[WT-support] Soundcard Interfacing

Sun Aug 13 11:36:48 CEST 2006

Hello Dave and others,

Your description is correct, I just would like to bring bit more light to the problem because I'm not sure if everyone understand how sound card works. It isn't hard but everyone during troubleshooting have to realize this quite simple principle.

Each soundcard has two settings, called PLAYBACK and RECORDING. Both this settings are for most cards independent and can be controlled by application (Win-Test or any other program) but also manually from Windows VOLUME CONTROL application. For demonstation of operation principle I recommend to everyone to do simple test:

- connect headphones to the sound card output jack and connect microphone to the sound card microphone jack.

- open VOLUME CONTROL application. Click Start | Run and type SNDVOL32 if you cannot locate speaker icon at taskbar tray area.

- click Options | Properties and as a mixer device select soundcard you are using (neccessary only if you have more than one sound card installed). Than select "Playback" and enable ALL controls to be displayed. Now you can see all PLAYBACK controls.

- let the PLAYBACK VOLUME CONTROL running and open second instance of VOLUME CONTROL. Arrange them on desktop to be both visible at the same time. Later you can run logger and watch for interactions. In this second instance of VOLUME CONTROL click Options | Properties and as a mixer device select same soundcard. Than select "Recording" and enable ALL controls. You can see all RECORDING controls.

Now you have on desktop two windows - PLAYBACK VOLUME CONTROL and RECORDING VOLUME CONTROL. 

- check if you have a "Microphone" channel at PLAYBACK window. If not, I'm sorry, your sound card is not capable for "live mic" function, you have to get better one. If yes, you are in the business.

- Now UNMUTE all controls at PLAYBACK window. If you speak to the microphone, you should hear your own voice in headphones. You can control level by microphone slider or master volume slider. It is because sound card has INTERNAL LOOPBACK from the microphone input to the sound card output ENABLED. If you MUTE microphone control at PLAYBACK window, loopback will be dissabled and you will hear nothing.

This function is used by loggers to mute microphone loopback during macro (F1-Fx) message PLAYBACK to avoid mixing of microphone with message. During playback microphone should be muted, after whole message playback is done automatically unmuted, to allow driving rig from microphone.

Please note, manipulating with microphone controls (slider or select/mute box) at RECORDING window has NO effect. It is because you are NOT recording. Recording controls are exclusivelly and only used when program (Win-Test) recoding (Shift-Fx) message to WAV file. Than this RECORDING microphone control MUST be selected (or unmuted on some cards). Only exception can be some soundcards which has "coupled" sliders for recoding and playback together (not very good card).

While logger records message there is an option if microphone signal will be present at the sound card output and if will drive the radio. It depends if loggers MUTE or UNMUTE microphone control at PLAYBACK settings during recording.

So Win-Test switches MIC/NOMIC and MICWHENPLAY/NOMICWHENPLAY should control only PLAYBACK microphone MUTE control. Maybe MICWHENREC and NOMICWHENREC can be added (or replace useless MICWHENPLAY/NOMICWHENPLAY) because has more value - "On Air- Recording". But it is only my personal opinion, developers have to consider :-)

Finally note for microKEYER users. Since microKEYER can switch attached microphone to the sound card microphone input or to the radio microphone jack (B,C or A settings) and sound card output can switch to the radio front microphone jack (VOICE SSB/AM/FM modes - C) or to the radio rear audio input jack (digital AFSK modes - B) there is neccessary to use proper switching model. I personally prefer C-C-A settings for SSB which allows me to utilize sound card internal loopback, recording messages as well as connecting microphone directly to the radio (no thru sound card) when I press footswitch.

73 Jozef OM7ZZ

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dave Zeph 
  To: support at win-test.com 
  Sent: Sunday, 13 August, 2006 08:21
  Subject: [WT-support] Soundcard Interfacing

  I'm sorry for all the questions about Interfacing Soundcards, but all of the postings the last several days have been related.  I know the folks who have the most experience with Win-Test are in the WAE Contests this weekend.  I thought it might be best to list ALL of our questions in one place.  The root issue is trying to duplicate the functionality of the DVP Card.

  I have tried enabling the Soundcard Interface on Win-Test running on my Dell Inspiron 8600 Laptop. The Dell uses the SigmaTel Audio Chip.  I have tried the Soundcard with a small lapel microphone, a Heil Boom Mike, and a Logitech USB Headset.

  I have been able to RECORD Messages, and PLAYBACK recorded messages using SHIFTàF1-F4 and F1-F4.  That's not a problem.

  However as I read the Win-test Documentation of the MIC, NOMIC, MICWHENPLAY, NOMICWHENPLAY commands, I  >>think<< these provide the following functionality when the Microphone is connected to the Soundcard MIC IN.  Please correct me if I'm wrong.

  MIC      - Microphone Audio is passed from the Soundcard MIC INPUT to the Soundcard LINE OUT when Win-Test is not playing back recorded messages.  This is equivalent to connecting the Microphone directly to the Transceiver Microphone Input.

  NOMIC - Microphone Audio is NOT Passed from the Soundcard MIC INPUT to the Soundcard LINE OUT.  This is equivalent to opening a switch between the microphone and the Transceiver Microphone Input.

  MICWHENPLAY  - The Microphone Audio is passed from the Soundcard MIC INPUT to the Soundcard LINE OUT while Win-Test is replaying a recorded message.  The Microphone Audio and the Recorded Message Audio are MIXED in the Soundcard.

  NOMICWHENPLAY  - The Microphone Audio is NOT passed from the Soundcard MIC INPUT to the Soundcard LINE OUT while Win-Test is replaying a recorded message

  My problems with these commands are:

  1)     These commands don't seem to do anything on my Dell Laptop.  I can record Messages from the Microphone, but Audio from the Microphone Audio is NOT Passed from the Soundcard MIC INPUT to the Soundcard LINE OUTPUT in response to ANY of these commands.  The only time the Microphone is "live" is during Recording of Messages.

  2)     If these commands work as I outlined, then I don't understand the need for the circuit shown in the Win-Test QuickStart Guide.  It shouldn't be necessary to use any device to switch the Transceiver Audio Input between the Microphone and the Soundcard Line Output - since these two sources of Audio should be MIXED in the Soundcard.

  3)     The circuit in the Win-test QuickStart Guide does not appear to provide any mechanism for RECORDING Messages.

  The DVP Card provides Audio to the Transceiver while messages are being recorded.  Recording is controlled only by use of the SHIFTàF1-F4 Keys - no other External Toggle Switches or Hardware are required.  The only way Win-Test and the Soundcard would seem to duplicate this functionality is if the MIC, NOMIC, MICWHENPLAY, NOMICWHENPLAY function as I described.

  My confusion is because these commands don't seem to work as I would expect - and if they do work as described, then the need for the QuickStart Guide circuit is unclear.

  My final question is whether Win-Test supports CT's   OPON    Command.  When I try this in Win-Test, I get an "Error In Field" response.  This isn't a "must have" feature, but it certainly would be convenient.

  I will really appreciate any help in understanding how Win-Test works with a Soundcard.  A lot of my time in the next several weeks depends on a complete understanding of this Interface.

  Thanks and 73 -à Dave, W9ZRX

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