Tech: Computer Sound problems

Subject: Tech: Computer Sound problems
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 11 Jun 04 - 01:07 PM

Today for the first time I connected up my speakers to my new machine, and ...zilch.

There isn't a separate soundcard, it is built into the ASUS motherboard. There are three sockets, the little speaker built into the TFT screen is plugged into the centre one, and that works OK (although obviously it is no good for listening to music.)

Neither of the left or right hand sockets work. When I plug one lead of the powered speakers into the centre socket it works OK although very trebly, and plugging the other lead in works as well except it is very bassy. Obviously they need to work in tandem to function correctly.

Anyone have any ideas ? Is there some tweak I can do via the Control Panel ?

All suggestions gratefully received ....

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer Sound problems
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 11 Jun 04 - 05:09 PM

ASUS is easy to get to, and appears to have fairly good descriptions of their current boards. It also looks like they have support site, and a "USAS Club" which I would assume is a user's group where you can likely get answers from people familiar with your specific board.

The couple of USAS boards I took a quick look at all claim to have "6-channel" digital sound. If that's what you've got, the connections (jacks) you're looking at are probably not for left and right channels as you might expect. The PC powered speakers most commonly used/supplied with recent PCs I've seen plug left and right channels in on one "stereo" connector, usually using a plug connected to the right speaker, and the left main speaker plugs into the right speaker. Any other jacks are often for the "surround sound" auxiliary speakers.

The USAS motherboard (US) page I looked at indicated some downloads available, and it is possible that you need to download and install drivers and/or control programs for your sound functions.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer Sound problems
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 11 Jun 04 - 06:43 PM

Thanks for that reply John, and if necessary I will contact the user's group.

The loudspeaker setup is a 12 v powered PC Works Four Point Surround. There are six sockets at the back of the big box, (three rows of two) top two are marked Front - Rear followed by "Audio inputs" in parentheses. There is a ribbon lead with two male pins at either end which I have connected to the Audio Input sockets and the outside two sockets in the tower..

There are also two little auxiliary speakers which I do not intend to use. These would presumably plug into the other sockets which are marked Front Left - Rear Left, and Front Right - Rear Right.

I am familiar with the type of set-up you describe, one powered speaker with a slave(?) coming off it, but this lot isn't like that ...

However if I can't get it up and running by tomorrow morning I will be buying a set-up like that which I know will work, as there is definitely a signal coming from the centre socket.