Need help getting this to work

**Vaughan100** · **04-30-08, 06:57 PM**

Hi there,

I followed the instructions to hook up my computer to my AV system using the Aux connection and for some reason, the levels are extremely low.

Even if I turn the volume to 100%, the sound coming out of the speakers is very soft using a master volume on amp set to 0 (reference).

Is there a reason why the levels are so low ? When measuring it even tells me that the input levels are low. I am currently using on-board 5.1 sound. I have passed the sound card measurements with flying colours but now I have other hurdles to overcome.

I wish this was easier but it just appears like I have one problem after the other.

Please help.

--Regards,

**JohnM** · **05-01-08, 04:06 AM**

What operating system are you running? If it is Vista, each application has an individual volume control applied to it that you see if you right click on the volume icon and select "Open volume Mixer", make sure that is at max. Beyond that would need to see the soundcard settings.

**Vaughan100** · **05-01-08, 05:01 AM**

Hi John,

I'm currently using Vista Ultimate. On board sound is realtek ALC 883. If I put the sliders to maximum and turn my master volume on amp to 0 I get hiss and noise coming out of the speakers at low level.

Is that normal ?

--Regards,

**Vaughan100** · **05-01-08, 08:14 AM**

Are there any tests I could do to determine what the problem is or how to resolve it ? I'm getting a new sub next week and I really want to get REW working properly and to understand it by then.

I know, tall order.

But I'll do whatever I can to learn. Admittedly, I haven't been posting on these boards much as I've been extremely busy at work but I'll do my best.

Thanks.

**JohnM** · **05-01-08, 08:31 AM**

Which sliders? Really need to see some screen shots of what you are adjusting to know whether it is the right thing to do.

**Vaughan100** · **05-01-08, 08:49 AM**

I'll get back to you and show you some pictures. Thanks !

**salvasol** · **05-01-08, 10:37 AM**

Quote:

Vaughan100 wrote:

Hi John,

I'm currently using Vista Ultimate. On board sound is realtek ALC 883. If I put the sliders to maximum and turn my master volume on amp to 0 I get hiss and noise coming out of the speakers at low level.

Is that normal ?

--Regards,

Are you using a laptop??? ... mine makes a noise when connected to electricity, so What I did is just use it with the battery ... hope this helps

**Vaughan100** · **05-01-08, 11:13 AM**

Hi there,

No, I'm using my desktop PC. My laptop unfortunately doesn't have a sound card with inputs and outputs.

--Regards,

**Vaughan100** · **05-01-08, 05:25 PM**

Alright. So I've taken my long RCA cable connected from the front out jack (using the splitter connector) to the Aux connection on the AV receiver front panel (using splitter connector again) using a 2-to-2 RCA cable to go the left and right AUX.

Turning the master volume on amp to 0 (which has been calibrated with Radio shack to 75 dB) yields extremely low volume. I've taken all the volume sliders including the controls from the realtek card to maximum to no avail.

From the line in, I'm taking another splitter connector and using a single RCA to run to the Radioshack meter. When I go to "check levels", it tells me "level ok" -21.6 dB's. If I hit "measure", it tells me the levels are too low. The highest level I hit in the measurement is -30.1.

I don't think I have any idea what is going on. I most likely have everything set wrong so please go easy on me. , even the graph doesn't look like it's set right.

Here is the result :

Scary, I know. Help !

--Regards,

**JohnM** · **05-01-08, 05:44 PM**

Graph isn't showing. You can attach graphs to your posts, follow the instructions here: http://www.hometheatershack.com/foru...ing-graph.html

When you say 0 on the amp has been calibrated to 75dB do you mean using the amp's test tones or going through the REW SPL calibration?

What mode is your AV amp in (e.g. "Direct", "Stereo") and what range are you measuring over (i.e. what is the sweep range). Are you measuring your speakers or your sub?

**Vaughan100** · **05-01-08, 06:09 PM**

I don't understand, the graph is showing but it looks terrible.

When I say the amp has been calibrated to reference I mean using internal test tones and setting trim controls so that each speaker is hitting 75 dB's at the listening position.

Boy oh boy, this is getting difficult. I just tried doing a loop check with my sound card (just to make sure everything was ok) and I'm finding that extremely difficult to complete for some reason. This was something I competed a while back but now it seems like there are additional problems.

Loop back graph to show sound card result. I am using the left sound card connection but the box is unchecked. If I check the left sound card connection in REW it automatically goes to the right.

Here is the graph :

**Vaughan100** · **05-01-08, 06:10 PM**

BTW, when I did the measurement that you see in graph 1, I used "straight" mode on AVR.

**Vaughan100** · **05-01-08, 06:13 PM**

What I'm finding is that just doing sound card measurements is a pain because when I hit the measurement button, the "left or right" measurement bar is not showing much activity. I mean, there is some activity but it is almost nonexistant.

The most frustrating thing of all is that I got this to work a week or two back and now I'm having these problems and I have no idea what I've done wrong.

**Vaughan100** · **05-01-08, 06:30 PM**

I think I know what the problem is. My connectors are faulty. It seems like one of the splitters are damaged.

Oh well, now I must get new splitters. More time and I haven't really progressed much.

Sorry if it seems like I'm just complaining but I really wish I had gotten a bit further than this.

**salvasol** · **05-01-08, 06:54 PM**

Quote:

Vaughan100 wrote:

... So I've taken my long RCA cable connected from the front out jack (using the splitter connector) to the Aux connection on the AV receiver front panel (using splitter connector again) using a 2-to-2 RCA cable to go the left and right AUX...

Is the front out jack from the sound card??? ... remember that when using the splitter (1/8" to RCA) you will use just one RCA (red or white, preferable red (right) but not both). How are you using the splitter to connect the cable to the AUX on the receiver??? ... or Do you mean a "Y" cable???

What I did was, connected the 1/8" to RCA splitter on the sound card output line, then the red RCA cable to splitter and the other end to the red side on the AUX input, this to test the right speaker; then I connected the same red to the white to test the left side ... to test both at the same time, I just used a "Y"

Quote:

... Turning the master volume on amp to 0 (which has been calibrated with Radio shack to 75 dB) yields extremely low volume. I've taken all the volume sliders including the controls from the realtek card to maximum to no avail...

After connecting the SPL, sound card, etc. according to REW's instructions; you need to turn the master volume up on the amp and stop when you read 75db on the SPL (it can be at zero or before) ... but, be aware that maybe you'll need to lower the volume when testing.

My reference volume is -5.0db, but I had to lower it to -10.0db because I got a message that the volume was to high and can't do the test

**Vaughan100** · **05-02-08, 03:18 AM**

Quote:

Is the front out jack from the sound card??? ... remember that when using the splitter (1/8" to RCA) you will use just one RCA (red or white, preferable red (right) but not both). How are you using the splitter to connect the cable to the AUX on the receiver??? ... or Do you mean a "Y" cable???

I'm using one of those 2 female to male 1/8 jack and using a single RCA to go from the front out to line in for sound card testing.

But when I tested the system I used the one (I think it was left) on the front out to an extender adapter and then using a long (5.0 m RCA) to reach my AV receiver and then used a Y-splitter adapter to split the signal to both the left and right AUX connection on AV receiver. Set to straight on my Yamaha RXV-450.

I'm not giving up yet. I need to understand how to get this program to work and I don't have a of a lot of time.

Quote:

After connecting the SPL, sound card, etc. according to REW's instructions; you need to turn the master volume up on the amp and stop when you read 75db on the SPL (it can be at zero or before) ... but, be aware that maybe you'll need to lower the volume when testing.

I understand that. Turning the volume control to 0 yielded almost no activity on my SPL meter at the listening position (2.5 m back). I have the system calibrated to reference (75 dB SPL for each channel) and using the speaker calibration tone on REW yields almost no result.

So I'm not sure why the levels are so incredibly low. Because this is definitely a problem.

**JohnM** · **05-02-08, 04:10 AM**

Quote:

Vaughan100 wrote:

I am using the left sound card connection but the box is unchecked. If I check the left sound card connection in REW it automatically goes to the right.

Would that be the box called "Use Left Channel as Calibration Reference"? That is not an input selector, it is an alternative to using a soundcard calibration file that uses a loopback connection on the left channel as a reference every time you make a measurement, your SPL meter or mic preamp input which would then be on the right channel. Until you have a clean calibration result best leaving that box unchecked, but you are better off using the right channel as the input in case you want to make use of this loopback method in future.

A screenshot of the REW soundcard settings would be useful, but best you make sure the cables and connections are working OK before chaning more settings.

**Vaughan100** · **05-02-08, 04:35 AM**

Thanks John. Stupid question time; how do I take screen shots of the REW sound card settings ? I don't want to waste your time but you're right; I really need to get new connectors.

Thanks.

**JohnM** · **05-02-08, 08:16 AM**

Use Alt+Print Screen to capture the currently active window into the clipboard. You can then paste it into Paint (for example) and save as a jpeg. An excellent free application for viewing, cropping and resizing images is Irfanview, www.irfanview.com. You can paste directly into Irfanview, crop and/or resize if necessary and again save as jpeg.

**Vaughan100** · **05-02-08, 04:39 PM**

John, thanks very much for your assistance thus far. As soon as I get the new connectors I'll start again and hopefully get somewhere.

Again, thanks. Although I am a little unsure of why I've been experiencing such low output levels even when I have all volume sliders set to maximum. That part still bugs me.

--Regards,

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