Windows 10: Can I use an internal mic while also using an external usb dac?

On an HP Envy windows 11 home edition laptop, is it possible to use the internal mic array while I am using a Cambridge Audio externalusb dac? When the dac is in use, the output sound driver is Cambridge Audio driver, and the onboard realtek output sound driver isdisabled. Since installing the dac output sound driver, the device manager and sound settings windows cannot detect the internal mics, evenwhen I re-enable Realtek output sound drivers. An HP tech said I must do a complex "bios update" to reinstall and configure perhaps deleted mic input sound drivers. But my longterm question is - af

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Internal & External USB DAC

Hello! I have a Fiio Alpen 2 that I am trying to use as a USB DAC&amp. I can pass music from the usb port through the DAC&amp and hear it. The only issue I am having is that the Windows volume controls still control the music volume as if my headphones
are plugged directly into my computer. To me, this would only happen if my computer's internal DAC is still being used before the music goes to my external USB DAC. Does anyone know how to tell if the signal is still going through my computer's internal DAC
before going to the external DAC? If so, how can I make it so my computer skips its internal DAC and only uses the external DAC? Thanks!

 

Internal & External USB DAC

Hi. Thank you for your reply. I tried what you suggested, but I think we are talking about two different issues. My music plays just fine, that is not what I am having trouble with. This is hard to explain but I will try my best: A MP3 file usually goes
from the hard drive-->the computer's integrated digital-to-analog converter(DAC)--->the computer's headphone socket-->my headphones.

What I am wanting is to get the MP3 to go from the hard drive-->USB Port-->external DAC(in my case it is the Fiio Alpen 2)-->headphone socket in the external DAC-->my headphones.

I am wanting to bypass my computer's integrated DAC entirely. Right now, I have the latter setup. However, when I adjust the computer's volume control, it still adjusts the music volume coming out of my headphones.

I want to make sure that the audio file is bypassing the computer's integrated DAC and not taking the following path: MP3 on the hard drive-->computer's integrated DAC-->USB Port-->External DAC-->Headphone socket on the external DAC-->my headphones.

Is there a way to check this?

Thank you for your help.

 

external usb dac

I would like to know when Windows Phones will support external DACs - to bypass the internal phone DAC so I can use an external DAC.

Android phones support his and MS needs to start getting ahead and support better music playback.