Uncontrollable input level on line-in of Realtek AC'97 audio

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware,microsoft.public.directx.audio (More info?)

This sounds like:
1. Microphone input instead of line in. (You checked, I know)
or
2.Software driver problem, or conflict with windows vs realtek MBD drivers.

"Bachie" <bachie@invalid.com> wrote in message
news:e%23irYylTFHA.2676@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> WindowsXP Home Sp2 with updates
> Realtek AC'97 drivers 5820 (before 5760 and earlier), MS XP certified
> Mobo MSI 865PE Neo2-V Rev. 2
> Music Cleaning Lab de Luxe 2003
>
> Trying to record and cleanup some old LP's using Music Cleaning Lab.
> Have connected line-out of my NAD amplifier to line-in of my on-board
> Realtek AC'97 soundcard.
> Problem: I cannot control the line-in signal properly. The input level is
> zero with the 'slider' all the way down or the signal is maximal with the
> 'slider' moved upward by the smallest amount my mouse and I can establish.
> With Realtek drivers earlier than 5760 this was still too loud giving
> distortion even on mild peaks.
> As of driver version 5760, there is no distortion anymore since the newer
> software seems to clip all signal properly when reaching more than +0dB.
> Still I have no control of the input signal, its all or nothing.
> What I tested:
> I double-checked I use line-in not microphone-in.
> I double-checked line-in is the single input source (no mix with
> microphone)
> I checked that my amp isn't giving of an unusual high lign-out signal by
> getting my old cassette-deck from the attic and connecting that to
> line-in.
>
> The only thing I can think of is getting an even older reel-to-reel
> tape-deck from the attic, which has a controllable output level and feed
> the signal through that but I really don't want to do that.
>
> Any suggestions ?
>
> One last question: With Realtrek drivers installed the 'mixer' used for
> selecting recording and playback sources/levels is the still the default
> Windows XP one, right ?
>
>
> Regards, Ronald
>
>

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware,microsoft.public.directx.audio (More info?)

On Sun, 1 May 2005 16:47:02 +0200, Bachie wrote:

> WindowsXP Home Sp2 with updates
> Realtek AC'97 drivers 5820 (before 5760 and earlier), MS XP certified
> Mobo MSI 865PE Neo2-V Rev. 2
> Music Cleaning Lab de Luxe 2003
>
> Trying to record and cleanup some old LP's using Music Cleaning Lab.
> Have connected line-out of my NAD amplifier to line-in of my on-board
> Realtek AC'97 soundcard.
> Problem: I cannot control the line-in signal properly. The input level is
> zero with the 'slider' all the way down or the signal is maximal with the
> 'slider' moved upward by the smallest amount my mouse and I can establish.
> With Realtek drivers earlier than 5760 this was still too loud giving
> distortion even on mild peaks.
> As of driver version 5760, there is no distortion anymore since the newer
> software seems to clip all signal properly when reaching more than +0dB.
> Still I have no control of the input signal, its all or nothing.
> What I tested:
> I double-checked I use line-in not microphone-in.
> I double-checked line-in is the single input source (no mix with microphone)
> I checked that my amp isn't giving of an unusual high lign-out signal by
> getting my old cassette-deck from the attic and connecting that to line-in.
>
> The only thing I can think of is getting an even older reel-to-reel
> tape-deck from the attic, which has a controllable output level and feed the
> signal through that but I really don't want to do that.
>
> Any suggestions ?

The input chip itself could be damaged. These are analog/digital hybrid
chips that use a digitally stepped amplifier. Probably the only workaround
is to drop the input level low enough to prevent distortion during
amplification. If you electronic savy you can make one yourself using a
couple of 1% resistors in series with the L&R channel, I'm guessing
somewhere between 1K and 10K in your case. Or easier is to feed the signal
through a piece of gear that has a gain control.

> One last question: With Realtrek drivers installed the 'mixer' used for
> selecting recording and playback sources/levels is the still the default
> Windows XP one, right ?

Yep, there's only one physical mixer for a device, regardless of what
driver is used.

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware,microsoft.public.directx.audio (More info?)

Chuck wrote:
> This sounds like:
> 1. Microphone input instead of line in. (You checked, I know)
I sort of tripple-double checked. The colour of the 'plug-in hole' matches
the mobo line-in description, the position of the 'hole' matches the mobo
line-in description. The signal responds, uncontrollably, but only to the
line-in slider on the Windows XP mixer panel. So I must be using line-in,
right ?
> or
> 2.Software driver problem, or conflict with windows vs realtek MBD
> drivers.
I started with the drivers on the CD of my Mobo, they where updated by MS
Live Update once or twice. These where pre-5760 drivers with distortion. I
upgraded to 5760 from the MSI website and later updated to 5820 from the
Realtek website. I have once or twice 'deleted' the audio device from the
Windows XP config to let XP rediscover the device on next startup. There has
been no indication of a driver conflict.

I cant find any indication supporting your suggestions.

Thx Ronald
>
> "Bachie" <bachie@invalid.com> wrote in message
> news:e%23irYylTFHA.2676@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>> WindowsXP Home Sp2 with updates
>> Realtek AC'97 drivers 5820 (before 5760 and earlier), MS XP certified
>> Mobo MSI 865PE Neo2-V Rev. 2
>> Music Cleaning Lab de Luxe 2003
>>
>> Trying to record and cleanup some old LP's using Music Cleaning Lab.
>> Have connected line-out of my NAD amplifier to line-in of my on-board
>> Realtek AC'97 soundcard.
>> Problem: I cannot control the line-in signal properly. The input
>> level is zero with the 'slider' all the way down or the signal is
>> maximal with the 'slider' moved upward by the smallest amount my
>> mouse and I can establish. With Realtek drivers earlier than 5760
>> this was still too loud giving distortion even on mild peaks.
>> As of driver version 5760, there is no distortion anymore since the
>> newer software seems to clip all signal properly when reaching more
>> than +0dB. Still I have no control of the input signal, its all or
>> nothing. What I tested:
>> I double-checked I use line-in not microphone-in.
>> I double-checked line-in is the single input source (no mix with
>> microphone)
>> I checked that my amp isn't giving of an unusual high lign-out
>> signal by getting my old cassette-deck from the attic and connecting
>> that to line-in.
>>
>> The only thing I can think of is getting an even older reel-to-reel
>> tape-deck from the attic, which has a controllable output level and
>> feed the signal through that but I really don't want to do that.
>>
>> Any suggestions ?
>>
>> One last question: With Realtrek drivers installed the 'mixer' used
>> for selecting recording and playback sources/levels is the still the
>> default Windows XP one, right ?
>>
>>
>> Regards, Ronald