Chime DAC with Gateway Laptop

matt99eo · « **on:** 4 May 2006, 06:42 pm »

Hi all,
new guy here. Am trying to interface my Gateway laptop with the chime dac. Cannot get the pll light to come on and no music flows out of the chime dac. any reccomendations would be helpful.
thanks
matt

hagtech · « **Reply #1 on:** 4 May 2006, 09:08 pm »

This is likely due to the Gateway resampling the audio to 48kHz. CHIME needs 44.1k (regular CDs) sample rate data to work.

Have you tried an audio CD in the disc drive?

Does the Gateway recognize the "USB Audio Device"? Are you using Windows XP? What media player are you using?

jh

matt99eo · « **Reply #2 on:** 4 May 2006, 11:22 pm »

Running Microsoft Windows XP.
Cannot get a CD to play off computer in iTunes, Win Media Player, MusicMatch Box, or Foobar.
Computer is recognizing Chime as a USB Audio Device.
Are the drivers related to sending stuff out the USB related or the same as the drivers for my sound card? Is there some external/internal sound card that might interface better?

~Matt

Scott F. · « **Reply #3 on:** 4 May 2006, 11:53 pm »

Hi Matt,

I just checked the review sample Jim sent me (it was my first time using the USB interface, I've been using it as a DAC behind the Bolder modded SB3). Try turning the switch from the USB to CD1. The sample seems to have the two switched, maybe yours is wired the same way. That and make sure your WAVE balance in Windows (Sound Properties) is turned up and not muted. This is what now controls the output volume.

Hope that helped.

Scott F. · « **Reply #4 on:** 4 May 2006, 11:55 pm »

Oh, I forgot to mention, I'm running a new Gateway laptop BTW. I haven't tried a CD or any of the other players yet though, just Foobar.

hagtech · « **Reply #5 on:** 5 May 2006, 05:23 am »

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the mute slider. So many things to remember with software. All those dialog boxes...

jh

matt99eo · « **Reply #6 on:** 6 May 2006, 09:38 pm »

I have Chime DAC set on CD1 (left light will turn green)
Wave volume is not muted

Jh- what is mute slide?? not familiar with that?

matt

hagtech · « **Reply #7 on:** 6 May 2006, 11:26 pm »

Quote

Jh- what is mute slide??

I mean the volume control in the toolbar at bottom of Windows. It also has a mute checkbox.

Can you make sound on your PC without the Chime connected? Play CDs?

jh

matt99eo · « **Reply #8 on:** 7 May 2006, 08:29 pm »

nothing is muted. yes music plays when not connected to chime dac, although in that case the music is coming out of the headphone jack to an rca cable.
again the computer recognizes the device and I get a green left ligth, but the pll light stays red.

I am looking at using a Creative sound card that has an optical output and using an optical to spdif cable converted. what do you think?

Also is the Chime Dac setup to interface with a usb 1.1 or 2.0? Does it matter?

hagtech · « **Reply #9 on:** 7 May 2006, 09:56 pm »

Chime is USB1.1, but it plugs into a 2.0 port just fine (they are backwards compatible).

A nice test is to make sure the Chime locks to a regular 44.1k S/PDIF signal. Not sure why it doesn't like the Gateway yet. Still think it might be a 48k resampling issue.

jh

matt99eo · « **Reply #10 on:** 7 May 2006, 10:26 pm »

Yeah, How would I test that... with an osciloscope (can do)? Right now I am using a DVD deck with an spdif cable and it works great. That is outputing at a 44.1kHz rate correct? Have you seen drivers for a USB audio out?

Another thought? COuld I put a optical in into then Chime?
mp

hagtech · « **Reply #11 on:** 8 May 2006, 03:04 am »

Quote

using a DVD deck with an spdif cable and it works great

Ok, so Chime works fine with S/PDIF input? Then problem for USB input is likely a resampling to 48k. We need to find what driver, software, or dialog box is doing that. I wonder if it is inherent with the gateway sound hardware.

I guess maybe dig around the dialog boxes in XP. Start at control panel -> sounds, speech and audio devices... Check the advanced box in the volume section. See if anything is muted. Volumes should all be set to maximum. Also check (after Chime is plugged in) the USB Audio Device is operating properly, check dialog box stuff. Make sure no resampling is taking place. Check the Audio tab. Make sure USB output is selected. Look at the volume boxes there. Dig through the Hardware tab.

jh