor the system mixer, nor input monitoring. If you have ever had a Sound Blaster card they called it 'whatyouhear'. On some computers it is called 'wave out'. What it does, when selected on the recording panel, is to let you internally record the output of the sound card (but not anything connected to the mic/line-in jack). This is useful for recording streaming audio off the internet, which is why some people like to say that the record industry made Dell leave it off their computers. Whatever the reason, it does not have anything to do with hearing the inputted audio signal in real time through the speakers. As I said before, you cannot even select line-in and stereo mix at the same time.
Stereo mix and input monitoring are entirely different functions that have become hopelessly confused in people's minds. But you need to use reasonably correct terminology when framing the problem to have a better chance of getting a relevant reply.
jace999
13 Posts
0
June 23rd, 2010 01:00
I understand what you are saying and I already have had experience with a dell chat rep . However I believe in going through a process to give a company a chance to correct a problem even though there may only be a slim chance of actual help. Perhaps stereo mix was the wrong phrase to use and no input monitoring or no system mixer available would have been a better choice. Like I said, I'll set up the computer again in a day or two and go from there. I noticed one alleged simple fix on the web which says to download the win 7 64 bit drivers from the realtek site rather than fron dell, install them and click on show disabled devices, Even if it does not work, it probably won't make matters worse.
Jace