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greaserbeef

23 Posts

193758

September 9th, 2004 05:00

Constant fuzzy buzzing sound with headphones plugged in?

I had this problem on my desktop and muting the microphone eliminated it completely but I have the inspiron 9100 and there is no option to mute the microphone, i assume this is the problem since the sound is identical. So how do I mute the microphone or disable the microphone or how do I eliminate this buzzing?

DELL-BobT

3.1K Posts

September 13th, 2004 11:00

greaserbeef,

Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.

Go into the Control Panel under the Sound item.  Try muting the Line In field.

greaserbeef

23 Posts

September 13th, 2004 16:00

there is no Line in field anywhere in the sound in the control panel. In my audio properties/volume control the microphone has a volume meter but instead of a mute box it has a select box.

Jim Coates

4 Operator

 • 

13.6K Posts

September 14th, 2004 02:00

greaserbeef,

Try inserting a plug into the external mic jack. That should break the connection of the internal mic and turn it off. If that works you can fashion a dummy plug for that purpose.

If you go into the Sounds and Audio Properties via the Control Panel you should find both a Volume Control and a Recording Control, and both should have a mic volume. The Recording Control should have a select box under the mic and the Volume Control should have a mute box under the mic.

If there is no mic volume on the Volume Control, click on Options and then Properties. In the list under 'Show the following volume controls' put a check next to microphone. The mic mute should appear on the Volume Control. However many have reported that muting the internal mic doesn't fully mute it.

Jim

dspman

306 Posts

September 19th, 2004 04:00

I have a 5150 and learned that "hidden" volume controls can be enabled via options in the registry.  Don't know the particular key in the 9100, but in the 5150 it is "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class\{4D36E96C-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0005\Settings".  There are also entries there for muting various inputs without displaying the associated volume control.
 
Hopefully someone can confirm or give you appropriate key for the 9100.

Jim Coates

4 Operator

 • 

13.6K Posts

September 19th, 2004 14:00

dspman,

Great idea for trying to mute the internal mic. When I told greaserbeef how to make the mic slider appear I had forgotten it might need to be enabled in the registry first. The full instructions on how to do that are below.

I have an 1100 and you have a 5150, neither of which has an internal mic so we can't try this experiment. I hope greaserbeef or someone else can try this and let us know the result. I would also like to know if inserting a plug into the mic jack shut off the internal mic.

Jim

A number of members have reported on their attempts to find the registry entry 'DisableMicFromPlayback'. Their purpose in seeking this line is to change its value to allow them to monitor the microphone's input thru headphones.

Users of Inspiron 1100, 5150, 8500, 8600 and 9100 found the entry.
Users of Inspiron 600m, 4150 and 8100 did not find the line.

The following instructions were originally posted by dilleyo and jk79 in a different form.

1. Go to Start menu and click on Run. Type in the word regedit and click OK to open the Registry.
2. At the top of the list, highlight My Computer.
3. Under the Edit menu, select Find.
4. Type in DisableMicFromPlayback and click find next.
5. Highlight DisableMicFromPlayback. Right click on it and select Modify.
6. Highlight 01 and change to 00. Click OK.
7. Exit the Registry and restart the computer.

Next, configure the system mixer:
1. Open Volume Control by right clicking on the speaker icon on the taskbar, or go to Start/Control Panel/ Sound & Audio Devices/Advanced (button).
2. Under the Options menu, select Properties.
3. Under show the following volume controls check the box next to Microphone. Click OK.
4. A mic control appears in the Volume Control. Make sure the mute box is unchecked and you will hear the mic input thru headphones. If you connect speakers check the mute box or feedback will occur when a live mic is connected.

And since greaserbeef doesn't want to hear the mic he should check the mute box. However as I originally told him, it has been reported by some that this doesn't completely eliminate the problem.

dspman

306 Posts

September 19th, 2004 23:00

Thanks, Jim.  I saw the same thread, and that's where I learned the registry trick.  Just forgot where I saw it !!
 
Also verrry useful if want to monitor the mic input for audio editing/dubbing, etc.!   It's amazing what one can learn on these forums.
 
There have been very long threads on hissing/buzzing with the SigmaTel audio chips.  Most concur it is a driver problem that has never been properly solved.  There are several unused inputs that may or may not have been properly terminated and/or muted, and that is best guess as to noise source(s).  Enabling or muting various hidden controls in the registry at least gives opportunity to "throw the switches" to try to fix the problem.  CD Audio and PC speaker should be tried, along with the Mic Input.  Internal chip gain settings may also contribute, but haven't seen any posts on that.  This problem does not occur with Linux drivers, so sure wish Dell would put some engineering resources on XP audio drivers.  Seems to affect many of their notebook models.

greaserbeef

23 Posts

September 29th, 2004 02:00

Thanks,  I tried what jimco said with editing the system registry but it doesnt kill the buzzing at all.  I have also tried putting in dumbie plugs in the mic jack but no use.  Is there anything else I can try? 

 

Thanks

dspman

306 Posts

September 29th, 2004 06:00

Starting to sound like the SigmaTel driver problem affecting many other posters.  They achieved some relief using the Realtek AC97 driver from http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/dlac97-2.aspx?lineid=5&famid=12&series=8&Software=True.
 
If that doesn't help, it's probably a hardware defect.  Time to contact Dell for warranty repair/replacement.

Message Edited by dspman on 09-29-2004 10:09 AM

c5t

2 Posts

October 6th, 2004 01:00

Try the "emulateallmasters" registry setting change described in http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_audio&message.id=17933. It fixed the hissing/whine in my 8600 audio.

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