F. A. Q. - Frequently Asked Questions

Produkt | SoundSystem BASE 1/BASE 64
Status | 01/26/2000
Version | 1.5
Questions and Answers | 24

Please ensure that you are using the latest driver versions.
You can obtain the latest drivers from our BBS or from our webpage.

Internet | TerraTec Electronic GmbH
http://www.terratec.de | Herrenpfad 38
ftp://ftp.terratec.de | D-41334 Nettetal

An Overview of the Questions

Question 1:
The sound card does not produce any sound.
Question 2:
How do I record from my hi-fi set?
Question 3:
Do I have to move jumpers and change dip switch settings before I install the sound card?
Question 4:
After installing the sound card the sound effects of previously installed games are still output on my PC
speaker.
Question 5:
Why do the loudspeakers continuously produce background noise?
Question 6:
Is the MIDI port on the sound card compatible with the Roland MPU-401 standard?
Question 7:
Use of MPU-401 mode (general MIDI, Roland Sound Canvas or similar programs) causes my system
containing an old SCSI controller to crash.
Question 8:
Where can I get new drivers and utilities for my sound card?
Question 9:
Even though the audio cable is connected to the sound card I cannot hear the audio CDs I am playing.
Question 10:
MIDI files played on the BASE1 do not sound correct even though a wavetable module is connected to the sound card.
Question 11:
Wavetable playback doesn't work under Windows 3.11.
Question 12:
When Windows or Windows 95/98 starts, the loudspeakers produce a recurring sound pattern and the system then becomes unstable.
Question 13:
Even though I have selected the 'General MIDI' setting for background music in the setup of a game I cannot hear the music.
Question 14:
With which sound card standards is the BASE1 compatible under MS-DOS ?
Question 15:
A keyboard connected to the sound card does not react when I hit a key.
Question 16:
When playing back sound files running the BASE1 under Windows 3.xx there is a lot of additional noise or
the sound files cannot be played back at all.
Question 17:
When starting Windows 3.xx I receive the error message '15_16 W31.386 nicht gefunden'(15_16 W31.386
not found) or 'beschädigt'(corrupt).
Question 18:
I cannot record using a microphone under Windows 95/98.
Question 19:
When playing back audio CDs under Windows 95/98 I cannot hear any sound even though the CD player
software indicates that they are being played.
Question 20:
When restarting Windows 95/98 after installing the drivers, the error message 'Beim Initialisieren des
Geräts IOS Windows-Schutzfehler' (Windows General Protection Fault when initializing the IOS device) is displayed.
Question 21:
How do I install an analog joystick under NT 4.0?
Question 22:
Why do I always get the message 'not connected' when calibrating MS Sidewinder 3D Pro under NT 4.0?
Question 23:
I have problems with my game port using a GA586ATV, GA586S2 or GA586TX2 mother board.
Question 24:
I receive the following error message under NT 4.0: 'PNP cannot find any Analog Devices Soundcards...'

Question 1:

The sound card does not produce any sound.

Answer 2:

- Check the connection between the sound card and the loudspeakers.
- Are the active loudspeakers and the hi-fi set switched on?
- Check the fader settings of the software mixer. In particular, make sure that no mute buttons are
  activated, setting sound output to zero.
- Make sure that the latest drivers of the sound card are installed for the operating system in use.

y

Question 2:

How do I record from my hi-fi set?

Answer 2:

- Connect the line-out socket on your hi-fi set to the line-in socket on the sound card.

- Use the Record Out socket or the Tape Play socket on the tape section of your hi-fi amplifier.

- Then configure LINE-IN as the recording source in the sound card's mixer software.

- Then start your recording software, e.g. Windows 95/87 Sound Recorder or the Mediarack program
  included with the card. This type of software always has a button to start recording. It usually has a red dot
  on it. Press it to start recording.

y

Question 3:

Do I have to move jumpers and change dip switch settings before I install the sound card?

Answer 3:

- All of the card's functions are plug-and-play-compatible and correspond to the Intel/Microsoft
  specification. Therefore, there are no jumpers or switches for setting IRQs, DMA channels or addresses.

- You can only switch off the preamplifier by setting a jumper. Thus the
  the speaker socket becomes the unamplified LINE-OUT socket.

y

Question 4:

After installing the sound card the sound effects of previously installed games are still output on my PC
speaker.

Answer 4:

Reconfigure your games. Start each game's setup program and set the effects and music card to the
Soundblaster Pro. If you have any questions about this please read the user guide / readme files supplied with the games.

y

Question 5:

Why do the loudspeakers continuously produce background noise?

Answer 5:

We placed great emphasis on highest audio quality when designing the sound card. Nonetheless, it cannot
be ruled out that interference from graphics and video cards, hard disk controllers and power sockets have
an effect on the audio signal in certain system configurations. The built-in amplifier is very susceptible to
this. Connect active loudspeakers or your hi-fi set to the line-out socket. Also, position the sound card as far
away as possible from the sources of interference mentioned above. If you cannot get rid of the interference
the best thing to do is to buy a transformer from an electronics dealer and to attach it to the connecting
cable.

y

Question 6:

Is the sound card's MIDI port compatible with the Roland MPU-401 standard?

Answer 6:

The sound card supports both Sound Blaster MIDI mode and MPU-401 UART mode (not SMART mode, but
this does not diminish the card's functionality because most programs support MPU-401 UART mode). This
means that programs designed for MPU-401 mode support your sound card directly, provided that the
wavetable module is connected.

y

Question 7:

Use of MPU-401 mode (general MIDI, Roland Sound Canvas or similar programs) causes my system
containing an old SCSI controller to crash.

Answer 7:

- Check the I/O address of your SCSI adapter. Some very common SCSI controllers have a default setting of 330H.
- Reconfigure this address setting to another value because there are, for example, games that expect the MPU port to be at 330H.

y

Question 8:

Where can I get new drivers and utilities for my sound card?

Answer 8:

- If you are a registered user you can obtain the latest drivers and software versions from the ReActor BBS
  at telephone number +49 (0)2157-817924 (analog) or +49 (0)2157-817942 (ISDN).
- You can also download them from our webpage on the Internet (http://www.terratec.de)
- You will also receive up-to-date information about our products and exciting tools for the sound card.

y

Question 9:

Even though the audio cable is connected to the sound card I cannot hear the audio CDs I am playing.

Answer 9:

- The cause of this problem can really only be an audio cable that is connected incorrectly or not connected
  at all.
- When looking for the correct audio interface on the sound card is important to note that current IDE CD-
  ROM drives are usually connected to the IDE interface (e.g. Mitsumi FX 400, TEAC CD 56 EK, Sony CDU 55 E,
  etc.)
- It is also important to know that you can try out the two ports on the sound card without concern (but do
  please switch off the PC 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 | Used by |  |  |
Mitsumi | Signal | Ground | Signal | Ground
Panasonic | Ground | Signal | Ground | Signal
SONY | Signal | Ground | Ground | Signal

If you are running Windows 3.xx please ensure that a driver called 'MCI-CD AUDIO' is installed in the driver
section of the Control Panel group. If necessary, add it to the list.

y

Question 10:

MIDI files played on the BASE1 do not sound correct even though a wavetable module is connected to the
sound card.

Answer 10:
In this case, the MIDI mapper of Windows 3.xx or Windows 95/98 must be informed that there is a
wavetable synthesizer on the sound card. Under Windows 95/98 you can do this as follows:

1. Open the control panel and double-click Multimedia.
2. Now click on the MIDI tab. Select the 'Sound-System BASE 1 MPU-401 Compatible' driver.
3. As soon as you close the MIDI window, MIDI output to the wavetable synthesizer is enabled.
4. All that now remains to be done is to ensure that the 'Ton aus' (No sound) option on the wavetable fader
   of your mixer software is not enabled.

Under Windows 3.xx proceed as follows:

1. Open up the MIDI mapper on the Control Panel.
2. Select the 'General' setup so that the wavetable synthesizer can be addressed.
3. Once you have done this, played-back MIDI files should sound correct, because the system now is aware
of the wavetable synthesizer.

y

Question 11:

Wavetable playback doesn't work under Windows 3.11.

Answer 11:

In this case, the Windows 3.xx MIDI mapper has to be informed that there is a wavetable synthesizer on the
sound card. This is how you do it:

1. Open up the MIDI mapper on the Control Panel.
2. In the option 'Name' under 'Setups' select 'General'. Then you will see 'Roland MPU 401 MIDI' under 'Description'.
3. All that now remains to be done is to ensure that the MIDI fader is enabled in the MediaRack program (which you will find on the driver CD).

y

Question 12:

When Windows or Windows 95/98 starts, the loudspeakers produce a recurring sound pattern and the
system then becomes unstable.

Answer 12:

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.
- For an overview of interrupts being used double-click on 'Computer' in the Device Manager on the Control
- 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 (if it exists) of the affected respective component
  or by changing the values in the driver of that device.
- For Plug and Play cards you sometimes have to run a special configuration program to change the card settings.

y

Question 13:

Even though I have selected the 'General MIDI' setting for background music in the setup of a game I cannot
hear the music.

Answer 13:

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 you can now hear the General MIDI sound, the joystick you are using is a version that disables the MIDI
  connections (including those leading to the game port) and thus suppresses MIDI functionality.
- In this case, you should use a MIDI cable that has a special connector for the joystick or use a game card
  that also supports joysticks with many functions.

y

Question 14:

With which sound card standards is the BASE1 compatible under MS-DOS ?

Answer 14:

- Under MS-DOS the BASE 1 card is compatible with Adlib, SoundBlaster and SoundBlaster Pro.
- Just configure the corresponding settings for the memory address, IRQ and DMA channel in the setup
  program of each application and sound support should not be a problem.
- We recommend that you select SoundBlaster or SoundBlaster Pro as the sound card and the music card.
- Some applications require a BLASTER environment variable to be set. To do this insert the following line,
  for example, into the AUTOEXEC.BAT file:

  SET BLASTER = A220 I5 D1 T4
  A = I/O address of the sound card
  I = IRQ number
  D = DMA channel number
  T = Soundblaster model type

- If you have configured the sound card with different settings, you will have to adjust the line
  correspondingly.
- T4 stands for SoundBlaster Pro compatibility, this parameter should be left unchanged.

y

Question 15:

A keyboard connected to the sound card does not react when I hit a key.

Answer 15:

- First, ensure that the driver for communications with the keyboard has been installed. The relevant driver
  for this card is called 'Sound System MPU-401 Compatible', you should be able to find it in the Device
  Manager under System in the Control Panel. If this is not the case please reinstall the latest Windows 95/98
  drivers again.
- If the driver is installed, it must be selected as the MIDI input device in the sequencer software. Please see
  your sequencer handbook 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.
- If both these conditions are satisfied and the problem persists, in other words the software does not react
  when you hit a key or no sound is audible, the MIDI connecting cable is almost certainly the cause of the
  trouble. Experience has shown that there's an enormous number of different MIDI connector cables which
  unfortunately are all identical externally. These cables should contain a so-called optocoupler suitable for
  the sound card's levels. As it's not possible to check this from the outside, always use the sound card
  manufacturer's MIDI cable. Our product range includes such a cable which you can obtain from your
  equipment retailer.

y

Question 16:

When playing back sound files running the BASE1 under Windows 3.xx there is a lot of additional noise or
the sound files cannot be played back at all.

Answer 16:

- To solve this problem you need to edit the SYSTEM.INI file.
- You will find this file in your Windows directory.
- You can edit the file in Windows Notepad or by issuing the DOS command 'edit system.ini'.
- Search the SYSTEM.INI file for the entry 'SingleModeDMA=No'.
- Change the line so that it reads 'SingleModeDMA=Yes'.
- You should no longer have difficulties playing back sound files.

y

Question 17:

When starting Windows 3.xx I receive the error message '15_16 W31.386 nicht gefunden'(15_16 W31.386 not found) or 'beschädigt'(corrupt).

Answer 17:

- This indicates a problem with the driver.
- In this case, just request the latest driver from us by sending an e-mail message to support@terratec.de or
  a self-addressed envelope with DM 3.00 worth of stamps.
- You will immediately receive a new driver that addresses the problem.

y

Question 18:

I cannot record using a microphone under Windows 95/98.

Answer 18:

- Double-click the loudspeaker icon on the task bar. You will see the mixer settings.
- Click on the 'Optionen' (Options) menu and select the 'Eigenschaften' (Properties) option.
- Click on 'Aufnahme' (Record) in the 'Lautstärke regeln für' (Set volume for) option.
- Place a tick in front of the microphone option in the list displayed and then select OK.
- Make sure that there is a tick under the microphone recording slider. Recording should now no longer be
  a problem.

y

Question 19:

When playing back audio CDs under Windows 95/98 I cannot hear any sound even though
the CD player software indicates that the CDs are being played.

Answer 19:

- To solve this problem double-click on the loudspeaker icon on the task bar. You will see the mixer
  settings.
- Click on the 'Optionen' (Options) menu and select the 'Eigenschaften' (Properties) option.
- Place a tick in front of the CD option in the list displayed.
- Confirm your selection by pressing OK.
- Now you just have to ensure that the 'Ton aus' (No sound) option under the
  CD volume slider is not enabled.

y

Question 20:

When restarting Windows 95/98 after installing the drivers, the error message 'Beim Initialisieren des
Geräts IOS Windows-Schutzfehler' (Windows General Protection Fault when initializing the IOS device) is
displayed.

Answer 20:

You can solve this problem by renaming the 'rmm.pdr' file in the \Windows\System\IOSUBSYS subdirectory
to 'rmm.bak'. You can do this using the Windows Explorer. The Windows Protection Fault will no longer
occur.

y

Question 21:

How do I install an analog joystick under NT 4.0?

Answer 21:

Install the analog joystick as follows:

- Select 'Multimedia' on the Control Panel.
- There you will find a menu called 'Geräte' (Devices) in which there is an option called 'Joystick' (Joystick)..
- Under 'Joystick' (Joystick) select 'Hinzufügen' (Add).
- Then install the joystick driver from the NT 4.0 CD. You will find this driver in the following directory:
  CD\DRVLIB\MULTIMEDIA\JOYSTICK\X86.
- Install this driver.
- In the case of an analog joystick use joystick port 201. You can change the port address under
  Systemsteuerung/Multimedia/Geräte/Joystick (Control Panel/Multimedia/Advanced/Joystick Devices by
  pressing 'Eigenschaften' (Properties).

> Important!!!

- If several joysticks are listed you should only activate the joystick you are going to use.
- Disable any joysticks you are not going to use. Do this for each listed joystick under :
  Multimedia/Geräte/Joystick (Multimedia/Advanced/Joystick Devices).
- Always restart NT after changing any joystick settings..

y

Question 22:

Why do I always get the message 'not connected' when calibrating MS Sidewinder 3D Pro under NT 4.0?

Antwort 22:

- The joystick should be set to 1, see the switch on the front.
- Change the joystick port to 200 - you can change the port address under
  Systemsteuerung/Multimedia/Geräte/Joystick (Control Panel/Multimedia/Devices/Joystick) under
  'Eigenschaften' (Properties).
- Connection problems will occur if you use port 201.

y

Question 23:

I have problems with my game port using a GA586ATV, GA586S2 or GA586TX2 mother board.

Answer 23:

- Your card may need to be modified.
- Please contact our technical support department.

y

Question 24:

I receive the following error message under NT 4.0: 'PnP cannot find any Analog Devices Soundcards...'

Answer 24:

- If you get this error message you should enable Windows NT PnP.
- If you have installed Microsoft's Windows NT Service Pack 3
  this service should be enabled automatically.
- On the Control Panel there are two menus called 'Dienste' (Services) and 'Geräte' (Devices). This is where
  you have to start the PnP. You can do this by simply selecting 'Starten' (Start) to the right of the PnP entry
  in each of these menus (Dienste, Geräte) (Services, Devices) unless it is already enabled.
- If, when activating one of these two services, you receive the error message 'kann Treiber nicht finden'
  (cannot find driver) you have to install the driver from the Windows NT CD. Do this by running Explorer and
  double-clicking on the CD.
- Then select the following directory: DRVLIB/PNPISA/X86.
- In the X86 directory you will find the PNPISA.INF file. Click on it with the right mouse button and select
  install.
- The next time you reboot the system the card will automatically be recognized and Windows will request
  the drivers.

- y

TerraTec Electronic GmbH
Herrenpfad 38
D-41334 Nettetal
Tel: | +49-2157-8179-0
Fax: | +49-2157-8179-22
Hotline: | +49-2157-8179-14
FTP | ftp://ftp.terratec.de
WWW | http://www.terratec.com