|
Using the Integrated Audio Controller: Dell Precision WorkStation 420 Systems
User's Guide
Back to Contents Page
Using the Integrated Audio Controller: Dell Precision™
WorkStation 420 Systems User's Guide
This section describes how to connect your computer system to
external audio devices that use the 32-bit integrated audio
controller on your computer's system board.
The integrated Crystal SoundFusion CS4614 Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)
audio controller is Sound Blaster Pro-compatible and supports Microsoft® DirectSound,
DirectSound3D, and wavetable synthesis. The CS4614 controller has a Sound Retrieval System
(SRS) 3D stereo digital signal processing (DSP) engine that retrieves and restores spatial
sound information, directional cues, and other sonic nuances that are typically missing or
are altered by electronic reproduction of stereo sound.
This section 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.
 |
NOTE: The instructions in this section
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. |
You can connect a variety of audio devices to your computer. Use
Figure 1 to locate the audio connectors on the input/output (I/O) panel on the back of
your computer.
Figure 1. Audio
Connectors
|
| 1 |
Microphone jack |
| 2 |
Line-out jack |
| 3 |
Line-in jack |
|
Before you use any audio device, be sure that Sound in the System Setup program is set to On
(the default).
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 1).
|
NOTES: The line-out jack has a
mechanical switch that detects when external speakers are plugged in. If external speakers
are plugged in, the internal monophonic speaker is turned off. If no external speakers are
plugged in, then all sound, including sounds from the operating system, is routed to the
internal monophonic speaker. If external speakers are plugged in, all sound, including the
PC beep, is routed through the line-out jack to the external speakers. Sound is never
routed to the internal speaker and external speakers simultaneously. The Sound option in the System Setup program turns the audio
controller on and off. When Sound is set to Off, sound from the operating system does not come out of either the external
speakers or the internal speaker.
The PC
Speaker option in the System Setup program enables
or disables the legacy PC sound. It does not turn the internal monophonic speaker on or
off. Basic input/output system (BIOS) beep codes are always audible regardless of this
option's setting. |
Microphones
Your computer system supports most nondynamic monaural microphones for personal computers.
You can purchase a microphone separately from Dell.
|
NOTE: Do not use standard microphones. Use
only microphones designed for personal computers. |
Connect the audio cable from the microphone to the microphone jack
(see Figure 1).
Record/Playback Devices
Your computer system supports a variety of record/playback devices
such as cassette players, CD players, radios, stereo systems, 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
1).
CD-ROM Drives
To use an internal CD-ROM drive with the integrated audio
controller, perform the following steps:
- 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 Diskette, LS-120 SuperDisk, Tape, and
CD-ROM Drives."
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-IN audio connector on the system board.
See Figure 1 in "Installing System Board Options" for
the location of the CD-ROM drive audio connector on the system board.
|
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. If you use a MIDI card, set Sound in the System Setup program to Off. To use a joystick, install a joystick-compatible expansion
card in your computer. If you use a joystick card with sound capabilities, set Sound in the System Setup
program to Off. |
AUX
Your computer system supports analog input from DVD decoder and TV
tuner expansion cards.
Connect the data cable from either expansion card to the AUX
connector on the system board.
TAPI
Your computer system allows a voice modem to interface with the
integrated audio system.
Connect the voice modem data cable to the TAPI connector on the
system board.
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 the Microsoft Windows® 98
Operating System
To adjust the speaker or headphone volume in the Windows 98
operating system, perform the following steps:
- Click the Start button, point to Settings,
and click Control Panel.
- Double-click the Multimedia icon.
- 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 98 documentation.
Adjusting Volume in the Microsoft Windows NT® 4.0 Operating System
To adjust the speaker or headphone volume in the Windows NT 4.0
operating system, perform the following steps:
- Start the Audio Mixer utility located in the Audio Control
program folder.
- 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.
The operating system installed on your Dell system has its own
utilities for playing audio CDs and recording or playing .wav files:
- For Windows 98 and Windows NT 4.0, use Sound Recorder
under Multimedia in the Accessories program folder to
control the input of devices from which you are recording .wav data. Record
allows you to adjust your selected audio input device.
- Use Volume Control under Multimedia
in the Accessories program folder (opens the Master Out
window) 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. If
you ever need to reinstall these drivers, see the documentation
that came with your Dell Precision ResourceCD.
Back to Contents Page
|
