I have a new Dell laptop, and I can't get the audio to work. Everytime I open the software I get the message that the sound card is either in use or not compatible. The sound card is listed as "Sigma Tel Audio". There are no other applications running.

I have the audio options set to 16 bit and 44.1.

Is this audio card incompatible? Or is there something else going on?

Thanks in advance.

Barry- go to your Audio Options inside Sonar, and change your driver to MME.

That should fix it.

I have a Dell laptop- an Inspiron 8600- and that worked for me. Apparently the WDM and ASIO drivers for the Sigma Tel are somewhat lacking.

ive got a dell and it had sigma tel, and i had that same issue. basicaly, if ur gonna get seriously into it u have to upgrade to something better. this is only onboard sound and not an actual card and it REALLY sucks. personaly i would recomend a tascam us-122 if u got a small budget but are willing to spend alittle. but u should be able to pick up a cheap soundcard for under $100AU which will work fine (the tascam was $320AU). My one and only advice is buy a soundcard, anything that is not onboard will be much better. Check out cakewalks recomended list of soundcards http://www.cakewalk.com/tips/audiohw.asp

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Prez -

That did the trick, thanks so much. Now I juat have to get the thing talking to my Focusrite Saffire :).

Matt -

I'm not sure if I can upgrade a laptop soundcard... I'll look in to it. tx.

If you want to upgrade the "Audio card" on a laptop you simply add a USB or Firewire Audio device. There are numerous options available. Decide on a budget and there'll be any amount of good recommendations you can find on this forum by searching for posts on "Firewire" and/or USB sound cards".

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You can upgrade, just not to a PCI soundcard. You must use PCMCIA, Firewire, or USB.

The US-122 doesn't have the greatest sound quality, but it is adequate, and has preamps with phantom power. I wouldn't recommend it for a desktop where you can use better-quality PCI cards for less money, but it's more of a tossup with a laptop. If you get one, you should be able to find one for about US$200 - don't spend much more than that.

I havent compared the sound quality of the US-122 to a decent PCI before so i cant really compare that way, but the preamp with phanotm power is what hooked me in as its all in one unit so is small and portable and i didnt want to go and buy a preamp so i could run my condensor. Im happy with the US-122 though i have heard of some major problems where it constantly crashes your computer with the blue screen of death, so if u did go down that road, you have been warned.

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I think that the SigmaTel has an ASIO driver if you set your project to 16 bit, 48khz. I'm not sure, but you should check it out.

ORIGINAL: mudgel

If you want to upgrade the "Audio card" on a laptop you simply add a USB or Firewire Audio device. There are numerous options available. Decide on a budget and there'll be any amount of good recommendations you can find on this forum by searching for posts on "Firewire" and/or USB sound cards".

ORIGINAL: sinc

You can upgrade, just not to a PCI soundcard. You must use PCMCIA, Firewire, or USB.

The US-122 doesn't have the greatest sound quality, but it is adequate, and has preamps with phantom power. I wouldn't recommend it for a desktop where you can use better-quality PCI cards for less money, but it's more of a tossup with a laptop. If you get one, you should be able to find one for about US$200 - don't spend much more than that.

???

Don't he (BarryGrib) have a decent FireWire card already?

ORIGINAL: BarryGrib

Prez -

That did the trick, thanks so much. Now I juat have to get the thing talking to my Focusrite Saffire :).

Matt -

I'm not sure if I can upgrade a laptop soundcard... I'll look in to it. tx.

BTW: SigmaTel has no ASIO driver on it's own (maybe only with nVidia systems) --> you normally need to install Asio4All for it. If you install an ASIO driver for SigmaTel --> you may not get the Focusrite Saffire ASIO driver (if there is one) into working --> if you have installed already --> I suggest to remove it (i.e. nVidia ASIO or Asio4All).


Junski

ORIGINAL: BarryGrib
That did the trick, thanks so much. Now I juat have to get the thing talking to my Focusrite Saffire

The Focusrite Saffire is all you need.

As junski said, disable the Sigma Tel chip via the BIOS, install your Saffire drivers, point Sonar to them & re-profile.

I have a Dell laptop, and the Sigma Tel Audio only works at 48 khz for me. Try that.

Expect trouble if you plan to record through the stereo in though. Tons of noise.

never mind

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