HP Computer and Line Inputs
 

I'm totally baffled on this one. My HP desktop, the one I got a year and half ago, has front R/L Audio inputs. However, I cannot make any application see them. When I configure the soundcard, it shows recording level slider places for them, and for other alleged input possibilities on the computer, but it allows no level adjustment for them individually (no actual control "knob" appears on the slider track), as if they simply are not available to the soundcard itself.

There is a master recording volume/gain/level/whatever that is functional when using the single stereo Line In jack on the back of the damn thing, but I can't get L/R component audio to be recognized by the front panel line ins. Yes, I have tested the audio source, and that isn't the problem. It is simply as though those front panel inputs are not being picked up by the sound card or its drivers.

Ideas? I have updated the soundcard drivers, BTW.

This may sound crazy...
 

However,

Have you opened the case and made sure that there are no loose wires between the front inputs and the PC?

Have you checked the BIOS and options? Have you flashed the BIOS and gone in to make sure that some arbitrary option isn't turned off?

Thanks,

Mitch

Nope, nothing on the BIOS, but I have considered looking at the physical connections. As I will be shortly replacing my DVD burner, which has already croaked, I'll be inside it anyway.

Perhaps you are using the wrong drivers? Could you roll them back? Ditto for windows stuff.

The sound card I had for my old desktop confounded me with a similar problem, it wouldn't put out any sound to the speakers either. I finally found the problem was that it was set for "digital" input and output, and needed to be set on "analog" in order for any line in or out to work. It was buried in the settings of the program that came with the card.
The card was the Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum and the accompanying Sound Blaster software which was great but buggy.

There may be nothing wrong. Just because you can't manipulate the input levels independently does not mean they or your computer/sound card are not functioning properly.

The point of channel inputs is to just make sure that the data (music) stays in its designated channel and not, I'm assuming in your case, to equalize them as they are captured. That is really the function of the editing software.

Pull in some data and listen to it in your editing software. If it sounds like it does on the original, then all is well. I actually don't recommend that you fiddle too much with varying the input levels which is really a re-engineering of the sound as one captures audio. Bring it in at the highest possible undistorted gain and, if necessary, boost one channel in the "edit" room.

I'm not sure anything is wrong.

Nice notion, but not the situation. Zero level when I try to capture the lineins on *any* application.

I assume you already did the following:

dblClick the vol control to get the Play Control.
Options/Properties - select Recording.

Check all boxes then Select What U Hear (if you have it) otherwise Select each source one by one till the record software meter jumps.

If you can hear the music over the speakers, then your audio software can get it - just a matter of picking the right source and making sure mute all isn't checked.

have you tried blowing in the holes?

Yes...but not these.