SoundMAX Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know what jack does what?

Drivers (software for the sound card)

1 Where can I get driver software for my SoundMAX Digital Audio System?

2 Why don't you provide drivers here?

3 Where can I get driver software for Windows 98 or Windows 95?

4 Why do I care about the difference between Windows 98 Gold and Windows 98 SE?

5 How can I tell if I have Windows 98 Gold or Windows 98 SE?

6 Where can I find Linux drivers?

7 How do I install audio drivers?

8 How do I remove audio drivers?

9 I have no idea what brand of computer I have, how do I get audio drivers?

10 Where can I get drivers for Windows Server 2003?

11 I cannot find a driver for the SMBus or SM Bus Controller. Where can I get it and why isn't it included with your driver?

Microphone

12 How can I get my microphone to work?

13 I can barely hear the microphone, how do I increase the volume?

14 How can I stop the loud feedback screeching when I use my microphone?

15 My microphone is too loud and distorted.

16 Why can't I get the microphone to work while I'm using 5.1 speakers?

17 Why can't I get my USB microphone to work with SoundMAX?

18 Another company told me I need a full-duplex sound card. Is SoundMAX full duplex?

Speakers

19 How do I change the sound volume level?

20 I don't get audio out of the left (or right) speaker.

21 How do I get my digital speakers to work?

22 Why can't I get my USB speakers to work with SoundMAX?

23 My speakers are too quiet. I can barely hear them.

Playing a DVD

24 What do I need to do to get DVDs to play in Dolby Digital mode?

25 I can't get DVD audio to work.

26 Audio doesn't work with my Avid DVD creator software.

Audio Quality

27 How do I stop the crackling/clicking sound when I play MP3 (or other audio) files?

28 How do I stop audio from skipping in Windows 98?

29 Sound is playing too fast.

30 When I input audio from another device, it's too loud and distorted.

It doesn't work

31 I keep getting "Digital output is taken by another application" errors.

Computer Failures

32 I upgraded my Operating System to Windows XP and now SoundMAX causes crashes.

MIDI

33 Why doesn't my MIDI port work?

34 Why is there a 1/4 second delay when using external MIDI devices?

Other

35 What version of DirectX does SoundMAX require?

36 I installed SoundMAX, but I can't find anything to run. How do I run SoundMAX?

37 Where can I find DOS drivers for SoundMAX?

38 How do I remove the SoundMAX icon from the system tray?

39 I've tried everything, is there something else that might fix the problem?

Audio Jacks

Color Coding

The back of your PC may contain between 2 and 6 small audio jacks. The color scheme established by the PC99 standard is:

BLUE - Line-Input

PINK - Microphone

GREEN - Headphone or stereo speakers

YELLOW (or may also be BLACK) - Center / Subwoofer Speakers

BLACK - Surround-Rear Speakers

GREY - Surround-Side/Rear Speakers

Jack Sharing

Some systems are "jack sharing" systems. Each jack can do more than one thing, but only one thing at a time. This means that some features can't be used when other features are enabled.

Some share this way:

Others share this way:

On some systems, the green jack is also for SPDIF digital output. This connects to digital speakers or a digital receiver system.

On some systems, there is an additional microphone on the front of the computer. In those cases, it may be possible to use the microphone at the same time as 5.1 surround speakers.

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Drivers (software for the sound card)

1 Where can I get driver software for my SoundMAX Digital Audio System?

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2 Why don't you provide drivers here?

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3 Where can I get driver software for Windows 98 or Windows 95?

The driver software for Windows 95 is different from the driver software for most other Windows operating systems. Drivers that work on newer versions of Windows will not work on Windows 95.

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4 Why do I care about the difference between Windows 98 Gold and Windows 98 SE?

There are two versions of Windows 98. The original version of Windows 98 (often called Windows 98 Gold) uses the same type of drivers as Windows 95. Windows 98 Second Edition (often called Windows 98 SE) uses the same type of drivers as newer Windows operating systems such as Windows XP.

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5 How can I tell if I have Windows 98 Gold or Windows 98 SE?

Click the START menu in the lower left corner of the desktop. This will bring up a menu bar. The left side of the menu bar will show which operating system you have.

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6 Where can I find Linux drivers?

We don't provide Linux drivers directly. We go through the Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Group. You'll need to go there for Linux drivers.

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7 How do I install audio drivers?

There are two ways to install the audio driver software for your computer.

Best Install Method: Run the Setup Program

The most effective method to install the driver software for your computer is to run the "Setup" program that comes with the driver software.

Not the Best Install Method: Let Windows Find It

If the audio driver software for your computer is not installed, Windows may find it and attempt to find the driver software.

If you install the software using this method:

1. You won't get any additional SoundMAX features if they are provided in the driver software.
2. Windows might not actually find the driver software.
3. You won't be able to use the Add/Remove Programs feature in the control panel to remove the driver software later on.

Here's a procedure for doing an INF install

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8 How do I remove audio drivers?

Go into the Control Panel of the Windows operating system. To do this, click on the START menu at the lower left corner of the desktop, choose Settings in the menu list, then select Control Panel in the 2nd level menu list.

Within the control panel, double click on the Add/Remove Programs item. This will open up another window. You should see SoundMAX as an entry in this new window. Select SoundMAX and then select Change/Remove. This will run the uninstall program. At the first dialog, select the 'Remove all' option. When program removal is done, a final dialog displays 'InstallShield Wizard Complete'. Click the Finish button to reboot your computer.

After reboot, the computer may indicate that it has found new hardware and is looking for a suitable driver. If you intend to do a complete reinstall of SoundMAX, Cancel out of this dialog, then double-click on setup.exe in the SoundMAX install package. If you want to just do an "INF install", follow the instructions for an INF install.

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9 I have no idea what brand of computer I have, how do I get audio drivers?

You'll need to find out somehow. If you have a name brand computer by one of the computer makers, that name should be written somewhere on your computer (the rectangular case where you insert CD disks, not the monitor/display). If your computer was built by someone else, you need to open the computer (after unplugging it from any electrical outlets!) and read the company name and model number written directly on the motherboard (not the name of devices attached to the motherboard). The motherboard is the large, typically green board inside the computer (sometimes it's red or other colors).

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10 Where can I get drivers for Windows Server 2003?

Some older versions of the driver software don't work with Windows Server 2003. There is no special driver for Windows Server 2003, the latest driver for Windows XP should work.

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11 I cannot find a driver for the SMBus or SM Bus Controller. Where can I get it and why isn't it included with your driver?

The "SM" in "SM Bus Controller" stands for "System Management", not SoundMAX. It is a part of your motherboard's chipset, and the drivers for that chipset should include what you need. The driver may also be called "INF Updates". Please check with your motherboard or PC manufacturer for more details regarding the SM Bus.

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Microphone

12 How can I get my microphone to work?

The microphone plugs into the pink jack on the rear panel of the computer.

Some computers have another jack on the front panel for a microphone. If your computer has a front panel microphone jack, you may need to configure your computer for the one you want to use.

Some microphones have on/off switches (especially microphones in headsets). Make sure your microphone is turned on.

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13 I can barely hear the microphone, how do I increase the volume?

In case the sound from the microphone is not loud enough, there is a checkbox to boost the loudness. The Advanced button for the microphone within the mixer opens up a window which has a checkbox for boosting the microphone. It will typically be called "Mic Boost" or "+20dB Boost".

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14 How can I stop the loud feedback screeching when I use my microphone?

The feedback screeching you are hearing is due to the fact that your microphone is turned up too loudly and is amplifying the sound from your speakers and feeding it back to your system. If the microphone is too loud, make sure to uncheck the Mic Boost checkbox. Also, if the microphone is too loud, go into the mixer and reduce the recording and/or playback volume for the microphone.

The problem might be caused by the AudioESP feature. Try disabling AudioESP.

You can also increase/decrease the microphone playback and recording volume in the mixer

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15 My microphone is too loud and distorted.

If the microphone is too loud, make sure to uncheck the Mic Boost checkbox. Also, if the microphone is too loud, go into the mixer and reduce the recording and/or playback volume for the microphone.

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16 Why can't I get the microphone to work while I'm using 5.1 speakers?

If you have SoundMAX 4 XL, the problem might be caused by the AudioESP feature. Try disabling AudioESP.

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17 Why can't I get my USB microphone to work with SoundMAX?

SoundMAX has its own connectors for speakers and microphones. If you plug in USB speakers or microphones, you will be using another audio solution and not SoundMAX.

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18 Another company told me I need a full-duplex sound card. Is SoundMAX full duplex?

Yes, SoundMAX is full-duplex. It supports input and output at the same time.

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Speakers

19 How do I change the sound volume level?

The Windows mixer controls volume levels and some other audio controls.

To bring up the mixer (shown below), double click on the speaker icon in the system tray on the bottom right part of the desktop.

Windows contains a simple audio mixer which controls the audio. The "Balance" slider controls the left-right balance. The "Volume" slider controls loudness. The "Mute" buttons stop all sound for that item.

The "Advanced" button opens another window to control more settings. You won't see the "Advanced" buttons unless "Advanced Controls" is selected/checked within the "Options" menu near the top of the window.

To get to the Properties area of the mixer, select the "Options" menu on the mixer (shown above). Select "Properties" to open the window shown below.

If you have more than one sound card, make sure you choose which sound card you want in the "Mixer Device" menu at the top of this window. SoundMAX is the mixer device built into the motherboard of your computer.

Below are the Recording Controls. To get here, start with the Properties area of the mixer (above). Select the "Recording" round button (radio button). Then press the "OK" button.

Notice how the individual checkboxes in the Recording Control area of the mixer are "Select" buttons (not mute buttons). Only one can be selected to choose the source for making recordings.

Increasing the recording volume does not affect the volume you hear while the recording is being made.

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20 I don't get audio out of the left (or right) speaker.

Certain Asus motherboards were shipped without "jumpers" set to their normal default settings. This would cause audio to not work or to only work in one speaker. Check your motherboard for the correct jumper settings.

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21 How do I get my digital speakers to work?

Some computers with SoundMAX have a SPDIF digital audio output which can plug into digital speakers or a digital receiver system. SPDIF stands for Sony/Philips Digital Interface. Sometimes it's spelled S/PDIF or S/P-DIF.

There are three common types of SPDIF connectors used by computers with SoundMAX: RCA, optical, and standard audio mini-jack. The standard audio mini-jack is used on jack sharing systems where SPDIF shares the same jack as the stereo speaker jack. If your digital speakers or digital receiver uses a different type of jack than your computer, you will need to find some solution. One solution is to buy a converter (search the web for "RCA to optical Toslink converter" or else "minijack to RCA converter").

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22 Why can't I get my USB speakers to work with SoundMAX?

SoundMAX has its own connectors for speakers and microphones. If you plug in USB speakers or microphones, you will be using another audio solution and not SoundMAX.

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23 My speakers are too quiet. I can barely hear them.

SoundMAX is designed to be used with powered speakers (speakers that plug into wall outlets or have have batteries). You should be able to hear audio with un-powered speakers, but for the best sound, you should use powered speakers.

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Playing a DVD

24 What do I need to do to get DVDs to play in Dolby Digital mode?

NOTE: If your computer supports SPDIF digital connections and you want to connect SPDIF digital speakers or receiver to your computer, you must enable SPDIF in the Advanced button for the main volume within the mixer.

The audio on a DVD is encoded/decoded by an AC-3 coder using technology from Dolby Laboratories Inc. SoundMAX does not contain an AC-3 decoder or encoder. SoundMAX can only take the AC-3 digital signal and send it (in SPDIF digital form) to digital speakers or a digital receiver which must contain an AC-3 decoder.

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25 I can't get DVD audio to work.

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26 Audio doesn't work with my Avid DVD creator software.

The Avid DVD creator software (Express DV) automatically mutes all of the audio outputs except master volume and wave volume. Unfortunately, this includes the "front" volume in 5.1 speaker configurations. Avid engineers recognize this problem and have been working on a solution to allow users to override the muting of specific outputs.

One possible workaround is to have the SoundMAX applet open (and with the front mute highlighted) when starting up the Avid application. When the front volume control get muted, quickly un-mute it, then return to the Avid application.

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Audio Quality

27 How do I stop the crackling/clicking sound when I play MP3 (or other audio) files?

There is a bug on some computers where there is a faint clicking or crackling sound when playing audio. This can often be fixed by going into the mixer and muting the Bass Boost (or just turn the volume of Bass Boost all the way down). If you don't see Bass Boost in the mixer, look at the Properties area of the mixer and make sure the checkbox is checked for Bass Boost.

Another possible fix for this problem is to go into the mixer and lower the volume of the "wave" slider. You can then increase the volume on your speakers to bring the listening volume back up again.

By the way, SoundMAX requires DirectX 9.0 or greater. You can download DirectX from the Microsoft website.

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28 How do I stop audio from skipping in Windows 98?

First, make sure you have the latest driver from your computer or motherboard maker. Older drivers might not have loaded the latest operating system updates (QFEs). You might also try using Windows Update to get the latest updates.

Next, you'll need to make sure DMA (direct memory access) is enabled on your hard drive and CD-ROM drive.

1. Right Click on the "My Computer" icon on the Windows desktop. (this should bring up a menu list of selections)
2. Choose "Properties" in the menu. (this should bring up a small window)
3. Choose "Device Manager" tab at the top of the small window.
4. Double click on the CD-ROM device icon. (this should show another CD-ROM icon for the specific CD-ROM device in the computer)
5. Right Click on the specific CD-ROM device. (this should bring up a menu list)
6. Choose "Properties" in the menu. (this should open a small window)
7. Choose the "Settings" tab at the top of the small window.
8. Make sure there is a checkmark in the checkbox for "DMA". (this may bring up a warning message, cancel the warning)
9. Press "OK" on the small window.
10. Do the same process for the IDE Disk Drive (under the Disk Drives icon), enabling the DMA for the hard drive.
11. Close the System Properties window.
12. Restart the computer.

By the way, SoundMAX requires DirectX 9.0 or greater. You can download DirectX from the Microsoft website.

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29 Sound is playing too fast.

If the audio sounds too fast you have installed the wrong SoundMAX driver or you tried using the native OS driver. In order to fix this you need to use the driver that is distributed with your pc. If you do not have one check with your computer or motherboard maker for a driver.

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30 When I input audio from another device, it's too loud and distorted.

While recording, if the Line In level is too loud make sure you set the volume of the input device at a reasonable level. You can also change the input level in the windows recording mixer.

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It doesn't work

31 I keep getting "Digital output is taken by another application" errors.

An error in the driver software may cause the audio to stop functioning on your system in rare circumstances. In some cases an error message will display "Digital Output is taken by another application". This has been fixed in newer versions of the driver but will occur in any driver prior to 5.12.01.3520. Removing or reinstalling the driver will not fix the issue. If you are seeing this failure the only way to fix the issue is to delete the following two registry keys within the Windows Registry. This should be done by someone with experience in editing the registry.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Sensaura\Speaker]
"ChannelConfig"=dword:00000033
"SpeakerGeometry"=dword:00000000

After you reboot reset your speaker config and then everything should work properly.

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Computer Failures

32 I upgraded my Operating System to Windows XP and now SoundMAX causes crashes.

Older SoundMAX driver software that was never shipped with Windows XP has known stability problems when upgrading to Windows XP (most notably driver version 5.12.01.3030 and earlier). Make sure you have the latest driver from your computer or motherboard maker.

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MIDI

33 Why doesn't my MIDI port work?

Musicians sometimes use the MIDI port connector on some computers to connect to an external musical instrument. SoundMAX does not support the MIDI port of computers.

In many cases, because the MIDI synthesizer runs on the computer's main processor, there can be a short delay between when a MIDI instrument (that is connected to the computer) plays a note and when that note plays out the speakers.

On some computers, SoundMAX includes a MIDI synthesizer (which simulates musical instruments) which can play MIDI files. Some games and web pages create audio sounds using the MIDI synthesizer.

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34 Why is there a 1/4 second delay when using external MIDI devices?

In many cases, because the MIDI synthesizer runs on the computer's main processor, there can be a short delay between when a MIDI instrument (that is connected to the computer) plays a note and when that note plays out the speakers.

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Other

35 What version of DirectX does SoundMAX require?

SoundMAX requires DirectX 9.0 or greater. You can download DirectX from the Microsoft website.

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36 I installed SoundMAX, but I can't find anything to run. How do I run SoundMAX?

SoundMAX features can be accessed by Right Clicking on the SoundMAX icon in the system tray on the lower right side of the Windows desktop or in the Start menu, under Programs\SoundMAX, or in the system Control Panel by double-clicking on the SoundMAX icon. If you can not access SoundMAX features by any of these means, then your computer or motherboard maker might not have included additional SoundMAX features with your computer/motherboard.

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37 Where can I find DOS drivers for SoundMAX?

SoundMAX does not support DOS operation. Audio may or may not work with different DOS applications.

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38 How do I remove the SoundMAX icon from the system tray?

On some computers, a SoundMAX icon will appear in the system tray of the Windows desktop. This icon provide quick access to various audio features. Some users prefer a "clean" desktop or else run out of space in the system tray. The icon can be removed from the tray so that it will not re-appear after restarting the computer.

In newer versions of SoundMAX, to remove the icon, double click on the icon and select the checkbox to not show the icon in the tray.

In older versions of SoundMAX, the best way to remove the icon from the tray is to add an empty file with the name NoTskBar.txt into same folder containing the setup program to install SoundMAX. This will work if you re-install SoundMAX while it is currently installed.

If the icon appears with a red circle and diagonal line, it means the driver software is not installed correctly and/or not functioning correctly.

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39 I've tried everything, is there something else that might fix the problem?

After trying all of the above solutions, there are still two things to try:

A) Turn off (or on) software/hardware acceleration

1. Go into the Sounds and Audio Devices applet.
2. Click on the "Audio" tab at the top of the applet. (This should show three sections: Sound Playback, Sound Recording, and MIDI)
3. Click on the "Advanced" button in the Sound Playback section of the tab. (This should open an Advanced Audio Properties box showing the speaker configuration)
4. Click on the "Performance" tab at the top of the Advanced Audio Properties box.
5. Change the "Hardware acceleration" to either "None" or "Full".
6. Restart the computer and see if the problem still occurs.

B) Uninstall the Driver Software and do an INF Installation

See this link for information about the disadvantages of this procedure.

1. Go through the uninstall procedure, if the driver software is currently installed.
2. Restart the computer.
3. Windows should discover the audio device and open a small window asking how you want to install the device. You'll need to select to install the device from a specific location.
4. Direct Windows to the location where you downloaded it. If the downloaded driver software is zipped up in a zip file (see www.winzip.com), then you must unzip it first.

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