Lost individual control?!

kevo · 27 Sep 2010

I've just upgraded from windows XP to Windows 7 64bit. (clean install)

My system has onboard 7.1 audio (gigabyte motherboard). On windows xp, the realtek HD software allowed individual volume sliders for each output - side, front, sub etc.

I have speakers running from some of them outputs to different rooms in the house. I then used batch files and an application called Zvolume to control which speakers the sound goes to.

But after installing windows 7 and the latest Realtek HD audio driver/software I can only control the over all master volume, there are no longer individual sliders for each output!

Is this feature removed from the latest Realtek HD software and an old version may restore it, or do I have a bigger problem where Windows 7 doesnt work the same way XP did in regards to the audio outputs?

I cant remember the version number for the old Realtek software I had, but I do remember the default theme was a greeny blue color. Does this mean anything?

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

pcs36525 · 27 Sep 2010

Hi Kevo,

It seems that you have not installed the supported Audio driver of the Realtek Audio Sound card compatible with Windows 7 in your computer.

At this point, I would recommend you to uninstall all your sound devices and then reboot the computer. Let windows install the generic driver and verify your speakers work on that.

If it not working, this is all you need to do:
Install the Windows 7 specific drivers for this Audio Card. If you are not having the Compatible audio driver with the Windows 7, then you can download the sound card driver from the Realtek website.

If not found the driver on the official website then go to the device manager and update the driver for this device. Complete the update and reboot the system, after that this sound card and the speaker will work properly.

Please reply with the below details if the issue persists even after trying above steps.

1. Model/serial number of Realtek audio chipset they are trying to get to work.
2. Are you using analog or digital speakers? and any other useful information regarding the issue.

Regards,
Ziyad, Bangalore

kevo · 28 Sep 2010

Thanks for that, I've tried every driver I can find, I just dont think the feature is there any more.

I'm trying to find out whether thats down to the realtek software - in which case I'll look for other software that will give me the same features.

Or whether the feature is no longer available due to the way Windows 7 works - in which case I'll have to reinstall XP.

Its the onboard sound on a gigabyte P35-DS3L. Speakers are all analog and all work fine, but I dont have the mixers or each output anymore.

Thanks again.

Dwarf · 28 Sep 2010

In the Notification area, right-click the Speakers icon (NOT the HD Audio Manager) and click Playback devices. Double-click Speakers (or single-click and click Properties). Click on the Levels tab. If you scroll down, you will see the level controls.

stormy13 · 28 Sep 2010

Needed to go one step further Dwarf,

click on Balance and it will open the individual speaker sliders.

P.S. Don't have anything with Realtek audio so can't check, but isn't there something similar in the Realtek controls someplace?

kevo · 28 Sep 2010

Ooh, interesting. Thanks very much, they're there!

Now all I need to do is find out if it can be scripted somehow so I can control it without the sliders. Zvolume that I used on XP still only sees "Master Volume", "CD Audio" and another Master Volume.

Thanks.