OS-wide Volume Boosting

Is there any software for boosting OS volume beyond the rather arbitrary limit Windows sets?

Certain applications (e.g. Media Player Classic) have this feature, but it's fairly rare, not to mention program-specific. I'd like something a little more universal.

 

nircmd (google is your friend) works well for this.

 

I don't think it is advisable unless you are absolutely sure you won't spoil the speakers.

 

All that does is increase the volume in exactly the same way as clicking on the speaker icon in the system notification area. That's not what the OP is asking for.

To the OP: this is not unlike the request that appeared here a week or two ago about implementing system wide EQ. I don't think there is any way to do either, as it would require some piece of software to insert itself between all audio apps and the driver to boost (or EQ) the stream of numbers being sent to the driver. I suppose in theory it might be remotely possible. The "booster app" could find the entry point into the driver where the data stream appears and replace itself into the Windows system as the driver and then modify the datastream in real time then hand it off to the original driver. Back in DOS and early windows days this WAS possible, but I suspect with all the intrusion protection in Windows today that such vectoring is no longer possible.

Gary

 

I think that the OP is being a tad unclear as to what he wants to do.

does he want more volume from the speakers, etc

does he want the volume on his media streams increased or equalized to a higher nominal average

????

 

I have also wanted a system wide volume boost. When I do not have my Vaio hooked up to headphones or my stereo the volume is not loud enough when watching videos on hulu and fancast even with all volume controls at full. If there was an aftermarket program that allowed me to adjust the volume for this type of situation it would be helpful. I have a free media program on my Palm TX that has an amplifier for it.

 

Use the default Microsoft Audio driver for more internal speaker volume. For some reason in my Vaio FZ, the Sigmatel driver cuts down volume of the internal laptop speakers when compared to the Microsoft driver.

 

I have acctually the same "problem" on my ThinkPad. Sometimes, for example when watching videos on YouTube the volume is not loud enough...

 

contrary to coolguy's experience, I often see a significant difference between Microsoft drivers and the chipset manufacturer's drivers when it comes to volume.

So, if you are using default MS drivers, try the ones designed for you audio

 

Coolguy and I have exactly the same machine and he's right. The default Microsoft driver is louder than the OEM one. But I don't think that is necessarily the norm. Bottom line is try both and see which one gives more volume.

But this still doesn't answer the OP's question. As I said before though, I don't think there IS an answer to that question.

Gary

 

As is so often the case with these computer help forums, the answer we want is not always the answer we get....I don't know of an app that boosts audio for the entire computer, other than I've seen boost settings in some drivers.

 

and then there are other apps that will look at ones media files and apply audio adjustments across the board including leveling volume to any setting, including upwards.

the OP will still be limited to what the speakers and on-board amplifier is capable of unless he is willing to connect the laptop up to an external amplifier of some kind.

 

Hahaha, that is so true

Anyways, my audio drivers (Sigmatel) are simple beyond belief in terms of options. Sadly, there's no boost setting.

Also, to answer everyone else who mentioned drivers, with the default MS drivers I don't get any sound at all.

Actually, it's VOIP that has this issue, not multimedia, which I already have a solution for.

 

Whoa...that is a piece of info we didn't have before. Are you absolutely certain that you have the right drivers? That this laptop has a sigmatel chip? Sigmatel audio chips in laptops are less common and I have seen Windows guess wrong on chipsand result in no sound

 

Yes, I'm sure I have the right drivers, unless if Dell somehow managed to get their driver disk wrong.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if Windows guessed wrong on my onboard sound card. Windows can't even figure out what my GPU, a (unfortunately for Nvidia) very commonplace Geforce 8400m, is - not even Windows 7 installs the right driver.

 

It's not Windows's fault. Sigmatel has to comply with the OEM's right to distribute drivers and OEM's don't let Microsoft Update to distribute the GPU drivers in some cases.
But in your case, the default MS driver should work unless you have something messed up, or your audio card/ chipset is really old.

 

so what is the make and model of this laptop?