Sound quality

[jdellis]

Hi

Can anyone help with the problem of sound tracks with pictures to exe. I create my shows on my PC and sound quality is excellent, I then transfer this file via CD to my laptop and project images through Epsom projector, but the sound quality is not good the sound track seems to dray and distort. Has anyone had a similar problem, and can help me.

Jeff Ellis Photographer Cheltenham England.

[alrobin]

Hi, Jeff,

Laptops typically do not have the same quality of sound capabilities as achieved with a good-quality sound-card in a desk-top pc.

I have a top-of-the-line Dell laptop, and have a problem with noise when I play back the sound track for my PTE shows. I solved this by disconnecting the AC power during the presentation.

Another possibility is to use a larger magnetic coil on the ac power-supply cord, to screen out all power-line interference, but it is simpler to just temporarily remove the ac.

Another possible source of interference, apparently, is the screen itself, but this should not be an issue since you are displaying via a digital projector.

Don't know if this helps, as usually every problem is different. Best of luck!

[JRR]

Jeff:

Welcome to PTE

I have not had this problem in PTE, but it sounds (pardon the pun) to me like the speakers you are using via the laptop and projector are not very good.

I use a separate sound system (PEAVY Escort 2000 - a somewhat heavy thing but wonderful system) when I present my shows. I run a patch cord from the laptop to the PEAVY and all is wonderful.

I used to use a "boom box" until I showed up at what was supposed to be a small group in a small room, but turned out to be 150 people in a LARGE hall. The next day I bought the PEAVY.

I have had problems with the PEAVY though (and another amplifier) when it is used with an old tape deck used in conjunction with a CLEAR-LYTE 35mm dissolve show. We are not sure, but there seems to be a phase issue between the two.

See http://www.peavey.com/ for details on Peavy system

[think(box)]

Greetings Jeff,

Have you tried adjusting the "Wave" volume under Windows "Volume Controls"? Maybe the sound gain for that first-in-sequence control is high enough that sound will have same high distortion at any master volume control setting. You could also try shutting off the special 3-D sound features (if enabled) in an "Advanced" sounds menu somewhere, usually found with sound hardware controls. These features often cause subtle distortion, and sometimes it's not so subtle.

I agree that Notebook system sound hardware is often very poor in quality. However I do in fact make professional quality sound recordings for CD productions at classical and popular music live concerts, using my Notebook computer. I too have so-so built-in sound. The way I make the sound top CD quality stereo without noise is by plugging in a Dazzle Digital Video Creator (an undemanding USB device) and using the Dazzle in "Audio Clip" mode to make top-quality WAV recordings that never touch the notebook computer's sound hardware. The Dazzle DVC also does hardware-compression MPEG-2 movies. This is Dazzle's low-end device as movie-making goes and it is not very expensive.

The reason I mention the Dazzle DVC is that in addition to recording, it plays back sound or movies at top quality too. You can use the Dazzle to make your Notebook system sound as good as a desktop even if you never make sound or movie recordings with it. There is one caveat that may or may not be a problem for your show sound. The Dazzle is not a "sound card" that your notebook can "pipe" sound into. You have to play your music .WAV files through the Dazzle, independently-timed (by you) with your P2E show.

NOTE to PTE Forum members: Has anyone yet found a PC card plugin sound card for notebook systems? This would really be a direct fit for good built-in sound from PTE shows. The last time I looked there was no such PC card on the market. Thanks for any tips you may have.

So this gives you some options Jeff. Good luck!

Cheers!

[Guest guru]

Al, Jim, Bill,

I agree with all of you, but - besides the sound card quality - I guess Jeff used the projector speaker, that generally sounds very poor.

For a good projection, a pair of good external active speakers (connected to laptop "line out", not to "Earphone" output) is necessary, or better still an external amplifier with two "serious" speakers. Amplifier power and speakers size depend by the size of the room.

Bill "Think(box)",

Thanks for your idea. Your solution with an external D/A converter like Dazzle DVC is sure the best and can give excellent sound.

As to a "PC card plugin sound card for notebook systems", it doesn't yet exist, as far as I know.

[alrobin]

The way I make the sound top CD quality stereo without noise is by plugging in a Dazzle Digital Video Creator

Thanks, Bill, for your suggestion. That sounds like the best solution to my laptop noise problem. I'll have to give it a try.

Guru, I use an external amplification system, too, but it seems to amplify the interference noise as well. But external amplification does improve the "fidelity" of the music through the sound circuitry within the laptop.