Can't get this to work !

**Vaughan Odendaal** · **08-04-06, 03:16 PM**

This is the first graph :

This is the second graph :

Please report back. Thanks.

--Sincerely,

**Vaughan Odendaal** · **08-04-06, 03:37 PM**

Keep in mind that I have not calibrated the SPL meter. I have not connected cables to my amp yet. I just have connected line in to line out as specified in the thread.

--Sincerely,

**Vaughan Odendaal** · **08-04-06, 04:54 PM**

The cables I have connected to the sound card are two seperate RCA female to computer jack. From there I connect the male RCA to female to complete the loop thru.

Now, right now, I just swapped the one RCA female to computer jack and used one duel RCA connector. So one connector and one cable. Have no idea what this would do (or not).

You see, I cannot fit both connectors into my sound card because the width of both connectors overtake the line in and front out connections. I mean, they are situated so close to one another.

Any difference in using duel RCA connectors to the cables I'm using right now ?

I hope I have everything connected as it should.

--Sincerely,

**Vaughan Odendaal** · **08-04-06, 05:05 PM**

I also noticed that once or twice the program has told me that my impulse measurements are not where they should be. "Check impulse graphs or something like that".

I don't know what that is supposed to mean or how to rectify the problem. Help would be appreciated.

I hope all my questions can be answered.

--Sincerely,

**Vaughan Odendaal** · **08-04-06, 05:17 PM**

One last thing before I hit the sack, I don't own a BFD and I hope to same day soon. Do I connect up my cables to the amp in a different way because I don't have the BFD or is it the same as described in your thread ?

Thanks. I'm going to bed, it's really, really late. Heh. Thank you very much.

Cheers.

--Sincerely,

**brucek** · **08-04-06, 05:56 PM**

The only connection that is allowed for the soundcard calibration is a single loop from line-out right to line-in right.

This can only be accomplished by using a stereo 1/8" adapter plug as I previously showed. Many people have trouble with the big goofy one and correctly use the wire type such as this:

Note that the single male plug end shown above is stereo and the two tails are mono left and right. Plug two of these adapters into the line-in and line-out. Then connect a single cable between the right tails and leave the left unconnected.

Now do the soundcard calibration. No SPL meters, no nothing else, just the soundcard calibration.

Quote:

Do I connect up my cables to the amp in a different way because I don't have the BFD or is it the same as described in your thread ?

Just hook up as normal without a BFD. Soundcard Line-out right channel from the adapter to the receiver AUX input left or right channel. (I actually use a Y splitter there so I can hook up left and right AUX input to my receiver for other testing).
And hook the SPL meter to soundcard line-in right adapter.

Quote:

also noticed that once or twice the program has told me that my impulse measurements are not where they should be. "Check impulse graphs or something like that".

We'll ignore that stuff until you go through the complete step by step setup of REW.

brucek

**Vaughan Odendaal** · **08-05-06, 12:49 AM**

I have the same kind of cable except on the other end it is not male, but female. Then I have seperate RCA's that plug into the females.

So, yes, I have connected to REW as you described.

What do you think of the graphs I posted ?

--Sincerely,

**brucek** · **08-05-06, 05:26 AM**

Quote:

What do you think of the graphs I posted ?

It looks like the graph you get when you have no loopback connected. But REW will tell you that it can't find the loopback during the soundcard calibration test, so that's not the problem. Although you can see by the readout in the tab that the target is -6dB and you're basically getting no signal at -34dB IN.

I can only think it's a feedback problem from a recording monitor feature turned on in your soundcards mixer settings. Have you checked the settings for any record monitor feature selected? Offtimes they name them something weird like "what you see", etc.

This has to be corrected before you can carry on.

Perhaps John can comment on your graph - he's seen lots of these.

brucek

**Vaughan Odendaal** · **08-05-06, 12:09 PM**

Hi brucek,

What you hear slider ? I'm not sure what that is supposed to mean. I looked in my mixer settings and I don't see a control like that.

Where about would this be ? Does windows have this feature and where would I go to turn it off ?

I hope this sound card is not the problem but at R120, it is dirt cheap. Perhaps it was too cheap for a reason. I'm not sure.

Thanks.

--Sincerely,

**brucek** · **08-06-06, 07:03 AM**

Quote:

I looked in my mixer settings and I don't see a control like that.

I'm referring to the software supplied by the card itself that provides its own options. You can usually find it in the Windows control panel. For example, see this thread about another card where John discusses the setup. You will have a setup for your specific card in your software.

brucek

**JohnM** · **08-06-06, 07:35 AM**

Stange-looking graph indeed, Vaughan. If you select the "Impulse Response Controls" graph group in the top right corner instead of "Filter Adjustment" would be intersting to see what the response looks like, you can save just the graph by clicking on the small disk icon in the bottom left corner of the graph. The problem probably lies in the mixer settings for your soundcard, many features have no corresponding control in the Windows mixer - in particualr, some acoustic effect may be turned on. If you post some screenshots of the soundcard's mixer and whatever other control applications it has (maybe some effects control panels) we may be able to spot the problem from those.

**brucek** · **08-06-06, 07:53 AM**

Quote:

Stange-looking graph indeed,

Although, if I take the PC I'm working on right now without any loopbacks on it and run the soundcard cal, I get a graph that looks quite similar (see below).

Of course, REW told me that I have no loopback on, but it may be a clue that he is not receiving what he transmits at all.

no loopy1.jpg

brucek

**Vaughan Odendaal** · **08-07-06, 12:32 PM**

If I connect the right channel, it does not tell me that I don't have a loop back. So that isn't the problem.

Doug, I will post some pictures of mixer settings. I'm not entirely sure what I should do with the mixer that came with my soundcard. At the moment, all channels are at maximum level.

So perhaps you could advise me on what to do with mixer levels for my sound card. The windows mixer settings are pretty much as you recommend it.

Thanks again.

--Sincerely,

**Vaughan Odendaal** · **08-07-06, 12:39 PM**

Although I have a sneaking suspicion that my sound card is at fault. Doug from ETF tells me that my sound card probably has a very old chipset.

--Sincerely,

**terry j** · **10-10-06, 07:55 PM**

Hi vaughan, this thread just suddenly sropped. Did you ever get it sorted?? I have exactly the same card as you had here, with an almost exact replica of the graph when you check the soundcard.

Please let us all know if you solved it, and the steps taken to do so.

Kind regards

terry

**JohnM** · **10-11-06, 03:12 AM**

Terry, can you post screen shots of your windows mixer settings for record and replay when REW is running?

**Vaughan Odendaal** · **10-25-06, 01:22 PM**

Hi Terry,

Nope, I never got this sorted out. I kind of gave up. I really do think that my sound card is at fault. Doug thinks it is too. I sent the pics I provided to Doug and he believes that the chipset that my card is using is simply outdated.

I think I'm just going to buy a Creative MP3 sound card because that card apparently has no problems at all with these programs. I am sorry for not updating the thread but I really did try everything I could.

If there are any other procedures I could try to possibly get this to work then I'll try it.

--Sincerely,

**terry j** · **10-25-06, 08:53 PM**

hi vaughn,
can understand never sorting it out, don't think mine is 'sortable' either. However, if you look at the thread I started (wierd results when using calibrating, need new soundcard?) - or something like that, just look for terryj- you'll see that with the help of the guys here ( whaddaya mean 'with the help'?? they were absolutely essential and marvellous!

) I managed to use the soundcard we have and get useful and valid results up to about 1000hz, can't really remember the exact figure.

Look it up, and follow it, what was applicable to my soundcard is surely applicable to yours and you can get moving on it even though you don't have a new soundcard.

I am currently borrowing a friends creative soundblaster usb card, will soon let people know how it's going back in that thread.

In the meantime, use the card you have and get moving!!

lots of love

terry

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