
Windows 98 Installation & Configuration Handbook


- 15 -
Installing Sound and MIDI Cards
by Rob Tidrow
Examining the Windows 98 Multimedia
Environment
Microsoft markets Windows 98 as the premiere operating system for handling multimedia
files and applications. Although this is probably an overstatement, Windows 98's
multimedia support improves upon several multimedia features first introduced in
Windows 95 and is a tremendous improvement over the way in which MS-DOS and Windows
3.1 ran multimedia applications.
Windows 98 includes the following multimedia features:
- Built-in support for Microsoft AVI video files. AVI
files commonly are available on the Internet and are used by many applications and
games to provide video clips. AVI files also can contain audio and text
elements. You learn more about video in Chapter 16, "Configuring Full-Motion
Video Capabilities."
- Built-in recorder, editor, and player for audio files. If you have a supported
sound card and microphone, you can use Windows 98's Sound Recorder application to
record and edit sound files. Use the Volume Control application to set the volume
of audio files during playback.
- Media Control Interface (MCI). MCI runs multimedia devices separately.
This enables you to run sound cards, digital video files, and animation devices simultaneously
in separate memory spaces.
- CD-ROM sharing. This enables you to share CD-ROM devices on a network.
This capability is handy if you have a limited number of CD-ROM drives in your company,
or if you have a multidisk CD-ROM device you want to share with a workgroup or team.
- DirectX. Windows 98 includes DirectX 5, which is an enhanced programming
environment for multimedia applications and hardware, including 3D audio hardware.
To take advantage of these capabilities, you need to make sure that your computer
is equipped with the right multimedia hardware devices.
Purchasing a Multimedia System
Many of the personal computers you purchase at retail outlets and computer stores
and through mail-order catalogs are fully equipped to handle much of your multimedia
needs. You should look for a computer that passes the Multimedia Personal Computer
(MPC 3) specification devised by the Multimedia PC Marketing Group. By following
the MPC 3 specification, you can feel comfortable that your PC can run most multimedia
applications and games available on the market.
See The MPC Home Page at http://www.spa.org/mpc/default.htm
If you want to run applications and files that include sound, video, and animation,
you need the following to pass the MPC 3 specification:
- 75 MHz Pentium processor or higher. Many systems you can purchase now
include 166 MHz or higher Pentium processors.
- 16MB of RAM or higher. Systems usually come with 16MB of RAM installed,
but many systems now include 32MB to accommodate higher application demands.
- 16-bit sound card, with multivoice synthesizer supporting six simultaneous
voice tracks and two percussion tracks. You also should look for a sound card that
is Sound Blaster compatible (Sound Blaster is a product manufactured by Creative
Labs).
- 4- to 10-watt speakers that also have built-in amplification. Some PCs
come with speakers that hook to your monitor. Be sure the monitor you purchase has
the same type of connections as these speakers. 4-watt speakers generally are acceptable
for desktop audio, and 10-watt are acceptable for situations when you want to conduct
a presentation in a small room or office.
- A graphics board that supports 30 frames per second of video at 352x240
pixels. It also should be MPEG-1 compliant. Your graphics card should have 2MB of
graphics RAM and should be PCI compliant (Peripheral Component Interconnect
is a bus type that many new PCs have).
- A 4X CD-ROM with 250ms seek. For most games and applications that must
access the CD-ROM periodically, you should purchase a 6X (200ms seek) or 8X (150ms
seek) CD-ROM that is multisession capable. Most multimedia PCs you purchase today
have 24x or above CD-ROMs installed.
- A 540MB hard drive. Probably the most common hard drive size on new computers
is more than 2GB. Because most video and graphics files already are compressed when
you use them, you don't get any benefit from compressing a hard drive that has these
types of files on it. Get the largest hard drive you can find and afford.
NOTE: As an optional component for your multimedia computer, you
also might want to invest in a joystick. This is true especially if you purchase
games such as Flight Simulator. Two affordable yet advanced joysticks are the Microsoft
SideWinder Pro 3D and Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro joysticks.
As technologies expand and new capabilities are added to applications and games,
you might look to upgrade your system to meet the needs of the newer programs. One
example of this is with the type of processor you purchase. Although MPC 3 specifies
a Pentium 75, you should look for a system that has a Pentium 266 or higher to play
back high-end MPEG video and 3D animations.
What to look for in sound cards for your PC is determined by your needs and your
budget. In general, the better the sound quality you need, the higher the price of
the sound card and speaker system. For situations in which you want to listen to
simple sound events in education or general software titles, sound files you download
from the Internet, or other situations in which sound quality is not a major concern,
you usually can find sound systems that cost less than $100 to satisfy your needs.
In many cases, when you purchase a new PC, it comes equipped with a low-end sound
card and speakers. This type of system is ideal for most end users.
If you want high-quality sound cards and speakers, your investment will be higher.
A typical sound card that is considered high quality is 16-bit, offers CD-quality
audio (that is, it sounds like a CD you play back using an audio CD player), provides
3D wraparound sound, and supports Windows 98 Plug-and-Play features. It also has
high-quality speakers, which usually are rated at 10 to 40 watts per channel and
have separate volume, bass, and treble controls.
The following are some general points to consider when purchasing a sound system
for Windows 98:
- 16-bit is better than 8-bit. If possible, purchase a 16-bit sound card
instead of an 8-bit card. Or, if you have a legacy card that is 8-bit, consider upgrading
to 16-bit. The number of bits refers to the amount of sound data is delivered through
the sound card. The higher, the better. Also, look for sound cards that take advantage
Microsoft's DirectSound 5 API specification. DirectSound 5 handles audio messages
between a sound-capable application (such as a game) and your sound card's device
driver. This provides a rich environment for audio, including recording, mixing,
and 3D audio. With 3D audio, for example, audio emanating from your speakers sound
as if it is coming from all directions, not just from your two speakers.
- Look for Sound Blaster compatible. Creative Lab's Sound Blaster line of
sound cards is usually the de facto standard for audio devices. Most hardware (such
as CD-ROM devices) and software are compatible with Sound Blaster cards. Most sound
cards you find today that support Windows 98 are Sound Blaster compatible. However,
look for information on the packaging or marketing data of the sound card you buy
to make sure it tells you whether it is Sound Blaster compatible.
- Buy a Plug-and-Play sound device. Plug and Play makes installing and configuring
sound cards a breeze. All you do is physically install the card and then boot Windows
98. During the boot process, Windows notices the new device and sets it up automatically.
Also, the goal of Microsoft is to eventually have its entire line of Windows operating
systems (including Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 5, and Windows CE) support
Plug-and-Play hardware devices. This means that you can invest in these types of
devices and feel comfortable that they will be supported in future releases of Windows.
- Wavetable lookup sounds better than FM synthesis. For Musical Instrument
Digital Interface (MIDI) sounds, there are two ways sound cards generate the
tones. Wavetable lookup contains samples of actual musical sounds stored in read-only
memory (ROM). This enables the playback of MIDI sounds to sound more life-like.
FM synthesis, however, plays back sounds by using tones that are artificially created,
causing the sound to be less life-like. As you can imagine, wavetable lookup devices
generally cost more than FM synthesis.
As you purchase a multimedia system, you also might want to look for devices that
support Microsoft's DirectX technology, which is discussed in the following section.
Reviewing Windows 98's DirectX 5
Features
Microsoft's DirectX technology is an API that provides applications (such as games)
with direct access to your computer's hardware. This enables the application to take
advantage of hardware accelerators. If hardware accelerators are not available, DirectX
can emulate hardware accelerators to provide a robust multimedia environment. Windows
95 was the first platform to support DirectX.
NOTE: Initially, DirectX was distributed as part of the Microsoft
Games Software Development Kit (SDK) to programmers interested in designing
advanced games and animation titles. With the release of DirectX version 2 in mid-1996,
DirectX is was being distributed as its own SDK by Microsoft. Recently, Microsoft
released DirectX 5.
The components of DirectX are described in the following list:
- DirectSound. Enables Windows 98 to handle audio files more efficiently
and enhances the quality of audio files. DirectSound gives games programmers the
capability to use high-quality audio in their games, for example.
- DirectDraw. Provides an environment for very fast graphics displays for
2D, 3D, video, and animation graphics. This capability enables Windows to support
fast-action games and full-motion video. One example of where DirectDraw is being
used heavily is on the World Wide Web. Many Web sites incorporate video files as
part of their content, requiring visitors to have a platform such as Windows 95 or
Windows 98 to take full advantage of the site. DirectDraw replaces the Display
Control Interface (DCI) technology that Microsoft and Intel jointly created for
Windows 3.1 (and include as a core technology in Windows 95 and Windows 98) for games
and digital video.
- DirectVideo. Provides advanced video playback capabilities. DirectVideo
works with DirectDraw to create an environment capable of displaying full-motion
video on computers that have Pentium processors. One way Windows users display video
is by using a compression format called Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG)
and by installing a dedicated MPEG adapter card. Having an MPEG card installed is
probably the best way to get excellent video on your PC, but DirectVideo can handle
MPEG files very well even without an MPEG adapter installed. See Chapter 16, "Configuring
Full-Motion Video Capabilities," for information on configuring video settings.
- Direct3D. Enables Windows to render real-time 3D graphics and animation.
Direct3D handles 3D objects and 3D scenes to create life-like images and video. Direct3D
applications, such as games, combined with a 3D accelerator card, can make Windows
98 an above-average 3D platform with which to create and view 3D files.
- DirectInput. Increases Windows 98's built-in support for input devices,
such as joysticks, virtual-reality headgear, head-mounted displays, and other devices.
- DirectSetup. New with DirectX 3, DirectSetup helps DirectX applications
make Registry entries during installation.
- DirectPlay. DirectPlay enables multiple users to interact with the same
game or application simultaneously over a LAN, modem, or other connectivity device.
DirectPlay is designed to allow users to connect to the game or application with
mixed connections; this means that users can connect in a variety of ways, such as
by using high-speed LAN access, 28.8Kbps modem connections, and ISDN connections,
without suffering performance losses.
- DirectShow 2.0. Provides an environment in which streams of multimedia
data, such as video and audio, are played. Windows 98 includes the runtime version
of DirectShow 2.0, so you can play AVI or Apple QuickTime (MOV) movies.
To take advantage of DirectX technologies, you need to purchase or acquire applications
that support DirectX. One way to see whether you have DirectX components installed
on your system is to search for these dynamic link libraries (DLLs) in your
Windows\System folder: DVIDEO.DLL, DDRAW.DLL, and DSOUND.DLL.
Adding a Sound Card
If your PC comes equipped with a sound card that is functioning properly under
Windows 95, the card should work under Windows 98. If you need to add a new sound
card or replace the one currently installed, you'll need to install it using the
Add New Hardware Wizard or let Windows auto-detect it if the card is Plug and Play
compatible. To learn how to install a sound card, read Chapter 5, "Installing
and Configuring New Hardware and Software."
Updating Sound Card Drivers
At times, you might need to update or change the device driver installed for your
sound card. To do this, you can use the Device Manager.
NOTE: Windows 98 doesn't work with all the different sound cards
on the market. If you have drivers that come from the component manufacturer, the
Device Manager might not properly recognize the board.
To update a sound card driver, follow these steps:
- 1. Choose Start, Settings, Control Panel and double-click
the System icon. The System Properties dialog box appears.
2. Select the Device Manager tab.
3. Click plus sign (+) next to Sound, Video, and Game Controllers.
4. Double-click the sound card you want to modify. The Properties dialog box
for the sound card appears.
5. Select the Driver page, as shown in Figure 15.1.
FIG. 15.1 Use the Driver
page to update sound card drivers.
- 6. Click Update Driver. The Update Device Driver Wizard appears,
as shown in Figure 15.2. Work through this wizard as explained in Chapter 5, "Installing
and Configuring New Hardware and Software."
FIG. 15.2 The Update Device
Driver Wizard walks you through installing a new sound card driver.
Setting System Sounds
When using Windows, you might want to assign sounds to specific events. Or, you
might want to use a predefined set of sounds that were placed on your system when
you installed Windows 98. If you've made a personalized group of event sounds, you
might want to save the configuration or delete an old set of sounds you don't use
anymore. In the next few sections, you'll learn how to perform these tasks confidently.
Specifying Event Sounds
Windows knows when certain events occur while you use your computer. It knows
when you open or close a program, for example. You can specify a sound to play when
these events occur.
To begin configuring event sounds, do the following:
- 1. Choose Start, Settings, Control Panel.
2. Double-click the Sounds icon. The Sounds Properties dialog box appears, containing
the Sounds page, as shown in Figure 15.3. In the upper half of the screen, you see
the list of events to which you can assign sounds. You can tell whether an event
has a sound assigned to it, because it has a speaker icon to the left of the event
name.
FIG. 15.3 The Sounds Properties
dialog box enables you to assign sounds to an event.
NOTE: When you installed Windows, a default set of sounds and events
was chosen for you.
- 3. Choose an event from the list--the Asterisk event, for example. You'll
notice that several things happen, as shown in Figure 15.4. Working from left to
right, the name of the sound (Chord, in this example) is placed in the Name
drop-down list box, the Browse and Details buttons are enabled, the
Preview window shows the sound's icon, and the Play button is enabled (it looks like
the Play button on a VCR remote control).
4. To listen to this sound, click the Play button. If you like the sound, play
it again! Then, select other events in the list and listen to their assigned sounds
until you find one you want to change.
5. You can assign a WAV file to the selected event in three ways. First,
you can click the down arrow at the end of the Name drop-down list box to
display a list of available sounds. Scroll through the list and select one of the
sounds. To preview what your current selection sounds like, click the Play button
again.
NOTE: The sounds in the Name drop-down list reside in the
WINDOWS\MEDIA folder.
FIG. 15.4 If you've selected
an event with a sound, the controls in the middle of the window become enabled.
- The second method requires using the Browse button to assign a sound.
After you click the button, the Browse dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 15.5.
The title of the dialog box matches the name of the event with which you're working.
By default, browsing begins in the WINDOWS\MEDIA folder. If you find the
name of a sound interesting, highlight it (don't double-click). If you double-click
the name of the sound, it is assigned immediately to the event. Because you can't
undo this change unless you cancel all the changes you've made so far, just select
the name of the sound.
Notice the set of preview buttons at the bottom of the Browse dialog box. These buttons
enable you to preview the sounds while you browse. After you highlight the sound
you want to use, click OK. The name of the sound is placed in the Name drop-down
list box of the Sounds Properties dialog box.
FIG. 15.5 You can preview
a sound in the Browse dialog box by clicking the preview buttons at the bottom of
the window.
- The third method is to type the exact location and file name of the sound in
the Name drop-down list box.
6. Sometimes, sounds have extra information that provides useful details. If
you like a particular set of sounds and want more, these details sometimes contain
the name and address of who to contact to obtain similarly styled sounds. You can
view these details for the current sound by clicking Details.
Figure 15.6 shows the copyright, media-length, and audio-format data in the Properties
dialog box. If more detailed information is available, the Other Information group
box becomes visible at the bottom of the dialog box. Select an item in the lefthand
box to display its details in the right-hand box. Click OK to close the sound file's
Properties dialog box.
FIG. 15.6 You can view
the copyright, media length, audio format, and other details of a sound file.
- 7. To immediately apply the change you made to the event, click Apply
in the Sounds Properties dialog box.
NOTE: You can repeat the preceding steps to change other
events' sounds without clicking Apply between each change. Windows temporarily
remembers all your changes until you're ready to save them.
- 8. If you decide you like the new combination of sounds, click OK to save
them and close the Sounds Control Panel. If you aren't sure what changes you've made
or don't like what you created, click Cancel to restore the event sounds to the state
they were in the last time you clicked Apply.
When you install other programs, more events are listed as those programs make
their events known to Windows, giving you an even more personalized audio environment.
Selecting Sound Schemes
Sometimes, setting individual sounds for each Windows event can take more time
than you have to spend. Or, you might have taken the time to carefully craft a set
of event sounds you want to preserve for special occasions or holidays. But right
now, you don't want sounds for a national holiday every day of the year. With Windows
98, you can pick a predefined sound scheme. You also can find schemes from various
online sources.
To begin working with sound schemes, follow these steps:
- 1. Open the Sounds Properties dialog box. Here, you can use the Schemes
drop-down list box to select, save, and delete sound schemes.
2. Open the Schemes drop-down list.
3. Pick an intriguing, favorite, or personal scheme name.
NOTE: If a dialog box pops up asking whether you want to save the
previous scheme, you should choose Yes to save your current sound scheme,
No to not save your scheme, or Cancel to stop selecting a new sound scheme.
If you choose Yes, name the scheme so that it can appear in the Schemes
drop-down list box.
- 4. Click OK in the Sound Properties dialog box.
Saving Sound Schemes
If you created your own set of event sound settings or modified an existing one,
you should save it for future use. You can do this by following these steps:
- 1. Display the Sounds Properties dialog box and click Save As in
the Schemes group box. The Save Scheme As dialog box appears, as shown in
Figure 15.7.
FIG. 15.7 The Save Scheme
As dialog box enables you to name your group of event sounds.
- 2. Enter a name for the scheme of event sounds defined in the Sound Properties
Events list. If you use the same name as an existing scheme, a dialog box
appears, asking you to confirm your decision to replace the existing scheme.
TIP: You cannot use the name Windows Default for a new
sound scheme. This name is reserved for the default scheme installed under Windows.
After you complete these steps, you can click OK to close the Sound Properties
dialog box.
Deleting a Sound Scheme
If you want to delete a configuration of event sounds, you can do so by following
these steps:
- 1. Display the Sounds Properties dialog box and locate the scheme you
want to remove by opening the Schemes drop-down list box.
2. Click Delete in the Schemes group box. A confirmation box appears,
asking you to confirm your decision to replace the existing scheme.
NOTE: Deleting the scheme does not delete the actual WAV
file; it just deletes the connection between the event and the sound it plays.
After you complete these steps, you can click OK to close the Sound Properties
dialog box.
Using Desktop Themes
One of the optional components you can install under Windows 98 is the Desktop
Themes component. Desktop Themes is a set of pointers, sound events, wallpaper, and
other items you can use to dress up Windows. To use Desktop Themes, you need to run
the Add/Remove Programs applet and install the Desktop Themes components. You then
double-click the Desktop Themes icon in the Control Panel to display the Desktop
Themes window, as shown in Figure 15.8.
FIG. 15.8 Use Desktop
Themes to add additional sound events to Windows.
In the Desktop Themes window, select a theme from the Theme drop-down list
box. Next, click Pointers, Sounds, and so on... to display the Preview window
for the theme you choose. Select the Sounds tab to preview the sound associated with
a Windows event. Select the event and click the Play button next to the icon at the
bottom of the tab. Click OK.
If you don't want to use the sound events for this theme, deselect the Sound Events
check box in the Settings area of the Desktop Themes window.
Click OK to set up the desktop theme of your choice. You then can return to the
Sounds Properties dialog box to preview or change a system event setting, as you
learned in "Specifying Event Sounds," earlier in this chapter.
To remove the theme, open the Desktop Themes window and select Windows Default
or another theme from the Theme drop-down list box. Click OK.
Setting Audio Volume Levels
While using your computer, you might notice that your volume is too loud or too
soft. Your CD-ROM drive, sound card, and MIDI instrument (usually part of your sound
card) are all sources of the sounds and music. It's not unlikely that one of them
is much louder or softer than the rest. In the next two sections, you'll look at
adjusting the master volume for Windows audio and adjusting each sound source's volume.
Controlling Volume with the Taskbar
Volume Control
If you need to adjust the overall volume of sound coming out of your computer,
use the taskbar speaker icon for quick and easy volume changes.
If the yellow sound icon does not appear on your taskbar, use the following steps
to enable the taskbar speaker icon:
- 1. Choose Start, Settings, Control Panel.
2. Double-click the Multimedia icon. The Multimedia Properties dialog box appears
with the Audio page selected by default, as shown in Figure 15.9. Place a check mark
in the Show Volume Control on the Taskbar check box. Selecting this option
displays the volume control icon in the taskbar.
FIG. 15.9 The Multimedia
Properties dialog box enables you to turn on the taskbar volume control.
- 3. Click OK to save the new setting and close the Multimedia Properties
dialog box.
TROUBLESHOOTING: I can't seem to find the Multimedia Control Panel or
the Audio page in the Multimedia Properties dialog box. What's wrong? Either
you don't have a sound card installed in your computer, or Windows 98 did not recognize
it. Read Chapter 5, "Installing and Configuring New Hardware and Software,"
for instructions on setting up your sound card in Windows 98.
Now that the speaker icon is visible, you'll be able to learn how to adjust the
volume or quickly mute the audio level.
To adjust or mute the master volume, use these steps:
- 1. Click the speaker icon. The Volume Control Panel appears with a vertical
slider, as shown in Figure 15.10.
FIG. 15.10 The taskbar's
Volume Control Panel appears after you click the taskbar speaker icon.
- 2. Drag the slider up or down to adjust the master volume accordingly.
If you need to mute the volume, enable the Mute check box to instantly mute
every source of audio on your computer.
NOTE: If you mute the volume, notice how the speaker icon changes
to a speaker icon covered by a red circle with a line through it.
- 3. To close the Volume Control Panel, click anywhere else on the desktop
except on the Volume panel.
TROUBLESHOOTING: I try to play video with sound, and it isn't synchronized.
What's wrong? You might have a computer that isn't fast enough. You can try to
improve performance and add RAM, but if you have an older, slower processor and a
relatively slow hard drive, you might need to think about upgrading to a new PC with
fast video capabilities built in. Many new PC lines are including MPEG boards to
enhance the playback of digital video and audio.
Controlling Volume with the Volume
Control Dialog Box
While using Windows 98, you might have noticed that one source of sound is louder
or softer than the rest. Or, a particular sound source might not be producing any
sound. In this section, you'll learn how to access individual sound source volumes
and adjust them by following these steps:
- 1. Verify that the yellow taskbar speaker icon is visible. If it isn't,
see the preceding section, "Controlling Volume with the Taskbar Volume Control."
2. Double-click the speaker icon. The Volume Control dialog box appears, as shown
in Figure 15.11. Your Volume Control dialog box might have different controls and
features, depending on the capabilities of your sound card. Also, different controls
appear, depending on the mixer properties you have selected.
FIG. 15.11 The Volume
Control dialog box gives you access to each sound source.
- 3. Choose Op_tions, Properties to change which mixer properties
are displayed. The Properties dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 15.12. In this
dialog box, you select the device you want to adjust, such as your sound card or
other audio device, from the Mixer Device drop-down list box.
FIG. 15.12 The Properties
dialog box enables you to change which controls appear on the Volume Control dialog
box.
- 4. In the Adjust Volume For area, select the type of sound you want to
control, including Playback, Recording, and Other. Other includes sound card-specific
controls, such as Voice Commands.
5. Select the controls for the type of sound in the Show the Following Volume
Controls list box. These controls differ, depending on the type of sound you chose
in step 4.
6. Click OK to save your settings. You return to the Volume Control dialog box.
7. On the Volume Control dialog box, the leftmost slider and Mute All
check box is the same as the Volume Control Panel that is displayed after you single-click
the speaker icon in the taskbar. To the right of this slider, each column is a control
dedicated to each sound source. Each column has Balance and Volume sliders and Mute
check boxes. If your sound card supports stereo audio, a left-right balance slider
appears above each vertical slider that supports stereo. By causing selected pairs
of sound sources to play long segments of sound, you can adjust the vertical sliders
correspondingly.
8. After you make your adjustments, choose Op_tions, Exit to close the
Volume Control dialog box and save your settings.
Changing Audio Device Settings
At times, you might need to change the configuration settings assigned to a multimedia
device, such as if you want to shut off an audio device. You can change such device
settings via the Multimedia Control Panel. Follow these steps to change settings
on your sound card:
- 1. Choose Start, Settings, Control Panel, and double-click
the Multimedia icon. The Multimedia Properties dialog box appears.
2. Select the Devices page, as shown in Figure 15.13.
FIG. 15.13 You can change
multimedia device settings by selecting the component from the Multimedia Devices
list.
- 3. Click the plus sign next to the Audio Devices item.
4. Select the device you want from the resulting list and click Properties.
The General page of your sound card's Properties dialog box appears, as shown in
Figure 15.14. Set the following options:
- Use Audio Features on This Device. Enables your sound card.
This is the default setting if your sound card is working properly.
- Do Not Use Audio Features on This Device. Disables
your sound card, but leaves its device driver on your hard drive.
- Do Not Map Through This Device. Instructs Windows
98 to not let any applications use the sound card unless the application specifically
requests it.
-
5. Click OK twice.
FIG. 15.14 You can modify
device settings for your sound card by using the General page.
Changing Audio Playback Settings
You can change the playback settings of your sound card by setting advanced properties
for it. These properties include selecting the preferred speaker setup for your computer
and setting performance controls.
To make these changes, use the following steps:
- 1. Choose Start, Settings, Control Panel, and double-click
the Multimedia icon. The Multimedia Properties dialog box appears.
2. Select the Audio page.
3. In the Playback area, click Advanced Properties. The Advanced Audio
Properties dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 15.15.
FIG. 15.15 Use the Advanced
Audio Properties dialog box to change speaker and performance settings.
- 4. From the Speaker Setup drop-down list box, select the speaker or headphone
setup that most closely matches yours. If your speakers are part of a laptop PC,
for example, select Laptop Mono Speakers or Laptop Stereo Speakers.
5. Select the Performance page, as shown in Figure 15.16.
FIG. 15.16 Use the Performance
page to configure how Windows will play audio through your sound card.
- 6. Set the following playback performance settings:
- Hardware Acceleration. Sets the acceleration rate for your sound mixing.
Set this to Full unless you experience computer problems and think the sound card
is the problem.
- Sample Rate Conversion Quality. Sets the quality of the sound card sampling
rate. For the best sampling rate, set this to Best. However, to devote less CPU time
to sampling, set this to Good.
- Restore Defaults. Switches your customized settings back to those first
established when Windows was installed.
-
7. Click OK.
Changing Sound Quality When Recording
You can change the sound quality of your recording reproduction depending on your
needs. A presentation probably will require a better quality sound reproduction than
something like a short voice file you would attach to an in-house email message to
distribute to coworkers. To change the recording sound quality, do the following:
- 1. Choose Start, Settings, Control Panel, and double-click
the Multimedia icon. The Multimedia Properties dialog box appears.
2. In the Recording area of the Audio page, click Advanced Properties.
The Advanced Audio Properties dialog box appears.
3. Set the following recording performance settings:
- Hardware Acceleration. Sets the acceleration rate for your recordings.
Set this to Full unless you experience computer problems and think the sound card
is the problem.
- Sample Rate Conversion Quality. Sets the quality of the sound card recording
rate. For the best recording rate, set this to Best. However, to devote less CPU
time to recording, set this to Good.
- Restore Defaults. Switches your recording settings back to those first
established when Windows was installed.
-
4. Click OK twice.
TIP: The higher the quality of the sound file you record, the more
disk space is required. If you have limited disk storage space, don't select the
highest recording quality unless you really need it.
TROUBLESHOOTING: I hear hissing during the playback of a sound file.
What's happening? The file might be recording in 8 bits and playing back in 16
bits. The 16-bit board doesn't realize that the 8-bit file isn't the same high quality
as a 16-bit file, so playing the file with expectations of higher sound quality emphasizes
the lower detail.
Installing and Configuring MIDI
Cards in Windows 98
Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) sound allows your computer
to create complex-sounding music without using large amounts of memory like WAV
files do. MIDI stores the instructions to play the sounds, not the actual sounds
themselves. Very often, computer games require a MIDI-compatible sound card. In order
to enjoy the games to their fullest, you need to ensure that your MIDI sounds are
configured correctly.
The MIDI card acts as a connection between the MIDI controller, such as a keyboard
or guitar, and your PC. Also in that equation is a synthesizer, which actually generates
the MIDI sounds. The MIDI can be part of a sound card, which is how most users will
come to know about MIDI, or a separate interface card. Either way, without a MIDI,
you can make use of an external controller for your MIDI recordings. If you have
a sound board with a MIDI in the form of the MIDI/joystick port, you won't need a
separate MIDI card.
Windows 98 greatly reduces the complexity of configuring MIDI sounds via the Multimedia
Control Panel applet.
NOTE: This section and the following ones discuss the MPU-401 interface
protocol. It is actually the MIDI "language" originally invented by Roland
and now is virtually the de facto standard when it comes to MIDI use on the PC.
After you insert your new MIDI card and before you can configure it to use with
Windows 98, you have to install it. Chapter 5 covers adding a new device to your
computer.
Adding a MIDI Instrument
If you have a MIDI device that Windows 98 doesn't know about yet, you need to
add its configuration and capabilities to the list of known MIDI instruments. Before
you proceed, you need the instrument definition file (*.IDF) from the hardware
manufacturer containing the definition of the device. For some MIDI cards, Windows
installs an IDF file(s) when you install the card itself. Follow these steps:
- 1. Plug the instrument you plan to use with your MIDI card into a MIDI
port.
2. Choose Start, Settings, Control Panel, and double-click the
Multimedia icon. The Multimedia Properties dialog box appears.
3. Select the MIDI page, as shown in Figure 15.17.
FIG. 15.17 The MIDI page
of the Multimedia Properties dialog box provides control over MIDI output and MIDI
instruments.
- 4. Click Add New Instrument. The MIDI Instrument Installation Wizard
opens, as shown in Figure 15.18.
FIG. 15.18 The MIDI Instrument
Installation Wizard guides you through setting up a new MIDI instrument.
- 5. Select the MIDI port to which the new instrument is attached.
6. Click Next. Select the type of MIDI instrument you're installing. If
the type is not listed in the Instrument Definitions list, click Browse to
locate an IDF on a disk.
7. Click Next. Enter a name for the instrument. This name will appear
below the MIDI port name on the MIDI page of the Multimedia Properties dialog box.
A default name is supplied, but you might want to change it to help you identify
the device.
TIP: A good way to identify your new instrument is by its make and
model instead of its location. Instruments tend to be moved a lot, but the make and
model don't change unless you upgrade your equipment.
- 8. Click Finish. This adds the new instrument to the MIDI Properties dialog
box.
Selecting the MIDI Output Destination
After you define your instrument(s), you need to identify where the MIDI data
should go. If you have only one instrument or an internal sound card that can receive
MIDI data, follow these steps:
- 1. Open the Multimedia Properties dialog box and select the MIDI page.
2. Select Single Instrument.
NOTE: The Custom Configure option is better left unselected
unless you are a professional musician with MIDI experience. Adjusting MIDI channels
to various MIDI-in and MIDI-out ports takes careful planning for all MIDI instruments
involved. If you are experienced with MIDI, the MIDI Configuration dialog box is
easier for you to use than almost any other computer MIDI interface.
- 3. Click OK to save your choice and close the Multimedia Properties dialog
box.
Adjusting MIDI Card Volume Settings
Having installed your new MIDI card, you now can adjust its sound. You can adjust
your MIDI card volume level via the Audio page in the Multimedia Properties dialog
box. To adjust the playback and recording volume level, do the following:
- 1. Open the Multimedia Properties dialog box; the Audio page should be
selected by default.
2. Click the Volume Control button next to the Preferred Device drop-down list.
The Volume Control dialog box appears.
3. Adjust the slider control in the MIDI column of the Volume Control dialog
box to your desired level.
TROUBLESHOOTING: I can't get MIDI files to play back properly. What
can I do? This may happen for a number of reasons. To start with, check the card's
resource settings, such as IRQ settings, to make sure they are configured correctly
for your specific MIDI board. Then make sure the MIDI board is correctly identified
in Device Manager.
Moving a MIDI Instrument to Another
Board
You can move MIDI instruments between boards. You might want to do this, for example,
if you have a choice of sound boards to output your MIDI playback.
To move an instrument between boards, follow these steps:
- 1. Open the Multimedia Properties dialog box and select the Devices page.
2. Click the plus sign next to MIDI Devices and Instruments.
3. From the ensuing list, click the plus sign next to the board to which your
MIDI instrument is connected. See Figure 15.19.
FIG. 15.19 You use the
Device page in Multimedia Properties to specify the MIDI instrument you want to move.
- 4. Click the instrument you want to move, and click Properties.
The Properties dialog box for the selected MIDI instrument appears.
5. From the MIDI instrument Properties dialog box, select the Details page, as
shown in Figure 15.20.
FIG. 15.20 Using the External
MIDI Instrument Properties dialog.
- 6. From the MIDI Port drop-down list, choose the name of the board
to which you want to connect the instrument. If there are no other port choices in
the MIDI Port drop-down list, you have only one board set up to which you
can connect your instrument.
7. Click OK to save your setting.
8. You return to the Advanced page in Multimedia Properties; click OK.
9. Plug your MIDI instrument into the new board you specify in step 6.
Removing a MIDI Instrument
If you no longer use a MIDI instrument, you can remove it from the MIDI page.
To this, use the following steps:
- 1. Open the Multimedia Properties dialog box and select the Devices page.
2. Click the plus sign next to MIDI Devices and Instruments.
3. From the ensuing list, click the plus sign next to the board to which your
MIDI instrument is connected.
4. Click the instrument you want to delete, and click Properties. The
Properties dialog box for the selected MIDI instrument appears.
5. From the MIDI Instrument Properties dialog box, select the General page, as
shown in Figure 15.21.
6. Click Remove. The instrument is deleted and the Details page returns.
7. Click OK.
FIG. 15.21 You can remove
an instrument by using the General page.
TROUBLESHOOTING: There is hissing and distortion when I play MIDI files.
How can I get rid of it? Interference might be coming from the power source or
another card installed in your computer. Turn off your PC and move the MIDI board
as far away from the power supply and other boards as possible. If you can, leave
a few empty expansion slots between the MIDI board and the next card.
TROUBLESHOOTING: I've tried everything and still can't hear anything
from my sound card. Could there be a problem with my speakers? How would I know?
You can look at some of the following things to check on your speakers to get them
to work with your sound card:
- Make sure the speakers are switched on.
- Ensure that power is coming into the speakers. If your speakers are AC powered,
make sure the cord is plugged in. If they are DC powered, make sure your batteries
are fresh and are inserted.
- Check to see whether the volume on the speakers is turned up.
- Make sure the speakers are connected to your sound card.
- For speakers that are placed close to or are attached to your monitor, make sure
that the speakers are shielded. This eliminates electromagnetic interference from
the speakers to your monitor. If you suspect interference, move the speakers or purchase
ones that are shielded.


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