No Audio

 In

Windows has Inputs and Outputs.

Inputs are your recording devices.

Outputs are your playback devices like speakers, headphones, earphones, etc.

Common Recording issues that prevent audio:

  • Many programs in Windows do not behave as expected if you add/plugin an input device after the program has started.
  • Using the Default devices may connect you to the wrong input source as this device tends to change when things get plugged in.
  • The new Windows Device Permissions access may be enabled, your program may need permissions granted to it.

Common Playback issues that prevent audio:

  • Using the Default devices may connect you to the wrong output source as this device tends to change when things get plugged in.
  • Many laptops have an extra volume wheel or button that controls the physical playback volume.
  • Using a virtual mixer device with incorrect settings will not route audio to the correct destination.

Intel SST is a known problem for both Recording and Playback devices, this chipset and platform is always on and puts itself between the physical device and Windows. You will know if it is on your system if all your audio drivers say they are from Intel. It is not easy to disable Intel SST.

There are known problems between AMD Ryzen cpu chipsets and SoundBlaster devices. Some SoundBlaster devices have updates that are supposed to help or solve these issues.

In 2023, one Windows Update in November changed the audio layer, requiring re-linking the USB adapter in Dragon Profiles.

In 2024,

  • Two Windows Updates (so far) changed the audio layer, requiring profile re-linking.
  • Microsoft pushed a broken driver in an update for two days, any systems affected should have already resolved this.
  • One Windows update in February broke systems using Ryzen processors, this should now be resolved by later updates.
  • Microsoft initially started pushing the new Input Device permissions system on Windows 11 computers that had Insider Preview enabled.
  • New Input Device permissions system was pushed to Windows 10 Professional in March.
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