Microphone not working in front or rear panel

Hey all,

I have a really annoying issue with Vista Ultimate SP1.

My PC specs are as follows:

Intel Core 2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40 Ghz
Nvidia 680i SLI PCI-E
2x Geforce 6800 GS
HD Realtek Audio (onboard)
4.0 GB RAM

My issue is that I can't get any non-USB microphone to be picked up on any input, front or rear panel. I have installed the newest Realtek Audio HD drivers (2.00) and just recently did a fresh install of Vista with SP1 thinking that that would solve the issue. My system is fully up to date according to Windows Update.

However, though the sound manager realizes when I plug in a microphone, there is absolutely no level of input no matter how much I yell into it. I have two separate microphones (both working on other computers i.e my laptop's Vista install) which are not picked up at all.

I have cross checked and triple checked that the sound settings are all unmuted and corresponding within Realtek's sound manager as well as Vista's. This solves nothing. There is still no recognition of a working mic.

I am totally stumped as the microphone used to work on Vista when I had the automatic HD Audio Driver installed from Microsoft and then suddenly stopped. However, I have since tried to revert to the old driver but to no avail.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Re: New Realtek HD audio driver update

Hi, ezisk, and welcome to the forums.

First off, I moved your post as you posted in the general informational post about the RealTek drivers, which is not really a help thread.

On that motherboard, have you verified if you have all the connection correct for using the HD audio with the front / rear panel? I know the rear is automatic, but with the front panel, IIRC there is a specialized place for connecting the mic and speaker out jacks for HD versus non HD....

Thank you for moving the thread and thank you for the response.

Yes, nothing has changed since the putting together of my computer on the inside. I've never had a need or use for the front panel so the rear is my only real concern as I record guitar and vocals through the mic.

Thanks again

I understand that the way XP and Vista work is different, but if it worked with XP and not with Vista without moving anything then something is definitely wrong.

have you disabled front panel jack sensing in the HD Audio properties in Vista? We have had some people have issues with the front panel jack sensing causing issues when enabled....

Where do I have to go to disable the front panel detection in Vista?

I know there is an option in Realtek's Sound Manager having to do with front panel detection, but on Vista I am not sure where to find it.

If you mean going to recording devices and disabling the front mic and front in, it won't let me do that (the option to disable is greyed out since there is nothing plugged in)

Thanks

This is where you will find the setting for front panel detection

front panel detection.jpg

Thank you Mr GRiM.

Unfortunately, that is what I was referring to, as I have already tried enabling and disabling that option to no avail.

I am in the process of creating a boot disc so I can uninstall Vista and downgrade (more like upgrade, heh) to XP SP3. I'll post details afterward!

Hi ezisk sorry that i could not help you.

Have you tried increasing the microphone boost

Yes, unfortunately I think I've done all that I could in terms of the device and sound managers. I am totally stumped.

Thanks for you help Mr GRiM

Your problem is probably a registry setting. You could hunt for it, or reinstall vista without the problem driver.

However the mic input is really only intended for headset mikes and is little better than telephone quality, not even suitable for voice recognition.

I strongly recommend the USB-powered Roland Edirol UA-25 and a couple of 1 inch condensor mikes. Vista64 drivers are flawless and 24 bit playback is also much better than built in motherboard audio. I use Audacity software.

cheers

ezisk - try just uninstalling the RealTek audio that you've been installing and let Vista use its built in HD Audio drivers and see if that helps.

Well, I installed a fresh Windows XP SP3 (3824) on my system, and it turns out that microsoft had a huge fluke and screwed up with giving support for HD audio. What a bummer. So I'm going to try and install SP2 now.

I have used my sound card to record before (before I switched PC's to Vista and on-board audio) and it was very good quality. However, I now have an AKG Perception 120 microphone which is a big upgrade from the mic I had before. I just can't wait to get this to work. I'll report back if SP2 helps at all.

edit-

johngalt, I've already done that and to no avail. That's what confused me the most. It used to work with the Microsoft HD Audio drivers but then decided to start failing abruptly.

Jesus...

So I decided I'd forgo any future complications and did a complete format of my hard drive, and reinstalled Vista Ultimate 32-bit SP 1.

Now, after freshly installing all drivers (after disabling on board HD audio in BIOS and re-enabling it), it turns out that the on-board audio is not picking up a thing! Not even the regular audio output, which was working. This is like a nightmare.

I have done nothing different. Realtek doesn't even pop-up now when I take out the audio plugs and put them back in. I checked to make sure my speakers didn't blow out with my iPod, and sure enough, they're alright.

Am I in the twilight zone?

Sounds like your mobo is going south on your slowly - could be signs of the southbridge on its way out....

Well I am never going to use HD Audio again. Plugged in a Soundblaster Live! 24-bit card and I have crystal surround as well as recording. Good game.

Thank you gentlemen, thread over.