Direct2Dell

Quoted from another guy: IT WORKS!
--------------- Worked on Dell XPS 420 --------------------------------
Hi
I'm an Korean, so I can't speak English VERY fluently - but I can read all of the posts and I am understanding the problem. (If I have few spelling mistakes, if so, please just pass it on.)

From google search, I found that Computer makers (ex: sony) are shutting down 'stereo mix'

to prevent illegal recording - (maybe like songs from iTunes or something : songs that have DRM(non copyable music files). (so, people are just turning on the song, and record it, and make it to a free-DRM file.))

So, some notebook makers disabled recording from computer's direct streaming audio.

-> Like you said, It is not a hardware problem, because it works fine on XP - it means that exTongue TiedONY has blocked 'stereo mix' somehow on their pre-installed Vista.

Here is my help.

Before you start anything, turn on a music file - raise your volumes up and up!!!!

Test if sound is coming out of your speakers!! (If not, your speaker is a problem)

Download Virtual Audio Cable (search google or something - it is not a freeware - but try it first, then find a crack)

Install Virtual Audio Cable (VAC) on your computer.

(When installing ---- Vista -> Popup named like "do you want to install this driver?" (red letters) pops out -> click ok or something, you NEED to install the driver)

Taskbar -> Go to the playback devices (right-click the speaker icon) - Select the 'Playback' tab.

There will be a new option named 'Line 1' or 'VAC 1' or SOMETHING that is similar like this.

Make that 'Line 1'  Default. (There is a button named 'Set Default' below the window.)

Close all programs (specially programs that have sound - itunes, realplayer, windows media player)

Then, run the program Audio Repeater (Included in the VAC that you installed-  search the start->all programs or the search program files in CSmile


Set 'Wave in' to 'Line 1'

Set 'Wave out' to "SPEAKER" (or your computer's original default selection - mine is Vaio VGN-CR220E and it is named 'Speaker/HP', so select this)

After this, click 'Start' tab below.

Then, turn on any music(ex: an mp3 file- a long one should be good so you can test on it) on your computer.

You should hear the sound from your speaker.

NOW, If you want to record this mp3 stream, just follow the bottom part.

You will see 'Line 1' on the recording tab. (Go to sound manager (right-click the speaker icon on your taskbar-> recording devices) -> 'Recording' tab -> make 'Line 1' Default)


Run Audacity (or any recording programs)

Run Audacity -> Edit -> Preferences -> Audio I/O tab -> See 'Recording'  and make 'device' into 'Line 1'
 

Enjoy Recording computer's stereo!

 

p.s

Here is the problem -> you have to make Audio Repeater to the above settings every time you reboot, so

use it only when you need it! (So, : After Recording stereo from computer, change back to the normal notebook's settings)

 
Thanks for reading - hope it will work,

SOLUTION:

Quoted from another guy: IT WORKS!
--------------- Worked on Dell XPS 420 --------------------------------
Hi
I'm an Korean, so I can't speak English VERY fluently - but I can read all of the posts and I am understanding the problem. (If I have few spelling mistakes, if so, please just pass it on.)

From google search, I found that Computer makers (ex: sony) are shutting down 'stereo mix'

to prevent illegal recording - (maybe like songs from iTunes or something : songs that have DRM(non copyable music files). (so, people are just turning on the song, and record it, and make it to a free-DRM file.))

So, some notebook makers disabled recording from computer's direct streaming audio.

-> Like you said, It is not a hardware problem, because it works fine on XP - it means that exTongue TiedONY has blocked 'stereo mix' somehow on their pre-installed Vista.

Here is my help.

Before you start anything, turn on a music file - raise your volumes up and up!!!!

Test if sound is coming out of your speakers!! (If not, your speaker is a problem)

Download Virtual Audio Cable (search google or something - it is not a freeware - but try it first, then find a crack)

Install Virtual Audio Cable (VAC) on your computer.

(When installing ---- Vista -> Popup named like "do you want to install this driver?" (red letters) pops out -> click ok or something, you NEED to install the driver)

Taskbar -> Go to the playback devices (right-click the speaker icon) - Select the 'Playback' tab.

There will be a new option named 'Line 1' or 'VAC 1' or SOMETHING that is similar like this.

Make that 'Line 1'  Default. (There is a button named 'Set Default' below the window.)

Close all programs (specially programs that have sound - itunes, realplayer, windows media player)

Then, run the program Audio Repeater (Included in the VAC that you installed-  search the start->all programs or the search program files in CSmile


Set 'Wave in' to 'Line 1'

Set 'Wave out' to "SPEAKER" (or your computer's original default selection - mine is Vaio VGN-CR220E and it is named 'Speaker/HP', so select this)

After this, click 'Start' tab below.

Then, turn on any music(ex: an mp3 file- a long one should be good so you can test on it) on your computer.

You should hear the sound from your speaker.

NOW, If you want to record this mp3 stream, just follow the bottom part.

You will see 'Line 1' on the recording tab. (Go to sound manager (right-click the speaker icon on your taskbar-> recording devices) -> 'Recording' tab -> make 'Line 1' Default)


Run Audacity (or any recording programs)

Run Audacity -> Edit -> Preferences -> Audio I/O tab -> See 'Recording'  and make 'device' into 'Line 1'
 

Enjoy Recording computer's stereo!

 

p.s

Here is the problem -> you have to make Audio Repeater to the above settings every time you reboot, so

use it only when you need it! (So, : After Recording stereo from computer, change back to the normal notebook's settings)

 
Thanks for reading - hope it will work,

Any change on the Stereo Mix issue. No word from Dell, and they won't answer my emails.

I'm told by many users that neither Dell nor the Retailer (Office Works) had the right to refuse a refund or exchange if the goods did not perform the function required.

I STILL own a useless Dell Inspiron 1525 running Vista. Was the problem rectified in Windows Seven? Perhaps I could get a free upgrade? (Ha Ha Ha)

I have a Dimension E520 XP.  I've spent at least 3 hours thus far researching on how I can record streaming audio with the SigmaTel audio card that I have.  I have tried downloading the driver that you have suggested and I still can't get the Studio Mix to work. 

Is there something that I am not doing correctly?  Starting to get frustrated.......

I have an Inspiron 1501 and my problem is this: The stereo mix option works fine, but the line in option doesn't record at all. At first I thought it was the software I was using...Polderbits Sound Recorder and Editor. I emailed their tech support team and was told that the problem wasn't with the software, but they had no idea what the problem was. What could the problem be? Btw I am running Windows XP.

Does anyone have any idea what the problem might be?

Lauren

My DELL vostro 1000 does support  "Stereo Mix" even with Windows 7! With the correct driver it's no problem, so it can't be a hardware issue!

All you need is the correct driver - and ironically THAT driver above is from Dell...

http://support.euro.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=de&l=de&s=gen&releaseid=R171788&SystemID=PREC_M2300&servicetag=&os=WV64&osl=GE&deviceid=8907&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=1&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=3&typeid=-1&dateid=-1&formatid=-1&fileid=235764

Does not sound as good as the WIndows 7 build-in driver for the Sigmatel chip, but STereo Mix is enabled!

For Dell laptop users with vista, that want to use the sound card for recording....

Just go into the compatibility wizard and make the sound card compatible with XP that's it.

You should be able to see the devices that you have not been able to see, if not just right click and check the options

(show disabled and or unavailable devices)

Then...go here and get the finest recorder for the problem at hand ...free download.

http://www.mp3mymp3.com/

All the best

Have downloaded the Studio17 driver now need to know which ini and inf files to edit and where. Much appreciated and hope Dell updates the M1730 driver soon.

Almost a year later and i still can't use Stereo Mix For my Xps 420 are you serious? this has to be some joke. ive tried every solution other drivers/Reg Edit/ . i was so desperate for a solution i went to youtube yes,.... youtube. God this has to be one of the worst Pc service ever. Seriously When i buy a new Pc im staying Far away from dell this is a joke, not just because this problem but also from other incidents that just keep adding up to why dell is sooo "special", and helpfull.

I have several Dell machines. I remember when I first purchased my E520. The mixer worked great out of the box. Then I did an update, no mixer. It's not a hardware issue. 100% software.

I now have an HP for all my media. No problems.

I still use my Dells, and after many enhancements and tweeking they run good. But luckly I know how to do them myself. If I was an average Joe I'd have to hire someone like GeekSquad (for example) and that would have been expensive. I probably wouldn't have purchased another Dell after my all the problems on my old system.

Food for thought Dell.

Have a great day!!

Just wasted 20 minutes signing up for an account so I could leave you this comment... I will NEVER buy another Dell again.  Your solution to my problem is to tell me that future computers won't have the problem and I should buy another computer?  what about the computer I just bought?  TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE

Well, I have a Studio 1735, with Vista, bought October 2008 . . . and I do not have Stereo Mix or WaveOut.  And I need it.

Isn't this the systems they were supposed to start adding it on?

Great!!! Dell promises to fix the problem on "more and more"notebooks in the future......what about the $2000 I spent on THIS notebook??? You"ve lost touch with reality if you think I will ever buy another Dell product. Why is it there are 3rd party software solutions that seem to work?

Any update on this??? I just bought a Studio 17 and Stero-mix is unexistant!!!

Can Either Leonel or Chris B give us an update!?!?!?!

No details since 2008

It is ridiculous!!! Almost a year an still no solution!

Here is the link for a kernal driven internal recording program that can handle what dell, and creative cannot:

 Total Recorder:  http://www.totalrecorder.com/downloads.htm

 For Skype use CallBurner:  http://www.callburner.com/

It is truley sad that 3rd party software has a better grasp on Dell's and Creative's problems than they do.  but this the beauty of the open source computing world that we owe to Microsoft. 

While it is true that dell and creative withheld a "stereo mix" and " what u hear" imput option - that does not mean that the audio chipset in the motherboard is not capable of internal loop recording. 

We will have to wait for programs like: audacity, audition, my screen recorder, cubase,...etc to figure out the new vista coding for accessing the stereo signal directly and release individual program updates.  Vista has rendered these fine programs obsolete and apparently offered no heads up that the coding has been changed.  Although, that programs can now directly access the stereo signal is an improvement from assigning this signal to a virtual line in. 

Dell and Creative both need to release something to help with this; ie: a small application, a beta release driver update, a simple patch. Or they should leverage microsoft into providing such an option.  The programing work needed to do this would take one programer half a day to complete.  Yet Dell and Creative are sitting on it for now over a year. 

I will be sending an invoice for the time ive wasted finding out that Dell sold me on expectations that were not met.  I am a recording musician and I expected a decent upper-mid-grade sound card in the X -FI Extreme gamer which was advertised as the card for audio production work in 2008.  But, yet it couldn't handle the most simple recording task.  I will be waiting for a refund for the total price of the X-Fi.

- Kenneth Casper

Dell,

you cannot leave us like this waiting on the loop messages all over the place and no driver available until now

I did get my system from Dell few months ago, with upgrades of memory and disk and graphic.,....etc paid a big amount of money for my budget to get the system: 1720 inspiron with vista and still waiting until now for a driver that supports stereo mix on my system.

1- if I knew that the stereo mix option isn't supported I wouldn't of got the system

2- After buying the system I called support and they told me a driver is available for Windows XP that enables stereo mix that means that if I'm patient a driver will be available for vista, been waiting since and nothing!!!

3- the sytereo mix option is important to me for my work and without it the system is no use

4- Dell, how can you afford to treat your customers like that when the issue has been reported by users all over the place and they are all seeking drivers not to mention that 99.99% if not all of them didn't know that the option was disabled before getting the system

5- it doesn't matter if you fix the issue on new systems if you don;t provide existing customers with proper drivers and here is why: why would anyone buy from Dell knowing that they could remove existing functionality from hardware from systems without notifying customers and not providing a fix after...what says to me that something else major and important isn't missing from any system that I will get from you in the future knowing also that when things are missed up you don't pay attention to what customers are saying!

Please provide a driver as this is outrageous to wait all this time and show patience and nothing until now

Regards

Romuse

Dell,

you cannot leave us like this waiting on the loop messages all over the place and no driver available until now

I did get my system from Dell few months ago, with upgrades of memory and disk and graphic.,....etc paid a big amount of money for my budget to get the system: 1720 inspiron with vista and still waiting until now for a driver that supports stereo mix on my system.

1- if I knew that the stereo mix option isn't supported I wouldn't of got the system

2- After buying the system I called support and they told me a driver is available for Windows XP that enables stereo mix that means that if I'm patient a driver will be available for vista, been waiting since and nothing!!!

3- the sytereo mix option is important to me for my work and without it the system is no use

4- Dell, how can you afford to treat your customers like that when the issue has been reported by users all over the place and they are all seeking drivers not to mention that 99.99% if not all of them didn't know that the option was disabled before getting the system

5- it doesn't matter if you fix the issue on new systems if you don;t provide existing customers with proper drivers and here is why: why would anyone buy from Dell knowing that they could remove existing functionality from hardware from systems without notifying customers and not providing a fix after...what says to me that something else major and important isn't missing from any system that I will get from you in the future knowing also that when things are missed up you don't pay attention to what customers are saying!

Please provide a driver as this is outrageous to wait all this time and show patience and nothing until now

Regards

Romuse

I have a m1330. Apparently there are XP drivers which have Stereo Mix functionality, so the hardware clearly supports it at the hardware level, so why won't Dell put the support back into the Vista sound driver for these existing notebooks. It doesn't matter to me what Dell does in the future - if support isn't forthcoming for existing products - I shalln't be buying Dell again in the future.....

With the XP driver on Vista (using compatibility mode), I'm experiencing Sound problems after a PC sleep period. Sound becomes very very bad.

PLEASE DELL, GIVE US A DRIVER WITH STEREO MIX VALID ON VISTA !

Dell Lied to Customers! Dell purposely disabled Stereo Mix! Stand up against the evil empire and stop supporting dell and purchase through another competitor!

I'm so amazed that people have so much patient about Dell although they knew Dell has been lying. With Dell's current attitude, you people probably just waste your valueable time. Dump Dell!! This is the only way to get Dell to act.

Yes, very disapointing.  Dell is really going off the deep end..  Sorry Michael D.

I wont be buying nor recomending Dell in the future.  They really have lost any compettive advantage they once had

At least Sony are honest about the reasons:

"You are correct to assume that it has been disabled in Vista to prevent the possibility that people may use it to illegally record sound. It is not just Sony that have had to do it, but all manufacturers. 
  
We are sorry that it affects users who are trying to use it for honest purposes like yourself, but we are bounded by law the same as other makes. 
  
I can not predict that there will ever be a change in the policy. We are aware tough that there are 3rd party software/methods of getting around this issue, however we cannot advise or recommending using them.  
  
Should you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to update your case. If you would prefer an e-Support agent to contact you by telephone, please update your case with your preferred contact number & a suitable time frame between the hours of 8:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday. 
 
Regards, 
 
Harry 
Sony Vaio-Link Team"

We are able to use the XP driver to use stereo mix so OBVIOUSLY it is not disabled at hardware level.

Please do the right thing and bring out a new driver for the XPS range that allows FULL functionality of the hardware we have paid for.

Gotta throw in my 2 cents.  I'm having the same issues with my Dell Latitude D830.  It's taken me many hours to find this thread and I still haven't gotten any driver hack to correct the Sigmatel audio on my machine. 

As a long-time recommender and purchaser of over 25 Dell's (since 1983), I am finally going to have to break the habit and start looking at other vendors.  It's really a shame because they had a good long run for my experience.

Come on DELL. Is there anyone in your marketing department monitoring this blog? I've just discouraged yet another potential XPS 420 customer who asked for my experience of your technical support service. A simple statement on whether Dell are working on a solution would be welcome.

DELL really needs to get some fully supported drivers going for XPS1530 w sigmatel, this is really unacceptable.

I am appalled to finally find this blog and read what has been going on here. I spent over 2.5 hours with dell online tech support this afternoon trying to solve this very issue.  I just bought this xps1530 a few months ago and thought i was getting the flagship of the company with all the bells and whistle's installed. It is very very dishartening to see what dell is doing. Heck i used to do this all the time with a old "c" series latitude.  I guess newer and faster doesnt always mean better !!!!!

Yeah I'm goin back to buying my pc piece by piece. Dell is now just another souless company.

I paid alot of money for my Dell XPS 720.

It worked fine on my old Dell 8400. Cant believe this was allowed to happen. I am deeply unhappy with this.

Whats worse is this problem has been around for ages, but there is still no solution!!!!

Last product i will ever buy from Dell.

As a 'bedroom DJ' who just wants to plug his turntables into the computer and record and listen to records being played, I have been dumb struck at this ridiculous situation caused by Dell. I have also spent approximately 5 full days over the last 6 months trying to fix it/researching it.

I have even paid for a new USB Creative sound card to try to alleviate the problem, but this still doesn't work because of the SOFTWARE restrictions Dell have made.

It's all very well saying that the new 'Studio' line of laptops will again have this feature, but having bought my Inspiron 1720 less than a year ago, I do not expect to replace it for another two years at the least. And would anyone who has been affected by this issue REALLY upgrade to another Dell?

Dell MUST release a patch for the affected models to put back this simple functionality. It is equivilant to selling a computer that can't connect to the internet - unheard of.

Dell's silence on this issue has been deafening, and after buying three computers from them since 2003, I won't be buying any more because of their inability to solve this very minor issue.

CodeMonkey, can you zip up your modifications to the driver package? I think I know what I need to do, but it would be helpfull to at least compare it to what you did.

XPS M1730 and R196492 driver = Working Stereo Mix

As a few have already posted, it is NOT a hardware issue but rather a simple SOFTWARE issue to enable Stereo Mix on the M1730. 

After several hours of working on this my M1730 running Vista Ultimate 32-bit now has Stereo Mix enabled.  I have also been able to correct the mic issues and the LCD mic array is now visible to the IDT driver.

Would be nice to see Dell release a working driver instead of having to mod an existing driver.  What do you think Chris?

I have a XPS 420 and this has been my main problem since I got it. Dell is really turning into a crappy company. I bought my last 3 pcs from them but after this mess I will try not to support them again.

Its been almost one year since people have been complaining about it and they have done nothing and they dont seem to care.

I agree, the M1730 can do Stereo Mix, but you guys just don't want to put in the time to code the drivers to support it.  I am using also the Studio 17 drivers that support Stereo Mix on my M1730 without use of the middle headphone jack.

Please fix this as soon as possible and release updated drivers in 32 bit and 64 bit flavors for the M1730.

this is so ridiculous as others have said it is very disappointing upgrading to a new pc and getting less funcionality out of it than your old system if you don't fix this stereo mix problem on the xps420 you will be making many people computers useless. So many people us their pc's purely for audio and your giving them broken systems while calling it the solution to all your entertainment needs needless to say I will never be buying another dell product after this nor will i ever recommend dell ever again. pathetic is the only way i can think to describe the support for this issue telling us that your fixing it in newer pc's does absolutely nothing for your current customers

As a disappointed and frustrated XPS 420 customer I've been monitoring this thread since the opening statement on August 15th. It's difficult to avoid the conclusion that Dell are not seriously interested in resolving the issue for existing customers. Like other contributors I've wasted much time exploring work arounds and presently run two sets of speakers - one on the line-in and one on the line-out - an unsatisfactory compromise requiring additional cost and desk space.

When I first raised the problem with Dell in June 2008 I was advised via email I could activate stero mix in my XPS420 by replacing the factory fitted Sigmatel High Definition Audio sound card with a Creative Sound Blaster XtremeGame replacement. However the email advised that I check this solution with Creative Labs before purchase. Fortunately I took this advice and avoided further wasted expense.

I've been a long term Dell purchaser and have previously held no reservation about recommending Dell to colleagues, students and family members. However, I feel I can no longer do this without qualification about their ability to anticipate driver compatibilty issues and lack of coordination within their customer support service team.

Does anyone have anyone have ideas for raising the pressure on Dell for an early fix on all affected models? A progress statement or reiteration of their intentions would be welcome.

I'm really frustrated by this. The only reason I bought a new PC was to replace one that was, from what I could see, irreparable. I'm an amateur musician and relied on my PC to record my songs, so I turned to Dell for a reliable but affordable computer to continue making music with. Alas, I can't do that and cannot aford *another* computer so now I'll have to give up something I really enjoy doing.

Thanks Dell, thanks very much indeed.

This is very frustrating - to stumble on this info after much effort with Dell Tech Support never revealed it.

My Dell Dimension 9200 with Vista Ultimate seemed to work fine.  When it auto-updated to SR-1, all audio quit.  Tech support poked in a different SigmaTel driver that brought back (some) audio.  But:  1) there is no Stereo Mixer, so local audio capture isn't possible, and  2)  my L/R Front speakers are dead in 5.1 configuration, but are located as L/R Side in 7.1 configuration.  So obviously they work, but are hosed in the correct 5.1

How can this be allowed to propagate?

One customer made a good point. Those of us who have XPS 1730s and bought Premium Service Warranties have more then paid Dell to update a driver.  To not offer an updated driver for a current model is unethical. Just plain bad business.  When I buy a high end XPS DELL laptop to replace a Qosmio from Toshiba, I expect a faster and MORE CAPABLE machine. Not a crippled laptop with less functionality. The stereo mix is a standard function on any past computer. If it is removed it should have been somewhere in the literature.

If you buy a car,  any car. You can count on it having a radio right?

Thats how we all feel when we buy a new pc. Certain functions/features are standard equipment.  Please spend some time and update the drivers for your customers. Without us, no more Dell! 

XPS 1730 can record stereo mix.. Driver needs work.

I was really dissapointed that my new xps M1730 does not have the record "what you hear" feature. But I also know the hardware is capable. (sigmatel).  A dell rep connected to my lappy and installed an older xp driver.  The driver fixed that feature. There was a control to select stereo mix and I tested it. It was great.  Until I found out that other features of the driver "didnt match" the computer , like spdif out, and a few other items. But mike in worked line in worked and stereo mix in worked. So you folks at Dell.....  Can you please have the Vista driver updated, or the registry items set right ?  This is your most expensive laptop, and the audio s/n ratio is fantastic. This machine deserves a bit of your time to fix the driver. No hardware problem...  definitely the driver and/or registry setup of the audio card.

Maybe some of your other models don't have the appropriate hardware, but the XPS 1730 DOES!!!!! and it is still a current model. So PLEASE issue an updated driver. You will make many loyal customers if you do :)  

Teri

My suggestion to you all....BUY A MAC.

The 'features' being discussed here have been available on the most basic systems  for donkey's years. I've never come across a system that wouldn't let you control the mic. O/P coming through the speakers.
And they've always let you record 'What I Hear Now'.
Until now of course. This has seriously wound me up. The time I've wasted trying to get these most basic functions to work...
I hope for Dell's sake they fix this because this is a step backwards and undoes a lot slick marketing.
My Inspiron 1525 is a now a seriously limited piece of hardware and I have to rely on my 7 year old desktop to do much of what I need to do. Progress...

I forgot to mention on the post above, I have an XPS 720 with XP.

I hope you will update the driver soon.

Stephan

Hi Chris,

Thank you very much for updating us with what is happening. Nevertheless, I would like to point out the following:

- I called 3 times the support center with NO answer and NO follow-up Email - I am apparently not the only one and every time it cost me almost 10$ to hear "we will call you back" !

- You mentioned notebook, but as XPS user, we are supposed to get a premium service, do you know when the new driver will be released ?

Thank you in advance for your answer,

Stephan

I just want to give some credit to you guys for coming out and admitting it publicly. Takes some guts to do that.

Having said all that, you (and I speak of the corporation, not the individual) has to admit that there is something funny going on when people are getting their stereo mix working just by altering or trying different drivers - which speaks of a software problem rahter than a hardware one.

Of course, you may have been told to issue this statement and its not your fault at all. So I feel both sympathy for you (as your taking all the flack) and at the same time angry at Dell for not issuing this statement over 6 months ago.

Though in fairness, its not just Dell. Almost every single computer manufacturer had similar problems with the Vista OS.

Keep us updated if you guys do release any fixes (XPS 420).

Thanks

Annon.

This is amazing -- this is the first time

I have found mention of this in such detail.

I purchased a 1330 last December and had

no problem at the time, but now, with my 1330

replaced by a new one recently due to a

defective laptop, I cannot record audio using

any audio program (Auadacity, DAK, etc).

This is outrageous -- and I may have to return

this 1330 if Dell does not correct this..

I have a M1530 and suffer with the same limitation re PalybackCapture. Only hope Dell will supply an updated driver soon. I am already frustrated with Dell support. Don't you like return customers?

Thanks

i have a dell 410 xps desktop and having the same problem regarding the "stereo mix"... can anyone help me  to fix this problem?

What about current XPS 420 users? Are you gonna forget them? START ANY KIND OF PROCEDURE TO FIX THE STEREO-MIX HARDWARE CAP ON OUR SYSTEMS.

I AM VERY ANNOYED WITH YOU

This is not serious Dell. You can't keep making our lifes worse and harder than what they are. You're supposed to be an integrated solution for those who don't want or can't waste more time.

I used Stereo Mix for sharing what I hear with my friends in Msn and now I'm a very worse experience than what I had with my old and obsolete system.

Ok...I'm using D620 and here is what I cant do with it.

I need to plug in a microphone and while talking through it, I should be able to hear the same though the connected  speakers ( internal /external ), at the same time record it using a software like audacity.

I am able to record sound using audacity, but I can know what is it recording only after re-playing it.

I am able to do what I need with IBM thinkpad or HP Compaq, after enabling "Wave out mix", Is this not possible with Dell? if yes, how can I do it? Please help.

@Chris Byrd:

I find your post interesting Chris.  I just installed the Studio17 IDT Driver (R190606 - released on 6/26/08) and have Stereo Mix Record (or 'PlaybackCapture' as its labeled in the .inf) capability on my XPS M1730.  OF NOTE:  I am running Vista Ultimate 32-bit.  Everything is functional with the exception of the first Headphone jack (the middle jack).

I acomplished this rather easily.  All I did was take my 1730's Hardware ID for the Sigmatel (IDT) chip -

HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_8384&DEV_7616&SUBSYS_102801F7

and added it to the .inf and .ini file. 

So you see Chris, it is possible and is in fact NOT a hardware limitation.  Could you get with the driver guys and release an updated driver for the 1730 ASAP please. 

Thanks.

ATTENTION!

Ahem, you say that Dell have disabled Stereo Mix at a hardware level. Well i sense some lies in what you say. If you look around in internet forums, as many of you probably have already, you can clearly see that NUMEROUS people who PREVIOUSLY did NOT have stereo mix were able download certain drivers that ENABLED this feature, meaning that the PROBLEM definitely CANT be HARDWARE related if a simple DRIVER SOFTWARE UPGRADE can solve it. Which leads me believe a COVER-UP is in progress, as all Dell really need to do is provide a driver upgrade. Many people have been solved INFERIOR computers that cant do a simple thing the MANY pcs can, which is not fair trading at all! Especially when I call Dell for help, and they tell me that I have to BUY an ADDITIONAL sound card to have this feature that should be standard! Lord help me if i had brought a laptop.

I have 4 Dell Dimension 9200 PCx that still don't have the "Stereo Mix" option.  What are these updated Windows XP drivers that you allude to?  None of the drivers available for my model on your Support site enable the "Stereo Mix" option on any of my PCs.

I can't believe i have limited hardware, and as we advance in time, we go back in technology capabilities.

What Dell did is just inadmissible. I encourage everybody denouncing Dell wherever they can and returning their limited systems. This was not a legal act since it wasn't noticed in the purchase form.

I suppose a lot of people bought the unit thinking "naturally, this must have a line-in jack" only to be later surprised to find they had none at all!  I wonder how often this was mentioned to customers during orders, and how they might have been able to gain knowledge of this fact on Dell.com....

  I can't believe a hugh company like Dell is not making this a Number 1 priority. I paid alot of money for my particular XPS 720 Desktop system and it is worthless for my work. Where is the "can do attitude"? Why are you so slow to move? What departments are working on this situation? When is an expected day of an update comming out? Must I buy a non-dell copy of Vista for it to work? Why can I not change the properties of "soundrecorder.exe"? Why can't "Creative" make a driver for you if you can't or won't? Do you care if people will never come back to Dell again? Why does customer support NEVER call back on this issue? Why are your support techs not updated on this particular issue? Why is customer resolution so ignorant about this issue. What restitutions will be made for Dell customers?  At this point we all require and deserve answers for everybody is is personally affected with this issue. Maybe I should work for you to shake things up there.

Something doesn't add up here.

I have a XPS1530 and I can force the newer Studio drivers to install on my laptop and get StereoMix. I can force other IDT drivers to install on my laptop and get StereoMix.

If there is indeed a hardware limitation (reading the release notes for the Intel IDT drivers certainly makes me doubt this), then it seems that there is a simple software solution to this problem. The drivers already exist, allow them to be installed on the hardware you are selling to your customers

This is great news, for future customers. Kudos on a long over due decision. 

Hi Chris

Interesting.  So what about me?  I don't have a Dell laptop - I have a Inspiron 530 desktop with Vista.  Is there any way I can get Stereo Mix / What u Hear working on my X-Fi Extreme Music card?   Is the fact that it is unavailable because the card doesnt support it?  Creative seem to indicate that that it does support it, although admittedly they are rather vague.

If I were to buy another soundcard that was stated as supporting What u Hear, is there anything in the architecture or Build of my machine that would prevent it from working?

@Nigel Smith & @notaloop:

Thanks for your responses. 

This is a hardware limitation.  However we were able to work around this limitation with a software solution which enabled us to release the driver update for XP.  Within Vista, the audio driver infrastructure is signficantly different from XP. As a result, such a work around that would enable us to release a verified signed Vista driver, may not be possible.

It's my understanding some customers have been able to install the XP driver with limited Stereo Mix functionality, on Vista laptops using "XP Compatability" mode.  This installation is not supported by Dell, and really isn't a true fix or ideal as the same hardware challenges in regards to Vista are still in place, but being avoided by "XP Compatability" mode installation.  If that makes sense.

The community has really be outspoken in regards to this, and as Lionel said above, moving forward you will see this feature enabled in more and more notebooks. =)

Chris Byrd
Dell Digital Life Liaison

Well I have good news.I am happy to have stereo mix on my inspiron 9400 or E1705.It works on Audacity and I am very postive that all those who have dell laptops or desktops can get stereo mix instantly

Good Luck and Thank you Dell

Please release the Dell Mini.

Sign Everyone...

If I find out I have no recoring of sound out because of an operating system I have never used in my life, I may cry.

Thanks for the article. I'm happy to see Dell's reason for why my inspiron 1520 w/ Vista doesn't have this option, but I do have one question:

If the lack of a stereo mix option is truly a hardware limitation on the pre-Studio notebooks, then why is it that on some notebooks like my 1520, stereo mix can be enabled (and activated via the sound panel) by simply installing the XP version of the drivers (available on Dell's website) without any additional software?

Sorry, but I don't believe that the hardware these notebooks have is what is stopping Dell from enabling Stereo Mix. If the XP drivers can have stereo mix, then so can the vista drivers (especially on the same hardware). I look foward to your response.

That's all well & good but what about bringing back into Vista drivers for *existing* owners?

I have an m1710 and a m1330. Apparently there are XP drivers which have Stereo Mix functionality, so the hardware clearly supports it at the hardware level, so why won't Dell put the support back into the Vista sound driver for these existing notebooks. It doesn't matter to me what Dell does in the future - if support isn't forthcoming for existing products - I shalln't be buying Dell again in the future.....

Thanks so much for the update -- one of the most disappointing things about my E1705 is the lack of stereo mix recording functionality, so it's good to hear that Dell's re-enabling it in future notebooks.

Now hurry up and release a 17 inch notebook with stereo mix and a modern video card that outperforms my E1705, and I'll be first line, money in hand. :-)

vga/sound