Bootcamp audio latency and steromix. Maybe a realtek issue? VERY LOST

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Bootcamp audio latency and steromix. Maybe a realtek issue? VERY LOST

So I am having a REAL hard time here, and I consider myself somewhat tech savvy.

Let me start by saying I am not from the mac world. I am pretty bad on the mac. I am running a macmini with os 10.8.5 with the newest version of bootcamp running windows 7 with apparently all the updated drivers... At least I just finished doing that.

I am having TWO problems.

1) When I plug in my standard SHURE SM 58 mic into the mic in, there is a good 1/2 second delay - while listening via my headphones or speakers. I should note I have a PC that has the exact same set up next to this computer and when I use the same two pieces of audio equipment, there is no delay, which leads me to question 2.

2) STEREOMIX or RECORD WHAT U HEAR is missing. I have it on my pc, and I believe it is somehow related to the Realtek HD Audio Driver. But I cannot for the life of me get this to install correctly - it keeps saying driver not installed correctly no matter what process I try. I have downloaded the drivers for both the cirrius logic and the realtek, and cirrus works, but realtek wont.

Without getting steromix to work - I cannot record skype interviews, (where I also usually play youtube clips or clips from mp3s during the interview. and I need to record everything that is coming from the computer.

i see a lot of people having issues with NO SOUND coming from a mac running bootcamp into windows 7 - but this isn't my problem. The latency makes it almost impossible to talk, and the biggest problem I am having is - I spent 2 hours on the phone with MAC - and they say it's a windows problem, I spent 3 hours on the phone with microsoft and they say it's a mac problem! I am about the throw this computer against a wall - unless someone here can help me out!

I hope to hear back! and thank you for your time.

Mac mini, os 10.8.5/windows7/bootcamp

Posted on Jul 12, 2015 6:21 AM

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Answer 1

Rudegar

Level 10

170,766 points

Jul 12, 2015 6:50 AM in response to ralphsutton

could be a little bit of both

you say realtek well if their audio chip is used then they wrote the driver

a mac in bootcamp would work 100% the same way as a windows computer with the same audio chip and driver

there is no apple emulation layer in between

but that being said then many people learn that they can't get drivers directly from the place they could for a native windows computer when it's apple in bootcamp

like say amd video card driver don't really work with what windows update would recommend or amd's std catalyst driver

so maybe it's the same with the realtek driver maybe the driver that works (in bootcamp) is not the latests and that the latests which has the issue fixed does not work in bootcamp

if that is the case then with the next bootcamp release will have a zip you can download with all the latests apple verified drivers and maybe the realtek driver from that zip would have the issue fixed

but maybe not

alt option is to get an usb mic there are tons of them out there heck my external logtech webcam I have connected along side my imac webcam also has a build in mic I can choose

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Answer 2

ralphsutton Author

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Jul 12, 2015 6:57 AM in response to Rudegar

I just tried realtek because that's the one that works on my other computer.

I am currently using the updated drivers on anything and everything conceivably related to audio (the cirrus, mac os, windows os, and boot camp are all updated to the newest version).

I actually bought a line in to USB adapter thinking it might solve the issue, but it didn't. Same 1/2 second latency.

Truly appreciate you trying to help though. I still have to believe this is fixable. I mean the steromix isn't even THAT important - I could use a headphone splitter out of the back - and send one to a recording device... the big issue is the 1/2 second latency.

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Answer 3

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Jul 12, 2015 7:04 AM in response to ralphsutton

1. What OS are using OS X or Windows?

2. What is the year/model of your Mini?

3. Randomly trying drivers will cause you problems. Can you use System requirements to install Windows on your Mac using Boot Camp - Apple Support and Boot Camp: Install or repair Boot Camp drivers on go back to the BC drivers. Please check the Device Manager for any unknown devices.

4. I would also suggest not using Windows Update for drivers.

5. The Macs is general have a combined Analog/TOSLink output. If you switch between analog and optical, it can cause delays as well.

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Answer 4

ralphsutton Author

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Jul 12, 2015 7:19 AM in response to Loner T

Hey. As the post says. Os 10.8.5 & windows 7.

I'll have to go home to tell you mini model, but it was unused but less than 2 years old. It has been in my closet.

Haven't been trying random drivers. There's considerable posts that the realtek driver can resolve this issue.

Everything works absolutely fine but this audio latency issue. Boot camp/window / mac. All their updates went swimmingly.

There's no conflicts other than the realtek which has since been removed, and only installing from manufacturer website as I read electing for windows to find drivers doesn't work.

I was only using analog. In/out.

I tried the USB audio adapter as a hopeful fix that didn't work.

And thanks for trying to help. I appreciate it.

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Answer 5

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Jul 12, 2015 7:33 AM in response to ralphsutton

This is from a working Mini mid-2011 with an AMD6630m. It has no Realtek audio, but CirrusLogic.

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Answer 6

ralphsutton Author

Level 1

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Jul 12, 2015 7:38 AM in response to Loner T

I am missing the AMD HD Audio option - Only the cirrius logic.

How do I install that AMD HD audio driver?

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Answer 7

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Jul 12, 2015 8:28 AM in response to ralphsutton

Do you have any unknown devices in Device Manager? My suggestion is to delete the current driver for this device, delete the device, and use step 3 in my previous post to try and install the driver. Was Windows installed using EFI option on your Mini?

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Answer 8

ralphsutton Author

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Jul 12, 2015 8:53 AM in response to Loner T

I don't have anything uninstalled or any errors in my device manager.

and step 3 was the first thing I did.

I updated MAC OS, updated BOOTCAMP then updated WINDOWS.

I also - called mac - to see if I could get it working on the mac side - just to see.. and I am on the phone w them right now, and they told me that the mac doesn't feed the headphones when you talk on the mic - so there is no way to hear yourself. Is that true?

if so - then maybe the latency is just built into the mac - and they turned off the mic as a way of dealing with the issue?!?

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Answer 9

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Jul 12, 2015 10:13 AM in response to ralphsutton

System Preferences -> Sound should let you specify Input and Output device, provided the device supports. For example iPhone headsets which are TRRS (Headset + Microphone) work on the OSX side, as do others. Windows is a completely different OS. It does not support TRRS headsets, but does support TRS headsets.

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Answer 10

Zanaelf

Level 1

87 points

Jul 13, 2015 7:27 AM in response to ralphsutton

I found this oldish program called Jet Audio https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JetAudio which is similar to the old Audio Rack that existed on on old windows 95/98 machines, where you can record mixes as as mp3/real audio. Have not used it yet, but I remember on my first pc which had windows 95 it had audio rack software which came with the sound driver, this might work the same way...

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Answer 11

ralphsutton Author

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Jul 13, 2015 8:53 AM in response to ralphsutton

So. I called apple and asked them to show me it working w the ios and even in ios there's a delay (not as bad as w windows but it was there). A very tech friend of mine said because the mini has a soundcard that is integrated into the mother board and not stand alone, it's gonna always be an issue.

I ended up having an epiphany, and for $3 bought an audio splitter. And looped my mic thru my mixer along w the audio output of my mini. And now it sounds perfect! There's still a delay, but because I'm listening to the mixer and not the output of mini, I don't hear it.

Thanks for suggestions Everyone!

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Answer 12

Zanaelf

Level 1

87 points

Jul 13, 2015 2:08 PM in response to ralphsutton

Where do you get this audio splitter ? When my macbook pro the audio jack is not separate , the headphones/audio out is combination with the microphone in like the iPhone and iPod. I also noted I cant connect my beats pill with the bootcamp windows 7 bluetooth drivers, which would have been nice when I am gaming in warframe to have better sound from the pill than the built in laptop speakers. The fix for this is to plug the beats pill in with the audio cable rather than use the bluetooth feature in bootcamp. But in OSX ,and iTunes the beatspill works a charm. If only warframe made an OSX version of the game.

I am thinking of making my own loopy cable using the design of the headphone/mic thing, where find a cheap cable that supports the headphone/mic , used for iPhones and iPods, cut the wire, and the find out which wires are for the mic , and which are for the headphones, and just connect them, creating a loop.

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Answer 13

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Jul 13, 2015 2:20 PM in response to Zanaelf

You can try and use W10 and use the native driver as a test to see if it will recognize a TRRS headset (the iPod/iPhone headset with a microphone).

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Answer 14

Zanaelf

Level 1

87 points

Jul 13, 2015 4:52 PM in response to ralphsutton

Well I have found a way where you can play the sound and record with the sound flower... with the microphone and speakers set to sound flower, in the drop menu from the flower icon at the top, by clicking in built in output will give you option to play out sound, and record/edit by ear in OSX as if like using the stereo mix on a windows pc.

Then there is also the way to use vmware with windows xp... but your audio recording/etc apps need to be for windows.

I am sure there has to be some software for windows that could emulate a stereo mix.. natively on windows 7. I myself would keep searching...

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Answer 15

Zanaelf

Level 1

87 points

Jul 13, 2015 7:18 PM in response to ralphsutton

I found a program... but is shareware 😟 and they do not tell you !! They just say free download... its called stereo mix pluss http://stereomixplus.com/, tried to look for others, and ended up on a dodgy site infecting my windows on my bootcamp with viruses ... so I am having to reformat... , which means i have to reinstall my windows programs again, and warframe... dammit , my poor kubrow is going to be effected a bit, because he did not get his dose of DNA stabilisers today... fortunately most of my stuff is on my OSX system... so its not a complete headache.

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