No line input in Realtec HD audio (and it's not hidden)

ChrisH176 · 18 May 2017

Until a couple of weeks ago, I could record sound/music off the internet, using a program called Steinberg Clean, which I've used for years. I recently downloaded Nero 9, and Audacity. (Both have been subsequently uninstalled).

Trying to record in Audacity, I noticed that there was no sound level. This lead me to the discovery that the line input had disappeared.
I've tried the usual 'Right click the plain area' stuff, also tried 'Update driver' and also uninstalled the driver, reinstalling using
a) IOBit driver booster,
b) the latest driver from the Sony website, and
c) the latest driver from Realtec, all to no avail.

I have a Sony Vaio laptop running Windows 7 Home Premium, 64bit, with 8 Gb memory.
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3612QM CPU @ 2.10GHz
Sound Card:
(1) Bluetooth Audio Device
(2) AMD High Definition Audio Device
(3) Realtek High Definition Audio

The system was re-installed a few weeks ago, but the line input was definitely working afterwards.

My suspicion is that either
a) there's some confusion between the sound cards, or
b) some internal setting/parameter has been changed, but I'm no techie and wouldn't know where to start looking.

Any bright ideas, please?

fireberd · 18 May 2017

To record audio Audacity defaults to "Stereo Mix" (may be labeled System Mix) as the default Recording Device. Stereo Mix is also needed to record audio from the Internet. Otherwise to record audio from the internet a special program (as you have used) is needed.

"Line input" is a physical input and there should be a jack (usually Blue color) for the "Line In". "Line In" is not for internet audio. However, many laptops do not have a separate "line in". Some only have "Mic" input and some have a combination Mic/Line IN jack.

Check the Sound Panel/Recording Section to see if you have Stereo Mix. If it is not shown, RIGHT click in a blank space in the recording panel and check to Show Disabled Devices and Disconnected Devices. Stereo Mix should then appear and you can set it as the default recording device. On a few PC's manufacturers have disabled this function (in response to Digital Rights Management) and if that is the case you will not be able to enable it.

ChrisH176 · 22 May 2017

Thank you for your reply. It does look as though the manufacturer (Sony, who are the motherboard manufacturer) have disabled the facility. It is definitely not 'hidden' and I have installed the latest Realtec codec driver to no avail.

Presumably, there is no way round this. Am I right?

fireberd · 22 May 2017

No way that I know of, except a third party application. I have the same problem with a Toshiba laptop. I've seen other posts on computer forums of this problem so we are not alone.