um, also depends on the sound card and the software you let it install. for example, the SBLive (I think Gateway OEM), had special software for it where you set the Environmental and sometimes that software can over ride the generic windows, although usually it just replaces/mingles with it. Also depends on what you are using (app wise). For example on this, opening windows media player. You can adjust sound in there, too. Again they should all be tied together but some soundcard manufacturers have there own apps with the hardware.