Windows 7, sound limit, audio card is loud Windows is soft

[groveda]

Hello,
Common complaint, I am working with Windows 7 on a Dell Optiplex 755, but teh issue is with the System Volume setting. When I go to the audio mixer and do the test and configuration, the SoundMax audio level is loud and clear. The problem is with the Windows system settings somewhere, is there a limiter or cap setting in teh registry that I can set to maximum?

I know that it is not the standard slide bars/levels but somewhere that Windows 7 Professional is cutting the volume on any Windows application. The drivers are fine, if I invoke the card directly it will blast the sound out. But in any application it is too soft.

Thanks

 

[fireberd]

As you have a Dell, for proper operation you need to use the Dell supplied driver. I used to do a lot of support on the Dell forums and we found that non-Dell sound drivers either did not work or did not work correctly.

Here is the Dell Vista sound driver, it will also work with Windows 7 as it is just "Vista improved". It is for both the 32 bit and 64 bit OS versions. Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

This is a first step. If its still not working correctly after installing the driver, the next thing is what programs you are using that are "low"? If you click on the speaker icon in the notification area (lower right) you can set the system volume level.

 

[groveda]

Thanks for the answer, I am using the Dell supplied driver, having been down this path before. And the issue reall seems to be with the system sound control in Window7, the slides in any program are all set to the maximum.

Thanks again.

 

[fireberd]

Repost this on the Dell forum. Maybe someone there has seen this problem on this model. There is no "tweak" that I'm aware of that will affect the sound like you report.

Desktop Audio Forum - Desktop Audio Forum - Desktop - Dell Community

 

[groveda]

I was hoping that there was a registry setting, thanks!