Hello, I have a Gateway notebook, and I love to make gaming videos. The problem is, I cannot record the sound coming out of my computer, most of my friends say to select the input option "Stereo Mix", "Wave Out Mix", or "What U Hear". My SigmaTel C-Major integrated card does not have these options when I look for them, does anyone know how I could download a driver or such do be able to enable those options? It would be appreciated.

What is the model number of your Notebook? you might need a 3rd party Hardwear/Softwear app? Wave Out is "What U Hear" and you do have this but, you need a recorder app to record sounds form your Wave Out or "What
U Hear"

It took me a while but I've successfully enabled “Stereo Mix” on my Gateway MX6958. It's a long response, but hopefully it will help you and other Gateway users.

Here's what I have discovered:

There are several configurations of the Sigmatel HDA chip. Windows refers to this as the “Device Instance Id”. The Id can be determined by opening Device Manager, selecting “Sigmatel High Defintion Audio Codec” , right-clicking, and selecting “Properties”.

The “WDM” folder of each driver package, contains the file “sthda.ini”. This lists all of the configurations (by Device Instance Id) that the driver package directly supports. Each Id is paired with another “.ini” file (e.g., 92XXM2-2.INI) that contains installation instructions specific to its configuration. For want of a better term, let’s call this the “Machine .ini File”. The bulk of this type of file contains registry entries. The most noticable variations would be the number and type of input and output jacks. If the sthda.ini file does not list the “Device Instance Id” of the machine where the install is being attempted, the install will fail. If the required Machine .ini File is missing, the install will fail as well.

There are three essential files needed for a successful install of the audio driver. “sthda.sys” is copied to the \Windows\System32\Drivers file. The files “stacapi.dll” and “staco.dll” are copied to \Windows\System32 directory. Let’s call these files the “Driver File Set”. All other files copied in the install are related to the Sigmatel Audio Control Panel.

My machine is a Gateway MX6958. According to Gateway, the recommended Sigmatel HDAC driver for this machine is version 5.10.5082.0. Gateway provides the install file (D00664-001-001.exe) of this version on their website. This version is recommended for several other recent Gateway notebooks, and they are listed on the download page for this driver.

The Driver File Set of the Gateway driver package D00664-001-001 can be substituted with the Driver File Set of other installation packages. This can be done by copying the three files from the \WDM folder of one package (e.g., Dell R122161) to the \WDM folder of the Gateway D00664-001-001 driver package before launching setup.exe. This can be done because the Gateway package has the correct “sthda.ini” file and the correct Machine .ini File, in my case “92XXM5.INI”.

For “Stereo Mix” to be enabled, I had to add the following lines to “92XXM5.INI”:

[HKR\Settings\Filter\Rear]
DigitalStereoMix = hex: 1

[HKR\Settings\Filter\Rear\plugins\Render]
[HKR\Settings\Filter\Rear\TopoNames]
InpMonitor = "{AD16E140-C319-4381-98AB-AB72A3C26892}"
AuxIn = "{0C176AD4-0B8A-457b-839D-4545E1F1DDA7}"

[HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\MediaCategories\{0C176AD4-0B8A-457b-839D-4545E1F1DDA7}]
Display = hex: 00,00,00,00
Name = "Stereo Mix"

I was able to successfully install drivers intended for Dell, Toshiba, and LG machines. After editing my Machine .ini File, “Stereo Mix” would appear on the Volume Control, but it was not functional. The Gateway driver would not provide functionality either.

I have found only one driver that will allow me to enable “Stereo Mix” on my Gateway. It turns out Intel has a Sigmatel driver on their website with a version number of 5.10.5208.0. This driver is intended for Intel Desktop Boards but it works just fine on my computer. I can record from the “Stereo Mix”.

So for whatever reason, Gateway does not offer an install package that enables “Stereo Mix”.

Here’s how to create yours:

WARNING: THIS WORKED FOR ME, BUT AS WITH ANY HACK, YOU MUST PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK.


1) Check the Gateway site. If your computer can use 5.10.5208.0 then download D00664-001-001.EXE from Gateway. If not, try your suggested driver in place of this one.

http://support.gateway.com/support/drivers/getFile.asp?id=20815&dscr=SigmaTel%20Audio%20Driver%20version:%205.10.5082.0&uid=1 51461668


2) Go to Control Panel, System, Hardware, Device Manager. In “Sound, video and game controllers”, select “SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC”. Right-click and select “Properties”. Click the “Details” tab. The “Device Instance Id” will be displayed in the white panel.
Example: “HDAUDIOFUNC_01&VEN_8384&DEV_7634&SUBSYS_107B0366”

Select the string and enter Control-C to copy. Open a Notepad file and enter Control-V to paste the string. Save the file as “device instance id.txt”. My Documents is a good place to keep it so you don’t forget.


3) Download 5.10.5208_XP_32_XP64_MCE_2K_STACGUI.EXE from Intel.

http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df-external/download.aspx?url=/8658/eng/5.10.5208_XP32_XP64_MCE_2K_STACGUI.EXE&agr=N&ProductID=2068&DwnldId=8658&strOSs=88 &OSFullName=Windows*%20XP%20Media%20Center%20Edition&lang=eng


4) Unpack the Gateway file by launching “D00664-001-001.EXE”. This will create an install package in “C:\Cabs\ D00664-001-001”.


5) Launch “5.10.5208_XP_32_XP64_MCE_2K_STACGUI.EXE”. This will unpack the install package but unfortunately it will try to install. Let the install complete. You will get a warning that the drivers are not certified for XP. Continue Anyway. Let the install complete. It will fail and that’s okay. The purpose here is just to unpack the drivers. The install package will be created in “C:\Program Files\Intel Desktop Boards\Audio\Disk1\”. Reboot when the install is completed.


6) You will not have any sound when the machine boots back. That’s okay. Don’t worry about it. Now go to the Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs, and uninstall SigmaTel Audio.


7) Go to “C:\Cabs”. Copy the folder “D00664-001-001” within the “C:\Cabs” folder and name the copied folder “Sigmatel Stereo Mix Install”.


8) Go to “C:\Program Files\Intel Desktop Boards\Audio\Disk1\WDM”. Copy the files “sthda.sys”, “stacapi.dll” and “staco.dll”. Paste them to “C:\Cabs\Sigmatel Stereo Mix Install\WDM”. You will be asked if you want to overwrite the existing files. Answer “Yes”.


9) Using Notepad, open the file “C:\Cabs\Sigmatel Stereo Mix Install\WDM\sthda.ini”. Open the “device instance id.txt” file you created in Step 2. Find the line “sthda.ini” that includes your device instance id in “device instance id.txt”. Note the .ini file that is matched with the device instance id. This is your “Machine .ini File”. Using our example, “HDAUDIOFUNC_01&VEN_8384&DEV_7634&SUBSYS_107B0366” is matched with“92XXM5.INI”. Close “sthda.ini” and “device instance id.txt”.


10) Using Notepad, open the “Machine .ini File” you identified in the previous step. Remember, it will be located in the “C:\Cabs\Sigmatel Stereo Mix Install\WDM\” folder. Go to the end of the file and paste the following:

[HKR\Settings\Filter\Rear]
DigitalStereoMix = hex: 1

[HKR\Settings\Filter\Rear\plugins\Render]
[HKR\Settings\Filter\Rear\TopoNames]
InpMonitor = "{AD16E140-C319-4381-98AB-AB72A3C26892}"
AuxIn = "{0C176AD4-0B8A-457b-839D-4545E1F1DDA7}"

[HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\MediaCategories\{0C176AD4-0B8A-457b-839D-4545E1F1DDA7}]
Display = hex: 00,00,00,00
Name = "Stereo Mix"

Make sure you save the edited file in the “C:\Cabs\Sigmatel Stereo Mix Install\WDM\” folder with its original name. If you need to delete something by mistake and want to start over, you can always get a clean copy of this file in “C:\Cabs\ D00664-001-001”.


11) Go to “C:\Cabs\Sigmatel Stereo Mix Install\” and run “Setup.exe”. You will get a warning that the drivers are not certified for XP. Continue Anyway. The install should be successful. Reboot when the install is completed.


12) Open the Volume Control. Under “Recording” you should now see “Stereo Mix”. For a simple test, select “Stereo Mix”, and move it’s volume up to 8. Try playing an .mp3 with Windows Media Player and recording with Sound Recorder. If the install fails, uninstall and try again, or just install the standard 5.10.5208.0 Gateway driver (or whatever is recommended for your machine).


NOTE: If you have some other type of computer with a Sigmatel HDA Codec, and you want to try enabling “Stereo Mix”, you can add the needed entries to your registry without installing a different driver, or re-installing your driver. This will only work if your driver/hardware combination supports “Stereo Mix”.

1) Copy the following and paste it into a blank Notepad file:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class\{4D36E96C-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0005\Settings\Filter\Rear\TopoNames]
"InpMonitor"="{AD16E140-C319-4381-98AB-AB72A3C26892}"
"AuxIn"="{0C176AD4-0B8A-457b-839D-4545E1F1DDA7}"
"LineIn"="{185FEDF9-9905-11D1-95A9-00C04FB925D3}"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\MediaCategories\{0C176AD4-0B8A-457b-839D-4545E1F1DDA7}]
"Display"=hex:00,00,00,00
"Name"="Stereo Mix"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class\{4D36E96C-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0005\Settings\Filter\Rear]
"DigitalStereoMix"=hex:01

2) Save the above as “sigmatel_stereo_mix.reg”.

3) Double-click on “sigmatel_stereo_mix.reg”. You will be prompted if you want to add to your registry with this file. Click the “Yes” button.

4) Reboot.

5) If your driver/hardware combination supports “Stereo Mix” it will now be functional.

I just finished reading the post on getting Stereo Mix on a Gateway computer. I have a Gateway MX8711 that came preinstalled with Vista. Does anyone know if the description given works with Vista? If not could someone help me with setting mine up?

Many Thanks in advance

I'm not running Vista, so I can't guarantee, but I would try it with Vista drivers.

Follow the same directions as my earlier post but:

1) Instead of Gateway's 5.10.5082.0, use their 6.10.5337.0.

D20007-003-001.exe - Windows Vista Sigmatel Audio Driver version: 6.10.5337.0

2) Instead of Intel's 5.10.5280.0, use their 6.10.5290.

http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scri...stems&lang=eng

If it doesn't work, you can always fall back to what you originally had by re-installing Gateway's 6.10.5337.0.

Good luck.

I have a Gateway laptop with vista, and I don't have the option for line out, wave, or stereo mix either. I tried updating my sigmatel driver from gateway and the sigmatel website. I just read and tried everything Thinline explained. Those drivers for vista are not compatible, leaving no sound option on the soundcard for recording, and no sound. I used system restore to revert back to what I initially had. Thanks for the suggestion though. If there's a fix out here, I could sure use it. I can't take this computer back because I waited too long to open it, and I need this option for my work. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

I'm sorry to say that the Stereo Mix/Wave Out feature is NOT included in VISTA,
you have to buy a Notebook soundcard device, if you want that in VISTA,
there's a tweak for this feature in XP ONLY........... for the SigMatel Audio

This has already been covered in this THREAD:

http://www.notebookforums.com/thread193323.html

Thanks for the fix! It worked GREAT! I have a gateway mx 6453 with Sigmatel HDA. I now have the "Stereo Mix" recording source. Only problem though... now the OSD for the volume changes doesn't work... you know, the one you get when you press FN + PgUp/PgDn (the green bar across the bottom of the screen). Any suggestions on how to get it to work?

Thanks
Adam

Seems like it works one problem though...when i did all those steps stereo mix appeared but my sound stopped working. i had to reinstall my old Sound Device. I'll mess with it a little later today maybe...btw i have vista

Awesome! I spent 3 days and countless hours looking for this genius fix! Thinline, you da man!

One thing though...I was always able to record streaming audio til just a few months ago, I think. Didn't realize I lost the capability til a few days ago. Wonder if a good 'ol Windows update ripped the "stereo mix" off my list of goodies? Makes you wonder....

Thanks again, Thinline! I can finally get back to my life.

Did work with my gateway CX2724 though it mix with the mic even if mic volume is all down. I'll look further into virtual audio cable

Thanks. The registry edit option worked for me.
I needed to modify it slightly though.
The driver instance number on my vostro 1400 laptop was 0015, not 0005.
The easiest way to find the instance number is to search the registry from HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class for the string "TopoNames"
-e

Thank you so much for the Stereo Mix tutorial on Gateway. I have followed your instructions and succesfully installed the "StereoMix" option on my Gateway MT6451 with Windows XP. SigmaTel sucks, and you deserve a nobel prize.

Thinline, thanks sooo much, you are a genius. Your step-by-step explanation is flawless. It worked wonderfully on my Gateway MX6454! I just had to let you know.

I've got just about the same problem. I've got a Gateway MT3705, running on Vista Home Premium, with a Sigmatel High Definition Audio Codec, and it doesn't have a stereo mix for it's Recording Devices, which I really want for recording audio streams, can some please help, any is greatly appreciated.