Discussion:
Gateway audio configuration
(too old to reply)
Don Phillipson
12 years ago
Permalink
What Sound Video and Gaming devices ought to show
on a Gateway NV57H laptop (Win7 SP1) ?

The practical problem is that I cannot record sound off
the Internet (e.g. BBC radio.) Recording is solely from
the built-in microphone -- as if the mic cannot be switched off
(whether recording via Sound Recorder or Audacity.)

Device Manager shows for SVG devices only
Intel Display Audio

RealTek HD Audio


By contrast, my desktop (WinXP) shows half a dozen
SVG devices:
Audio codecs

Legacy Audio Drivers

Legacy Vid Capture Devs

Media Control Devs

SoundMAX Digital HD Audio

Unimodem Duplex

Video codecs


which lets me select among input sources (e.g. Line In,
config. by the SoundMAX system) when recording from Internet.

How should the laptop sound be configured? Do I need
separate Audio or Video codecs?
--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)
Bill
12 years ago
Permalink
Post by Don Phillipson
What Sound Video and Gaming devices ought to show
on a Gateway NV57H laptop (Win7 SP1) ?
The practical problem is that I cannot record sound off
the Internet (e.g. BBC radio.) Recording is solely from
the built-in microphone -- as if the mic cannot be switched off
(whether recording via Sound Recorder or Audacity.)
Not sure about that particular laptop, but the general rule with Win 7
machines is to go to Control Panel -> Hardware and Sound -> Sound ->
Manage Audio Devices, select the Recording tab, right click on the blank
space in the box and check that both Show Disabled Devices and Show
disconnected devices are ticked (checked).

If Stereo mix or something like it does not show up as a source, then
you will have to use a software capture program.

I have used an excellent program for years "Total Recorder". It's
Canadian, I believe. It is a good value paid for program.

There is also a free program that I have used, Freecorder from Applian
Technologies, which works OK, although I seem to remember the
installation involved fighting a few adverts etc. Google Freecorder and
you should see the Applian on and another Freecorder, which may or may
not be from the same people.

The other essential thing with HD Audio on Windows 7 is that to get good
quality, you should set the default sample rate in each Control Panel
Tab via properties and Advanced to the sample rate you are using
(usually 44.1 for audio sometimes 48kHz for audio with video). If you
don't do this, you may be using the Windows 7 inbuilt sample rate
converter, which is terrible.

Microsoft issued a patch for this problem sample rate converter at
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2653312
--
Bill
Don Phillipson
12 years ago
Permalink
...
Thank you -- noted: but discrepancies persist:
1. Control Panel has no "Hardware & Sound" item,
only Realtek HD Audio Manager
and Sound, which both point to the same device
which includes no Stereo, no Line In etc.: i.e. Mic is the only input.
(44.1 kHz is min. sampler for both Mic and Speakers output.)
2. In Device Mgr./Sound Video Game
no codecs show (as I am used to seeing on desktop -- are these
not needed by Win7 SP1 or with Realtek circuitry?
3. I have both commercial Magix ACLab and freeware Audacity
software, which show no more options than Windows above. If a
Stereo or Line Input source existed, they would see it -- and do not.
the wharf rat
12 years ago
Permalink
Post by Don Phillipson
1. Control Panel has no "Hardware & Sound" item,
What's device manager show?
Don Phillipson
12 years ago
Permalink
Post by the wharf rat
Post by Don Phillipson
1. Control Panel has no "Hardware & Sound" item,
What's device manager show?
As the first post includes:
Device Manager shows for SVG devices only
Intel Display Audio
RealTek HD Audio
--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)
the wharf rat
12 years ago
Permalink
No yellow ? marks??

Remove all the drivers. Reinstall all the drivers using updated vendor
release. If that doesn't work remove them again and install the OEM (ie
realtek) generic. If that doesn't work suspect hardware... You do have
the Intel chipset drivers, right?
Bill Holt
12 years ago
Permalink
...
1. You are probably on one of the icon views in Control Panel, rather
than the default Category view (top right is where you choose the view).
It sounds as though your machine has the "Stereo Mix" recording option
missing. Many modern machines do, and it's a "political" problem caused
by lobbying. It is unlikely that trying different Realtek drivers will
help, and the drivers you have may well hook into the software of your
particular machine, so I wouldn't think changing them would do much.

2. This is normal.

3. You will have to use some sort of streaming audio capture
application. There are a few free ones, but I will plug "Total Recorder"
again. As well as being a stand alone recording application, it provides
an audio driver that appears as a source in many audio programs. I would
assume this would appear as a source in Audacity, although I haven't got
both programs installed on the same machine here. There is a slightly
crippled trial version of the program on their website. I have no
connection with the program except as a long term satisfied user.
--
Bill Holt
Don Phillipson
12 years ago
Permalink
...
Problem appears solved, i.e. TR records successfully off Internet,
apparently bypassing Mic circuit so after confirmation I shall gladly
purchase the standard version.

It was interesting to read that
It sounds as though your machine has the "Stereo Mix" recording option
missing. Many modern machines do, and it's a "political" problem caused by
lobbying
-- which only appears to compound the peculiarities of Win7 on a laptop.

Many thanks
--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)
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