Windows doesn't recognize the inputs of my Audio Interface unless it's used in a DAW?

[Barnabus]

I have an M-Audio M-Track Quad audio interface and for some reason, my mic only gets recognized when I use it in a DAW and not when I'm on Zoom/Discord/anything else so I'm forced to use my other interface (Roland Quad Capture) for anything that's not DAW related.

I checked the Recording tab on the Sound Settings and for some reason, although the M-Audio appears, it doesn't register my input.

I also keep getting this "Audio Enhancements Problem" (Audio enhancements have been disabled) dialog whenever I open the sound settings if that makes anything clearer.

I downloaded and reinstalled the drivers multiple times and I still get the same problem.

This makes it really annoying for me since I have to keep switching interfaces whenever I want to use my mic for anything that isn't my DAW.

Has anyone else also experienced this problem with their interfaces? I'd appreciate it if anyone can help me with this so I don't have to rely on 2 interfaces. Thank you!

[Airfix]

Check your Windows default sound device.
Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound > Manage audio devices. Select your preferred default device here.
I'm using Win 7 ..

[Drew Stephenson]

Check your Windows default sound device.
Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound > Manage audio devices. Select your preferred default device here.
I'm using Win 7 ..

Same sequence in W10.

[Barnabus]

Check your Windows default sound device.
Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound > Manage audio devices. Select your preferred default device here.
I'm using Win 7 ..

Now this is funny... for the first time ever coincidentally after posting this, it worked. I think it's because I turned on the interface much later after I turned on the computer. Hopefully this solves it long term but I'll see how it goes.

To answer your reply though, I've tried that multiple times and it didn't work for me.

[Drew Stephenson]

Figured you might have but it's always working through the basics first.
Do you generally turn on your computer before the interface or vice versa?

[Barnabus]

Figured you might have but it's always working through the basics first.
Do you generally turn on your computer before the interface or vice versa?

I usually turn on the computer first then when it's booting up the bios or in the lock screen, that's when I turn on the interface

[Drew Stephenson]

Might be worth trying the other way round (if the interface isn't bus powered of course).

[Martin Walker]

Might be worth trying the other way round (if the interface isn't bus powered of course).

I agree - it always tends to be safest to give a computer the very best chance of finding external hardware early on during the boot-up procedure.

Martin

[James Perrett]

With my Focusrite Firewire interface, I always found it best to wait until the computer had finished booting before switching on the interface.

[Drew Stephenson]

On my old machine I had to have the interface booted up first, on the new machine I have to let the computer boot up first.

[Rwkitch]

With my Focusrite Firewire interface, I always found it best to wait until the computer had finished booting before switching on the interface.

And with my Focusrite 18i20 and PC it's the opposite

The fun with computers!