[Elecraft] USB Sound Card for digital modes.

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

> 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: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
> [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of 
> Kenneth A. Christiansen
> Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 7:15 PM
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> 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
>