The Axia IP-Audio Driver lets you send and record single or multiple channels of stereo PC audio directly to and from Axia networks via Ethernet — no sound cards needed. In fact, the Axia IP-Drivers is, by all accounts, a sound card as far as the Windows Operating system is concerned.
That being said, the Axia IP-Driver can live harmoniously along side other physical sound cards that you might already have in your PC.
Watch out for a disabled Windows Audio Service. If you have installed a new Operating System on a new computer where there is NO sound card at all, sometimes the Windows installation process will actually disable the entire Windows Audio Service.
The Windows Audio service must be running BEFORE installing the Axia IP-Audio Driver
To check to see if your Windows Audio Service is running launch "services.msc" from the Run menu.
The Services dialog will open. Scroll down to find the service called Windows Audio. Note here that the Startup Type is set to Disabled. If your Windows Audio service shows Disabled (as shown below) perform the following steps
Double-click on the Windows Audio service.
The Windows Audio Properties (Local Computer) window will open
On the General tab set the Startup type: to "Automatic"
Click OK
Reboot your computer.
After you have rebooted, repeat the steps above and verify that where your Startup Type now shows Automatic and the Status shows Running.
If Windows Audio shows Running and Automatic you can proceed with the Axia IP-Driver installation.