Why has stereo Mix been disabled on thinkpads & when do we get a formal response [ Edited ]

[lead_org Microsoft MVP Contributor]

Not sure about the new HP and Dell Business laptops. Will look into this. 

[LenovoMix]

This is absolutely ridiculous. Lenovo has permamently lost my business not only over the core issue here (that a useful feature was removed) but over the lack of official response and, worse, rectifcation. 

Back to Dell business. 

[PeterTWJ]

Hi, after quite some time, I have not heard much of any comment about the new T, W or Xx20 series laptop. I am curious that is the Stereo Mix back after quite some time? I hope any new ThinkPad series owner would give some comment on this.

Anyway, how is the audio performance of this new batches of ThinkPad series? From what I know, T and Wx10 series laptop suffered from bad audio problems, a lot of things not workable. Is there any new things added or enhancement in Conexant HD20672 sound card?

Peter

[ColonelONeill]

They're not there. The Lenovo page is here:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-70822&selectarea=SUPPORT&tempsel...

FYI, Dell has also been forced to abandon stereo mix.

The Tx10 audio issue seemed to affect some NVidia-equipped models. That said, two T510's with discrete chips I know of have no issues with audio. One of them records using an USB adapter.

[dwjy]

Same problem, been waiting and hoping Lenovo would add stereo mix to T410. No go after a year.
When we needed new laptop, we switched to an Asus. Problem solved. Lenovo, you just lost my business. Congrats!

[JDay]

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dwjy wrote:
Same problem, been waiting and hoping Lenovo would add stereo mix to T410. No go after a year.
When we needed new laptop, we switched to an Asus. Problem solved. Lenovo, you just lost my business. Congrats!

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They cannot add something that the hardware does not support. This is due to the way Windows handles audio now, mixing is done at the OS level and not hardware. You'll need software that supports the new method in order to have the same functionality. Virtual Audio Cable is one such solution.

[dwjy]

The hardware supports it, at least on T410 (just found out). But for ridiculous reasons Lenovo just cripples it, supposedly bowing to pressure from trade groups. In any case, no one should have to use a 3rd party software to get round stereo mix issue if it is built into the hardware. And if  there is a choice, I'd would not buy hardware that does not have the capability. That is what I did with the Asus we just bought. Had Lenovo addressed this issue, they might have had my second purchase.

Enuf babbling. I did find a solution which has been tested to work on my T410. Go here:

http://forums.toshiba.com/t5/Audio-Sound/How-get-Stereo-Mix-on-Conexant-sound-card-SOLUTION/m-p/1970...

Steps:

(1) Download and unpack "IN2AUD25WW5.exe" per instruction in link above

(2) Edit the entry in Win7 section of  "NELCC2wa.inf" to read:

%HdAudioFunctionDriver.Pebble5071.DeviceDesc% = HdAudModelNELA0V,HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_14F1&DEV_5069&SUBSYS_17AA214C
That is the entry I used for my for T410 (Conexant 20585) . Check your hardware ID.

(3) Install driver by browsing to your location (not let comp do it, or it would say you are up to date). Then goto control panel>sound>recording; right click to show disabled devices, Eureka, you got the stereo mix back that I shouldn't have to work this hard for. You may have to reboot. I didn't have to.

[JDay]

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dwjy wrote:

The hardware supports it, at least on T410 (just found out). But for ridiculous reasons Lenovo just cripples it, supposedly bowing to pressure from trade groups. In any case, no one should have to use a 3rd party software to get round stereo mix issue if it is built into the hardware. And if  there is a choice, I'd would not buy hardware that does not have the capability. That is what I did with the Asus we just bought. Had Lenovo addressed this issue, they might have had my second purchase.

Enuf babbling. I did find a solution which has been tested to work on my T410. Go here:

http://forums.toshiba.com/t5/Audio-Sound/How-get-Stereo-Mix-on-Conexant-sound-card-SOLUTION/m-p/1970...

Steps:

(1) Download and unpack "IN2AUD25WW5.exe" per instruction in link above

(2) Edit the entry in Win7 section of  "NELCC2wa.inf" to read:

%HdAudioFunctionDriver.Pebble5071.DeviceDesc% = HdAudModelNELA0V,HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_14F1&DEV_5069&SUBSYS_17AA214C
That is the entry I used for my for T410 (Conexant 20585) . Check your hardware ID.

(3) Install driver by browsing to your location (not let comp do it, or it would say you are up to date). Then goto control panel>sound>recording; right click to show disabled devices, Eureka, you got the stereo mix back that I shouldn't have to work this hard for. You may have to reboot. I didn't have to.

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Lenovo didn't cripple anything, the hardware does not support stereo mix. You can make the stereo mix device appear by doing the method above, however it will not work. This is even discussed in this very thread.

[dwjy]

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Lenovo didn't cripple anything, the hardware does not support stereo mix. You can make the stereo mix device appear by doing the method above, however it will not work. This is even discussed in this very thread.

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Don't know what you are talking about. It works for me. I have a year-old T410 running Win7 pro. Following steps above, I have it not only showing up, but working as well. I am recording (using Win recorder) internet radio with stereo mix as I am typing this. Before installing the driver, the device was identified as Conexant 20585. Afterward, it is showing as Conexant CX20671. If this is nor crippling, what is it?

Can't say it would work for everyone, but it does for me. Can even post screenshots if anyone want to see. Let's also hear from those who tried it and got it working or not working. Include some specs please, particularly device id.

[erik SuperMod]

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dwjy wrote:

But for ridiculous reasons Lenovo just cripples it, supposedly bowing to pressure from trade groups.

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lenovo isn't where you should be pointing your finger.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-70822

"Symptoms #1 and #2 were caused by a design change agreement between Microsoft and the audio chip hardware supplier. The new change drops the support of mixed-stereo function and direct playback of microphone. The change in design calls to have these function implemented in application level in future. The goal of this design change is to begin standardizing the audio industry. The design change affected all PC vendors worldwide. In the future, Microsoft and audio vendors expect individual applications developers pick up these functions."