Vista Microphone and Line-In Issues?

I've been using Microsoft Windows Vista for almost 6 months now, and recently transitioned my Media Center PC to Vista Ultimate.  Everything has been working phenomenally and I am really pleased with the operating system!  Security is vastly improved, sharing has taken it up to the next level, searching is much better, and it is much more visually appealing.  However I have been running into a few annoying issues as of late, and it seems other people are having the same issues, yet no resolution.  The main annoyance?  Why does my microphone not work?  I should re-state this, I mean the microphone itself works, and if I plug it into the microphone port and record, it works great.  However, I cannot hear the microphone audio through my speakers... and I also have no option of turning it on through the new audio control panel. 

As you can see below, the new design is great, and I love the ability to set audio levels for different applications!  What a concept!  However, I can’t set my microphone audio levels at all, nor can I un-mute its default state.

The new Volume Mixer in Vista

So I did some more poking around the control panel, and found out that my Microphone is definitely working, however, options have changed in Vista, and it seems I have no way of turning on my microphone to play through my speakers.

Sound Control Panel in Vista

Microphone Properties - Levels

Nothing to exciting in Levels either, all I can do is set it to 100, yet Vista still seems to want to not play anything through my speakers.

So why do I want to get things playing through my speakers from the microphone anyway?  Well, on top of Karaoke which is a blast with friends (singshot.com and ksolo.com), I'm trying to learn Guitar and have a few programs that I need to hook up with my Line-In.  However Line-In seems to have the same issue, no audio through speakers.

If anyone has a solution to this, please email me or post in our comments below!  I'll post the solution to this issue as soon as I find a way to do it!

Comments

[Rami]

Hi all
i do all the available solutions but still i can not use my microphone at all .
i use the bulit-in microphone and i use external one.
but there is no way to record any thing or speck throw computer.
please help me
thanks alot

[Rami]

Hi all
i do all the available solutions but still i can not use my microphone at all .
i use the bulit-in microphone and i use external one.
but there is no way to record any thing or speck throw computer.
please help me
thanks alot

[mikey]

If you can't get the input monitor to appear in the speakers/headphones section as a few of you can't.
Try this:

1) Press (WindowsKey)-R (to run a program)
2) Type "regedit", press enter, and then click "Continue" (depending on your security settings)
3) Go to Edit -> Find (or Ctrl-F)
4) Type "EnableInputMonitor" and click Find (or Find Next)
5) 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
6) Exit the Registry Editor and Restart the PC
6a) Wait for Vista's criminally long reloading time
7) Right-click the little Sigmatel Icon and select "Playback Devices"
8) Click "Speakers/Headphones" and then "Properties".
9) 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)

[Tugrul]

mikey, your answer is great, but i cannot find this entry in vista ultimate. is this key for home or professional?

do you know what is the equivalent for EnableInputMonitor at vista ultimate?

thanks

[Windows 4 storm]

hello, im using windows vista ultimate x64 edition on a hp dv9303tx system with conexant high definition audio also have waveout mix installed.
phoned hp support who said they are working on a fix and also phoned micro-rip-off-t (i mean microsoft) who wanted to bill me a hundred bucks to tell me im up the creek. Same issue as everybody else I cant hear my voice through my headphones, mic is working fine, headphones working fine, vista doesnt have a way of unmuting the microphone so that I can monitor my voice or any external audio signal in realtime. If anyone can help before my hair all falls out from lack of sleep or the undertaker knocks on my door because I got way old and died before my time :))) that would be nice. thank you in advance for any advice you wish to share on this daunting issue. $3000 bucks for a hunk of junk that doesnt do what the salesman said it would...Gggrrr

[Windows 4 storm]

ps none of the solutions above seem to apply to me, i've tried them all...and nothing :(

[arien]

thanks arif..it worked!

[Sophia]

Arif, you are the star! Your solution works!

[salim]

the post by andrea worked for me but i remember in a previous fix i tried that i did edit the registry to enable input monitor (2nd comment by rami) so it may be a combination of those 2 fixes to get your problem solved.

[dutch]

andrea THANKS!!!

[anuj]

Arif, your solution works like a charm. I overlooked it the last time and went ahead contacting Dell support. As it turns out they asked me to restore my system, I was not convinced so I googleed and read this thread again. BANG! You had already posted the solution long time back silly that I did not catch it earlier.

Thanks!

[anuj]

It looks like Gopiein posted the solution on April 15, 2007 at 05:27 AM.

Thanks Gopiein!

[Jim Fowl]

Rami's solution worked for me, but the audio isn't syncronised with the Video in Vista, I should have bought a TV card with Audio in on it....

[José]

I've read most of the post here and some have stated the solutions here have worked others have said they do not. Can anyone confirm if the one that do not work are notebook/laptop systems. I would seem as far as i run into that it is a portable with sigmatel audio limitation. I have the same problem with identical vista and xp machines. I have tryed everything but the reg hack.

[benji]

I've bought a Dell Inspiron notebook E1705 Vista with sigmatel sound, and I'm not happy with it. The problem is the sound properties shows no Line in, no Mix Studio therefore I could not do any recording or playing music online at all. Does anyone have any idea to fix the problem?

I am really upset when I've paid a lot of money for this poor performed notebook; and I was stunned when I saw many Dell customers suffered the same pain about Dell-Sigmatel issue for a long time (at least since 2005) for both Win XP and Vista.

Obviously Dell knew about the problem but and look like they don't care; definitely they are not going to fix it. It is so strange to see big company like Dell selling not working product to consumers without any apology or promise to fix the problem. Does anyone know anybody who engages in a Class Action Law Suit about this issue? Please let me know. I do want to join it.

A desperate Dell customer
benji

isthingok@yahoo.com

[kevin_robinson]

I have had trouble with my microphone suddenly stopped working and then became unpredictable and temperamental.
Tried all the driver fixes. Uninstall Sigma reinstall etc. Sometimes worked sometimes not. No knowing.
Fixed: note that the microphone socket is very slightly recessed in cabinet of Dell Inspiron 1501. My microphone plug was too deeply shrouded in plastic sleeve. Judiciously removed small sliver from soft plastic sleeve on the Microphone plug with sharp knife. Presto all fixed now!

[Manlaju]

I have FINALLY found the solution for this.
It began when i install a fresh copy of windows vista ultimate, i realized that i can't hear any sound from my microphone. Some says that, i only have to go to the playback device and go to the level tab.The only problem is that i can't see any microphone setting from that part. It only show "internal speaker / headphone" only.
since the driver already install when i install windows vista and already update the driver from microsoft website, i uninstalled it and i download the latest driver from the original website (i use compaq notebook)and install it. Then i go to playback device and check the level tab, i can finally see the microphone option.
The reason behind the problem is just because the driver that microsoft install in vista is not compatible with the sound option..

[jaecen]

Alright, I found an article on Dell's site that gives the registry key mikey mentioned back in June. See the full article at http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=vista&view=by_date_ascending&message.id=38805&c=us&l=en&cs=04&s=bsd

Long and short of it is:
1) Open regedit (Start->Run, type regedit)
2) Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class\{4D36E96C-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0000\Settings\filter\SpeakerHp\
3) Create a new Binary Value
4) Give it the name EnableInputMonitor
5) Set it's value to 01
6) Restart your machine
7) Open your Playback Devices (right click on volume control icon in system tray, select Playback Devices)
8) Open the Speakers/Headphones
9) Go to the levels tab
10) Unmute the input monitor

There you go, you can now hear your microphone on your speakers.

- Jaecen

[Victor]

I love you Jaecen. I was very frustrated and dissapointed at my new investment since last week.
Your solution was the only one that work!
I almost cry!
I sing and this an important feature in my computer.

You are the greatest!

thanks, thanks, thanks, etc....

Victor :)

[seetharam]

Ariffffffffff.... Thanks dude... your suggestion worked for me... Thanks a lot....

[indira]

Hi!

I installed vista ultimate .I can hear others on chat clearly but others can't hear me .I have set all the options suggested above but none works .
Please help

[indira]

Hi!

I installed vista ultimate .I can hear others on chat clearly but others can't hear me .I have set all the options suggested above but none works .I have microphones.they are enabled .i have inforamtion that jack information is not available in recoding devices .
Please help

[CTS]

I think the new Vista Volume paradigm SUCKS! In a society that is as technologically advanced as ours, I don't need BIG BROTHER telling me what I can and cannot do. It was all so simple when volume settings represented volume levels. Now we have percentages of percentages of percentages of applications of overall volumes of "What the F(@(#$))$__@(#$ UP?". It would be great if the Sound Device developers, along with, MicroShi$^%#$% could get their respective heads out of their respective asses!!! I know I may be preaching to the choir, on this one, but I needed to get it off of my chest. Thank you all for letting me rave on.

[shaft3k]

Hey jaecen, what you said worked for me... the only problem is now that the line-in volume is extremely loud even when everything is put down to zero. Is there a way to unlock a sound mixer or something that would control this??

[Peter]

Hi. I bought a Dell Inspiron 1501 in March and the microphone worked great until this week. I know the mic is still working, but I can't hear myself and no one can hear me when I use it. I have tried all of the above solutions and nothing seems to work. When I went into Skype to try call someone, it said the mic was muted, but when I go into the Recording Devices option in the Sound menu, the microphone/line tab is set to 100. Is there a place to unmute a mic with Vista? What else could I do to make it work? Thank you.