dell/vista can only record with microphone

[keith]

This post echos some of the problems listed already in a recent post titled "recording ram files" (I think). I want to record audio from a web page -- like the news. I bought this dell inspiron laptop about 2 weeks ago. I downloaded Audacity last night.

When I click "record" Audacity gives me a recording from the built-in microphone. I need to switch the input to cause Audacity to record what is coming through the speakers, not what is going into the microphone. The mixer tool bar drop down menu is grayed out. I go to the sound setting on my computer by right clicking the speaker icon in my system tray. The recording tab only shows the "microphone array", which is enabled (there is an addtional option called "microphone/line in", but it shows "not plugged in"). Right clicking to "show disabled" and "show unplugged" does not turn up any addtional options.

Going to the Control Panel and "sound, video and game controller" device manager I see only "SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC". Retrurning to Audacity I go to "Audio I/O". The two recording devices listed there are the Microsoft Sound Mapper and that Sigma Tel microphone array. The drift of what I'm getting from the tutorials is that I should be seeing more options than just the microphone array in the "Audio I/O".

I am also sensing that the problem is with Vista. In other words, when I go to the Recording Tab in the sound settings of Vista, I should see more than just this "microphone array". If this is true, what question should I ask the Dell technician when I call him? What information does he need to hear in order to force Vista to show more options to Audacity? By the way, I've used Replay Radio on my desktop XP for years to record sound from the web with no problems. But Replay Radio costs $100 or something. I would much rather use Audacity if I can get it to work.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.
Keith

[kozikowski]

Hello, and welcome to Vista!!

http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php? ... s_Vista_OS

Koz

[keith]

Thanks Koz. I have visited the wiki link you suggested. I still am not able to get audacity to work for me. Please let me emphasize I only want to record the sound that comes out of the built-in speakers on my laptop. After visiting the wiki page I can report the following:

* my new dell inspiron has the recommended RAM/processor speed for vista basic
* vista was factory installed so sound card is vista specific
* the sound card driver is specific to sound card (sigma tel) (not microsoft generic)
* audacity does not have a problem launching on my computer (it just doesn't record the speaker sound)
* the only working device offered on the Recording tab is the microphone
(shouldn't I see more there? should there be a device for the sound card itself? I'm guessing I should see a separate device driver for the built in speakers)
* I just installed an updated driver for sigma tel yesterday
* Edit > Preferences > Audio I/O tab in the "Recording Device" gives 2 recording devices: MS sound mapper and sigma tel microphone

I have no idea why I can't record the sound from my built-in speakers. Can anybody get me on the right track?

Thanks in advance,
Keith

[ajthegray]

Keith,

I'm having the exact same problem with my Dell laptop.
I'd just like to warn you about the soundcard driver. If you re-install it, you will loose the use of your webcam and microphone. I managed to get the webcam to work again but had to do a vista re-install to breathe life into the mic.

I'm still looking at ways to record off the sound card. I don't think there are any software solutions.
I think in the end I will buy a lead with a 3.5mm jack on each end and connect the line out to the line in. Then I will be able to record off the line in as if it were a microphone.
It's a ridiculous solution to a problem that shouldn't exist but it's better than nothing.

AJ

[jvalerio]

Hi All,

I'm having the exact same problem too. I'm working with a DELL Latitude D620 using XP Professional, I think this isn't an exclusive VISTA problem.
In my case I've three options in audacity, "Internal Mix, Exernal Mix and Line In", I can use only mic to save.
I already downloaded R122161, (Sound Drivers), from DELL and it doesn't fix the problem. (De-install old drivers and install the new one). Sigmatel was checked from control panel too and nothing to change there.

Well, thanks in advance, just to share, any good new to fix this problem it's welcome.

Regards,

J

[jvalerio]

Fix it.

1. http://us.lgservice.com/
2. Product Support (Red bar navigation)
3. Device Driver (left)
4. Product select "Notebook"
5. Subject "sigmatel" and press button "Search"

Four drivers are listed:

1. [Sound/Vista] LG Notebook(V1/V2) SigmaTel Sound Driver Ver 6.10.0.5286.0 V1
V2 Windows Vista Sound.zip 28K

2. [SOUND/2000/XP] XNOTE(V1) SigmaTel Sound Driver V1
Windows 2000 Windows XP SIGMATEL.zip 94,472K

3. [Sound/2000/XP] SigmaTel Sound Driver Ver 5.10.0.4866 XNOTE(LE50) LE50
Windows 2000 Windows XP SigmaTel.zip 4,601K

4. [Sound/2000/XP] SigmaTel Sound Driver (LE50) LE50
Windows 2000 Windows XP SoundLE50.zip
DBSGAUXK06.txt 20,522K 3K

Select to download the file that matchs with your operating system, in my case I used the 3rd.

After installation this un-stable operating system requires boot, after, audacity shows the correct input selections to record, in my case are:

Microphone
CD Audio
Stereo Mix

Enjoy,

Jose Valerio

[iguss]

I tried downloading the vista version of the previous post and when I clicked on the eve file it does nothing. How do I install it?

[alatham]

If you guys are still having trouble accessing the "Stereo Mix" (or whatever) option from your sound card, then the problem is probably that the drivers you're using don't supply that input option. There's nothing Audacity can do to force it, it's entirely dependent on the drivers. The wiki does state this quite plainly.

If you really need to, your best bet is probably to buy new hardware with proper drivers. The current state of Vista audio is terrible and some companies don't seem to want to write proper drivers for their hardware.

[keith]

I have found a solution to the problem. I am sending my Dell computer back and getting a full refund. Anybody out there with a Dell computer suffering from this problem can send their computer back for a full refund if you do it within 21 days from the date you received your computer. How can you sell a computer in the 21st century that does not have the ability to record the speaker sound? That's like selling a car without a radio. I hope Dell's customers vote with their feet until the problem is resolved. It will be a long, long time before I buy another Dell.

I hope to see you all back here when I get my new HP (don't tell me HP's have the same problem).
Thanks!
Keith

[alatham]

How can you sell a computer in the 21st century that does not have the ability to record the speaker sound?

Mix Vista and a cheap motherboard sound card. It's not a hard recipe, and almost every commodity computer maker is doing the same thing.

It's not a problem with Dell, it's a problem with the people who wrote the drivers for your sound card. Don't go blaming Dell for this problem, that's ridiculous.

You're just as likely to have the same problem with an HP computer as you are with any other computer running XP with a crap sound card (I'm not saying you will have this problem).