USB Sound Card for digital modes.

[Kenneth Christiansen]

Rich told me he was having trouble sending this to the reflector but it is
such valuable advice and works so well I want to share it with the group.
I find even the DUPE warnings now come on the main computer speaker even
while sending PSK31 on the USB sound card. My IMD meter reads -29 to -33
so that is working well and my water fall looks just perfect like I have
not seen since back when I ran Windows 98 Second Edition. Thanks again to
everyone that helped me. I hope to work you in some of the upcoming
contests.
73
Ken W0CZ
Rich's direction follow
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ken

In windows Vista and 7, I set the main sound card as the default soundcard.
It can also be done in XP but is a PITA.  Then in HRD or MIXW2, select the
correct sound device.  With Vista you are stuck with the volume settings you
had as only the default sound card volume sliders show up, but I found this
workable.  To change in Vista you need to make the sound card for the rig
default to change volume settings, they will not link to mix unless default,
(I set mine for mid range and then did the rest from the rig) Once you get
the proper volume setting make the main sound card default and all should
work (don't forget to reset the settings in MixW if changed.)  I did not
have to do this with Windows 7, as the slider is visible for all sound
devices.

Make sure that the sound card for the rig is not set as the "default" Sound
card. It appears to me that Windows 7 can have two (or more?) default sound
cards. This can be done from control panel/sound/...  I do not recall this
in Vista or XP.  MIXW and HRD will see the sound card even though it is not
default, but you must select it manually as it will go the default
otherwise. Only need to do this once unless you change cards.  For MIXW go
to Configure/Sound device settings, then select the correct soundcard in the
top three windows.  HRD can be changed similarly.


Rich



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[Joe Subich, W4TV-4]

> In windows Vista and 7, I set the main sound card as the
> default soundcard. It can also be done in XP but is a PITA.

It is not difficult in XP:

   Right click on the Speaker icon in the Taskbar
   Select Adjust Audio Properties
   Select the "Audio" tab
   Set the default for "Sound playback" and click "apply"
   Set the default for "Sound recording" and click "apply"

   .... Done ...

> With Vista you are stuck with the volume settings you had
> as only the default sound card volume sliders show up, but
> I found this workable.

Again, the information is absolutely incorrect.  In Vista:

  right click on the Speaker icon in the Taskbar
  Select "Open Volume Mixer"
  Select "Device" in the menu bar
  Select the "other" soundcard

  You now have mixer controls for the "non-default" card
  being used for amateur/digital software.  The mixer will
  show a master volume control for the device (speakers)
  and volume controls for each application that is using
  the card.  Each application can be set to any value from
  zero to the maximum set by the "master"

For setting INPUT levels in Vista:

  right click on the speaker icon
  select "Recording Devices"
  double click on the desired input
  select the "levels" tab
  adjust the level (and balance if appropriate)

In short, configuring default inputs/output and setting levels
are quite simple in either XP or Vista/Windows 7.

73,

   ... Joe, W4TV
   

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
> Kenneth A. Christiansen
> Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 7:15 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] USB Sound Card for digital modes.
>
>
> Rich told me he was having trouble sending this to the
> reflector but it is such valuable advice and works so well I
> want to share it with the group. I find even the DUPE
> warnings now come on the main computer speaker even
> while sending PSK31 on the USB sound card. My IMD meter reads
> -29 to -33
> so that is working well and my water fall looks just perfect
> like I have not seen since back when I ran Windows 98 Second
> Edition. Thanks again to everyone that helped me. I hope to
> work you in some of the upcoming
> contests.
> 73
> Ken W0CZ
> Rich's direction follow
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> Ken
>
> In windows Vista and 7, I set the main sound card as the
> default soundcard. It can also be done in XP but is a PITA.  
> Then in HRD or MIXW2, select the correct sound device.  With
> Vista you are stuck with the volume settings you had as only
> the default sound card volume sliders show up, but I found
> this workable.  To change in Vista you need to make the sound
> card for the rig default to change volume settings, they will
> not link to mix unless default, (I set mine for mid range and
> then did the rest from the rig) Once you get the proper
> volume setting make the main sound card default and all
> should work (don't forget to reset the settings in MixW if
> changed.)  I did not have to do this with Windows 7, as the
> slider is visible for all sound devices.
>
> Make sure that the sound card for the rig is not set as the
> "default" Sound card. It appears to me that Windows 7 can
> have two (or more?) default sound cards. This can be done
> from control panel/sound/...  I do not recall this in Vista
> or XP.  MIXW and HRD will see the sound card even though it
> is not default, but you must select it manually as it will go
> the default otherwise. Only need to do this once unless you
> change cards.  For MIXW go to Configure/Sound device
> settings, then select the correct soundcard in the top three
> windows.  HRD can be changed similarly.
>
>
> Rich
>

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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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[Rich]

Joe Subich, W4TV-4 wrote

> In windows Vista and 7, I set the main sound card as the
> default soundcard. It can also be done in XP but is a PITA.

It is not difficult in XP:

   Right click on the Speaker icon in the Taskbar
   Select Adjust Audio Properties
   Select the "Audio" tab
   Set the default for "Sound playback" and click "apply"
   Set the default for "Sound recording" and click "apply"



Rich _________________________________

The first time I Added my extra sound card it was set as default automatically by windows XP and even though the original sound card was still in and active the controls for the card were not visable on  either record or playback.  I no longer remember what I did to get them to showup and to set the extra as not default, but it took several days.  I do remember playing with some not-so-obvious menu selections with advice from a friend and avid game player that has several sound cards installed.

   .... Done ...

____________________________  Rich

> With Vista you are stuck with the volume settings you had
> as only the default sound card volume sliders show up, but
> I found this workable.

Again, the information is absolutely incorrect.  In Vista:

  right click on the Speaker icon in the Taskbar
  Select "Open Volume Mixer"
  Select "Device" in the menu bar
  Select the "other" soundcard

  You now have mixer controls for the "non-default" card
  being used for amateur/digital software.  The mixer will
  show a master volume control for the device (speakers)
  and volume controls for each application that is using
  the card.  Each application can be set to any value from
  zero to the maximum set by the "master"

For setting INPUT levels in Vista:

  right click on the speaker icon
  select "Recording Devices"
  double click on the desired input
  select the "levels" tab
  adjust the level (and balance if appropriate)

In short, configuring default inputs/output and setting levels
are quite simple in either XP or Vista/Windows 7.

Rich _______________________


I don't know what version of Vista OR MixW2 that Joe has BUT when I click on the Configure/Output Volume or Configure/Input Volume in or from the MixW2 menu to adjust these -- IT does nothing. Unless I have the Windows Defult sound card selected in MixW2.  When I have made the soundcard that MixW2 is using as not defualt it will not bring up the sliders.  Yes, you can do all the above and get to the sliders and adjuist the volume, and that is what I told him to do.  Does the same in Vista Ultimate and Home Premium. In windows XP the Mixer is opened, either record for input or Playback for output when you click on these.  I just tried this in Windows 7 and it also appears to do the same in Windows 7 - i.e. it will not pull up the mixer from MixW2 ( Did not try with the other soundcard as default.)


_______________________________  Rich



73,

   ... Joe, W4TV
   




> -----Original Message-----
> From: [e-mail]
> [mailto:[e-mail]] On Behalf Of
> Kenneth A. Christiansen
> Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 7:15 PM
> To: [e-mail]
> Subject: [Elecraft] USB Sound Card for digital modes.
>
>
> Rich told me he was having trouble sending this to the
> reflector but it is such valuable advice and works so well I
> want to share it with the group. I find even the DUPE
> warnings now come on the main computer speaker even
> while sending PSK31 on the USB sound card. My IMD meter reads
> -29 to -33
> so that is working well and my water fall looks just perfect
> like I have not seen since back when I ran Windows 98 Second
> Edition. Thanks again to everyone that helped me. I hope to
> work you in some of the upcoming
> contests.
> 73
> Ken W0CZ
> Rich's direction follow
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> Ken
>
> In windows Vista and 7, I set the main sound card as the
> default soundcard. It can also be done in XP but is a PITA.  
> Then in HRD or MIXW2, select the correct sound device.  With
> Vista you are stuck with the volume settings you had as only
> the default sound card volume sliders show up, but I found
> this workable.  To change in Vista you need to make the sound
> card for the rig default to change volume settings, they will
> not link to mix unless default, (I set mine for mid range and
> then did the rest from the rig) Once you get the proper
> volume setting make the main sound card default and all
> should work (don't forget to reset the settings in MixW if
> changed.)  I did not have to do this with Windows 7, as the
> slider is visible for all sound devices.
>
> Make sure that the sound card for the rig is not set as the
> "default" Sound card. It appears to me that Windows 7 can
> have two (or more?) default sound cards. This can be done
> from control panel/sound/...  I do not recall this in Vista
> or XP.  MIXW and HRD will see the sound card even though it
> is not default, but you must select it manually as it will go
> the default otherwise. Only need to do this once unless you
> change cards.  For MIXW go to Configure/Sound device
> settings, then select the correct soundcard in the top three
> windows.  HRD can be changed similarly.
>
>
> Rich
>



______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[e-mail]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html