Windows 7: Does anyone have advice for using an external sound card?

Spritsailor · 30 Oct 2012

I was thinking of trying one to see if the sound garbling problem I experience would be alleviated with an external sound card.

fireberd · 30 Oct 2012

Depends on what the "sound garbling" problem actually is.

Can you elaborate a little more on what "sound garbling" problem you have?

One comment, what sound driver are you using? As you have a Toshiba, the Toshiba provided sound driver should be used. Non vendor sound drivers, in many cases, can either not work or not work correctly.

Spritsailor · 30 Oct 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by fireberd

Depends on what the "sound garbling" problem actually is.

Can you elaborate a little more on what "sound garbling" problem you have?

One comment, what sound driver are you using? As you have a Toshiba, the Toshiba provided sound driver should be used. Non vendor sound drivers, in many cases, can either not work or not work correctly.

The recorded music sounds perfect for 30 seconds to 2 minutes, then sounds like it's underwater and never recovers. Doesn't matter if the sound recorder that came with my computer is used or the Roxio program......the source doesn't matter......can be a microphone, youtube from my Galaxy or an external mudic recorder.

fireberd · 30 Oct 2012

Do you have the correct Toshiba sound driver, as I mentioned?

Also what other programs do you have running? Anything such as skype or some other program that also uses audio?

(Did you get an snow from the storm? My wife is from the south of Clarksburg).

Spritsailor · 31 Oct 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by fireberd

Do you have the correct Toshiba sound driver, as I mentioned?

Also what other programs do you have running? Anything such as skype or some other program that also uses audio?

(Did you get an snow from the storm? My wife is from the south of Clarksburg).

I have the sound card and everything else that came with the computer. It's all factory equipment. I haven't downloaded Skype. No other program uses audio. From what I gather, the "sound card" is part of the processor.

Where I live in Parkersburg we didn't get any snow, except for a few flakes. Elkins got pounded and the power went out with two feet of snow there. Clarksburg made it through with alot of rain.

fireberd · 31 Oct 2012

The sound "card" is an IC chip on the motherboard, its not part of the CPU.

Go to the Device Manager and display the sound device. It should be the actual hardware device, such as RealTek, IDT, VIA, etc. If it says "HD Audio Codec" that indicates the generic Windows installed sound driver and that could be the problem. If this is the case you will have to get the correct Toshiba supplied sound driver and install that, as a first step.

If its listed as the correct device in the Device Manager, RIGHT click on the entry for the sound device to highlight it and then LEFT click "Uninstall". DO NOT check the box to also uninstall the drivers. Then restart the PC and when Windows starts it will detect and reinstall the sound. This fixes a lot of flakey problems.

Thanks for the update on Clarksburg area.

Spritsailor · 31 Oct 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by fireberd

The sound "card" is an IC chip on the motherboard, its not part of the CPU.

Go to the Device Manager and display the sound device. It should be the actual hardware device, such as RealTek, IDT, VIA, etc. If it says "HD Audio Codec" that indicates the generic Windows installed sound driver and that could be the problem. If this is the case you will have to get the correct Toshiba supplied sound driver and install that, as a first step.

If its listed as the correct device in the Device Manager, RIGHT click on the entry for the sound device to highlight it and then LEFT click "Uninstall". DO NOT check the box to also uninstall the drivers. Then restart the PC and when Windows starts it will detect and reinstall the sound. This fixes a lot of flakey problems.

Thanks for the update on Clarksburg area.

Mine says "Conexant SmartAudio HD" and "Intel(R) Display Audio". Should I proceed with the uninstall?

fireberd · 31 Oct 2012

The Conexant is the PC audio, you can do the uninstall on it, The Intel display audio is for HDMI audio.

Spritsailor · 01 Nov 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by fireberd

The Conexant is the PC audio, you can do the uninstall on it, The Intel display audio is for HDMI audio.

I just tried it and my computer told me it reinstalled the sound card. I recorded music at various volumes and got the same result, except now the recorded music sounds muddled and under water the entire time, not that it makes any difference!

fireberd · 01 Nov 2012

Do you have any "Sound Enhancements" enabled. My RealTek and many others have some options for enhancements such as echo, reverb, chorus.

"Recorded music" is bad. What happens if you play a commercial audio CD? Or some other audio from the internet?

Also, what program are you using to record, and what are you recording?

Windows 7: Does anyone have advice for using an external sound card?

Does anyone have advice for using an external sound card? problems?