Different volumes for headphones and speakers

Hi all,

I have a problem where my headphones and speakers become a single device if I reboot my computer.
DESIRED STATE : Have different volume for my onboard speakers and my headphones, and the sound output switches to headphones when I plug them, then back to speakers when I unplug them.

Here's my setup and how I get there.

Clevo W650SJ // NP6658
Windows 7
Audio : Via HD Audio
Drivers : From Sager's website : Software Upgrade

Steps :
1. Entirely uninstall the drivers and codecs (I don't even get the Via HD Audio icon in Control Panel).
2. Reboot
3. I now have High Definition Audio Device as a Sound device. I have the DESIRED STATE, but not the Via drivers (so sound is meh, and my headphones mic is unusable)
3. Run Setup1.exe, which first installs the Codec, then the Audio Deck
4. Reboot
5. I now have Via HD Audio as a Sound device. DESIRED STATE ACHIEVED, with great sound
6. Profit?? NOPE
7. Reboot
8. I now only have one device for speakers and headphones. The sound still switches correctly, sound quality is great, but only one volume level for both devices, which means instant pain when I put my headphones in.

If I never reboot, I stay at step 5. But as soon as I do, BAM.

Any ideas?

 

Try getting the latest drivers from realtek and see if the control panel has the option but otherwise you will need to switch it each time you plug your headphones in.

 

Hi Meaker!
This laptop doesn't have Realtek Drivers, only VIA.
From what I understand, I've done what you suggested already and I'm doomed to ear canal damage. Am I missing something? =(

EDIT : I've downloaded Realtek's drivers, and the sound card won't start. So that wasn't it =(

 

Have you installed the latest hotkey software?

That tends to do driver support of the inputs and speakers with sound balancing.

 

Hi Ashen-Shugar!
I'm confused as to which Hotkey program is the most recent for Windows 7

On Sager's page for my laptop, I have version 2.20.22 (dated from April 2014)
On the Clevo Driver Thread ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/sager-clevo/699962-updated-clevo-driver-thread.html),
- version 3.3053 (dated from 2012)
- version 6.0100 (dated from 2013)
So... either the date on Sager's page is wrong, or their version numbers are FUBAR.

The problem persists on the 2.20.22 version. I'll try the others and report.

 

Use the one from Sager.

it's more tailored for their systems and Clevo direct sometimes are buggy.

Also, with regards to the hotkey software.

The proper way to install it is.

1. Remove ENTIRELY the hotkey software before installing new.
2. ALWAYS install it AFTER the VIA/realtek drivers
3. Install the new hotkey driver/software after #1 and #2.

If you don't, it can always give questionable results.

 

Alright, here's what I did
1. Uninstall Hotkey
2. Reboot
3. Uninstall Drivers
4. Reboot

I now have High Definition Audio Device for both my Headphones and my Speakers

5. Install Drivers
6. Reboot

I now have Via HD Audio for both my Headphones and my Speakers

7. Install Hotkey
8. Reboot

Lost my headphones volume control again, left with the speakers only.

Thanks for the suggestion though!

 

That's a new one on me.

The only other thing I can think of is the SB X-fi software, though why the drivers would be linked to that wouldn't make sense, but hey, straw-grasping time.

 

I do not have SoundBlaster X-Fi, however I have Sound Blaster Cinema.
I already tried my previous sequences with and without all drivers.
It's always the same thing : All works fine until I install the VIA Drivers.
Then I'm one reboot away from the problem.

I tried installing the softwares before and after losing the headphones volume control too, to no avail.

Thanks for trying!

 

The drivers will combine outputs for multi channel audio etc, it seems like they don't have a feature in them to split the speakers and headphones, so unless you modify them then it's normal operation.

 

Hey Meaker!
I doubt that is the case, as the feature to split volumes is present as long as I don't reboot. If the drivers didn't support it, I wouldn't be able to do it at all, right?
I've asked on the forum for my specific model to see if others have the same thing, but got no answers so far.
If it indeed is normal behavior, I'd say it is less than ideal.

Do you know any way to modify the drivers without being a hardware/low-level code genius?

Thanks =)