[Elecraft] Windows 10 Bug

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

The individual posting this does not know what he's talking
about.  His instruction to set the "microphone" level to 100%
is completely *wrong*.

Right click on the microphone slider and set the display for
*dB*.  In Windows 7 the microphone slider scale will range
from -196.0 dB at 0 to +30 dB at 100% while in Windows 8.1
the scale will be -96.0 dB to +30.0 dB.

Negative gain levels represent attenuation in the CODEC while
positive gain levels represent excess gain.  Sands is completely
*wrong* when he says any value below 100% represents attenuation.
In fact *any* "dB" value above 0.0 represents *GAIN* in the
CODEC.

The best recommendation for setting USB levels for any "microphone"
input supported by the Windows "USB Audio Class" driver is:

- go to Control Panel | Sound | Recording tab, double click on
   Microphone - USB Audio Codec device
- on the Levels tab, right click on the microphone slider and
   set the units to *dB*
- adjust the slider for 0.0 dB +/- 0.5 dB - this will typically
   be 3% in Windows 7 and 54% in Windows 8.1
- tune to strong carrier (S9+)
- watch VU meter on Recording tab and adjust output level from the
   radio (typically the RX pot on the interface - "Line Out" in the
   K3/K3S) to 2 bars below full scale. If it not possible to reach
   2 bars below full scale (the K3/K3S has plenty of excess drive)
   increase the level slider slightly until signal is no more than
   2 bars below full scale.

I no longer have working XP or Vista systems and do not recommend
the use of obsolete operating systems.  However, the same procedure
(adjust for 0.0 +/- 0.5 dB) should also work with XP and Vista to
prevent overdrive and clipping there.

In any operating system, a 0 dB input gain setting will provide the
best balance of dynamic range and sensitivity in a sound card with
properly designed audio input circuits.  Audio from the transceiver
should be set so the no-signal "sky noise" is about 15 dB above the
noise floor of the CODEC and the strongest signals no more than "2
bars" below the top of the "VU Meter" to prevent clipping.

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV


On 2015-07-29 11:13 PM, Bob McGraw - K4TAX wrote:
>
> This may be worth investigation pertaining to the K3S USB application.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guH0NMRRTAo&wide&hd=1
>
> It affects audio through USB when running digital modes.
>
> 73
> Bob, K4TAX
>
>
>
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