Sound - The plot thickens - 6 Port, no less.
Hippopotomonstrosesquipidelian title
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From: is everything
He might be thinking about unwanted/competing codecs, since they effectively "bid" to play an audio stream, and Windows will never stop you adding another codec. Drivers, on the other hand, are pretty good at not doubling up since that's detected during installation.
The piccy you posted earlier with the Altec speakers shows you have nothing plugged in, and the motherboard doesn't have a SPDIF digital audio connector, which I suspect is incorrect. I'm beginning to suspect a hardware problem, but your description of the bar bobbing up and down suggests both the hardware and drivers are fine. Er, I suppose the speakers are known to work??
The piccy you posted earlier with the Altec speakers shows you have nothing plugged in, and the motherboard doesn't have a SPDIF digital audio connector, which I suspect is incorrect. I'm beginning to suspect a hardware problem, but your description of the bar bobbing up and down suggests both the hardware and drivers are fine. Er, I suppose the speakers are known to work??
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Psychophysiological entity
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From: Walton on the Naze Essex.
Yep, speakers are fine and indeed buzz with a wet finger on the 3.5 mm plug.
Several items have been tried, with a DC resistance ranging from 3ohms to 16k. Right now it is totally un-responsive.
As an old on-the-bench valve tekkie, I'm really inclined towards a hardware fault, but the stacking up of unwanted code does seem very logical. Nothing I can find with a Mk8 AVO I'm thinking.
Below is something that I thought might be an interesting thread, but I'll leave it in here for now.
The idea was that I could uninstall the Windows offering and then stop it being re-loaded on start. Then load the Realtek drivers from the DVD. Not that this would kill the current crop of detritus.
Indeed, the Realtek install says that it is overwriting the existing offering.
W7 is extraordinarily good at finding drivers. But can I stop it?
The Start-up menu shows the Applications of course and a few third-party drivers, but the basics seem to be hidden from the user.
In this case it does pertain to the problems I'm having with sound, but it does occur to me that it might be useful to know how to contain Window's enthusiasm.
Several items have been tried, with a DC resistance ranging from 3ohms to 16k. Right now it is totally un-responsive.
As an old on-the-bench valve tekkie, I'm really inclined towards a hardware fault, but the stacking up of unwanted code does seem very logical. Nothing I can find with a Mk8 AVO I'm thinking.
Below is something that I thought might be an interesting thread, but I'll leave it in here for now.
The idea was that I could uninstall the Windows offering and then stop it being re-loaded on start. Then load the Realtek drivers from the DVD. Not that this would kill the current crop of detritus.
Indeed, the Realtek install says that it is overwriting the existing offering.
W7 is extraordinarily good at finding drivers. But can I stop it?
The Start-up menu shows the Applications of course and a few third-party drivers, but the basics seem to be hidden from the user.
In this case it does pertain to the problems I'm having with sound, but it does occur to me that it might be useful to know how to contain Window's enthusiasm.
Last edited by Loose rivets; 21st April 2010 at 01:16.
Hippopotomonstrosesquipidelian title
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,825
Likes: 1
From: is everything
I realise this may be blasphemy to many people, but I've never found Windows to be particularly bad at managing its drivers. In fact, I've always found it to be good. On the occasions things have gone wrong, it's tended to be me trying to "fix" something.
It does begin to seem like a hardware problem. I'd normally discount that, though, as the audio side is generally pretty robust. And the absence of an audio tab suggests drivers or hardware. So headphones in the front don't work?
In another thread you're reading, the Microsoft Fixit Center for XP is mentioned, but you're on Windows 7 I believe. Perhaps you should visit Microsoft Fix it Solution Center, and follow the links for audio problems.
It does begin to seem like a hardware problem. I'd normally discount that, though, as the audio side is generally pretty robust. And the absence of an audio tab suggests drivers or hardware. So headphones in the front don't work?
In another thread you're reading, the Microsoft Fixit Center for XP is mentioned, but you're on Windows 7 I believe. Perhaps you should visit Microsoft Fix it Solution Center, and follow the links for audio problems.
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Psychophysiological entity
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From: Walton on the Naze Essex.
On the occasions things have gone wrong, it's tended to be me trying to "fix" something.
The emulator worked perfectly with Beta RC.
I'll keep going, but watched a movie on the laptop and 24" screen tonight. Sound was perfect into the same speakers I've been trying. It's really just become a battle of wills, but there's so much to do before going 'home' . . . that's if there's any clear air to convey us. I'll have to put toys on hold.
Having said that, I've sent off for a USB to 3.5mm converter, though I've no notion how one tells the system to send the sound to the port. Another learning curve. It's only $9 and free postage, so no great investment.
Three weeks without a telly. Samsung finally sent me a cheque/check for total compensation. I just don't know what destructive forces are emanating from me, I've defeated Sony, Samsung, and Mercedes in the last few years, so this home build is a mere bagatelle.
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Psychophysiological entity
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From: Walton on the Naze Essex.
I'm just thinking aloud, but if any light bulbs come on over any heads, let me know.
(Without question, the plug to the F_Audio is the correct way round, and the rear set are hard-wired to the mother board)
The new 3.5mm USB device goes. It also pulls up the Realtek menu!
But still, the front is confused with back when the menu activates!!
In, (plug pushed in) is confused with out!!!
Stereo mode doesn't go, but Quad and 7.1 does. On test, it misses out the two front speakers or more, but gives a blast on the rear two!!!!
That's about as back to front as this system could get.
There are a several large transistors near the sound output...easily big enough to drive small speakers. There are also several hefty chokes and close sizable electrolytic capacitors. Very audio-ish.
Something has to be blindingly obvious...right there in front of my eyes. I can't see into the 3.5 mm plugs to check the connections. I've tried with a watchmaker's loop, but it's inconclusive. They are encased, so can't see behind.
Surely, the prime plug (Green) has to be stereo output: Case + two connections, having worked in the past. But are the others all Case + one pin? ie a plug for each speaker. Alternatively, do some setups use a stereo plug out, but only one side when a single speaker is connected and two when two are connected?
I think this would go if I could reason out what's it is thinking.
(Without question, the plug to the F_Audio is the correct way round, and the rear set are hard-wired to the mother board)
The new 3.5mm USB device goes. It also pulls up the Realtek menu!
But still, the front is confused with back when the menu activates!!
In, (plug pushed in) is confused with out!!!
Stereo mode doesn't go, but Quad and 7.1 does. On test, it misses out the two front speakers or more, but gives a blast on the rear two!!!!
That's about as back to front as this system could get.
There are a several large transistors near the sound output...easily big enough to drive small speakers. There are also several hefty chokes and close sizable electrolytic capacitors. Very audio-ish.
Something has to be blindingly obvious...right there in front of my eyes. I can't see into the 3.5 mm plugs to check the connections. I've tried with a watchmaker's loop, but it's inconclusive. They are encased, so can't see behind.
Surely, the prime plug (Green) has to be stereo output: Case + two connections, having worked in the past. But are the others all Case + one pin? ie a plug for each speaker. Alternatively, do some setups use a stereo plug out, but only one side when a single speaker is connected and two when two are connected?
I think this would go if I could reason out what's it is thinking.
Hippopotomonstrosesquipidelian title
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: is everything
In the pop-up menu, have you decoupled the front and rear sockets, so the system treats them all independently?
The chokes and things are probably the CPU power supply regulator.
In case you're tempted to go in with a soldering iron, be aware that it's not a two-layer motherboard: it's got around 5 internal layers, too.
The chokes and things are probably the CPU power supply regulator.
In case you're tempted to go in with a soldering iron, be aware that it's not a two-layer motherboard: it's got around 5 internal layers, too.
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Psychophysiological entity
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From: Walton on the Naze Essex.
No, the last motherboard that I repaired had nand gates to reset the memory. An Opus, I think it was.
I might however tack a few wires to the SPDIF digital audio connector pins on the board. Scope them, before connecting anything. It's the last shot really....oh, except the MS trouble shooting. I'll try that when sober.
The gizmo worked for about 10 mins, then there was a CLICK , followed by a total shut down.
You can see why I think I'm jinxed. But I beat the system. See JB.
As I watched my silent movie, I did come to the same conclusion.
I plugged the device in again after the film and it worked. However, the sound was scratchy just as before. On the laptop it was as good as it gets on small speakers.
I might however tack a few wires to the SPDIF digital audio connector pins on the board. Scope them, before connecting anything. It's the last shot really....oh, except the MS trouble shooting. I'll try that when sober.
The gizmo worked for about 10 mins, then there was a CLICK , followed by a total shut down.
You can see why I think I'm jinxed. But I beat the system. See JB.
The chokes and things are probably the CPU power supply regulator.
I plugged the device in again after the film and it worked. However, the sound was scratchy just as before. On the laptop it was as good as it gets on small speakers.
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Psychophysiological entity
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Walton on the Naze Essex.
I don't believe it!
While fidling about with the scope, the sound on this thing suddenly worked as per the menu. No known reason for it to do so, but it did.
On smaller menu showed a tick box with Front instead of Rear, but what the heck, the stereo mode was running for the whole evening. See what tomorrow brings, but it might just have been that huge click, clearing something. Wishful thinking that
While fidling about with the scope, the sound on this thing suddenly worked as per the menu. No known reason for it to do so, but it did.
On smaller menu showed a tick box with Front instead of Rear, but what the heck, the stereo mode was running for the whole evening. See what tomorrow brings, but it might just have been that huge click, clearing something. Wishful thinking that
