Do I have a Motherboard or Windows OS issue to resolve?

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Toddskins

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As a musician, my intention in my build is to create a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) and I know that I will be buying a semi-pro Recording sound card that goes into a PCIe slot. But that sound card is not designed for doing all the normal Windows 7 Pro sound tasks, nor if I do happen to play a game. It is just for DAW work.

My question is: Is it up to the BIOS in a motherboard to enable BOTH onboard sound to function simultaneously with a DAW sound card, or is that something that the OS handles?

I want to be sure that the Windows OS is still giving me feedback through the on-board audio, and if I close out my DAW software I do not want to have to keep adjusting settings to re-enable on-board audio to play a game, etc.

I know a long time ago that as soon as you stuck a sound card in a slot, the on-board audio was disabled. I don't know if this is still true, but if it is, how do you disable that so that both function at the same time?
 
Solution
fricklesmn
Correct Windows will not do anything to the onboard audio, and the new sound device will be recognized and either install automatically or ask for drivers. You may need to go to Sound in Control panel and set default playback and recording device. Your DAW software should allow you to set which sound device to use inside of its own options.

Disabling the Onboard Audio can be accomplished through either, by going into BIOS/EFI and disabling onboard audio there, or going to Windows Device Manager and disabling it there. Either procedure will accomplish the same thing
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fricklesmn

fricklesmn

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Most if not all modern motherboards will leave onboard audio enabled if a discreet audio controller is installed, so you will have 2 sound devices available. My guess is if you leave the onboard audio set as the "default" playback device, your DAW software will still allow you to choose your discreet audio as its working device.

My 4 year old AMD Phenom system has the Realtek onboard audio enabled and I have a SB Audigy4 enabled as well (as an example)
 
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Toddskins

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Ok,

So Fricklesmn, you think that when the new sound card is installed, that Windows 7 will not do anything to the onboard audio? It will let both continue without affecting the normal onboard audio sounds that Windows 7 usually uses (as well as any games that are played).

To help me understand, let's take the reverse: What if I installed a typical Sound card, i.e. Sound Blaster, and wanted that to be the only sound card the system uses. How do you go about turning off the onboard audio?

Where is all this handled, in the OS or in the BIOS?
 
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fricklesmn

fricklesmn

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Correct Windows will not do anything to the onboard audio, and the new sound device will be recognized and either install automatically or ask for drivers. You may need to go to Sound in Control panel and set default playback and recording device. Your DAW software should allow you to set which sound device to use inside of its own options.

Disabling the Onboard Audio can be accomplished through either, by going into BIOS/EFI and disabling onboard audio there, or going to Windows Device Manager and disabling it there. Either procedure will accomplish the same thing
 
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Toddskins

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Thank you so much for taking the time out for me.

Much appreciated!

 
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Toddskins

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MSI Motherboard manufacturer wrote the following to me:

"Hello Todd I looked into your question further with the z97 motherboard but this motherboard will work like our other motherboards that the onboard audio will automatically get disabled when you add a dedicated sound card. Unfortunately I also verified that their is no option in the BIOS to disable this built in feature."
 
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fricklesmn

fricklesmn

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Hrm very interesting, and kinda lame IMO... but if the mfgr says it is so, then likely it is...your alternative would be a simple discreet audio card like a sound blaster either internal or usb, or usb speakers or headset.
 
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