G'day Olds, looks like I may have just missed you. Happy New Year 
Congrats on the Win 7 reinstall. Do you have Linux Mint 19.1still on the separate hard drive, or is that yet to come?
If not, then a question on Win 7 audio is probably out of our realm, technically. If however, you have Mint, or install it, and the problem is duplicated there, then it can be our baby.
On Win 7, I found, before I ditched the (Win)Dozer in 2014, that this Forum was very good.
https://www.sevenforums.com/
Their people were kind and helpful, and I just checked and they are still going strong.
You can start a new Thread on any Linux audio problems here - https://www.linux.org/forums/linux-audio-video.147/ - and title it something like Linux Mint 19.1 Audio Card Not working.
PAUSE - getting up to speed as you have just Posted
Listened to the recording - the distorted voice is actually an echo of your voice, by the sounds of it. Or rather, maybe it is repeating what you have said.
Sorry I can't help further.
Keep us posted
Chris

Congrats on the Win 7 reinstall. Do you have Linux Mint 19.1still on the separate hard drive, or is that yet to come?
If not, then a question on Win 7 audio is probably out of our realm, technically. If however, you have Mint, or install it, and the problem is duplicated there, then it can be our baby.
On Win 7, I found, before I ditched the (Win)Dozer in 2014, that this Forum was very good.
https://www.sevenforums.com/
Their people were kind and helpful, and I just checked and they are still going strong.
You can start a new Thread on any Linux audio problems here - https://www.linux.org/forums/linux-audio-video.147/ - and title it something like Linux Mint 19.1 Audio Card Not working.
PAUSE - getting up to speed as you have just Posted

Listened to the recording - the distorted voice is actually an echo of your voice, by the sounds of it. Or rather, maybe it is repeating what you have said.
Sorry I can't help further.
Keep us posted
Chris