AWE64 Noise

[fiddle_dog]

PII 233, 66MHz bus, 64MB, UATA disk, Win95 OSR2.1 system has a SB AWE64 OEM card installed with cheap amplified speakers attached. No conflict reported in Device Manager.

When no sound is reproduced, there is still a slight hiss (white/pink noise?) coming out of the speakers (when I remove the connection to the PC, the hiss disappears, so the noise must be coming from the sound card), but the Windows-resident wav files are reproduced with acceptable fidelity. Music CD from CD-ROM is okay, also. (though I'd like to reduce the background hiss if there is a way)

When I attach a stereo plug to the line-in, connect a sound source (e.g. radio, CD) and record through Microsoft Sound Recorder, however, the result is VERY disappointing, i.e. noticeable distortion, a bit of crackling, much louder background hiss, and general low fidelity.

The sound quality is set to CD quality in Sound Recorder, and the line-in is mid-level.

What am I doing incorrectly?

Thanks.

[This message has been edited by fiddle_dog (edited 03-14-99).]

[greggx101]

There is a lot of things that can produce unwanted hissing an interferance.
First, disconnect your cd-rom audio cable and see if thats better,the cable acts as an antenna.
You can also move your speakers away from your monitor this produces wierd noises.
Check your case is grounded properly.
BTW recording sound from say a turntable to line in will be dissapointing unless the signal is amplified before it reaches your sound card.
Let me know how you get on.

[fiddle_dog]

greggx101,

I disconnected the thin cable running from the CD-ROM to the SB board, as you suggested. It's amazing what problem a piece of lousy wire can cause. The crackling noise and most of the hiss are gone!

I recorded some classical music CD through this new setup, and I'd say the quality is 85% of the original CD. There is still that little bit of background noise, so I'll have to work at it some more, but this will give me more rationale to buy a CD-RW for recording music: I didn't want to invest in such a device when the sound card has a basic problem.

Anyway, thanks a lot!