Using the Integrated Audio Controller: Dell Precision WorkStation 410 Desktop Systems
This chapter describes how to connect your computer system to external audio
devices that use the 16-bit integrated audio controller on your computer's
system board.
The integrated Crystal 4237B controller is Sound Blaster Pro-compatible and
supports the Windows Sound System. The 4237B controller has a Sound
Retrieval System (SRS) 3D stereo digital signal processing (DSP) engine that
retrieves and restores spacial sound information, directional cues, and
other sonic nuances that are typically missing or are altered by electronic
reproduction of stereo sound.
This chapter also describes the audio application programs that Dell has
installed on your hard-disk drive, and it tells you how to reinstall audio
drivers if necessary.
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NOTE:
The instructions in this
chapter apply to systems using the integrated
audio controller. If you are using a sound card, use the connection
instructions in the documentation that came with your sound card.
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You can connect a variety of audio devices to your computer. Use
Figure 6-1 to locate the audio connectors on the input/output (I/O) panel on the back
of your computer.
Figure 6-1. Audio Connectors
Before using any audio device, be sure that Sound in the System Setup program
is set to On (the default). For instructions, see
"Using the System Setup Program."
Speakers
Your computer system supports most standard speakers that have integrated
amplifiers. You can purchase speakers separately from Dell.
Connect the audio cable from the speakers to the line-out jack (see
Figure 6-1).
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NOTE:
When speakers are attached to
the line-out jack and Sound and Speaker
in the System Setup program are set to On, sounds generated by the system
and sounds generated by the integrated audio controller are heard through
the external speakers and the computer's on-board speaker. If Sound in the
System Setup program is set to Off, no sounds are emitted from any attached
external speakers or from the on-board speaker, except for beep codes. If
Speaker in the System Setup program is set to Off, the on-board speaker does
not transmit sounds generated by the system (other than beep codes), but any
attached external speakers do transmit these sounds. For more information,
see "Sound"
and "Speaker". |
Microphones
Your computer system supports most standard personal computer microphones.
You can purchase a microphone separately from Dell.
Connect the audio cable from the microphone to the microphone jack (see
Figure 6-1).
Record/Playback Devices
Your computer system supports a variety of record/playback devices such as
cassette players, CD players, radios, stereo systems, video cassette
recorders (VCRs), and tape players.
Connect the line-out cable from any one of these devices to the line-in jack
on the back of your computer (see
Figure 6-1).
CD-ROM Drives
To use an internal CD-ROM drive with the integrated audio controller, do the
following:
- Install the CD-ROM drive in your computer.
For instructions on installing a CD-ROM drive that uses the computer's
enhanced integrated drive electronics (EIDE) interface, see
"Installing a Drive in a 5.25-Inch Drive Bay".
For instructions on installing a small computer system interface (SCSI)
CD-ROM drive, see
"Installing SCSI Devices".
-
Connect the audio cable from the CD-ROM drive to the CD-ROM drive audio
interface connector (labeled "CD-IN") on the system board.
See Figure 9-1
for the location of the CD-IN connector on the system board.
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NOTES:
The integrated audio
controller allows you to manipulate musical
instrument digital interface (MIDI) files on your computer and to hear
output from those files on external speakers. However, to communicate with
an external MIDI device, such as a synthesizer or other musical instrument,
you must install a MIDI-compatible expansion card. (For instructions, see
"Installing an Expansion Card".)
If you use a MIDI card, set Sound in the System Setup program to Off. (See
"Using the System Setup Program,"
for information on changing System Setup settings.)
To use a joystick, install a joystick-compatible expansion card in your
computer. (For instructions, see
"Installing an Expansion Card".)
If you use a joystick card with sound capabilities, set Sound in
the System Setup program to Off. (See
"Using the System Setup Program,"
for information on changing System Setup settings.) |
Use the instructions in one of the following subsections to adjust the
speaker balance and volume of an audio source that uses the integrated audio
controller in your Dell computer.
Adjusting Volume in Windows 95
Use the following procedure to adjust the speaker or headphone volume in the
Windows 95 operating system:
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Click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.
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Double-click the Multimedia icon.
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Click the Audio tab, and move the slide switch for playback or recording to
the desired volume.
For detailed instructions on adjusting the volume, see your Windows 95
documentation.
Adjusting Volume in Windows NT 4.0
Use the following procedure to adjust the speaker or headphone volume in the
Windows NT 4.0 operating system:
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Start the Audio Mixer utility located in the Audio Control program folder.
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Adjust the slide controls labeled "Master" to adjust the volume and
balance for all devices, or adjust the slide controls for an individual
device.
For detailed instructions on adjusting the volume, see your Windows NT
documentation.
Muting the Internal Speaker
To mute the internal speaker, follow these steps:
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Start the Windows 95 or Windows NT operating system.
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Double-click the speaker icon in the right corner of the taskbar.
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From the Master Out panel, click Advanced Controls in the Options menu.
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Click the Advanced button under the Master Out column.
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Click the PC Speaker Mute check box.
The 4237B 3D sound system contains two controls-a space control and a center
control-for adjusting the spatial effect of sound played through speakers
connected to your computer. Turning up the level of the space control
increases the amount of corrected directional information, restores the
proper localization of the original sounds, and expands the width of the
overall sound stage. Turning down the level of the space control decreases
these effects. Always adjust the space control before adjusting the center
control. Turning up the center control emphasizes centered sounds (typically
vocals, solo instruments, bass, and kick drums in a musical recording) so
that their intensity appears increased and they are brought into the center
of the room.
To adjust the space and center controls, follow these steps:
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Start the Windows 95 or Windows NT operating system.
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Click right on the blue circle icon in the lower-right corner of the taskbar.
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Click the Enabled check box in the control panel that appears.
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Slide the Space and Center control slide switches until you achieve the
desired effect.
The operating system installed on your Dell system has its own utilities for
playing audio CDs and manipulating .wav files:
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For Windows 95, use Media Player under Multimedia in the Accessories program
folder.
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For Windows NT 4.0, use Audio Input to control the input of devices from
which you are recording .wav data. Use Audio Mixer to adjust sound levels
from several different audio sources.
Your system's audio drivers were installed at Dell and are operative when you
receive the system-no further installation or configuration is needed. The
following subsections provide instructions on reinstalling these drivers if
necessary.
To reinstall the audio drivers for Windows 95, you must first remove the old
drivers and then install the new drivers. Follow these steps:
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Use the Program Diskette Maker (located in the Dell Accessories folder) to
make a diskette copy of the audio drivers installed on your hard-disk drive.
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Start the Windows 95 operating system.
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Insert the Windows 95 audio drivers diskette into drive A.
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Click the Start button and click Run. Type
a:\setup in the dialog box and
click OK.
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When the Crystal Driver Uninstall Complete window appears, remove the audio
drivers diskette from drive A and click Restart.
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After Windows 95 restarts, insert the audio drivers diskette into drive A and
click Next at the Update Driver Wizard window.
The system finds the following driver:
Crystal PnP Audio System CODEC
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Click Finish.
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At the Insert Disk window, verify that the audio drivers diskette is in drive
A and click OK.
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At the copying files window, type
a:\
and click OK.
The audio driver files are copied to your system and you are returned to
Windows 95.
To reinstall the audio drivers for Windows NT 4.0, follow these steps:
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Use the Program Diskette Maker (located in the Dell Accessories folder) to
make a diskette copy of the audio drivers installed on your hard-disk drive.
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Start the Windows NT 4.0 operating system.
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Insert the Windows NT 4.0 audio drivers diskette into drive A.
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Click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.
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Double-click the Multimedia icon.
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In the Multimedia Properties window, click the Devices tab and then click Add.
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In the Add dialog box, select Unlisted or Updated Driver and click OK.
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In the Install Driver dialog box, type
a:\ and click OK.
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In the Add Unlisted or Updated Driver dialog box, select CrystalWare Audio
Driver NT and click OK.
After the drivers have been installed, there will be a new Audio Control
program folder with two programs-Audio Mixer and Audio Input.
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