Unplugging USB sound bar or USB microphone causes playback problems

[pjbtsl]

I am currently configuring a PC with the following setup:

• Dell Precision T1700 with a E3-1270 3.50GHz CPU and 16GB RAM
• Dell AC511 USB Sound bar
• USB microphone
• line-in and line-out are used by an external device

Both USB externals are installed and working.
In the sound manager, I have configured the recording devices (line-in and USB mic) as followed:

• Line-in: 'Listen to this device' is checked and the playback device is set to the USB Sound bar
• USB mic: 'Listen to this device' is checked and the playback device is set to the line-out (to the external audio device)

This setup is working fine UNTIL I unplug one of the USB devices (mic or sound bar) and leave it unplugged for more than 10 minutes. After plugging the device back in, my playback settings are 'forgotten'.
I can hear sounds through the sound bar coming from Windows but not from the line-in (even though the settings haven't changed). The mic is inaudible in the external audio device, even though I can see the level indicator in the sound manager picking up the sound.

The problem is solved when I choose a different playback device under 'Listen to this device', click OK, and then choose the original playback device. Only then can I hear the sound again.

So to recap, if a USB device is unplugged for more than 10 minutes, I have to manually reset the playback settings, even though the settings were still correct.

Is it possible to solve this problem so that it isn't necessary for me to reset the settings if a USB device has been unplugged?

 

[carwiz]

If the device is declared as the default and it's unplugged (removed from the system), it can no longer be the default and Windows will pick the default or clear the setting if no other device is present. In the Sound window, you can see that Windows will not allow a device that isn't plugged in to be set as the default device either--"Set as default" is greyed out.

 

[pjbtsl]

But if I unplug the device for 20 seconds and plug it back in, then everything still works as it should.
Also, when the USB sound bar is unplugged, the playback device for the line-in changes to 'default playback device'. When the USB sound bar is plugged back in (after 10 minutes), the playback device automatically changes back to 'USB sound bar'.
So Windows still knows that I want the sound from the line-in to go to the sound bar I just plugged back in. It just doesn't actually play the sound through the sound bar...

 

[carwiz]

So Windows still knows that I want the sound from the line-in to go to the sound bar I just plugged back in. It just doesn't actually play the sound through the sound bar...

Does the sound bar show as the default device after you plug it back in?

Did the microphone and sound bar come with drivers or do they use default Windows drivers?

 

[fireberd]

If the "Stereo Mix" (could be listed as System Mixer) is set as the default recording device, then any mic, line in, can be used without having to set that device as the default recording device.

The sound bar is a different output device and as its USB, its a "digital" device and does not use the PC's sound card, but rather has its own digital to analog converter built in. There are no drivers for this unit on the Dell site, its plug and play.

Unplugging USB devices, especially if in use, can have varying affects, from none to not being recognized when plugged back in. If the USB device is listed in the "Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media" (located in the Notification Area), that should be used to disconnect it before unplugging. Then when its plugged back in it will be recognized without problems.

I don't know if any of this pertains to your specific situation, but something to consider.

 

[pjbtsl]

Does the sound bar show as the default device after you plug it back in?

Did the microphone and sound bar come with drivers or do they use default Windows drivers?

Yes, the sound bar is shown as the default device. After plugging the sound bar back in, all sounds except those from the line-in can be heard.

No drivers, the standard Windows drivers are used.

Unplugging USB devices, especially if in use, can have varying affects, from none to not being recognized when plugged back in. If the USB device is listed in the "Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media" (located in the Notification Area), that should be used to disconnect it before unplugging. Then when its plugged back in it will be recognized without problems.

I don't know if any of this pertains to your specific situation, but something to consider.

It is more aimed at people "accidently" unplugging the USB cable or when the microphone is switched off (it has a power switch).

Something I have noticed is that the sound from the line-in eventually plays through the sound bar (or from the USB mic to the line-out), but only after waiting another 10-15 minutes after the device is plugged in. This is starting to get strange...