Soundstorm problem fixed, worked around the mic problem

[Zelmo3]

Ever since I loaded the motherboard drivers for my FIC AU13 (nForce2 w/MCP-T) the Soundstorm app has failed to load, giving me this message: "sndstorm.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience." Then it sends an error report. I've tried uninstalling and re-installing the software, but it still does the same thing.
It never bothered me too much because I could still get at the usual settings through Windows' built-in control apps. But today I connected my microphone for the first time, and no matter where I plug it in and what settings I try I can't get any signal from it. I wondered if Soundstorm might have some settings that aren't in the Windows controls, but I can't get to them.
So I have two questions that I'd like recommendations for:
a) Does anyone know what's going on with Soundstorm? What might I do to get it working?
b) What can I try with the microphone? The computer in question is the "desktop" compy from my sig, which is hooked up to the Logitech Z-680 both through coax digital and direct 6-channel via the audio bracket that comes with the AU13. I've tried unplugging everything and plugging the microphone into each connector one by one and checking and unchecking "Alternate Microphone" in each case.

Any replies are welcome. Thx

 

[johnjkr1]

Have you tried the latest drivers from nvidia? Also, to get the mic working you normally have to use the soundstorm utility to change one of the ports to mic.

 

[Zelmo3]

Thanks, the latest drivers now let me run Soundstorm. But I don't see a switch to change ports for the mic. In fact, it looks like all the settings (except for the equalizer) are the same ones I can get through Windows' sound controls.
So the mic still doesn't work, and I've tried all my checks with a mic that's known to work on another computer.
Any more ideas for that?

 

[johnjkr1]

The special soundstorm utility should give you the ability to alter the properties of each plug. For my friend to get his mic to work, he had to change one of the three ports to mic. He also had to set the audio device to soundstorm in the sounds and game controllers in the control panels.

 

[Zelmo3]

Special utility? I didn't notice any utilities that seem special. I also scoured nVidia's site looking for more software that might help. Got the nvswap again, which I had used before to try to get the center channel working (with no luck). It has an option to switch between mic and center/sub, but seems to have no effect. I'm beginning to wonder if that app really does anything at all.

 

[johnjkr1]

Do you have this control panel?

http://www.motherboardfaqs.com/article.php?22.255

 

[Zelmo3]

Yes, I have the nForce Control Panel. It's a very handy way of getting to all of the audio settings, but it's not helping me with my microphone.

 

[johnjkr1]

Talked to my friend with a soundstorm board, he had it working at one point, but he bought a USB microphone so he could use all his speakers. Of course, he doesnt remember what he did to get it working. I know you have to change the pink port to mic. Once you do that, you have to make sure that the soundstorm is set to the primary audio device in the audio tab of sound and game controllers. Lastly, you want to make sure it is selected and not muted in the recording properties.

 

[Slick5150]

You'll want to go through the "Speaker Setup Wizard" or whatever it's called in the soundstorm control panel. It will ask you how your speakers are hooked up (tell it digitally), and that you have nothing hooked up with the analog ports. It will then assign one of the audio jacks to be the microphone in (and another will be Line-in, etc..)

 

[Zelmo3]

How's this for strange?
After changing Digitized Input to Microphone, I plugged the headphones into the mic jack and talked into the left earpiece and got a clear signal. But when I plugged the microphone into the jack, I still get nothing.
When I try the same test with another new headset I get the same results.
Now I'm wondering if the microphone jack just doesn't work with three-piece microphone plugs (which both of mine are). Does anyone have an FIC AU-13 working with a 3-piece mic plug?

 

[Zelmo3]

Well, I finally fixed it the good old reliable way: replaced the onboard sound with a SoundBlaster. Now the mic works, and as a side benefit I get better frame rates in games (probably from the sound card using less CPU).