Tutorial on How To Hack Sigmatel’s Driver for Stereo Mix

This tutorial is written using Vostro 1500, Vista Ultimate 64bit. [Which means it works for Vostro 1500 lol]

*EDIT – 1 PROBLEM – MY MIC MALFUNCTIONED AFTER STEREO MIX WORKED – Apparently my mic is an array mic, somehow it doesn’t support if it’s in compatibility mode =\ [2:01 AM 8/7/2008]

Basically this works for all Vista-based 32/64bit machine, and supposedly all ranges of Dell laptops [Update — This will not work for XPS users as hardware limitation is imposed 2:25 PM 8/27/2008]. For others I’m not sure.

Edit [11:44 PM 12/23/2008]Thanks to victorco. XPS users take note.

I have a Dell XPS 410/9600 and Vista Home-Premiun. I had the same messages and questions as Brud.

At last I could solve this Stereo-Mix problem, This is what I did:

1. I installed Virtual Audio Cable 4.09 (VAC from Eugene V. Muzychenko).

2. I foollowed the instructions a Korean guy give in: http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost.aspx?PageIndex=5&SiteID=1&PageID=5&PostID=1005274

3. That’s it .

I tested with Nero, Camtasia and it worked.

Second Edit [11:50 PM 12/23/2008] Since Xmas is near I decided to be more helpful lol. I looked around for that link and found the post. In case my instructions don’t work, you can try this one *alternative solution* Well if it works you can thank me too I don’t mind =) Check out the footnote part.

First of all, I hereby express that this is according to the sites I found, and tried it myself. Try this at your own risk. All legal actions have been expressively disclaimed. You have been warned.

Now, let’s proceed.

We all know that Sigmatel’s driver in Vista provided either by Dell or if you download it somewhere of the internets, they disabled LineOut, StereoMix, and DigitalMic (for mine). According to what I came across, it’s due to an agreement made by Microsoft and the RIAA (curse copyright).

So, like hell if they would appear in your recording devices in Windows Vista’s mixer even if you select “Show Disabled Devices” or “Show Disconnected Devices“.

Right now, please make sure you have the default installer for Sigmatel’s driver from Dell, just in case if you screw up during the process.

Next, download this driver from Dell — Click Here and save it to your desktop. Or where ever you want it to be.

Then, right click on the installer, choose Properties. Well I have my UAC disabled so for users with UAC on, you might have to allow access or press OK.

Navigate to the compatibility tab. You should see a list of OS-es at the dropdown menu. Tick the “run this program in compatibility mode” -> Choose Windows XP (SP2), press Apply, and OK.

Now, double click on it, and it shall load. Install it, and then voila, you’re done. I don’t even have to restart to see the effects. Well for some users it’s worth a try to restart if you still cannot see it.

After you installed it, go back to your volume mixer, choose recording tab, check the Recording Tab. If you ticked “Show Disabled Devices” and “Show Disconnected Devices“, you should be able to see the Stereo Mix shown elegantly inside. Now right click on it, and enable it.

Enjoy.

This guide will work for Dell Vostro 1500 for sure. A screenie of it in my Vista Ultimate (Vostro 1500):

Screenshot of StereoMix Working In Windows Vista

Leave a comment if this guide is useful. Thanks!

References (I don’t steal ppl’s work or findings)

1. http://forums.microsoft.com/msdn/showpost.aspx?pageindex=2&siteid=1&postid=1005274&sb=0&d=1&at=7&ft=11&tf=0&pageid=4
2. http://www.techimo.com/forum/multimedia-audio/160431-stereo-mix-audio-recording-option-2.html

*Footnote — In case you’re wondering why I wrote this, I was attempting to use StereoMix for Audacity to record livestreaming, but was puzzled as it didn’t work and StereoMix is missing in Vista.

*Quote from MS Site from a Korean Dude

Hi

I’m an Korean, so I can’t speak English VERY fluently – but I can read all of the posts and I am understanding the problem. (If I have few spelling mistakes, if so, please just pass it on.)

From google search, I found that Computer makers (ex: sony) are shutting down ‘stereo mix’

to prevent illegal recording – (maybe like songs from iTunes or something : songs that have DRM(non copyable music files). (so, people are just turning on the song, and record it, and make it to a free-DRM file.))

So, some notebook makers disabled recording from computer’s direct streaming audio.

-> Like you said, It is not a hardware problem, because it works fine on XP – it means that exTongue TiedONY has blocked ‘stereo mix’ somehow on their pre-installed Vista.

Here is my help.

Before you start anything, turn on a music file – raise your volumes up and up!!!!

Test if sound is coming out of your speakers!! (If not, your speaker is a problem)

Download Virtual Audio Cable (search google or something – it is not a freeware – but try it first, then find a crack)

Install Virtual Audio Cable (VAC) on your computer.

(When installing —- Vista -> Popup named like “do you want to install this driver?” (red letters) pops out -> click ok or something, you NEED to install the driver)

Taskbar -> Go to the playback devices (right-click the speaker icon) – Select the ‘Playback’ tab.

There will be a new option named ‘Line 1’ or ‘VAC 1’ or SOMETHING that is similar like this.

Make that ‘Line 1’  Default. (There is a button named ‘Set Default’ below the window.)

Close all programs (specially programs that have sound – itunes, realplayer, windows media player

Then, run the program Audio Repeater (Included in the VAC that you installed-  search the start->all programs or the search program files in CSmile

Set ‘Wave in’ to ‘Line 1’

Set ‘Wave out’ to “SPEAKER” (or your computer’s original default selection – mine is Vaio VGN-CR220E and it is named ‘Speaker/HP’, so select this)

After this, click ‘Start’ tab below.

Then, turn on any music(ex: an mp3 file- a long one should be good so you can test on it) on your computer.

You should hear the sound from your speaker.

NOW, If you want to record this mp3 stream, just follow the bottom part.

You will see ‘Line 1’ on the recording tab. (Go to sound manager (right-click the speaker icon on your taskbar-> recording devices) -> ‘Recording’ tab -> make ‘Line 1’ Default)

Run Audacity (or any recording programs)

Run Audacity -> Edit -> Preferences -> Audio I/O tab -> See ‘Recording’  and make ‘device’ into ‘Line 1’

Enjoy Recording computer’s stereo!

p.s

Here is the problem -> you have to make Audio Repeater to the above settings every time you reboot, so

use it only when you need it! (So, : After Recording stereo from computer, change back to the normal notebook’s settings)

-> If you e-mail me, I can send you “Virtual Audio Cable (VAC)” by email.

My e-mail is jihoonhan@live.co.kr

Thanks for reading – hope it will work,

(Mine Vaio Notebook Labtop works this way)

Again, if this helps, please say thanks. =) — eXP

Tags: Dell, Dell Vostro, DigitalMic, LineIn, Microsoft, RIAA, Sigmatel, Sigmatel Driver, StereoMix, Vista 32, Vista 64, Vista Ultimate, Vostro, Vostro 1500, Windows Vista