Testing Your Sound Card: Task One

1. (MS Windows) Check the gain settings on your sound card.

2. With most sound cards, the gains are controlled using the Windows Volume Control. Some specialist cards install their own Volume Control or control panels.

3. To run Volume Control, find and double-click the loudspeaker icon in the program tray on your task bar. If there is no such icon (or similar), then choose Start menu $\rightarrow$ Programs $\rightarrow$ Accessories $\rightarrow$ Entertainment $\rightarrow$ Volume Control .

4. If your sound card has a Line audio input, then that is the preferred input. If not, you will have to use the Microphone input, which is usually noisier.

5. In Volume Control, choose Options $\rightarrow$ Properties $\rightarrow$ Recording. This displays a dialog box that configures the Volume Control's Recording panel. Make sure that the check box for Line or Microphone input is checked, as appropriate. This will cause a slider to be for that input. Choose OK.

6. The Volume Control panel now displays one or more gain sliders, each with a check box called Select. Check the Line or Microphone slider as appropriate. This activates the right input on the sound card.

7. If you have to use the Microphone input, then there may be a Boost button in Volume Control. Check that the Boost option is NOT turned on. Do not close the Volume Control window, yet.