HP Vectra VL6 7 User manual

English
Online Guide
Date: 1997
Using
Sound
on
Your PC

How to use this online guide
2English
How to use this online guide
Click underlined red text to go to the topic indicated.
Underlined red text is text that is “linked” to another topic
in the guide.
Click the Go Back button in the toolbar to go back to your
previous place in the guide.
Click the Next Page button in the toolbar to go to the next
page in the guide.
Click the Previous Page button in the toolbar to go to the
previous page in the guide.
Click the First Page button in the toolbar to go to the
opening screen of the guide.
Click a bookmark name (to the left of the screen) to go to
the topic corresponding to that bookmark. Click the small
triangle to the left of the bookmark to hide or show
subordinate bookmarks.
Topic
Sound Board Connectors
CD Audio Connector
Sound Board Settings
Windows 3.11 System

Contents
English 3
How to use this online guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Using Sound on Your PC
Why Do I Need Sound? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Running the Audio Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Testing Your Audio Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
If You Are Running Windows NT 3.51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
If You Are Running Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
If You Are Running OS/2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
If You Are Running Windows 3.11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Solving Problems with Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Connecting Audio Devices to the Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Connecting a MIDI Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Setting Up and Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Upgrading to Wave Table Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Uninstalled Audio Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Sound Board Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
AUX In Connector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
CD Audio Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Internal Speaker Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Multimedia Control Panel Connector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Multimedia Control Panel Microphone Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Telephone Answering Device Connector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

4English
Sound Board Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Viewing the Software Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Windows 3.11 and MS-DOS System File Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Environment Variables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
CD-ROM Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

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, such as games and encyclopedias, that use sound
either on your PC or from the Internet

English 7
Using Sound on Your PC
Why Do I Need Sound?
Furthermore, using the standard audio software on your computer, you can:
❒record speech or music (as “wave files”) and embed these sounds in other
programs (this is useful for creating training programs)
❒play music CDs or MIDI files on your computer (MIDI files are a way of storing
music, especially music created by keyboard instruments)
❒record, play, and edit pieces of music or sound (stored as wave files)

Using Sound on Your PC
Running the Audio Programs
8English
Running the Audio Programs
Your HP Vectra PC has full audio capability. The sound board’s 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. Follow the appropriate section for
your own operating system, described next.
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 3.51
1Open the Accessories group. You’ll see the following audio programs:
WARNING If using a headphone for testing your sound board, do not connect the headphone
to the SPK output. Refer to “Connecting Audio Devices to the Rear Panel” on page
16 for further details.
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, or sound files. The MIDI player makes use of the
sound board’s built-in synthesizer.
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.

English 9
Using Sound on Your PC
Running the Audio Programs
Starting the Audio
Programs Under
Windows95 and
Windows NT4.0
1Click the Start button on the taskbar.
2Select Programs Accessories Multimedia.
You’ll see a selection of audio programs:
Starting the Audio
Programs Under
OS/2
1Open the Multimedia folder. You’ll see a CD player, a MIDI player, Digital Audio
for recording and playing sound files, and a volume control. For complete
information on using these modules, open the Multimedia book located in the
Information folder.
Starting the Audio
Programs Under
Windows 3.11
1With Windows running, open the Accessories program group by double-clicking
on its icon .
2Double-click on the Sound Recorder program icon to record, play, and edit wave
files, or on Media Player to play sound or MIDI files, audio CDs, or video clips.
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 either MIDI files or music CDs. The MIDI player makes use of the sound
board’s built-in synthesizer.
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.

Using Sound on Your PC
Testing Your Audio Setup
10 English
Testing Your Audio Setup
For Windows NT operating systems and Windows 95, set Mixer bars to mid range
before beginning tests.
If You Are Running Windows NT 3.51
Your system includes sample wave and MIDI files that you can play to check that
your audio system works.
1Open the Accessories group and start Media Player.
2Open the Device menu in Media Player and select either Sound to play a wave file
or MIDI Sequencer to play a MIDI file.
3In 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:\Windows
4Select a file and click OK.
5Click the Media Player start button to play the sound.
6To adjust the volume of the sound, start the Volume Control program in the
Accessories group.
If You Are Running Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0
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.