3
Configuration 1
your PC. This typically happens if there has been no sound card previously
installed in the PC. Windows XP (prior to Service Pack 1) and Server 2003 by
default have the loudspeaker symbol turned off. To enable it, go into
Control
Panel
, select
Sounds, Speech and Audio Devices
, then click on
Sounds and
Audio Devices
, and finally tick the box marked
Place volume icon in the task
bar.
Configuration
There are three configuration settings for the Auricon 4.4, these being
stereo/mono mode, nominal line level, input topology and input coupling.
The
mode
may be configured as either stereo or mono. In mono mode the
number of input and output channels that Windows sees is doubled.
The nominal line level can be set to +8dBu, +4dBu or 0dBu. In each case the
clipping level is 16dB above the nominal level.
The
input coupling
can be set to either DC or AC (the default is AC). The AC
coupling corner frequency is approximately 0.1Hz. Note this is applied after
the analogue amplifiers, so a differential DC offset on the inputs can cause
premature clipping.
To change the configuration, right-click on the
My Computer
icon on the
desktop (or in the Start menu in the case of XP, Server 2003, Vista, Server
2008 and 7), select
Properties
, then click on
Device Manager
. On Windows
8 and Server 2012, open the
Control Panel
, go to
System and Security
and
then
System
, and open
Device Manager
from the link in the left hand pane.
Open
Sound, video and game controllers
, then right-click on
Auricon 4.4
and
select
Properties
. Now click on the
Configuration
tab and select the desired
mode, line level and/or topology. Under Windows XP and Server 2003 it may
take a minute or so for Windows to reconfigure itself and the screen may
flicker during this time. Be patient!
Operation on Windows 8, 7, Vista
and Server 2012, 2008-R2, 2008
The audio subsystem of Windows 8, 7, Vista and corresponding server
versions has changed substantially from earlier versions of Windows,
although most applications should continue to work without modification.
The major differences likely to affect users of the Auricon 4.4 are described
below.
Audio Endpoints
Key to the new system is the concept of audio endpoints. These are the
physical audio sources and destinations, such as microphones, speakers and
line connectors.
Previously, an audio capture device would typically have multiple inputs
which were combined in a mixer or selector. Under Windows Vista and later,
each input is represented by its own device, and Windows itself operates
the card’s selector to route the chosen source to the A/D converter.
In the case of the Auricon 4.4, each of the physical line inputs is represented
by an endpoint device, and as the hardware has separate A/D converters for
each one, they can be used simultaneously. There are also virtual endpoint
devices for the digital loopback sources, although by default these are
disabled. To enable these sources, right-click on the loudspeaker symbol
at the bottom right-hand corner of the screen, select Recording Devices,
right-click anywhere in the window and select Show Disabled Devices.
Now right-click on the desired Wave Out Mix device and select Enable. This
source will now appear as one of the available audio recording devices.
Note that when an application is recording from a loopback endpoint, the
corresponding line input is unavailable, and vice versa.
Windows has a default playback endpoint and a default recording endpoint,
which are typically used by applications where the input or output device
cannot be explicitly chosen. After the Auricon 4.4 driver is installed,
