F. A. Q. - Frequently Asked Questions
Product | Maestro 16/96 |
Last update | 02/07/2000 |
Version | 1.3 |
Questions und Answers | 11 |
Please ensure that you are using the latest driver
versions.
You can obtain the latest drivers from our BBS or from our webpage.
TerraTec ReActor BBS | Internet | TerraTec Electronic GmbH |
+49-(0)2157-817924 (analog) | http://www.terratec.net | Herrenpfad 38 |
+49-(0)2157-817942 (ISDN) | ftp://ftp.terratec.de | D-41334 Nettetal |
Question
1:
I cannot hear the audio CDs I am playing, even though the
audio cable is connected to the sound card. What can I do about it?
Question 2:
Why are the MIDI files I play using the AudioSystem Maestro 16/96 distorted?
Question 3:
Even though a game is set up for 'General MIDI' the wavetable sound does not get
played back.
Question 4:
When Windows or Windows 95/98 starts, the loudspeakers produce a recurring sound
pattern and the system then becomes unstable. What's going on?
Question 5:
My system freezes after playing or recording wave files.
Question 6:
A keyboard connected to the sound card doesn't work.
Question 7:
When the sound card is in the system, the second IDE interface no longer works,
or the system will not boot until the second IDE interface has been disabled in
the BIOS.
Question 8:
What settings in the BIOS of the computer are relevant if I have a Plug and Play
BIOS version?
Question 9:
When I try to use the card in full-duplex mode, I get the error message that the
audio hardware doesn't support this mode.
Question 10:
A CD-ROM drive connected to the IDE interface cannot be accessed and is not
recognized by the driver. What can I do about it?
Question 11:
Ever since I connected my sound card to my stereo system, I hear a constant hum.
Question 1:
I cannot hear the audio CDs I am playing, even though the
audio cable is connected to the sound card. What can I do about it?
Answer 1:
The cause of this problem can really only be an audio cable that is connected
incorrectly. When looking for the correct audio interface on the sound card it
is important to note that current IDE CD-ROM drives are usually connected to the
Panasonic interface (e.g. Mitsumi FX 400,TEAC CD56EK, Sony CDU55E ...). You can
try the three different audio interfaces, however (please switch the PC off
beforehand). Then reboot the computer and start playing the CD. If you hear the
sound of the CD you have found the correct interface.
Here is
an overview of the interfaces used for CD-ROM audio connections:
Interface standard |
Assignment |
|
|
|
Mitsumi |
Signal |
Ground |
Signal |
Ground |
Panasonic |
Ground |
Signal |
Ground |
Signal |
SONY |
Signal |
Ground |
Ground |
Signal |
Question 2:
Why are the MIDI files I play using the AudioSystem Maestro 16/96 distorted?
Answer 2:
In this case you must notify the MIDI Mapper of Windows 95/98 that there is a
wavetable synthesizer in the PC. Here's how to do it:
Under Windows
3.x proceed as follows:
1. Open
up the MIDI Mapper on the Control Panel.
2. Select the 'Wavetable Module' setup so that the wavetable synthesizer can be
addressed.
Question 3:
Even though a game is set up for 'General MIDI' the
wavetable sound does not get played back.
Answer 3:
In this instance you should check if a joystick is connected to the sound card's
game port. If this is the case, please remove it and then restart the game. If
General MIDI sound is now available, the joystick in question is a version which
grounds the MIDI lines (which are also carried via the gameport), thus
suppressing the sound.
Question 4:
When Windows or Windows 95/98 starts, the loudspeakers produce a recurring sound
pattern and the system then becomes unstable. What's going on?
Answer 4:
This definitely indicates an interrupt conflict. Two devices are accessing the
same interrupt request line and are thus preventing the system from working
properly. To solve this problem you should first make a list of the cards in
your system and the interrupts they are assigned to. It may also be useful to
use a diagnostics program to detect such conflicts.
When you have discovered the source of the conflict, you should reconfigure the
cards affected. You can do this by changing the corresponding jumper of the
affected respective component or by changing the values in the driver of that
device. The Windows 95/98 'Device Manager' is also very helpful. You can access
it via under the System icon in the Control Panel. Double-click on the Computer
entry to display all resources.
Question 5:
My system freezes after playing or recording wave files.
Answer 5:
This is definitely due to a conflict with the chipset of
your mainboard. It generally only occurs with older 386 and 486 mainboards,
however.
In this case it will be necessary to open the computer and have a look at the
mainboard to see which chipset it uses. Look for large chips with designations
on them. Please make a note of the designations that you can find and call our
hotline for a solution.
Question 6:
A keyboard connected to the sound card doesn't work.
Answer 6:
1.
First, make sure that the driver for
communication with the keyboard has been installed. The relevant driver for this
card is called 'Maestro 16/96 Audio', you should be able to find it in the
Device Manager in the Control Panel. If this is not the case, please reinstall
the Windows 95/98 drivers again.
2.
If the driver is installed, it must
be selected as the MIDI input device in the sequencer software. Please see your
sequencer manual for details on this. Most sequencer programs have a menu item
labeled 'Setup/MIDI Devices', where you can select MIDI input and MIDI output
devices.
Question 7:
When the sound card is in the system, the second IDE interface no longer works,
or the system will not boot until the second IDE interface has been disabled in
the BIOS.
Answer 7:
This is definitely a conflict between the IDE interface
on the sound card and the second IDE interface on the mainboard. It can be
eliminated by using a utility that switches off the IDE interface on the sound
card.
You can obtain this utility from our Web site or BBS.
Question 8:
What settings in the BIOS of the computer are relevant if I have a Plug and Play
BIOS version?
Answer 8:
All PCI motherboards, i.e. motherboards with PCI slots, have an option in their
BIOS with which interrupts and, increasingly, also DMA channels can be assigned
to ISA cards or PCI cards.
This can be done in two different ways:
1.
For example, in versions 4.50 and
4.51 of the AWARD BIOS, the 'PnP and PCI Setup' menu item contains the option of
assigning fixed interrupts to the individually numbered PCI slots. Furthermore,
you can check if any interrupt request lines are reserved for an ISA card. In
its basic configuration, the sound card uses the interrupts 5 and 9 and the DMA
channel 1 (an additional DMA channel is required if full-duplex mode is enabled!).
The values should NOT be set to 'YES' in the list. If this is the case, change
the settings to 'No/ICU'.
Question 9:
When I try to use the card in full-duplex mode, I get the error message that the
audio hardware doesn't support this mode.
Answer 9:
In the Device Manager, switch the basic configuration of the 'TerraTec Maestro
16/96 Audio' to '0001'. Two DMA channels will now be displayed in the resource
overview. You can now use the card in full-duplex mode.
Question
10:
A CD-ROM drive connected to the IDE interface cannot be accessed and is not
recognized by the driver. What can I do about it?
Answer 10:
In this case, you should definitely make sure that you don't already have two
active IDE interfaces on your system. If you have a Pentium system you certainly
have two IDE interfaces on your motherboard and therefore you cannot use the
interface on the sound card unless you switch off the second interface on the
motherboard in the BIOS (or perhaps even by setting jumpers on the motherboard).
The reason for this is that Enhanced IDE can only support two active IDE
interfaces.
We would definitely recommend that you use the second IDE interface on the
motherboard because this makes the installation easier. Then all you have to do
is to connect the CD-ROM audio cable to the sound card.
Question
11:
Ever since I connected my sound card to my stereo system, I hear a constant hum.
Answer 11:
The hum (50 Hz) comes from the 220V power supply. It is caused by a so-called
ground loop. The hum will go away when the direct connection is opened - either
by using a sheath current filter in the antenna connection (available from
specialist retailers for approx. DM 20.00) or an isolating transformer that
eliminates the direction link between the audio output (PC) and amplifier input
(e.g. Conrad, Order No. 311405 and from car hifi specialists). If you remove the
antenna cable from the receiver/tuner and the hum disappears, then the sheath
current filter will help. If the hum is audible even without the antenna cable,
the cause of the problem is a doubled ground on the main plugs and can be
resolved using an isolating transformer.
TerraTec Electronic GmbH
Herrenpfad 38
D-41334 Nettetal
tel: +49-2157-81790
fax: +49-2157-817922
bbs 28.8: +49-2157-817924
bbs isdn: +49-2157-817942
hotline: +49-2157-817914
ftp: ftp.terratec.de
www: www.terratec.net