Choosing A New Sound Card

I guess that I jumped the gun. I got my sound card working again, but at the same time, it seems that everything else went haywire. I'm going to need more help, but I don't know enough yet to post a new thread.

Though it appeared solved, this problem has recurred. I've just about decided to order that sound card we discussed, but I'm puzzled by the behavior of the current card. I understand when something works or not, and to a degree, I even understand when a problem is intermittent, but for a problem that once appeared to be a definite failure, to start working, and keep working perfectly for 3 weeks, and then fail as before, seems illogical. I've reseated the card a couple of times again, disconnected all cables attached to it, yet it doesn't appear in the Device Manager at all. Both times it failed, it caused a BSOD and a loud screaching through the speakers.

If I were positive that this is caused by the card, I wouldn't hesitate to order a new one, but something in the back of my head keeps thinking that something else may be wrong...but it doesn't give any hints as to what?

seekermeister said:

I decided to switch to onboard sound, until I get a new card, but so far I'm not having any luck. I have never used the onboard sound before, so as far as I know, it doesn't work.

I enabled it in the BIOS and in the Device Manager. the DM says that it is working properly and the Volume Control Mixer does indicate that there is output, but nothing out of the speakers, except the BIOS beep at startup.

You can try this...
Right click on the MS speaker icon in the task bar and select playback devices, make sure "Speakers" are set as your default device. Single click your default playback device and select the properties button, look at all the tabs, make sure levels are up, pay special attention to the Enhancements tab. For now Disable all enhancements.

Might have to reboot.

Ap

Aphelion said:

seekermeister said:

I decided to switch to onboard sound, until I get a new card, but so far I'm not having any luck. I have never used the onboard sound before, so as far as I know, it doesn't work.

I enabled it in the BIOS and in the Device Manager. the DM says that it is working properly and the Volume Control Mixer does indicate that there is output, but nothing out of the speakers, except the BIOS beep at startup.

You can try this...
Right click on the MS speaker icon in the task bar and select playback devices, make sure "Speakers" are set as your default device. Single click your default playback device and select the properties button, look at all the tabs, make sure levels are up, pay special attention to the Enhancements tab. For now Disable all enhancements.

Might have to reboot.

Ap

You went back in time somewhat, because this doesn't apply to the current situation. However, the playback devices tab is blank, just as is the place where the sound card should be in the Device Manager.

Since my last post, I went ahead and ordered the Xonar D2X, so I'm hoping that the problem is with the old card, and not something more.

My Xonar finally arrived today, and so far, I'm very pleased with it. Haven't had much of a chance to test it thoroughly, except listening to the Dolby Demo CD, but it sounds good.

The only problem that I've found so far is with the software that came with it. Cakewalk installed fine, but Ableton Live wouldn't accept the registration code that is on it's envelope. It can be run in trial mode (which doesn't permit saving), but since it came with a registration code, that shouldn't be necessary.

I'm going to email both Asus and Ableton about this, but knowing how long it will probably take to get a response, I'm mentioning it here, in hopes that someone understands what is going on?

Seekermeister:

Can you advise whether or not the Asus card supports recording "what you hear" in Windows 7?

That capability is tougher to find in a sound card than it was in XP and Vista--by design I think.

I don't game, but am on the lookout for a sound card KNOWN to support "what you hear" recording in Windows 7 and I dearly want to avoid Creative Labs--whose cards often lack the capability I need.

I don't feel familiar enough with the card yet, to give you a conclusive answer, but the only thing that I have found so far, is the Recording tab the Control Panel's Sound selection. It only lists Microphone, CD, Line In, SPDIF In, ALT, AUX, Stereo Mix, Wave and Analog Audio In from my TV Tuner. On face value, I would have to say no, but there are a couple of those selections that I'm uncertain of. That is definitely something that it needs, but I found one aspect of the card that made it well worth while for me...SVN. I can now watch Hulu or TV without keeping my fingers on the volume for commercials or other audio blasts.

seekermeister said:

I don't feel familiar enough with the card yet, to give you a conclusive answer, but the only thing that I have found so far, is the Recording tab the Control Panel's Sound selection. It only lists Microphone, CD, Line In, SPDIF In, ALT, AUX, Stereo Mix, Wave and Analog Audio In from my TV Tuner. On face value, I would have to say no, but there are a couple of those selections that I'm uncertain of.

That would be a yes then. "Stereo Mix" is the equvalent of "What U Hear".

If you select Stereo Mix as the default recording device the card will record any sound that appears at it's audio output.

Which model did you end up with?

Ap

I think Seeker bought the Xonar D2X??

Aphelion is correct that "stereo mix" is AKA "what you hear".

Seeker: can you give that functionality a test flight to confirm it actually works as expected? I mean try to record and then play back a random bit of audio from the net--a song or whatever.

I am not a gamer and would want a less expensive version of the Xonar. I can find versions down to $50, but I see conflicting opinions via Google as to whether or not Xonar does in fact work with "stereo mix" under Windows 7. A couple of posts on the Asus forums are inconclusive.