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11th September 2006

Audio Mixer.. The best Vista feature you’ve never heard of …

posted in Technology |

Unlike all of the highly touted features of Vista like UAP, Glass, IE7, and Speech recognition, one of my favorite and IMHO most useful features is probably staring you right in the face and you may not have even known it.   Its called the Vista Audio Mixer and it allows you to customize the relative volume of every application running on Vista.  Before you can use it, however, you have to turn it on as the default in Vista is for sound to work just like previous versions of Windows.  This is easily done just by clicking on the volume icon is the task bar and select the box that says use audio mixer.   Once this is done, the next time you lick the volume icon you will see a separate slider for each application that it currently running.

What does this do for you?   Well if you are like me you run many application and some might have annoying sounds (like a game) and not give you an easy way to control the sound level (other than the general windows volume).   With sound Mixer you can turn down those annoying sounds of cards shuffling in Hoyle’s card games to a whisper and still hear the general effect while listening to Baroque Guitar in Media Player at full volume.

It may not seem like much, but it is a great little feature that make Vista a pleasure to use and explore.   Now if they could just make the user interface consistent, and get more complete and available drivers for 64 bit all would be right with the world.

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This entry was posted on Monday, September 11th, 2006 at 4:53 pm and is filed under Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

There are currently 33 responses to “Audio Mixer.. The best Vista feature you’ve never heard of …”

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  1. 1 On August 11th, 2007, Barrie said:

    Hi,

    I just got a new laptop which means I’m stuck with Vista. It resets itself to different volume levels. Any suggestions for Vista to remember my settings?

  2. 2 On August 18th, 2007, meteor said:

    Hello, is there any keyboard-shortcut to run the Audio Mixer or how to create a “normal” *.lnk (shortcut-file) to open it? Clicking on the speaker-symbol is very annoying and the worst thing is, that the Audio Mixer doesn’t have a minimize button! How’s that possible? Or perhaps you know any replacemant for the native Audio Mixer?

  3. 3 On August 29th, 2007, Simon said:

    I also find this a great feature.

    I also like how you can asign differant applications to differant devices (earphones, main speakers ect.).
    I do not like, however, the way that there is no easy way to do this besides a complicated series of disabling enabling untill it’s how you want.

    if you know of a way to switch apps quickly please let me know. :)

  4. 4 On October 3rd, 2007, radman said:

    are you all nuts!?!?

    there are less controls.. where are the balance controls, mike controls etc etc??

  5. 5 On October 27th, 2007, lee said:

    i find the vista audio mixer more of a pain to use than xp’s one and previous versions. i find it too simplified and i am unable to find the tools i need which would usually be there on xp

  6. 6 On November 12th, 2007, samnang said:

    i like it

  7. 7 On December 14th, 2007, hugo - help said:

    guys.. someone help me.. I know its a great control and everything but I need the old one back because for home recording and microphones you cant do it.
    Thanks

  8. 8 On February 1st, 2008, Roar said:

    Vista audio is CRAP period. Too simplified, too restricted, simply ridiculous. My audio programs for recording are rendered useless in vista, I’m disgusted by it personally.

  9. 9 On February 25th, 2008, Bob P said:

    I have a new Dell XPS420 Quad w/ running Vista, which I expected would be a justifiable upgrade from my Dell Dimension 8250 3GHz P4 for audio recording. I use an external digital audio workstation (DAW) (Tascam US-428) and Sonar. I was able to get updated drivers to support Vista, and the pre-Vista recording software still works. The problem began when I attempted to implement what should have been the simplest part of the installation. Upon feeding the analog output of the DAW into the line-in of the XPS420, I found that the “mixer” in Vista provides no way of enabling the line-in of the sound card for playback, nor any other input such as microphone. This was a standard feature on prior versions of Windows audio mixers. After spending many hours of poking through Vista, online research and some regedits (changing key “EnableInputMonitor” does work for some – Google it…), line-in still does not play through the PC’s speakers. I’m now considering adding a second sound system for the DAW and/or changing to XP. In conclusion, the “Audio Mixer” in Vista has traded its long-standing ability to control the audio hardware for what few would consider to be any more that a cutesy frill.

  10. 10 On March 25th, 2008, Ming said:

    Utterly useless rubbish, The Vista’s mixer is fit to be nuked, absolutely useless.

  11. 11 On March 26th, 2008, Ameridutchman said:

    Vista is either not finnished or….but I believe that Microsoft has made it intentionally this way as BETA users would un-doubtly have noticed the SAME missing abilities as we all have. It is an idiotic thing Microsoft is attempting or someone must be sleeping at that foundation. I HATE the Audio aspect of VISTA and float when I think of my XP Pro. I might consider throwing Vista out the door and put XP Pro on this Laptop so I can use my streaming and recording etc etc as I did in XP. The sygma or these days IDT company doesn’t seem to WANT to participate in getting the ” old – fashion ” audio experirance as in Windows XP out there. What kind of odd deal must Microsoft have made is beyond me. I might try and get a PCI express sound card to see if IT has drivers / Mixers that will do what I already could in XP but I hate to have to invest in hardware that VISTA will not support. As it is now, yes it is useless. I can only play music, use MSN or LIVE MESSENGER but other programs to play music in .SIGH SIGH SIGH…. who knows maybe I go Linus or Macintosh …Microsoft is digging a hole it might not get out of if they keep it up. Hopefully SP2 will fix this idioticy audio mixer issue. If smart people know of a solution?? I would love to keep on playin Music in Paltalk or MSN without having to hook an external device to the MIC or Line in.

  12. 12 On April 2nd, 2008, fogi said:

    Well, what vista doesn’t have is the sound recording control mixer. If you want to play a mp3 say to your friends while chatting, there is no input control options in vista but only through mic. Unless I am wrong someone suggest a solution?

  13. 13 On April 13th, 2008, Auds said:

    if you find this option fogi, let me know please its the exact same option im looking for but cant find

  14. 14 On April 16th, 2008, Buffloon said:

    I bought a new pc with vista and virtually cannot
    use the damned thing as there is no mixer to speak of, how the hell can
    send internal sounds to other applications or record a “what you hear” anymore
    does anyone have a workaround??

  15. 15 On April 25th, 2008, Auds said:

    I found this link if its any help to any, it wasnt to me apparently my soundcard doesnt support the what you hear function http://www.flamesplace.com/PlayingMusicVista.htm

  16. 16 On May 2nd, 2008, bwaslo said:

    I have to agree with the folks who say “it’s crap”. It appears MS has redesigned Windows audio to be less likely to confuse someone’s mom trying to hear UTube sound on her computer. And in the process, they made it nearly useless to others of us who use computers for anything more complicated than that.
    Guys, making the control scheme simpler isn’t any accomplishment to be proud of, if it is done through removing capability!! Basics of design: first it has to do something useful, and THEN it should be made as simple as it can to do that. I get the strong feeling that the new audio scheme was designed by someone who isn’t very much into audio at all, and more than anything just really hates support calls from new users who accidently muted their sound.
    The per-app volume control scheme is just ghastly, though, for my purposes. And the massively weakened recording input controls scheme just seems dumb from all angles. Just who does that help? To a beginner it would appear that Windows basically can’t be used to record sounds. The the more advanced user it would appear that the Windows designers think recording is just some quirky thing done by Linux-ers, so, what the heck, why not strip the controls down and then basically hide them so they can’t be accessed with less than 10 mouse operations??
    Why can’t this “strip it down” mentality be applied to bloated catastrophes like Word and IE (which really DO need to be leaned down), while sparing the functionality that makes hardware things (like sound and mixers) usable?

  17. 17 On June 5th, 2008, Dave said:

    I’ve used about every version of windows out there and Vista has the worst audio control of all of them. (except 3.1x but who cares about that.)
    First of all, my extigy sound card isn’t even supported, so I had to go back to my motherboard audio and even that would be ok, but there are no treble and bass controls and the input options are unusable. You would think that a brand new mainboard with 7.1 audio would at least have treble and bass controls. I go back to XP when I listen to music.

  18. 18 On June 8th, 2008, icer101 said:

    Is there a program that can emulate this for WinXP Pro SP3?

  19. 19 On June 10th, 2008, carpenns said:

    Anybody, what is the latest word on getting an input signal to come through the speakers, the way it used to work for years (in particular, to hear microphone so I can record properly). And yes, I understand for some of you, you can unmute the mic under speakers – properties, I’ve tried inserting ‘EnableInputMonitor’ in the registry, but to no avail (I don’t have a ‘settings’ key in that particular region, nor does creating it along with Filters/SpeakersHp/ ‘EnableInputMonitor’ solve it). Anyone, what is the solution? realtek drivers, vista ultimate on a toshiba.

    This doesn’t work, I don’t have a ‘settings’ key.
    1) Open regedit (Start->Run, type regedit)
    2) Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class\{4D36E96C-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}000\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

  20. 20 On June 14th, 2008, peter said:

    Hi guys,

    I totally sympathise. Microsoft were late in understanding the necessities of multimedia in the early days until 1991. They didn’t know what they were doing then and they still don’t today. Anyone who remembers the MM extensions for Windows 3.0 will know what I mean.

    This mixer is terrible. You can’t get the input sources to work simultaneously. Yet, those who use their PCs for authoring are being sacrificed with the result that they will move to MAC OSX when it arrives on the PC in the near future.

    MS is going the wrong way and is asserting its monopolistic power on us. I am just about to remove vista and replace it with XP and then as soon as MAC OSX is available for the PC I will turn my back on them after 20 years of being loyal. I am so annoyed at myself for spending the money on vista and wasting my time upgrading to it.

    It’s a shame that MS is prepared to risk its customers with such a flawed system.

    If they were as good as understanding our needs as they are at advertising then they could have a much better system.

    pete

  21. 21 On August 9th, 2008, knajfer said:

    Is there any way to reinstall the audio mixer?
    You see, after I downloaded Windows Vista Service Pack 1, the Audio Mixer icon disappeared, and I couldn’t reactivate the Firefox audio (I had to download another software) so I’d really like to have back my audio mixer… any suggestion?

  22. 22 On August 18th, 2008, Audio Input mixer said:

    Vista doesn’t have Audio Input Mixer unlike XP or prior windows versions? Anybody know the solution to adding input or recording mixer?

  23. 23 On August 28th, 2008, Daniel said:

    [conspiracy]
    The sound card manufacturers probably knocked on M$’ door and demanded to make the audio mixer completely useless so people will have to buy their audio crap…
    [/conspiracy]

  24. 24 On September 9th, 2008, manyon said:

    I agree it does seem a bit limited and awkward for power users.

    I am researching some problems and this looks promising, it might help some of you

    http://www.actualsolution.com/power_mixer/

  25. 25 On September 15th, 2008, D4 said:

    Jeez, you are really using vista sound recorder and vista’s settings? Get yourself a decent software!!!

  26. 26 On September 15th, 2008, D4 said:

    Jeez, you are really using vista sound recorder and vista’s settings? Get yourself a decent audio editing software!!!

  27. 27 On November 13th, 2008, Audio Pro said:

    Completely understand and agree with your frustrations. I wanted a “What you hear” recording control. I got it working without any external software after I read Auds entry (number 15, 25th April, above). Make sure that in Stereo Mix properties, its not muted (which mine was – probably by default).

  28. 28 On November 13th, 2008, Audio Pro said:

    PS, Thanks Auds. How did we ever get by without the internet.

  29. 29 On August 13th, 2009, Audio Mixer.. The best Vista feature you’ve never heard of … | SomeGuyWithA.com « VicLovan.com said:

    [...] at 4:53 pm and is filed under Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. PDF version to download and [...]

  30. 30 On September 7th, 2009, DougRH said:

    Hi,
    The over simplified version of the Vista sound control is symptomatic of MicroSoft catering to the lowest common denominator and simplifying everything to the point that many of the more flexible and powerful aspects for our computers have either been completely done away with or are hidden away. Instead of expanding the power and accessibility that newer hardware makes possible, they are limiting it instead. The Vista ‘supposed sound mixer’ is a prime example. It has removed all but the most basic components of audio control and does not allow for anywhere near the degree of audio control and mixing that should be available and has been in most previous versions of Windows. This is not because I have the most basic versions of Vista. Both my 32 & 64 bit versions are ‘Vista Ultimate’. I also have the 64 bit version of Windows 7. Stop treating everyone like we are all clueless idiots and removing almost all but the most essential of the features that render the enhanced capabilities of the ever more powerful hardware (which have finally got to the stage where PC’s are actually usable and good for something other than a humongous, unwieldy paper weights) and more flexibility of a highly integrated software controlled computer, as opposed to inflexible hardwired computers that have VERY limited range of functionality. Stop ‘dumbing everything down’! Those that don’t want or need to utilize the much wider breadth and depth of available features in modern PCs that should be readily available will just not use them, while they will still be available to those that do. If MicroSoft is concerned about unskilled end users ‘doing more harm than good’ by having availability to functions that they don’t understand and have the capacity to impair or even render there computer’s unusable, then put more in automated information windows and warnings about changing such things. MicroSoft has been doing more of the latter, which is a good thing; but less and less flexibility and functionality available when the hardware has more capacities to utilize that are rendered inaccessible are not.
    On a ludicrous facetious note: will this trend continue until I have to unearth and utilize my CP/M (which is what the first MsDos was) or MsDos 3x in order to utilize my newer and much more powerful computer computers?
    Give us some credit! We are not all newbies out here in cyber space.
    Sincerely,
    DougRH

  31. 31 On January 10th, 2010, Computer Scatter said:

    I just wish I could have things at a comfortable volume without internet explorer/chrome/firefox/k-meleon/opera/seamonkey/flock/safari all coming up blasting whenever someone inlines audio or video in their stupid webpages. You have to set the speaker volume all the way up in Vista in order to get full volume control for multimedia applications, but then all of these browers and a few other stupid programs come up full volume every single time…couldn’t MS at least include a registry setting for default application volume when none has been stored? like say DefaultAppVolume=10% ? Seriously, billions of dollars on programmers and the simplest things are left out…and they couldn’t at least service pack some sort of fix?

  32. 32 On January 21st, 2010, 12345 said:

    Automatic Voice Gain Control

  33. 33 On July 5th, 2010, Chase Kozub said:

    Fantastic submit, The spouse and i added ones web site in order to a new visit to after again in the foreseeable future, Take care

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