I do not know if this is an isolated incident, i.e. if it is happening only to me or if it is happening to other people as well but here is the deal:
When I run any application which uses my sound card (say MediaPlayer or ZENcast Organizer for my podcasts), which ever device is currently playing the sound (either being integrated laptop speakers, or the headphones), that device outputs the music (as expected).
Now, if I plug in the headphones - my music from that application is still being directed to the first device (in this case speakers). I can't do anything in order to "move" the sound from going from speakers to the headphones. Only closing the application and then running it will play the sound on the device it should.
Now, I did notice there are options for Sound Playback. Right click on the sound icon in the taskbar and then choosing "Playback Devices" brings up a control where I can configure my output devices.
More into the "Properties" of a device, reveal there is an interesting thing.
As you can see, there is a way to allow application to take exclusive control of any sound device. I searched through help but did not find anything which explains in a little more detail what's going on here.
I tried every possible combination starting from setting none on both speakers and headphone properties, to having one on each, to all on (default). None if it really did any good in the end.
The main point here is: If I am listening to something and plug in my headphones - the sound should transfer from the internal laptop speakers to my headphones.
If I disconnect the headphones - the sound should continue to play on my speakers.
This is not what I am experiencing ... This really becomes a big pain in the ars, especially when I am watching an hour long webcast in the explorer window and decide to put may headphones half through - I have to actually restart the whole browser!
Thing to note is that this may be happening:
- Only to me
- Only on High Definition Sound Cards
- To everyone else - but they just didn't figure it out ...
Any of you having the same issue?
Update:
It seems that this sound issue has been fixed after installing the SigmaTel drivers provided by Sony... I guess it wasn't Microsoft's fault after all! Cool!
Read more on this here.
Comments (12)
You are not using Vista for what is was designed. To prevent you from using your music as YOU see fit.
This feature is to prevent you from stealing the music you purchased.
Vista "protects" you, and this is just one of the ways. Happy "computing"!
Posted by Anonymous | February 3, 2007 10:46 PM
Posted on February 3, 2007 22:46
I don't thin that's entirely what it is .. IS IT? I just find it hard to believe, I think it's a bug ...
Posted by Petar Smilajkov | February 3, 2007 11:14 PM
Posted on February 3, 2007 23:14
I have a hp DV 8000 and i have lost all sound since my vista upgrade. HELP
Posted by citizenblack | February 4, 2007 1:15 AM
Posted on February 4, 2007 01:15
I have the same problem :/ I have Asus M2N-E Motherboard with HD sound and when I plug my headphones I have the same problem :/
Posted by Philip Seyfi | February 4, 2007 7:07 AM
Posted on February 4, 2007 07:07
Philip thanks for confirming the issue - now I am 90% sure it is a bug!
citizenblack: if you have an old XP drivers for your sound card - they may work for you.
If you upgraded, try pointing Windows to the windows.old directory (if you haven't deleted it).
If you did a clean install - then you'll have to find them On-Line somewhere... Try Google - they are usually very good at it.
Also, you say your computer is HP, try going to HP & Windows Vista™
Support and Drivers page at: http://h20219.www2.hp.com/services/cache/454897-0-0-225-121.html
Posted by Petar Smilajkov | February 4, 2007 10:40 AM
Posted on February 4, 2007 10:40
Also guys, all of you who got laptops from major manufacturers - they should provide all of the drivers on your model support page - if not now, than anytime soon.
I find it great to save both Windows and Program Files folder to a DVD before installing Vista - and then if there are driver issues, I point the installation to those old XP folders - and it finds usually a whole bunch of usable drivers. Sound was one of them.
Posted by Petar Smilajkov | February 4, 2007 10:44 AM
Posted on February 4, 2007 10:44
I haven't noticed this because I connect my speakers to the optic output and my headphones to the analog output.
One thing that pisses me off though is that I must always switch default device when I switch audio output. On XP I would have both of them on which wouldn't matter because you couldn't hear the sound from the headphones when you were using the speakers, and when I were using my headphones I would just turn my speakers off.
Maybe someone could write an app which only has one little feature - to map a key shortcut which switches between the audio sources. That would be freaking awesome.
Posted by Jacob Magnusson | February 5, 2007 6:50 PM
Posted on February 5, 2007 18:50
Jacob, in my case Vista automatically switches between the devices since it detects what has been plugged in. Now, it may be that your card does not provide this functionality, but then if it has optical output - it doesn't seem it's a cheap one so it should ...
Also - the issue has been solved and updated... It turns out that the problem was with SigmaTel's drivers. Once I updated with Sony's - everything was just fine.
Posted by Petar Smilajkov | February 5, 2007 8:02 PM
Posted on February 5, 2007 20:02
I have an Asus M2N-E motherboard too and this problem is really annoying me.
I've tried every driver and the only difference is some of the older betas don't support spdif.
None of them play all the sources concurrently like everyone wants.
Posted by Dan | February 20, 2007 4:10 PM
Posted on February 20, 2007 16:10
i have a month old dell xps laptop (core 2 duo t7200, 2gb ram) and it seems that when i have dreamscapes running (and my itunes minimized) the music is distoredted and choppy. pause the dream and music is crisp clear. any one else? could be my sound card (only an integrated card-i chose video instead of sound)
Posted by Vang | February 22, 2007 4:38 PM
Posted on February 22, 2007 16:38
Vang, my specs are similar but I am not experiencing any lags. It may be that iTunes is not yet ready for Vista, and also - just a guess - maybe when a program is minimized it is given less CPU time?
Posted by Petar Smilajkov | February 27, 2007 6:04 PM
Posted on February 27, 2007 18:04
Dan, you'll just have to wait for a full Vista Compatible driver for your sound card. If you tell me which one is it, maybe I can look it up for you.
Posted by Petar Smilajkov | February 27, 2007 7:06 PM
Posted on February 27, 2007 19:06