Microphone delay when recording in Windows 7

After three days researching this problem (install/uninstall all those different version drivers, replacing/return four different audio cards including 2 usb devices), I figured out that mic delay is unavoidable in some machines.

1. If you are using digital audio output (either SPDIF or HDMI), you will get the mic and linein delay, no matter which audio card you installed. You will not see the Mic or Line in slides under the Level tab in playback device properties.  No matter how many channels your HDMI supports, you computer has to encode all signals sources (system sound, waveout, or mic/line-in) in order to output digital bits. If all signals are digital, which means no mic or line-in, system still need transcode all those signals in supported bit depth and sample rates since they are in different format or sampling rates, which generates delay.  If adding Mic and linein, the delay will be even bigger since Mic and linein are analog signals and need to be sampled into digital signals.  ("Listen to"  feature actually enable another layer of delay.)
2. If you are using analog audio output, you should be able to find Mic or Line in slide under the Level tab in playback device properties (your milage may vary, depending on drivers). With "listen" feature disabled and "Mic" enabled in Level tab of playback device properties, the situation will be much more bearable, although in theory you will still experience delay. Mixing analog signals can be done in real time.

I gave up singing Karaoke in Windows 7 system since theoretically it is impossible if I keep my HTPC in current config. I don't want to hook up 6 audio cables into my receiver any more , moreover, my brand new 2011 receiver does not come with multiple inputs as in its previous generation.

I have this problem too. I just want to sing Karaoke in my win 7 computer, and it is almost impossible. I bought another USB audio box, and which also have the same delay as the onboard audio card.

MS should fix this asap, or they will lose me soon.

Unacceptable.

From what i can tell recording with 7 and i have the 64 bit too, is not likely. Everyone says go back to xp wish they had a 64 bit version. I think this problem has been around since vista 64 bit, they didn't bother to fix it in win 7. Like some of the others i bought it for recording, and it's worthless as a recording tool.

It's a shame that MS doesn't care about this. I suppose if you don't want to do any serious recording you can download the ASIO4ALL driver and put up with just a little delay. But anyone who's tried to do any real voice work will tell you you HAVE to have a monitor and hearing yourself on ANY delay ruins it. 

So far, it seems the only solutions are:

A) Buy a Mac. I would do this, except I'm opposed to spending $2000 just to record my voice when WinXP would do it just fine.

B) Dual Boot with Linux. This is a pain because, for all its advances, Linux just isn't very user friendly. You have to use the command prompt for a LOT and things like upgrading Firefox to the latest version require jumping through hoops when they should be as simple as downloading the latest version and installing it.

C) Dual boot Windows 7 and Windows XP. I'm sure this is what MS would prefer you do. After all, you already bought both operating systems so go ahead and dual boot them. This, however, is kind of a pain to set up.

So which is it? Well, after really thinking about it, the answer is... either B or C, but ultimately A. Here's why: I can dual boot Linux much more easily than I can dual boot WinXP and Win7. Sure, Linux is a pain for some things (web pages still look terrible no matter which browser you choose, and things like upgrading to the latest version of, say, Firefox are a pain in the **** even though they should be as simple as downloading and installing the latest version) but at least it can be made to do something simple like monitor a microphone without a delay. (FYI, that still isn't simple, but it's possible.)

The next option is dual booting XP and 7. Okay, so this is what MS wants you to do (and probably why it doesn't care about the mic delay in 7) and it's a pain to set up. BUT, it will get the job done.

And lastly, what will be the ultimate solution... buy a Mac. Okay, spending two grand on a machine JUST to record your voice is kind of silly, but hear me out. You're going to need a new computer eventually anyway so you might as well get one that does what you need it to do.

A Mac will do everything except play most games. If you're a gamer that could be a problem, but wait--MS itself is all but abandoning games for Windows in favor of the Xbox 360. If you don't already have a 360, most of the games also come out for the PlayStation 3. If you don't have either then you don't care about games anyway.

Regardless, it seems the best option is to dual boot in the short term then when it's time to upgrade go ahead and shell out the extra money for a Mac. It's a hard thing for those of us used to building our own PCs to do, but if voice work is a priority it seems the only way to go. Believe me, this is a hard conclusion for me to reach since I really do hate Macs. I hate them for their proprietary systems and proprietary OS. However, their proprietary systems and OS seem to do just about everything I need in a PC, and since MS doesn't seem to care about doing that... well, it's the only option left.