Windows 7: No sound from line in

hey all,

I'm running windows 7 home pro, on an asus pt6 motherboard and I just can't get and sound from my line in.

I bought a cable to test just getting sound in from an mp3 player as I'm doing a visual performance on Wednesday and need the line in from the mixing desk.

I've downloaded and installed the Realtek HD audio drivers multiple times and still can't get it t work, maybe i have a broken lead?

any help would me much appreciated

Kabukiman

Welcome!

You may want to check and see if your Microphone has any signal.

Thanks for the quick reply,

I just plugged my mic into the line in port and got nothing either, even though my mic works when I plug it into mic in...

Kubukiman

More than one possible solution.....

In the Taskbar tray, single right click on the Microsoft speaker icon, select recording devices.

Is Line-In listed there, if so, select it and then use the "Set Default" selector to ensure it's the default recording device. Select "Properties" and then the "Levels" tab... set at 20-30% while you're there make sure Line-In is not muted.
The small speaker icon would have a red circle/line if it is.
Ignore the other Line-In/Properties tabs.

The above sets Line-In as the default recording device and also sets the record level... but it does not set the level of the Line-In pass thru (monitoring) volume.

You can find the full set of level controls by single right clicking on the MS speaker icon, select Playback Devices, select Speakers, then Properties.... this should give you an overview of all volume controls. If you only need to monitor through the Line-In you should be able to set that volume here. It's a bit confusing as most don't realize there's separate levels for recording and direct monitoring.

(Plus there's the "Listen" tab that monitors inputs but also induces latency as the signal passes through the entire signal chain and can include all of the built-in effects...etc, don't go there)

Of course, none of this may be related to your problem!

Ap

Hey Ap,

I thought you had it there because I'd never gone to that other menu before and the line in was muted... But no! Even changing that didn't do anything.

So I started from the beginning and followed your instructions again and still no luck. Also my sound card allows me to change the inputs so I tried plugging the line in into another port and setting that to line in and still no luck. The sound monitor for the line in never moves at all.

At this point I'm starting to think it's the cable that is broken but unfortunately I haven't got anything to test it on and I only bought it today.

Also I tried plugging the 3.5mm jack straight from my speaker out to my line in to make sure it wasn't my MP3 player causing the problem, and i was getting readings in the MS speaker, but nothing coming through the line in.

Any other ideas?

Thanks

Kabukiman

First, never plug speaker output level into a Line-In, that's way too much current, you could take out some circuit components that way. It's unlikely you have as soundcard inputs are pretty well buffered, but it is possible.

Other ideas... what is your speaker configuration? Are you running pure stereo?
Don't some inputs become outputs under certain speaker configurations?

You're using the Pale blue for Line-In correct?

Ap

Hi, cheers for replying mate,

I managed to borrow another lead off a mate and it's working perfectly. I can't believe I spent hours searching the internet trying to figure out was wrong. The lead was brand new too, I'm going to have a word with the person that sold me that lead 2mrw...

So the moral of this story kids, never buy cheap audio leads.

Your first guess was pretty much on... a bad lead. Ahhh.. all's well that ends well.

Ap