UNSOLVED
Microphone playback not available
Hi, I have a microphone connected to my pc, but it's not shown in the volume control (playback). It is, however, under recording. I have read about this issue on another forum, though the person had the issue on a laptop. I have a Dell Dimension C521. It was said that he had to edit a few registry keys to enable it in playback because it was turned off in there by default because it could conflict with an internal microphone. I have searched for the keys in there that he said must be edited, but it appears that they are different or are not there. I have a SigmaTel C-Major Audio soundcard. Here is the exact quote from the other forum:
"Problem resolved, for archive purposes, it's the SigmaTel C-Major in conjunction with the Dell XPS M170. Microphone is muted by default and settings are unavailable unless you edit the registry as mentioned in the solution (not mine) that follows:
Ok. I found the fix in the Dell forums. For anyone else having the same problem - no MIC control in playback, if you have a Dell Laptop with a sigmaTel sound board, either Dell or Sigmatel, has added lines in the regedit that effectively "turnoff" this option so that the check box for volume control of mic playback does not appear as an option. This is done so that the internal mic, if active, will not cause a feedback loop because the internal mic is obviously close to the internal laptop speakers. Of course, if you enable the mic, use an external mic and external speakers, this is not a problem and you can then monitor your vocal or recording, "live".
To enable this, you need to edit registry.
"disablemicfromplayback" shows a 01 value. Change it to 00.
"disablemicselect" shows a 01 value. Change it to 00.
Once you are in regedit, use f3 and just cut and past the above lines to search. I think it disablemicfromplayback actually appears in the registry twice so be sure to hit f3 a couple of times until search is complete for both registry lines.
After values are changed, reboot, and volume control for mic during playback will now be an option. By default, when the option appears and you add it as an available slider, it will be muted."
Ok. I found the fix in the Dell forums. For anyone else having the same problem - no MIC control in playback, if you have a Dell Laptop with a sigmaTel sound board, either Dell or Sigmatel, has added lines in the regedit that effectively "turnoff" this option so that the check box for volume control of mic playback does not appear as an option. This is done so that the internal mic, if active, will not cause a feedback loop because the internal mic is obviously close to the internal laptop speakers. Of course, if you enable the mic, use an external mic and external speakers, this is not a problem and you can then monitor your vocal or recording, "live".
To enable this, you need to edit registry.
"disablemicfromplayback" shows a 01 value. Change it to 00.
"disablemicselect" shows a 01 value. Change it to 00.
Once you are in regedit, use f3 and just cut and past the above lines to search. I think it disablemicfromplayback actually appears in the registry twice so be sure to hit f3 a couple of times until search is complete for both registry lines.
After values are changed, reboot, and volume control for mic during playback will now be an option. By default, when the option appears and you add it as an available slider, it will be muted."
Could somebody please help me with this problem?
- There is a way that you can monitor your mic, but I will warn you that you have to change a key in your registry be very careful don't change anything else you can do a major damage on your system files.Direction are as follows:
1) Type "regedit", press enter, and then click "Continue" (depending on your security settings)
2) Go to Edit -> Find (or Ctrl-F)
3) Type "EnableInputMonitor" and click Find (or Find Next)
4) Double-click the EnableInputMonitor entry. It will come up as 0000 00. Change the 00 to 01 (so it's 0000 01). Do a Find Next just to make sure it's the only EnableInputMonitor registry setting on your system
5) Exit the Registry Editor and Restart the PC
6) Right-click the little Sigmatel Icon and select "Playback Devices"
7) Click "Speakers/Headphones" and then "Properties".
8) Under the "Levels" tab, there is now a new option called "Input Monitor", which is muted. Click the speaker to unmute to Input Monitor, and the Line-In port now functions as expected (i.e. like every other computer and every other sound card made in the last 20 years)
Message Edited by xalint1 on 09-19-2007 12:34 AM - Hi xalint1,
And thank you for your message.
>3) Type "EnableInputMonitor" and click Find (or Find Next)
Unfortunately, nothing such is found trough my registry.
Nothing either for "InputMonitor". I checked for "Input"
alone and "Monitor" alone but I didn't find anything that
seems relevant to our subject.
Btw, the two searches suggested in the first message of this
thread are not present either in my registry. They were
"disablemicfromplayback" and "disablemicselect"
I have Vista Home Premium.
Thank anyway.
Pierre - Hello,
>I did make sure I had the latest driver from Dell so that anyone that looks at this should have the same driver.
It is not obvious to find out if one has the "latest driver" from Dell. Anyway I downloaded the one that was on their web site and, you're right, I have the "EnableInputMonitor" in my registry.
I did everything you said up to unmuting the Line In control under the Level tab of the Speakers' proprieties.
Then I put some sound into the Line In jack. I see that the sound is there because it shows on the bargraph VuMeter beside the Line In section under the Recording tab.
But, I don't hear any sound.
I am absolutely amazed that a company like Dell could sell a computer as crippled as this. My sister asked me if I could make her a CD from an old LP album that she had. She kept some vinyl albums but no system to play them. My sister is seriously ill and I would like to give her this little joy to hear the music from her youth.
Maybe I could record it without hearing it but for me it is unacceptable.
Thank you,
Pierre
Message Edited by pier3d on 09-19-2007 06:09 PM - I agree with you there is no reason for them to disable on a desktop.I am very surprised this didn't work out for you.I have used the front panel inputs for a mic for sometime I also can adjust mic boost.I hate when you cant hear whats going in.If you ask me this is a step back for dell not forward thinking what so ever.
pier3d
5 Posts
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Posted September 12th, 2007 19:00
Are you running Vista?
I tried a search with the keywords you gave in your message and I got no result.
My computer is a Dimension 9200 with Vista Home Premium.
Google this quote:
"the Dell/Sigmatel configuration is FAULTY. Period. Dell should be ashamed of themselves for distributing computers in such a clearly broken state."
I read somewhere else that the sudden disparition of many functions on Dell audio system was due to pressure from the RIAA (recording Industry association) in relation with their war against music copying.
Pierre