No Sound With Working Soundcard

[Doctor Varney]

Strange title, strange problem - and even stranger solution. Well, I mentioned earlier that my sound card had suddenly stopped working - just when I needed it the most.

I completed the work I needed to for the week with my digital dictaphone, took a couple of days off and now finally had chance to take a look inside the machine. I took the sound card out of it's PCI socket and promptly re-seated it. When I turned the computer back on it immediately popped up a 'Found New Hardware Wizard' and re-installed software/ driver (even though it was already installed). Sound is restored.

Curiously, during the time when the sound was down, my Windows system properties were reporting "This device is working properly". Even the DSP mixer software was registering meter activity.

Question is - can anyone offer any clues as to what could have caused my sound to go down in the first place? 'Cos I'm damned if I can work it out. I hate to say it - but it seems this thing has a mind of it's own. The sound card was in as tight as it was the day it went in there and the computer had not been moved, so no chance of it being dislodged. Just one day, suddenly no sound... but nothing was disconnected or seemingly damaged to the naked eye.

I don't know if this is a common occurrence but I remember it happening once before with another computer (if that's any help). I can't remember exactly if it was the same sound card or a different one. If you have any idea what could have caused the problem, I'd be very grateful if anyone could enlighten me, as the last thing I need is a repeat performance of this at another inconvenient time.

Kind regards

Dr. V

[Bobbsy]

The driver and/or associated software for your sound card became corrupted for some reason. It's far from common but I have heard of it happening, particularly with non-specialist gamer's cards.

What sound card is it?

[Doctor Varney]

Hi Bobbsy. It's the E-MU 0404 PCI card. I don't think it's a 'non-specialist gamer's card'. It was sold to me as a pro audio sound card, for recording on. If that's any help?

[Doctor Varney]

BTW, sorry if I've posted this in the wrong section. I forgot to check before I posted.

[Bobbsy]

Ah, that starts to make more sense. Creative have, in effect, stopped supporting their E-MU brand (pity as they were very good) and haven't released any new drivers since they posted a pile of Betas a couple of years ago. They've been harrangued like mad over on their own user forums but continue to claim they are still trading even though the last "real" driver they released was for Vista (with an early Beta for Win7 and, obviously nothing for Win8).

Typical of Creative Labs...develop a range of gear that is actually very good then totally screw around with the people who bought it.

FYI, the problem you had is mentioned frequently on those user forums--it's a known problem with their antique drivers.

[Doctor Varney]

Thanks for that information, mate. It might never have occurred to me. But just one thing... how does the driver go AWOL when nothing was changed? Could this be anything to do with Windows updates er... I dunno... disturbing things? Perhaps I should mention I am using Win. XP Pro. Will be moving over to 7 in a few weeks, with a bit of luck.

Cheers

Dr. V

[Bobbsy]

Could be anything really--including your guess of Windows updates. Most interface manufacturers get advance notice of updates from Microsoft or Apple so they can be ready with compatible drivers--but, if E-MU aren't writing drivers....

Or it could just be a minor glitch that would have be fixed by E-MU in the next driver release...

Or an error writing to disc on your previous session..

Or....

I have to say, I'd approach your upgrade to Win7 with caution as long as you're stuck with the E-MU sound card. Creative have done you no favours.

[Doctor Varney]

I have to say, I'd approach your upgrade to Win7 with caution as long as you're stuck with the E-MU sound card. Creative have done you no favours.

Thanks for the tip. I will remember that. Now, perhaps more people will see see what I was getting at, when I said: "Computers go wrong in many interesting and colourful ways". I'm not sure how I would go about predicting this sort of error or safe-gaurding against potential future surprises. This has sealed my decision to get a hardware layer, expressly for recording.

Thanks for your time, Bobbsy. This has been a valuable lesson for me.

Regards

Dr. V

[miroslav]

Have a purpose built DAW running off the Internet.
No need for Antivirus...no need for endless OS patches/updates...etc.


My older DAW has been running without a single issue for about 12 years now. It was stripped down to only the bare necessities for audio. It's running on W2K, has never been patched or upgraded since. Never had to reinstall the audio software, drivers or anything of that nature...never had a crash with it.

[Doctor Varney]

Have a purpose built DAW running off the Internet.
No need for Antivirus...no need for endless OS patches/updates...etc.

This... might be possible... we'll see, depending on what bargains lie around the corner... For editing purposes, you know I rate this as good advice.

But when it comes to voice capture, for all the reasons I stated earlier, (silence, portability, dependability etc) I still think the hardware recorder is the sensible option for me. 'Course, I will be recording with this computer until I can raise the cash for a decent recorder. I'm dead pleased to have the system back up and running but I still aim to get something that will bring more freedom and confidence, before I go fully professional with my little venture.

My older DAW has been running without a single issue for about 12 years now. It was stripped down to only the bare necessities for audio. It's running on W2K, has never been patched or upgraded since. Never had to reinstall the audio software, drivers or anything of that nature...never had a crash with it.

Well, this is very good (and I'm aware you know more about computers than I probably ever will). I mean, as if I wasn't already sure, I'm now doubly assured that dedicated computers (if I must have computers at all) are the way to go.

Thanks for the help and advice.

Cheers

Dr. V