Dell announces free SoundBaster Audigy Advanced MB upgrade for Vista

Doug Peeler, a Dell Audio Engineer has posted on Direct2Dell.com ..."Later this month, we plan to offer this software to customers via download for free." Keep in mind, he means it'll be free for Dell customers who purchased it previously with Windows XP.

The software Doug's referring to, is a Windows Vista version of the "SoundBlaster Audigy Advanced HD Audio *Software Edition*" also known as "Audigy Advanced MB".

It's not an audio driver. It's a suite of tools for enhancing and working with the audio on your Windows XP loaded notebook or PC. In this case, it's intended to be installed on certain model Dell notebooks and PC's that have certain Sigmatel (a company recently purchased by IDT) audio chips, also called codecs.

Note: If you are a Windows XP user, there is also a separate DRIVER also named "SoundBlaster Audigy Advanced HD Audio" that has to be installed A) after the Sigmatel audio driver, and B) before the XP version of the software suite of the same name.

If you'd like more info, and to see the original post by Doug, you can check it out here: http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/04/05/10661.aspx

And let him know how much we appreciate the info and work Doug has put into getting this done.

Info Update on Dells Sound Blaster Audigy (invitation) Advanced MB "upgrade"

This post is for all the Dell customers with Windows XP and Sigmatel STAC 9200 audio who have:

• Upgraded to or will be upgrading to Windows Vista
• Purchased Dells integrated Sound Blaster Audigy Advanced HD audio *Software Edition*
• Downloaded the Sound Blaster Audigy Invitation from Dell for Windows XP
• Need "stereo mixer" (aka: What You Hear) in Windows XP with their Sigmatel 9200 audio

Note: I do not know if this applies to other Sigmatel audio codecs (chips). I am however going to look in to it.

This week, Dell made a couple of announcements which I'll boil down here:

#1) Dell customers who are Windows XP users with Sigmatel STAC 9200 codecs (chips), will find that a future Sigmatel driver update from Dell, will enable "Stereo Mixer" functionality in Windows XP. This will not require the Audigy upgrade. Dells own community forum liaison "Rollie" made the initial announcement in the Dell Community Forums. However, there is not yet a definitive date when this long expected functionality will be made available. If you absolutely require this functionality now,

#2) Lionel Menchaca from the Dell blog Direct2Dell.com has announced that there will be a Windows Vista version of the Sound Blaster Audigy MB software which is also known as the "Creative Audigy Invitation" or the "integrated Sound Blaster Audigy Advanced HD audio - Software Edition." As I understand it so far, this version is currently being provided for free to only customers who meet specific requirements. This post by Lionel explains more: http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/02/28/7088.aspx

Now, for Windows XP users who cannot wait for the new driver mentioned above, there are a few posts in the Dell Community Forums that may provide a "try at your own rick" solution. Many people are finding it useful until a Dell sanctioned solution is made available. Here is a link to the primary post in the thread concerning this issue: http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_audio&message.id=30151 and a few key terms to further search the forum for more info and solutions would be: monitoring, stereo mix, audio ini

I'll update further details as I research and confirm them.