Sound Goes Loud and Quiet Continuously!

fireberd said:

OK, I found what could be your motherboard, it could be the ASUS P7H55-M LX version as it does have VIA audio. They have quite a few different P7H55-M models. Download and run the free Speccy program and it will profile what you have.

Speccy - System Information - Free Download

The Stereo Mix apparently has never been activated. In the Sound/Recording Panel, RIGHT click in a blank area in that panel and then click to Show Disabled Devices and Disconnected Devices. The Stereo Mix should now appear and you can make that the default recording device. I don't know if it will affect the playback issue but something you need to do anyway.

OK I did everything you said, and I got this box:



So it won't let me add Stereo Mix as it is "unavailable" because "VIA" only applies to my headphones. I had to uncheck that as I want the speakers to playback, not the headphones.

(I record using the headset, but the output is the speakers most of the time, unless I am on Skype, then both are headphones.)

I did everything regarding rebooting, and the sound is still going in and out on playback.

thanks

Right click on the Stereo Mix and you should be able to enable it.

Also, temporarily disable Skype. It has been known to cause audio problems. And, if you have any mic plugged in, disconnect it. Also, disconnect the Duo-Capture. Only have the basic Windows items connected, keyboard, mouse, LAN (Internet) and speakers.

Are there other applications running that could be interfering?

Have you run the DPC Latency Checker to see if it shows any potential problems? This is not for audio latency, but for system latency (which could relate to the sound problem).
DPC Latency Checker

fireberd said:

Right click on the Stereo Mix and you should be able to enable it.

As I say, if I have that as the default, then sound ONLY comes out of my headphones, which is not an option. So I have the speakers as default, and then it won't let me enable the Stereo Mix.

Sorry to disobey!

Or did you mean only for a tempory thing while it fixes the problem?

fireberd said:

Also, temporarily disable Skype. It has been known to cause audio problems. And, if you have any mic plugged in, disconnect it. Also, disconnect the Duo-Capture. Only have the basic Windows items connected, keyboard, mouse, LAN (Internet) and speakers.

Are there other applications running that could be interfering?

No, no other apps or hardware that could interfere that I know of:

If it's any of the following, that would be difficult, as I need the big ones all day every day for work:

fireberd said:

Have you run the DPC Latency Checker to see if it shows any potential problems? This is not for audio latency, but for system latency (which could relate to the sound problem).
DPC Latency Checker

I'm really hoping this is the solution. I will check this out

thanks a lot.

I appreciate your help. Sorry to take up your time.

I downloaded it and it says I should not be having problems:




What was the other thing you said about the power supply?

How do I test if it is that please?

thanks

First, the Recording Device. Right click the icon for the Stereo Mix and then enable it. That will not affect your microphone recording device with the regular PC audio (nothing to do with the Duo-Capture and Sonar). It will not change the default Playback device. This may not have anything to do with the playback volume changing but its what is normally set in ALL PC's as the default recording device. If you ever want to record audio from the internet, for one item, you must have the Stereo Mix enabled.

DPC Latency is very good, and we can rule that out.

Looking at the task list, nothing jumps out as potentially causing problems.

The PC's power supply is also a potential item, unfortunately the only real way of testing is to replace it with a known good power supply. But, since its both Sonar and PC audio it goes back to "common" items and the power supply falls into that category.

fireberd said:

First, the Recording Device. Right click the icon for the Stereo Mix and then enable it. That will not affect your microphone recording device with the regular PC audio (nothing to do with the Duo-Capture and Sonar). It will not change the default Playback device. This may not have anything to do with the playback volume changing but its what is normally set in ALL PC's as the default recording device. If you ever want to record audio from the internet, for one item, you must have the Stereo Mix enabled.

DPC Latency is very good, and we can rule that out.

Looking at the task list, nothing jumps out as potentially causing problems.

The PC's power supply is also a potential item, unfortunately the only real way of testing is to replace it with a known good power supply. But, since its both Sonar and PC audio it goes back to "common" items and the power supply falls into that category.

OK thanks,

It finally let me "enable" the Stereo Mix, but only after I set the headphones as the default, then changed them back again.

But sadly the sound it still inconsistent. So I guess I have to try a new power supply.

Thanks for your help

There is no 100% guarantee that its the power supply. Just one possibility.

No problem, I understand

thanks a lot