Windows 7: Help with stereo mix?

Yes, I have shown disabled and disconnected devices; in fact stereo mix appears fine. The problem is, to use it, I have to set it to default device, and when I do, my microphone becomes "currently unavailable." If I want to use the mic, I set it to default device, and... stereo mix is "currently unavailable."

I have VIA drivers, ('VIA High Definition Audio") and so can't use the RealteK ones that allow for stereo mix. I have downloaded the latest VIA drivers, but still stereo mix won't work correctly.

My motherboard is ASUS M4A78LT-M LE, I use Windows 7 x64.

What can I do? I paid a lot for a new computer so I could have the fps to record game-play and commentary, and it seems it was a waste, as stereo mix won't work. Is there *anything* I can do?

Normally, when Stereo Mix is set as default playback device, any PC input - mic or Line In, you set your "recording device" or whatever for the stereo mix and the mic or line in appears in the recording.

Are you saying your system works differently than the usual?

Make sure you have the correct sound driver for your chip and normally you need the drivers from the vendor and in this cas ASUS. Many times non-vendor drivers either do not work or do not work correctly.

Test this with the free Audacity recording program, set to get it's input from the System Mixer. Connect the mic and see if it is recorded. If this works, the problem is not in the sound device or System Mixer, the problem is in the programs you have and what you want to do.

I don't have anything called "system mixer" but do have something called "sound mapper." It will record both, but only with stereo mix as default, and I can now constantly hear myself through my speakers, even with audacity closed. It's a start I guess.

I don't know what "sound mapper" is. Normally the function is called "System Mixer" or "Stereo Mixer". SoundBlaster calls this function "What You Hear".