dead mic input

[kwhubby]

Hi, I am having an issue with my onboard sound. I have a abit AA8 duramax MB with a realtek high def 7.1 onboard sound (bought from newegg). The mic input seems to be dead and im wondering if I should go threw the time and hassle of returning the motherboard or if I should just buy an 8 dollar sound card to run with the onboard, but just as a seperate adapter to use for the mic in. This card also has a midi/joystick interface and for 20 bucks I can get a cable to use the midi (versus a 40 dollar usb midi thing). If the midi works with 16 channels in/out without nasty high latency compared to the usb type then I really want to go this route (save money and time and hassel). Any comments, suggestions, opinions? etc...

[oracleguy]

I know this will sound dumb, but are you sure that it's turned on? What I mean is that usually the mic input is muted by default. Click on the volume control down in the task bar and if the mic slider isn't shown, you can go the menu bar and there is a way to add it. Then see if it is muted or not.

[kwhubby]

Yes, I have it turned on :p unless there are some secret driver settings not controlable with the windows audio controls and the special program that came with the board for the audio. Anyways what do you think I should do? I think I am going to get that card and usb thing anyways and if it works its cheaper then the usb kind.

[oracleguy]

Although I've never done it, I've heard that it is easy (and fast) to send a bad part back to NewEgg. But if you don't want to, I'd go with the card over the USB thing. I've heard iffy things about USB sound devices.

[mindlessLemming]

If the midi works with 16 channels in/out without nasty high latency compared to the usb type then I really want to go this route

I'd be very surprised if an $8 sound card provided less latency than a dedicated USB break-out.
There are quite a few relevant posts regarding this area of the sound card market over at http://yourmusicforums.com/
I think you'll find some different options as well as more specific advice over there. (No offence oracle, it's just that we've got guys over there who only do this stuff.. ;))

[kwhubby]

Thanks for the advice! I think I am going to return the motherboard for a replacement in a few weeks when I won't be using my computer. I guess I can live waiting and paying a little more to get back a high def input and a posibly lower latency usb midi cable.