The RIAA May Be Forcing Laptop Manufacturers to Disable Stereo Mix Recording

Gizmodo ^ | 7 July, 2008 | Gizmodo

[CarrotAndStick]

After a frustrating few months of searching for a solution to the audio problems he encountered while ripping on-screen video with his Dell laptop, a ripten editor discovered that others were experiencing the same issue—and that the problem was not confined to Dell laptops. Apparently, the lack of a sound card Stereo Mix recording option is to blame—and numerous forum threads have suggested that the RIAA has put pressure on laptop manufacturers like Dell, Gateway and Pac Bell to remove it.

After posting this information on ripten, a Dell representative chimed in to say that the lack of a sound card Stereo Mix option was most likely due to an issue with laptops running XP, and that a driver existed to correct the problem. However, it is still not clear whether the driver works for all Dell computers or why the option was disabled in the first place. Nor does it address the possibility that the problem may not be confined to Dell products alone. Naturally, random forum threads do not confirm RIAA involvement with Stereo Mix as a fact—but it does have that slimy, fishy vibe we have come to expect from them. With that having been said, have you experienced similar problems? [ripten]

[yantis]

note to self: When business model fails to evolve with technology and you incur losses, revert to legal tactics instead of evolving with the times.

go RIAA!

[xcamel]

Sounds just like Democrats...

When political agenda fails to promote socialism and you incur losses, revert to legal tactics instead of conforming to the will of the people....

[moonpie57]

I used to us XP to go on Paltalk and sometimes play music. I was able to switch back and forth between my CD player and the mic with no problem. Now I have Vista and never could figure out how to use it. I called Dell support and the guy managed to do something through Remote Assistance, but I’m still not sure what I’m doing. I can’t use the mic on Yahoo Messenger anymore either.

[lesser_satan]

I’m going to illegally download 50 songs for every story I read about the RIAA behaving in a manner that Mussolini would consider too fascist.

[xjcsa]

I have a Dell laptop running Vista; I’ve had no difficulty whatsoever recording a stereo feed from the mixer at live shows.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

The content-provider companies are pygmies in terms of revenue compared to the hardware and software industries, but they enjoy a ridiculous amount of influence with both the Democrats and Republicans in Congress. Hence the ability of pressure groups like the RIAA and MPAA to get legislation like the DMCA passed and also to pressure technology companies to cripple or remove features wanted by consumers.

[randomhero97]

You’re selling yourself short with only fifty songs. Go ahead and throw some movies in there as well. ; )

[rawcatslyentist]

Auto industry is putting horse trade out of buisiness.

Detroit to loosen lug nuts causing wheels to fall off over 25mph in an effort to stop the inequality.

[Melas]

Maybe I’m missing something, but in the overall scheme of things what good would it do to disable this feature in laptops if it could still be done on a desktop? I suspect there are simple hardware explanations for this that have nothing to do with the RIAA.