My new computer has Win 7, which I dont like very much. It came with a soundcard on the motherboard. When click on the mixer icon, I get a very limited set of controls provided by the built in soundcard. (Realtek)
Can anyone tell me how to get the familiar Windows mixer back? Or maybe there is a real good 3d party app that will take the place of what I have now and become my system mixer. Do y'all know of any such thing?
Flatfoot sez: Call me when 'Talent-in-a-Box' is ready to ship! -- [8{>
That's a good question. I love Windows 7, but you are correct, the mixer is different and there's not much to it. An add-on soundcard would come with its own mixer (which is called by the Windows mixer) and I'm not familiar with RealTek's. Post if you find a solution, and good luck.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Some seem to like this one, some don't. You might see if it does the job for you.
Quote:
First released in July 1999 and updated regularly since, Sound Control is a freeware replacement Windows Sound Mixer applet which together with most of the features of the standard Windows mixer it also allows you to add hot keys to adjust any combination of your sound mixer volumes. Support to control Winamp (and compatibles) with a series of hot keys, CD Player and an On Screen Display is also included. Supports Windows 95 / 98 / Millennium-Me / NT4 / 2000 / XP / Vista and 7.
If you are going to use Sound Control with the Windows Vista / Windows 7 platform please ensure you review the compatibility notes for important instructions.
On my lappy with Win7 Home 64, in the lower right corner system tray under the speaker icon is the word 'mixer' and poking through there leads one to sliders for each potential sound source in the lappy.
I don't believe this is specific to the soundcard.
I'm pretty sure that's not the mixer he's looking for. XP with a SoundBlaster card had a mixer of 4 or 5 sliders under the basic speaker icon. I believe that's what he's looking for.
If you Google "XP Sound Blaster mixer", and use the Image option, that's what I think he's looking for, but flatfoot can correct me if I'm mistaken.
On my lappy with Win7 Home 64, in the lower right corner system tray under the speaker icon is the word 'mixer' and poking through there leads one to sliders for each potential sound source in the lappy. I don't believe this is specific to the soundcard.
I know where the icon is. What I get is a set of sliders provided by my soundcard. The functions are very limited. I want the old Win mixer back, or something like it.
Flatfoot sez: Call me when 'Talent-in-a-Box' is ready to ship! -- [8{>
I had a soundblaster card, but the mixer with it only worked with it (had the 'what you hear' slider). I switched to KX drivers and never looked back after that until I switched to a firewire I/O device and used it's mixer, and now a USB Tascam US-800 and use it's own mixer application.
When you right click on the Realtek icon isn't there a "Sound Manager" selection option? And when you click it don’t you get something like..
each tab has its own slider (just not side by side. Yes, I know - not as straight forward as XP or SB mixers and I still haven't gotten use to it and I've been using now almost 2 years)
Last edited by Larry Kehl; 08/07/1306:23 PM.
Win10Pro,i9,64GB,2TBSSD+20TBHDDs,1080TI,BIAB'24,Scarlett18i8,Montage7,Fusion 8HD,QS8,Integra7,XV5080,QSR,SC-8850,SPLAT,FL21&others,Komp.14,IK suite&others, just a guitar player-AXE FX III &FM9T, FishmanTP, MIDIGuitar2, GK2/3'sw/GI20
Yeah Larry. I have something like that and I want to be rid of it. Different color scheme and a bunch of stuff I dont want, like echo effects and quadrophonic. It bears the HP logo.
I want simple hands on manipulation of all inputs and outputs and nothing more.
Flatfoot sez: Call me when 'Talent-in-a-Box' is ready to ship! -- [8{>
Yeah Larry. I have something like that and I want to be rid of it. Different color scheme and a bunch of stuff I dont want, like echo effects and quadrophonic. It bears the HP logo.
I want simple hands on manipulation of all inputs and outputs and nothing more.
There's a chance that you might be able to uninstall the HP driver/applet set that HP provides for that model, and install a standard Realtek driver set instead. This would take a bit of research around the web, after first identifying the exact model Realtek sound the machine has in it. May not need to do an uninstall if you find a .exe Realtek driver installer, possibly a generic Windoze Vista driver, just run it.
It is only software, so if that idea were to fail for any reason, you should be able to go ahead and download the original HP drivers for your machine from their support website and return what you have now. Only loss for this is your time.
Here's another hidden 'gem' of Win7, that I didn't know about until today. I'm having a different issue trying to record the video AND audio while my DAW is live. For the Berklee class I'm enrolled in, one of the things that we have to do for assignments is show how one accomplishes various different course topics in our DAW. Suggested technique is to post YouTube vids.
Every screen capture program I've tried (Jing, Cam Studio, You Cam, Microsoft endeavor? capture) will only use the mic on the lappy, even though I've stated I want the screen capture to grab what is sent to the speakers. It's possible that this link may hold the key to doing this:
Still didn't work. Cam Studio reports an error when trying to find the audio source and defaults to the built-in mic. Period. Off to try MS expression encoder.... Nope again - MS Expression encoder reports that I can't access the soundcard because a different application is using it (of course, my DAW application which I want to record the screen and audio).
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
Playable RealTracks Set 5
RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean