audio mixer problem

suite_pee123 wrote:

> Hello, microsoft has been boasting about it's new features. Makes
> sense. One feature is the new audio mixer. Here's my problem and
> question: in previous versions of windows, such as xp or 98, I could
> double click on the speaker in the task bar, go to options>properties
> and then select recording devices or playback. With recording devices
> set, I am able to pick what I want to record, so for my computer I
> have four options: Line In, Wave Out Mix, CD Audio, and Mic Balance.
> In vista, i can't do this which is strange considering microsoft has
> released articles boasting the new audio mixer. On top of this, with
> Playback selected rather than Recording Devices, I have the option to
> increase or decrease and mute or un-mute the recording device. I have
> spent quite some time searching vista (including control panel) and
> the internet and have not found this simple, fundamental feature in
> vista. Please, I would appreciate an answer informing me on how to go
> about accomplishing these tasks that were so easy to accomplish in
> previous versions.

What soundcard do you have? Have you checked the manufacturer's website for
the latest drivers for your card? If you have, did you check to be see if
these drivers supported all the features of your card or only basic
functions? Many manufacturer's have only released drivers supporting basic
functions of their devices while they develop and attempt to certify drivers
supporting all the features of their devices. It's possible your current
drivers only support minimal functionality at this time.
--
Michael Solomon

it has nothing to do with the sound card, though mine is simply the onboard
on my intel motherboard. this is a basic feature that is (or, should be)
implemented within windows vista. if i installed an older windows i would
definitely get the options i'm talking about. thanks for the help though.

suite_pee123 wrote:

> it has nothing to do with the sound card, though mine is simply the
> onboard on my intel motherboard. this is a basic feature that is (or,
> should be) implemented within windows vista. if i installed an older
> windows i would definitely get the options i'm talking about. thanks
> for the help though.

You can't even get the speaker icon into the notification area if your
soundcard drivers don't support it. It doesn't matter that it is written
into the OS, the specific operations you mentioned must be invoked and
otherwise supported by the drivers for your soundcard or its not going to
happen.

There's a scanner applet included with the OS. Do you think you'll be able
to scan from that applet if your scanner drivers are not compatible with it.

This is virtually the same thing.
--
Michael Solomon

scanner applet? please elaborate

one thing that has to be absolutely possible with any somewhat modern
soundcard/driver is enabling the recording device's signal to be routed to
the speaker. i have no option to un-mute the mic so that the sound it picks
up comes out of my speakers. and the only way i can change the recording
level is through control panel which is super tedious. definitely no
soundcard manufacturer would release a driver that didn't have these standard
options, especially since my soundcard has two mic inputs (and i've tried
selecting both without any new features appearing).

it's also gotta be possible with any modern soundcard to route the wave out
mix as a recording device (which i'm sure if i could do what i talked about
in the above paragraph i'd find the option to do this as well). i mean my old
computer is like 10 years old and it's onboard soundcard can do it. my bro's
computer with xp can do it. my dad's with xp can do it.

i'll give intel a call and ask them, maybe try and find out specifics about
the onboard soundcard. but i truly believe this is a problem with vista.

by the way, can you make your mic signal come out of your computer? i guess
if you can do that on vista, and/or other people can, then it truly is a
problem with a driver. i just find it ridiculous if a driver is causing this
problem cause that's a very standard feature for any soundcard driver to
have. for someone that uses the microphone extensively that's almost as bad
as not being able to mute and/or easily change the volume of speaker output.