HP P Class 733/800/866MHz / 1GHz User manual

English
Online Guide
Rev. 2
March 1998
Using
Sound
on
Your PC

How to use this online guide
2English
How to use this online guide
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Testing Your Audio Setup
If You Are Running Windo
Solving Problems with Sound
Connecting Audio Devices to
Topic

Contents
English 3
How to use this online guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Using Sound on Your PC
Why Do I Need Sound? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Connecting Audio Devices to the Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Connecting Audio Devices to the Front Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Connecting a MIDI Keyboard (models with MIDI connector). . 10
Setting Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Running the Audio Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Testing Your Audio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
If You Are Running Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 95. . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Installing Audio Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Internal Hardware Connectors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
CD Audio Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Audio Front Panel Connector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Front Panel Microphone Connector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
AUX Audio Connector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Sound Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Viewing the Software Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Solving Problems with Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

4English
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Using Sound on Your PC
This guide tells you how to get the most out of your computer’s sound
system. It tells you what you can do with the audio programs, and how
to solve any problems.

Using Sound on Your PC
Why Do I Need Sound?
6English
Why Do I Need Sound?
Sound is an essential element in multimedia computing. But just what is
“multimedia computing”, and what can you do with it?
With the popular Sound Blaster compatible product in your PC, you can:
❒Run training applications that use speech and music.
❒Use presentation software to create and run promotional or information displays.
❒Use multimedia applications and encyclopedias that use sound either on your PC
or from the Internet.

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Using Sound on Your PC
Connecting Audio Devices to the Rear Panel
Connecting Audio Devices to the Rear Panel
The multimedia rear panel has an audio Line In jack, an audio Line Out jack, MIDI
interface connector, and a MIC In jack. You can therefore use this panel to connect
headphones, a microphone, a recording device, or other audio devices such as a
Minidisc player, powered speakers, external amplifier for audio output.
The positions of the jacks on the multimedia rear panel are shown in your User’s
Guide.
WARNING Before connecting the headphones or speakers, always turn the volume down to
avoid discomfort from unexpected noise or static. Listening to loud sounds for
prolonged periods of time may permanently damage your hearing. Before putting
on the headphones, place them around your neck and turn the volume down. When
you put on the headphones, slowly increase the volume until you find a
comfortable listening level. When you can hear comfortably and clearly, without
distortion, leave the volume control in that position.
Details of what each jack is for are given below.
LINE IN Connect devices such as a cassette, DAT, or Minidisc player for
playback and recording.
MIC IN Connect a microphone for voice input. The Mic In jack on either the
rear panel or the front panel can be used. You might find the front
panel microphone input is more accessible than the rear panel
connector.

Using Sound on Your PC
Connecting Audio Devices to the Rear Panel
8English
LINE OUT Connect powered speakers, an external amplifier for audio output,
a recording device (tape deck), or stereo headphones.
You can use the LINE OUT jack for headphones with limited power
output. If your computer has an HP multimedia control panel
(situated at the front of the computer), it is recommended that you
use this dedicated headphone output. Refer to “Connecting Audio
Devices to the Front Panel” on page 9 for further information.
GAME/MIDI Connect a joystick (for game software) or MIDI instrument. The
MIDI port is disabled by default. You will have to enable this port if
you wish to use it with a MIDI.
NOTE The GAME/MIDI connector is only available on some models.

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Using Sound on Your PC
Connecting Audio Devices to the Front Panel
Connecting Audio Devices to the Front Panel
Your computer’s multimedia front panel has a headphones/speaker jack, and a
microphone jack (refer to “Audio Front Panel Connector” on page 15 for more
information).
The front panel microphone input and headphone output are more accessible than
the connectors on the rear panel. When you use the front panel Headphone Out
jack, the rear panel Line Out jack is automatically muted.
Do not connect headphones to the jack on the CD-ROM drive, as this lets you hear
output only from music CDs. To test your audio setup, refer to “Testing Your Audio”
on page 13.
WARNING Before connecting the headphones or speakers, always turn the volume down to
avoid discomfort from unexpected noise or static. Listening to loud sounds for
prolonged periods of time may permanently damage your hearing. Before putting
on the headphones, place them around your neck and turn the volume down. When
you put on the headphones, slowly increase the volume until you find a
comfortable listening level. When you can hear comfortably and clearly, without
distortion, leave the volume control in that position.
Details of what each jack is for are given below.
MIC IN Connect a microphone for voice input. The Mic In jack on either the
front panel or the rear panel can be used.
HEADPHONE Connect stereo headphones. For your own comfort, it is
recommended that you use this dedicated headphone output. The
Line Out jack and the internal speaker on the rear panel of your PC
are automatically deactivated when you use the front panel
Headphone Out jack.
The positions of the above jacks on the multimedia rear panel are shown in your
User’s Guide.

Using Sound on Your PC
Connecting a MIDI Keyboard (models with MIDI connector)
10 English
Connecting a MIDI Keyboard (models with MIDI connector)
By connecting a keyboard instrument to your computer, and running a sequencer
program on your computer to control your musical arrangements, you can create a
mini-recording studio. The keyboard instrument you use must have MIDI capability,
as most modern instruments do.
You store your arrangements in a MIDI file, which is like an orchestral score—it can
contain the sequence of notes for many different instruments, with information on
the pitch and duration of each note and the sort of instrument it should sound like.
Setting Up
Your keyboard, operating system settings, and sequencer program must all be set
up correctly so that you can record and play back music satisfactorily.
It’s difficult to give precise instructions here for setting up, as the steps depend on
your keyboard and on the music software you are running. For more specific
instructions, refer to the documentation that came with your keyboard and
software.
Here are some general guidelines, however, that should help you get started.
1Connect your keyboard instrument to the rear panel of your PC via a MIDI cable.
2Direct your computer’s MIDI output to a playback device as follows:
Track Name Loop Key Time Port Channel Patch Volume Size
1 Lead piano 1 0 0 2:External 1 Electric Piano ... 301
2 Harmony 1 0 0 1:SB16 2 Clarinet ... 295
3 Bass 2 15 2:External 3 Bass ... 175
4 Trombone 2 15 1:SB16 4 Trombone 85 260
5 Jug 2 15 1:SB16 5 Bottle blow ... 303
Each instrument is played
back on its own channel.
You can play back some
channels through your
embedded audio and some
through your keyboard
instrument.

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Using Sound on Your PC
Connecting a MIDI Keyboard (models with MIDI connector)
Setting Up Under
Windows NT 4.0 and
Windows 95
If you are running Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 95:
aClick the Start button.
bSelect Settings Control Panel.
cDouble-click the Multimedia icon .
dIn the Multimedia Properties dialog box, click the MIDI tab.
•To play back all the channels through the same synthesizer, select Single
instrument.
❒If you are running Windows NT 4.0, select either ADISound FM
Synthesis (to play back through the computer’s embedded audio) or
MPU-401 Out (to play back through your keyboard instrument).
❒If you are running Windows 95, select either Analog Devices AD1816
FM Synthesis (to play back through the computer’s embedded audio)
or MPU-401 Out (to play back through your keyboard instrument).
If you have several MIDI instruments, select the particular instrument for
playback. (You can first set up each instrument with a distinct name by
clicking the Add New Instrument button and following the wizard’s
instructions.)
•To divide the channels between synthesizers, select Custom configuration
and then click Configure. Then, select each channel in turn, click Change,
and select a synthesizer for that channel. By clicking Save as, you can save
your configuration with a particular name.
This configuration feature is often called a MIDI mapper, because it maps
the MIDI channels onto the synthesizers.
eClick OK to save your changes.

Using Sound on Your PC
Running the Audio Programs
12 English
Running the Audio Programs
Your HP PC Workstation has full audio capability. The embedded audio features can
be used by any other application that supports standard PC audio capability.
For example, you can add computer software for creating your own multimedia
business presentations and training programs, building in voice-over, graphics, and
audio enhancements.
So that you have complete control of the audio input to these applications, your
computer includes several audio software tools.
To start the audio programs, follow the appropriate section for your own operating
system, described below.
NOTE The output volume may initially be set to zero in the audio software. If you don’t hear
any sound, adjust the volume using the audio software.
Starting the Audio
Programs Under
Windows NT4.0
and Windows95
1Click the Start button on the operating system taskbar.
2Select Programs Accessories Multimedia.
You will be presented with the following selection of audio programs:
1. If you don’t hear any sound, refer to “Solving Problems with Sound” on page 20.
CD Player For playing music CDs. This program gives you the normal hi-fi display to show
number of tracks, elapsed playing time, and so on.
Media Player To play MIDI files, music CDs, sound files, or wave files. The MIDI player can
make use of either the embedded audio’s built-in synthesizer, or external MIDI
instrument.
Sound Recorder To record sounds from various sources as wave files.
Volume Control To control the input and output volumes of the other players and sound
recorder.1

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Using Sound on Your PC
Testing Your Audio
Testing Your Audio
For Windows NT operating systems and Windows 95, set the Mixer volume control
slide bars to mid range before beginning tests.
If You Are Running Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 95
There are many sample wave and MIDI files on your computer which you can play to
check that your audio system works.
1Click the Start button on the taskbar.
2Select Programs Accessories Multimedia Media Player.
3Open the Device menu in Media Player and select either Sound to play a wave file
or MIDI Sequencer to play a MIDI file.
4In the Open window, locate and select a file, then click the Open button.
You can find the files used by the operating system in:
c:\Winnt\Media for Windows NT.
c:\Windows\Media for Windows 95.
If not all the sounds you need are offered, you can install extra sounds available
in the Multimedia dialog box, as described on page 14.
5To play the file, click the Play button
6To adjust the volume of the sound, click the speaker symbol in the right
corner of the taskbar (or select Volume Control from the Media Player’s Device
menu) and adjust the volume. You can also double-click the speaker symbol to
display separate mixer controls.
If you don’t hear anything, refer to “Solving Problems with Sound” on page 20.

Using Sound on Your PC
Installing Audio Software
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Installing Audio Software
Your Multimedia program group should already contain all the Windows NT 4.0 or
Windows 95 audio programs (described on page 12). If any of the programs are
missing, you can install them as follows:
1Click the Start button on the taskbar.
2Select Settings Control Panel.
3Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon .
4In the Add/Remove Programs Properties dialog box, click the Windows NT Setup
(Windows NT 4.0) or the Windows Setup (Windows 95) tab.
5Select Multimedia from the list of components, and click Details.
6In the Multimedia dialog box, select an unselected component by clicking on its
checkbox.
7Click OK at each dialog box to install the programs.
You can use the same Multimedia dialog box to remove components if you want
to save space on your hard disk.

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Using Sound on Your PC
Internal Hardware Connectors
Internal Hardware Connectors
The PC’s system board has several connectors that allow you to internally connect
to other devices. To find out where the internal connectors are located on the
system board, and their pin assignments, refer to your User’s Guide.
The internal audio connectors include:
CD Audio Connector
The CD Audio Connector, labeled “CD IN”, is a 4-pin connector that is connected to
the internal CD drive. This connector allows you to listen to audio from the internal
CD-ROM drive.
Audio Front Panel Connector
The Audio Front Panel Connector, labeled “Audio Front Panel”, is a 10-pin
connector that links the system board with the multimedia front panel. It has the
following functions:
•Stereo output redirection to the front panel headphone jack or the rear panel
stereo jack.
aWhen the headphone jack in the front panel of the PC is not being used, the
audio signal is available on the rear panel (for example: speakers are active).
bWhen a headphone is plugged into the headphone jack, the audio is directed
to it, and no sound is available on the rear panel (speakers are muted).
Front Panel Microphone Connector
The Front Panel Microphone Connector, labeled “Front Panel Micro”, is a 3-pin
connector. The audio signal from this connector is directly mixed with the signal
from the rear panel Microphone jack.

Using Sound on Your PC
Internal Hardware Connectors
16 English
AUX Audio Connector
The AUX (Auxiliary) Connector, labeled “AUX”, is a 4-pin connector that is
intended to interconnect with other peripherals’ analog audio devices. These
peripherals can be:
•Secondary CD drive.
•DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) drive.
•MPEG (Motion Picture Expert Group) video board.
•Video conference board.
•Speech processing board.

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Using Sound on Your PC
Sound Settings
Sound Settings
The embedded audio in your HP PC Workstation supports Plug and Play. This
means that if another accessory board is installed, or reinstalled, the operating
system is able to automatically configure the various software settings.
The following table gives the preferred settings for the embedded audio:
The operating system may change these settings when a board is installed or
reinstalled in the following situations:
•Another peripheral device uses the same I/O addresses, DMA channel, or
interrupt setting as the embedded audio (known as a hardware conflict).
•Another joystick/game connector is already in use in your system.
Viewing the Software Settings
All of the embedded audio settings are software configurable.
Viewing the Software
Settings Under
Windows NT 4.0
You can view the software settings as follows:
1Click the Start button and select Settings Control Panel.
2Open Multimedia and click the Devices tab.
Audio Interface: I/O Address Range: 100H to 3F0H
Joystick Connector: Enabled
IRQ Line: 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 15
DMA Channel 1: 0, 1, 3
DMA Channel 2: 0, 1, 3
MPU-401 UART MIDI Interface: I/O Address Range: 100H to 3FEH
IRQ Line: 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 15
Joystick Interface: I/O Address Range: 100H to 3F8H
Stereo Music Synthesizer I/O Address Range: 100H to 3F0H

Using Sound on Your PC
Sound Settings
18 English
3In the list of devices, expand the line Audio Devices. You will see the audio driver
Audio for Analog Devices SoundComm Driver. Select this and click
Properties.
4Click the Settings tab.
Now you can view the settings. You may need to scroll the list to see all of the
settings.
CAUTION As many applications are designed to work with your embedded audio’s default
settings, you are advised not to change the settings unless you are very familiar with
PC configuration.
5To change a setting, first change Auto-Configuration to Disable. Then select a
new setting, using the scroll buttons, and click OK.
6Click OK again at the Properties window, and then click Yes at the confirmation
message.
7Click OK at the Multimedia Properties window. If you changed any settings,
restart your PC for the changes to take effect.
Viewing the Software
Settings Under
Windows 95
You can view settings through the Device Manager, as follows:
1Click the Start button and select Settings Control Panel.
2Open System and click on the Device Manager tab.
3In the list of devices, expand the line Sound, video and game controllers.
You will see the audio driver Analog Devices AD1816 Sound Controller. Select
this and click Properties.
4Click the Resources tab.
Now you can view the settings. You may need to scroll the list to see all of the
settings.
CAUTION As many applications are designed to work with your embedded audio’s default
settings, you are advised not to change the settings unless you are very familiar with
PC configuration.
5To change a setting, first clear the checkbox Use automatic settings. Then
select the resource type and click Change Settings.

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Using Sound on Your PC
Sound Settings
6Select a new setting, using the scroll buttons, and click OK.
7Click OK again at the Properties window, and then click Yes at the confirmation
message.
8Click Close at the System Properties window. If you changed any settings, restart
your PC for the changes to take effect.

Using Sound on Your PC
Solving Problems with Sound
20 English
Solving Problems with Sound
No sound when
running any
applications
If you can’t hear any sound at all, try playing one of the sample wave or MIDI files on
your system, as described in “Testing Your Audio” on page 13. If you then hear
sound, the problem lies with the application you were running or with the file you
were originally trying to play. If the sample files also give no sound, check your
system connections for the following:
•Your headset or headphones must not be connected directly to the CD-ROM
drive. They must be connected to the LINE OUT and MIC jacks on the front panel,
or the rear panel. (Refer to the connection information on pages 7 to 9). If your
headset has a volume control, make sure it’s turned up to a suitable level.
•If you’re using an external amplifier or amplified speakers, make sure they are
connected to the LINE OUT jack on the rear panel, and the volume is set to mid
range.
Next, check that the output volume is not set to zero:
•Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 95 users: Display the Volume Control window by
double-clicking the speaker symbol in the right corner of the taskbar (or
select Volume Control from within the application). Check the levels for the
overall Volume Control, wave output, and for the particular device you are
playing, for example MIDI. Check also that the device has not been muted—the
Mute checkbox should be clear.
The volume is too low •The LINE OUT jack is a low-distortion output that cannot drive (without
amplification) low-impedance devices such as speakers. If you plug low-
impedance devices into the LINE OUT jack, the volume will be low. HP
recommends that you use powered speakers with integrated power supply from
the rear panel, or a headset from the front panel.
•Embedded speaker has a lower volume level. HP recommends that you use a
headset or powered speakers to get the maximum out of your PC Workstation’s
embedded audio.