New Laptop

**pbc** · **12-30-07, 01:18 PM**

I just purchased a new laptop (Acer 5920G), which seems to have a slightly better sound card with a line-in input, plus the typical mic and headphone jack. How can one tell if the sound card will work with REW (versus having to install my SB Live USB external which always messes with my sound card drivers as I typically don't have it plugged in to my laptop other then when using REW)?

Thanks!

Steve

**pbc** · **12-30-07, 01:37 PM**

Here are the specs of the audio and ports:

Audio

Dolby®-certified surround-sound system with two integrated stereo speakers and one subwoofer supporting low-frequency effects
Dolby® Home Theater audio enhancement

Acer® PureZone technology with two integrated stereo microphones featuring beam-forming, echo-cancellation and noise-suppression technologies

Headphones/speakers/line-out with SPDIF support, microphone-in and line-in ports

Microsoft® DirectSound® compatibility

Interface Ports

DC-in
RJ-11 modem
RJ-45 LAN
VGA
Headphones/speakers/line-out with SPDIF support
Microphone-in
Line-in
S-video TV-out
HDMI™ (High-Definition Multimedia Interface™) with HDCP (high-bandwidth digital-content protection) support
FireWire® (IEEE 1394)
CIR (consumer infrared)
Four USB 2.0

**jerome** · **12-30-07, 01:48 PM**

Is your soundcard the Realtek High Definition Audio as I have seen?

Maybe its your sound card here:
http://www.behardware.com/articles/5...ition-dio.html

**pbc** · **12-30-07, 01:57 PM**

Yes, I believe it is (at least, that is what the Driver indicates!).

**brucek** · **12-30-07, 02:05 PM**

Quote:

How can one tell if the sound card will work with REW

It will work just fine as long as it allows you to put it in simply stereo, with all the effects, soundfields, monitor mode, etc, turned off.

Simply loop a stereo cable from line-out to line-in and see if the soundcard will run the soundcard calibration routine and then test to see if you measure a perfect flat line..... only takes a few seconds to do..

brucek

**JohnM** · **12-30-07, 02:06 PM**

Just install REW and do a loopback test using the laptop's line in and line out, should be fine.

**pbc** · **12-30-07, 02:32 PM**

Okay, had to fiddle with some of the settings in the Control Panel, but here is the sound card calibration. Look good?

**pbc** · **12-30-07, 02:39 PM**

Sorry, had some sort of Dolby setting enabled in the last one. Here is the new calibration jpg:

**brucek** · **12-30-07, 02:44 PM**

Looks fine.

**pbc** · **12-30-07, 03:18 PM**

Perfect, I can get rid of my SoundBlaster Live USB then!

Cheers and Happy New Year guys ...

Steve

**pbc** · **12-30-07, 03:52 PM**

One other question, should I have the line-in muted? When I do not mute it, I can speak into the Galaxy CM-140 and hear it on my system. I don't recall getting that before? Also, if I do have to mute it, do I need to recal the soundcard or is the calibration file still fine?

TX

**pbc** · **12-30-07, 03:58 PM**

I lied, another question. Is it normal for the Output/Input volume settings (Output Volume, Input Volume in the settings menu) to go back to 0 after calibrating the soundcard? I still have my sound card calibration file chosen.

Tx

**brucek** · **12-30-07, 04:08 PM**

Quote:

One other question, should I have the line-in muted?

The playback mixer line-in is muted, since you don't want 'monitoring' of the record line-in.

brucek

**pbc** · **12-30-07, 04:18 PM**

Okay, now I'm constantly getting a "Level is low" error when checking levels before a measurement? Output is at 75hz?

**pbc** · **12-30-07, 04:35 PM**

Scratch that, now I'm getting a "level is high" reading, again, SPL is 75hz. Realtek Speaker output volume at 50, Recording Line in volume at 42, all others are muted? On REW, output and input volumes are at 0.500, sweep at -12?

Tx

**pbc** · **12-30-07, 04:38 PM**

Here is the soundcard cal reading:

Sample rate: 48000Hz
-3dB points: 7.7Hz, 20.993kHz
Input device: Line In (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Input: LINE_IN (Master Volume)
Channel: Right
Input volume: 0.422
Input RMS target: -12.0dB
Actual RMS at 1kHz: -11.6dB
Output device: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Output: Master Volume
Sweep level: -12.0dB
20Hz .. 20kHz flatness: +0.0, -1.3dB
1kHz 2nd harmonic: 0.002%
1kHz 3rd harmonic: <0.001%

**pbc** · **12-30-07, 04:49 PM**

Okay, I give up for now. When I try to take a reading it tells me the level is too high and that it detects clipping in the input signal and to reduce the volume. I have to reduce it substantially (to the point where the meter reads 55hz) for it to run a sweep without an error, which of course is useless! Must have a sound card setting wrong somewhere. Beats me.

**JohnM** · **12-31-07, 06:32 AM**

Does the Galaxy have a range setting? Might be set too sensitive.

**pbc** · **12-31-07, 09:17 AM**

Had it set at 30 to 80, can try a higher setting next time (think the next up is 50 to 100).

Tx!

**pbc** · **12-31-07, 09:18 AM**

Oh, still curious. After I've calibrated the mic the first time, do I need to recalibrate each time I use it? I.e., I'm sure I may have the volume levels changed after some period of laptop use, just wondering if this would affect the calibration?

**brucek** · **12-31-07, 09:22 AM**

You do need to click the Calibrate SPL to match the meter to the actual level in the room if you played around with the settings.

You would also use the 50-100 setting on the meter, since that the area that you'll be measuring. The level position down will provide too high an AC output to the soundcard.....

brucek

**mufans** · **01-13-08, 10:17 AM**

I also have a sound card (on board) Realtck HD Audio, I managed to calibrate the soundcard. But whenever I check the level, the input is always around -72 even the recording level is max. What can I do to increase the input level?

**brucek** · **01-13-08, 11:23 AM**

Quote:

What can I do to increase the input level?

Tell me about your meter and the cable and adapter and the plug you have it connected to......

brucek

**mufans** · **01-13-08, 12:41 PM**

Quote:

brucek wrote:

Tell me about your meter and the cable and adapter and the plug you have it connected to......

brucek

I use radioshack 33-4050 analog meter to connect the line-in using rca cable with a 3.5mm adaptor. Then another rca cable (with 3.5 mm adaptor) connected from front speaker out to av amp input right channel.

I have no problem to calibrate the sound card. But the input level is too low ~72

A basic question: what does the input level mean in REW? Where is it input to? I don't quite understand how the set up works for the measurement?

Thanks in advance! I'm really stuck in here!

**brucek** · **01-13-08, 02:22 PM**

Quote:

rca cable with a 3.5mm adaptor

Is that a stereo adaptor?

Quote:

what does the input level mean in REW?

It's the AC line level signal into the line-in of one channel of the soundcard that REW detects through the windows driver.

Quote:

I use radioshack 33-4050 analog meter

Do you have the meter dial set to 80dB?

Have you plugged the meter directly into your AUX input of your receiver and sang a song... It's a microphone. Be sure it works.

brucek

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