[Windows 7 Pro 64-bit]
As so often happens my Realtek soundcard has gone the way most of these do.
Can anyone suggest a Windows 7/64-bit compatible soundcard (not USB) and drivers which will permit 'What You Hear/Stereo Mix' on this OS?
A couple of years ago, the following were known to support Stereo Mix.
I'm not sure if all are still available.
HT Omega Striker 7.1
Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi series (excluding Extreme Audio series)
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy series (excluding Sound Blaster Audigy LE, SE, and Audigy Value)
I have a Striker 7.1 card. It is a PCI sound card, not a PCIe. But, it worked well in the PC I had it installed. I upgraded and now using the on-board RealTek for PC sound applications. If something would happen to my RealTek, I would install the Striker 7.1.
Thank you both for that.
I shall see if any of these are still available in the UK.
I can get Stereo Mix using Total Recorder with a USB soundcard, but the mic input is very noisy, low, and has +5V on one of the conductors. It will however record stereo from the computer in Total Recorder. Audacity won't work with the USB card at all.
I can tell you that I've personally used a Behringer UFO 202 external USB sound card with Audacity to record Stereo Mix. It's about $35 in the USA. Worked fine, but when I upgraded to a new motherboard I found that my built-in Realtek sound worked fine with Windows 7 and Stereo Mix, so I no longer needed the Behringer.
PC microphone jacks all have +5VDC on the "Ring" connection. Computer mic's are condenser and require the voltage to work.
Line in jacks do not have the voltage. On some laptops the Mic jack also functions as a line in jack and automatically senses and switches the jack to whatever function.
Computer mic inputs require a relatively high signal level, with is supplied by a computer mic. A standard P.A. type mic (e.g. a Shure SM57) is a very low level and will result in noise and a low volume level on the mic input. A preamplifier is required to use a standard P.A. type mic.
I don't know if the HT Omega "Striker 7.1" is still available. Most new PC sound cards are PCIe, not PCI like the Striker 7.1.
Asus Xonar DGX 5.1 PCI-e Sound Card Retail 5.1Ch 3D Gaming Ready - XONAR_DGX - Scan.co.uk
Cheap, sounds better than onboard, and stereo mix works on it. There is also a PCI version (Xonar DG), but you would be better off with PCI-E as it will be easier to move to a new computer that may not have a PCI slot.
None of the cards mentioned seem to be the complete answer. Many of the Creative offerings are crippled and seem to depend very much on drivers which aren't readily available. Others are obsolescent.
The Realtek onboard had a working Stereo-Mix after getting the correct drivers, but of course no use to me now.
Do you mean Behringer UCA 202 ?
Yes, but you still need another soundcard to provide the input to the Behringer from what I've found on the Net.
I have a spare Behringer UCA 202 which I'll experiment with. That and Total Recorder should be able to come up with something between them.
Yes, the ring has +5V. I just leave it unconnected. But of course that leaves you with a mono mic input !
On the USB soundcards I have, there're only mic and speaker jacks.Line in jacks do not have the voltage. On some laptops the Mic jack also functions as a line in jack and automatically senses and switches the jack to whatever function.
Not on Amazon anyway. No Striker soundcards. I have one of each kind of slot free.I don't know if the HT Omega "Striker 7.1" is still available. Most new PC sound cards are PCIe, not PCI like the Striker 7.1.
May not need to use a slot if the UCA 202 can be made to work.
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