Stereo Mix (Record what I hear) is missing

REBEL1

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I replace my old sound card, which had a Stereo Mix channel and level control on its mixer, with a Sound Blaster Audigy FX card. The new mixer has only two channels of recording: Mic and Line In. Both work. I've updated the drivers, but can't find one that adds Stereo Mix.

I then installed Realtek drivers and the Stereo Mix option appeared when I right-clicked on the speaker icon at the lower right corner and selected Recording Devices. (I right-clicked on the white area of the list of recording devices and checked the boxes Show Disconnected and Show Diabled Devices; no Stereo Mix.) However, the controller was still the one by Sound Blaster, and it was essentially disabled by the Realtek drivers.

Any ideas for getting the Stereo Mix function? My old card had it and was working with W8.1 Pro, so I can't say that a W8 driver is bad. I can't sort out if it's a missing piece of hardware on the Blaster card, or it's a software issue. One post somewhere said Stereo Mix was intentionally omitted or made hard to implement due to copyright issues (not recording audio from youtube.com, for example. In buying a new sound card, how can I tell if it will have Stereo Mix?

My recording software is Cool Edit Pro, 2.1.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homemade
    CPU
    AMD
    Motherboard
    Asus
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First, SoundBlaster calls the Stereo Mix function, "What You Hear". Does that show up any place?

Installing the RealTek drivers apparently activated your on-board (on the motherboard) audio. Since Windows will only allow one default playback device, and because of potential conflicts its good to disable the on-board audio in the BIOS.

Back to the SoundBlasters, there were some early model Audigy sound cards that do not support for What You Hear. I had an Audigy SE sound card in an old PC. In Windows XP it had the "What You Hear". When I upgraded to Vista and got the new Vista drivers from SoundBlaster, I no longer had the What You Hear. Vista/Win7/Win8 handle some sound functions differently than XP (and earlier OS) and apparently is the reason on the older Audigy cards.

Bottom line, if you want Stereo Mix, remove the SoundBlaster and use the on-board RealTek. Unless you have a specific reason for the SoundBlaster I wouldn't use it. I have a recording studio (using Sonar X3) with some high end recording equipment and studio monitor speakers, but for PC audio, the RealTek in my PC serves me well. I've had SoundBlasters and other brands of add on sound cards and I don't hear any difference between the RealTek and $100 add on sound cards.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10
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    Home Built
    CPU
    i7 6700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero
    Memory
    16 Gb G Skill TridentZ DDR4 3400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel (i7 CPU)
    Sound Card
    RealTek Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" Dell SE2717HR
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    1920X1080
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    Sonar Platinum 64 bit recording studio software with MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid recording interface unit.
No, the Sound Blaster does not have a What You Hear or a Wave Mix recording channel.

Whenever the SB card was installed, I had disabled the on-board audio controller, using the BIOS, to be sure there were no conflicts.

I don't think the on-board audio hardware is by Realtek. The manual for my ASUS M3A76-CM motherboard simply refers to the Audio section as: "High Definition Audio 8-channel CODEC; Supports Jack-Detect, Multistreaming Technologies and S/PDIF Out interface."

I removed the SB card and set the BIOS to use the mobo audio. I then used CCleaner to Uninstall the SB files. Then I installed the Realtek files. When I used Device Manager to check the audio controller and audio inputs and outputs, all it said was High Definition audio device. The drivers were by Microsoft, which is strange because CCleaner does include a Realtek High Definition Audio Driver as one of the items it can Uninstall.

Last week I had no trouble installing the Realtek driver. I don't know what's wrong now. I'll keep you posted if I manage to install the Realtek drivers with the mobo audio.

I can't remember why I originally went to a separate sound card; maybe I thought the specs were better that the one on the mobo.

Thanks for your comments.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homemade
    CPU
    AMD
    Motherboard
    Asus
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    None

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    i7 6700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero
    Memory
    16 Gb G Skill TridentZ DDR4 3400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel (i7 CPU)
    Sound Card
    RealTek Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" Dell SE2717HR
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 850 SSD, 3TB for backups
    PSU
    EVGA Supernova 750 G2
    Case
    BeQuiet Silent Base 600
    Cooling
    Deepcool Captain 120EX
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    Cable - 100MB Downlink
    Browser
    Edge/Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
    Other Info
    Sonar Platinum 64 bit recording studio software with MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid recording interface unit.
Fireberd,

Even though I had installed this file several years ago, I downloaded and installed it again. Now, Stereo Mix appears as one of the Recording Devices. While I can make it the default device, there is a notation that it is "Currently unavailable." And when I boot the computer, there is a dialog box stating that the audio deck does not support this OS.

Device Manager shows all the drivers from VIA, and that they are working.

Bottom line: Stereo Mix appears on the list of Recording Devices, but is not available.

Thanks for your suggestions.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homemade
    CPU
    AMD
    Motherboard
    Asus
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    None
If you still have the RealTek software installed, I wonder if that is interfering?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    i7 6700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero
    Memory
    16 Gb G Skill TridentZ DDR4 3400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel (i7 CPU)
    Sound Card
    RealTek Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" Dell SE2717HR
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 850 SSD, 3TB for backups
    PSU
    EVGA Supernova 750 G2
    Case
    BeQuiet Silent Base 600
    Cooling
    Deepcool Captain 120EX
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    Cable - 100MB Downlink
    Browser
    Edge/Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
    Other Info
    Sonar Platinum 64 bit recording studio software with MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid recording interface unit.
Fireberd,

That was an excellent suggestion that I hadn't thought about. Unfortunately, removing the Realtek driver didn't solve the problem.

When I reboot, here's the message I see: VIA HD audio device does not support this OS version. Please update the audio driver.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homemade
    CPU
    AMD
    Motherboard
    Asus
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    None
I should add that my mobo is about four years old, and Asus doesn't have any updates for it for W8.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homemade
    CPU
    AMD
    Motherboard
    Asus
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    None
I disabled the on-board audio and reinstalled the Sound Blaster. Stereo Mix no longer appears as one of the Recording Devices, even though it had been non-functional.

Device Manager, in the category Sound, video and game controllers shows two entries: Sound Blaster Audigy FX and Sound Blaster Audio Controller. The drivers for both are from Creative.

I can't sort out if w8.1 or SB is the problem. My old sound board, until April 24, was a Xonar DG; it had Stereo Mix and worked to w8.1. I have a suspicion that one of the never-ending W8 updates disabled the Stereo Mix function to pacify the RIAA crowd that is so obsessed with piracy.

I'm going to contact both SB and Asus (maker of the Xonar) about this. Asus has a chat service that opens at 9:00 Pacific time.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
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    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homemade
    CPU
    AMD
    Motherboard
    Asus
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    Firefox
    Antivirus
    None
Try installing that ASUS driver in Windows 7 compatibility mode. See if that helps.

The Win 7 drivers are compatible to Win 8, but this driver may have something in it that isn't and installing in a compatibility mode may fix it. I had to do that with a device for my recording studio. It had Vista drivers (which are Win 7/Win 8 compatible) but the unit would not install in Windows 8 until I installed using Windows 7 compatibility mode.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    i7 6700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero
    Memory
    16 Gb G Skill TridentZ DDR4 3400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel (i7 CPU)
    Sound Card
    RealTek Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" Dell SE2717HR
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 850 SSD, 3TB for backups
    PSU
    EVGA Supernova 750 G2
    Case
    BeQuiet Silent Base 600
    Cooling
    Deepcool Captain 120EX
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    Microsoft Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    Cable - 100MB Downlink
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    Other Info
    Sonar Platinum 64 bit recording studio software with MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid recording interface unit.
Hmm the best way would be to disable Driver Signature Enforcement works 90% in most cases like this ;)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro Update 1
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    Inspiron 530S
    Motherboard
    64Bit X64 based Processor
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    4.5GB Ram
    Graphics Card(s)
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I don't know how to do the compatibility mode.
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    windows 8
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    AMD
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    Asus
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    Firefox
    Antivirus
    None
Instead of LEFT clicking on the icon to install the driver, RIGHT click on the icon and then Left click on Properties. You can access the compatibility options in the Properties. Use either Win 7 or maybe even Vista compatibility mode.

Here is a sample screenshot showing Compatibility mode checked and Vista selected.

compatibility screenshot.PNG
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    i7 6700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero
    Memory
    16 Gb G Skill TridentZ DDR4 3400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel (i7 CPU)
    Sound Card
    RealTek Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" Dell SE2717HR
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 850 SSD, 3TB for backups
    PSU
    EVGA Supernova 750 G2
    Case
    BeQuiet Silent Base 600
    Cooling
    Deepcool Captain 120EX
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    Cable - 100MB Downlink
    Browser
    Edge/Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
    Other Info
    Sonar Platinum 64 bit recording studio software with MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid recording interface unit.
First I used CCleaner to remove the existing version of SB driver and rebooted. Then I went to the downloaded driver file (120MB), an exe file, right-clicked on it, chose compatibility with W7 and installed it. After rebooting, still no Stereo Mix.

I don't know how you got CCleaner Properties. I just used what comes with W8.

New topic: SB claims an s/n ratio of about 106 dB. With no microphone attached, and with the Line In shorted to each other and ground, I let CoolEdit Pro run and start recording. With the Line In slider at max gain, the s/n ratio dances around the -50 dB point. With the slide at min gain, the s/n dances around -85 dB. Both are a far cry from the 106 number. And why should the background noise change with the slider position, since the line inputs are grounded?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homemade
    CPU
    AMD
    Motherboard
    Asus
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    None
The CCleaner was used just for an example to show the Compatibility options.

Noise can be generated from several points within the sound card's electronics. PC sound cards, generally, make poor recording input devices. Besides the potential S/N ratio they generally have poor latency. That is best left to "real" recording interface units. I can get "white noise" from my Peavey amp, by setting the input level to zero and the Output level fairly high. I'm a former amp tech (in Nashville) and I've never seen a completely noise free amp, even with the inputs grounded.

I have two USB connected recording interface units. My primary is a Roland Octa-Capture and my backup is an MAudio Fastrack Ultra 8R. My recording DAW is Sonar X3 64 bit Producer Version.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    i7 6700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero
    Memory
    16 Gb G Skill TridentZ DDR4 3400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel (i7 CPU)
    Sound Card
    RealTek Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" Dell SE2717HR
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 850 SSD, 3TB for backups
    PSU
    EVGA Supernova 750 G2
    Case
    BeQuiet Silent Base 600
    Cooling
    Deepcool Captain 120EX
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    Cable - 100MB Downlink
    Browser
    Edge/Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
    Other Info
    Sonar Platinum 64 bit recording studio software with MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid recording interface unit.
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