How can I get Stereo Mix functionality?

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 3:48 pm

To hell with that...I for one would like to see this too its conclusion.

If I'm going to be able to fix this thing in the future, I want to know what it is so if it every comes back up again.

That is a verbatim quote from my first wife, btw.

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 10:26 pm

I think the easiest way to look at Mike's problem is... he's simply wants to do audio capture and then utilize upstream to webcast what he hears (for example a song in iTunes) and webcasting it over the net (so other users can hear what he heard), but the problem is he's stuck at audio capturing with stereo mix. All he's wanting to do is the capture the audio that is played through his sound card that comes out of his speakers. Then he just went on to say (or so it sounds like from what I'm reading) that he is doing it this way so he can webcast it back through to the net using upstream.

Mike... the problem you are having is a known issue and cannot be resolved (regarding enabling stereo mix which was your original dilemma that you were talking about on the board). Dell is aware of all the pissed off (and rightly so) consumers, and has been "man enough" -- so to speak -- to at least admit it. Microsoft, however, has not been so gracious as implementing honesty as their best policy. OEM contracts have caused the functionality of stereo mixing on your sound card to be disabled. Unfortunately you are pretty much out of look and are going to have to figure out some other way of doing it.

For the guys that can actually help out Mike with explaining what kind of hardware he needs... Mike correct me if I'm wrong... he sounds like he is just needing some kind of hardware that will allow him to record music that he hears come out of his speakers with quality in tact. Everything else he can DO himself. It sounds like there isn't any kind of problem with upstreaming, it's the actual capturing of the audio that he is wanting to record so he CAN use upstream to webcast it.

Mike, if that's not what you are talking about doing well then ::shrug:: but at least you know now that the stereo mix issue can't be resolved and you can put it to rest.

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 4:34 pm

ok i have a similiar problem,

i was told that i can record any sound that is coming out of my computer using sound recorder just like you see in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg3vs7oh32s : what i am trying to do is take the sound from a video and record it into wav format, from there i know how to do what i want with it

my problem is that when i go in my volume controls i goto options- then properties and when i select recording and i am only able to pick from line in and microphone. now i tried switching my mixer device but i am only able to use sigma tel audio. what i want to know is how can i get the choice of stereo mix..

thankyou everyone and if you dont understand watch the video its exactly what i am trying to do.

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 5:00 pm

Grove, if you right click in your Sound mixer under the Recording Devices tab, and "Show Disabled Devices" is checked, and you still are unable to see Stereo Mixer, then you are one of the unfortunate customers that bought a computer from a manufacturer (Dell, HP, etc) that has made an agreement with the RIAA to have Stereo Mix disabled due to potential copyright issues that may occur with the feature being enabled. E.g. Recording/Capturing copyrighted material via your sound card using stereo mix.

The only other problem it could be is that you have a very old sound card that did not provide this option to begin with. Most likely, your problem is the OEM agreement with RIAA.

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 5:24 pm

thanks artist john.

i just got this dell inspiron as an unexpected gift for christmas, now it seems it does have the stereo mix disabled and i cant seem to find any way to enable it.... is there anything i can do, download, or buy to fix this problem?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 5:30 pm

Unfortunately, no Grove. There's an apparent class action suit regarding this issue against Dell and a proposed one against another manufacturer about this issue -- since Dell conveniently failed to give notice to customers that basic functionalities of their sound cards may be disabled. They didn't own up to it until much much later, and even then it wasn't a complete disclosure of the agreement.

It's an RIAA situation with OEMs. Only a few have gotten aboard about the RIAA agreement but not all.

My suggestion... Don't buy a Dell again. I never will.

Ari

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 5:38 pm

Grove... sorry, but I said one thing wrong. No, there's nothing you can do about your sound card, BUT to achieve the same effect, yes there is something you can buy.

Essentially you can just run a stereo 1/8" cable from your speaker out port into your line-in port, and then choose line-in port as the source for recording in your recording program.

Most likely if your sound card is multichannel the functionality of that is also disabled, so you may not be able to hear anything when you record something this way.

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 6:11 pm

aristjohn wrote:

Grove... sorry, but I said one thing wrong. No, there's nothing you can do about your sound card, BUT to achieve the same effect, yes there is something you can buy.

Essentially you can just run a stereo 1/8" cable from your speaker out port into your line-in port, and then choose line-in port as the source for recording in your recording program.

Most likely if your sound card is multichannel the functionality of that is also disabled, so you may not be able to hear anything when you record something this way.

You have lost yer mind boss!!!

You do not run cables out of low quality sound cards and then run the sandwich right back into it. Where the heck are you getting this information? Have you tried it AJ? Try it, you try it and then explain to this guy what happens when you do something so basically dense.

Run a 1/8 inch cable, my butt, where do these ideas come from? Is there a book summers that I missed?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 6:18 pm

Actually I do exactly that, and it works just fine for me. I run it straight through my sound system and into my line-in port. Use my software to capture the audio I need for broadcasting.

No problems whatsoever.

But, Grove, with what he said... perhaps you should try that venture at your own risk ::shrug::

Every comp and hardware is different I suppose, but that's how I capture and mix all my audio at CD quality. Like I said, I haven't had any problems with it whatsoever, but you may.

*AJ*

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:02 pm

aristjohn wrote:

Actually I do exactly that, and it works just fine for me. I run it straight through my sound system and into my line-in port.

Straight through what sound system? This is different then what you recommended above is it not?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:17 pm

Well since Dell laptops do not have out ports for the exception of the XPS, he would have to use a stereo system. My assumption was that someone would know their laptop doesn't have an out port. I guess that's my bad. Sorry, Grove for the assumption.

Any type of speaker system will do, you can grab one for $20 at Radio Shack to do what you are wanting which is capture audio. Hook the cable up to the out port and the other into your line-in on your laptop. Set your line-in in the Record control menu, and you're good to go. Remember, you most likely will not hear what you are recording.

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:35 pm

Ok, we're still on topic, wide and to the outside, but still on it.

If Dell doesn't provide out ports for this particular notebook tell me again what this "sound system" thing is achieving?

One line you say "My assumption was that someone would know their laptop doesn't have an out port" few lines later "Hook the cable up to the out port..."

I'm a non-practicing alcoholic AJ, but I'm thinking about running a few laps here if we cannot get this thing to make sense Smile

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:44 pm

Are you suggesting that he take a line out from his stereo into his laptop so he can take sounds from a CD or iPod and put them on his computer?

That's what it sounds like you're saying to me.

Also, I'm not familiar with this class action law suit. Do you have a link to some documentation on this?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:59 pm

Aw man...your genius J!

A line out from a stereo...why didn't I think of that?

I'm still not convinced this is the scope of his idea but I think I can sleep tonight, so thanks for that.

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:01 pm

Space wrote:

Aw man...your genius J!

Aw...thanks dude! Can I use that as my new signature?? Wink

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