Computer wiz needed (audio)

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Frisbee

Frisbee

Drone Bee
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I run a small dance class and last week my computer (Dell laptop) packed up. It has been in my mind for a while now to buy a laptop purely for music and never attach it to the Internet, so the Dell packing up seemed a good time. I wasn't prepared to spend oodles on one...the class is too small to warrant it. I got Toshiba Satellite Pro C850 - 1HE, it has Windows 8 installed.
To cut an otherwise long story short, the sound quality is rubbish through the amp and speakers....I'm not sufficiently equipped to start altering settings on the amp and in any case everything was fine with the Dell. On Monday I did another class for a friend on holiday. I used all his sound equipment which is far superior to mine and still the sound quality was still rubbish....no bass!. I've gone into CP but there is nothing obvious there I can adjust. The playing programme I use (Winamp) has a graphic equalizer, but adjusting that hasn't helped. Is there anything I can download which will improve things?
I have found stuff I can download, but alas don't understand the blurb.. so don't know if it will help my problem.
Frisbee
 
Be careful what you download.. You will find that you might also be downloading extra browsers and search engines and stuff that tell you that you have a virus.

Personally I would get an MP3 player or an iPod. You can get docking stations for them which give very good sound quality.

Laptop speakers(in my experience) are not very good at all, and by the time you have added extra speakers you might as well have a portable music centre to start with.

This is just my opinion and I do know that other people have very good setups that will play music to a very good quality, but to me, a computer is for computing and not a music centre or TV.
 
Dishmop said:
Personally I would get an MP3 player or an iPod. You can get docking stations for them which give very good sound quality.
Click to expand...
:iagree:
I have always had Creative Zen MP3 players, my 20 year old still works, and even the smallest model has very good quality. If you are plugging it into an amp make sure it's into a matching input. I think modern amps are a bit more forgiving but it could make a difference on older models.

Mike.
 
Dishmop said:
Be careful what you download.. You will find that you might also be downloading extra browsers and search engines and stuff that tell you that you have a virus.
Click to expand...

The reason I was asking is so I can download something which is safe.

Dishmop said:
Personally I would get an MP3 player or an iPod. You can get docking stations for them which give very good sound quality.
Click to expand...
I have two iPods and an iPhone plus 2 good docking stations. Both of them knock out a great sound in my living room. However the average village hall with 50 people in it soon mops up sound and is not suitable at all. Using the iPod through the amp and speakers helps, but it's quite difficult to run a dance class just using an iPod (or two). Many stops and starts are needed plus the music needs to be changed to suit what is being taught and an iPod just isn't equipped to deal with the scrolling needs.

Dishmop said:
Laptop speakers(in my experience) are not very good at all, and by the time you have added extra speakers you might as well have a portable music centre to start with.
Click to expand...
If you read my post properly you will understand I am using an amp and speakers, via a jackplug in the audio out.

Dishmop said:
This is just my opinion and I do know that other people have very good setups that will play music to a very good quality, but to me, a computer is for computing and not a music centre or TV.
Click to expand...
Are not MP3 files digital then....created to store and use on a computer? If you think DJ's are still carrying round vinyl or CD's then you need to get out a bit more. I'm fairly sure even the BBC use digital files for their music. If people just used computers for computing, there wouldn't be many around.

Frisbee
 
So sorry to have bothered to reply..
 
I don't need a mixer thanks.

And I'll repeat what I said just now about iPods
Frisbee said:
I have two iPods and an iPhone plus 2 good docking stations. Both of them knock out a great sound in my living room. However the average village hall with 50 people in it soon mops up sound and is not suitable at all. Using the iPod through the amp and speakers helps, but it's quite difficult to run a dance class just using an iPod (or two). Many stops and starts are needed plus the music needs to be changed to suit what is being taught and an iPod just isn't equipped to deal with the scrolling needs.
Click to expand...

I have 2,000 + tracks. An iPod just can't deal with that.

Frisbee
 
I have 2,000 + tracks. An iPod just can't deal with that.
Click to expand...
We didnt know that tho, did we?

I dont know why you think that a laptop is going to produce some kind of Albert Hall production. By the time you have added all the amps and speaker to achieve what you want, you might as well buy kind of equipment that you already know they use for discos.

Digital or plastic.. Doesnt make any difference if you are using mickey mouse gear to play it on.
 
Dishmop said:
We didnt know that tho, did we?

I dont know why you think that a laptop is going to produce some kind of Albert Hall production. By the time you have added all the amps and speaker to achieve what you want, you might as well buy kind of equipment that you already know they use for discos.

Digital or plastic.. Doesnt make any difference if you are using mickey mouse gear to play it on.
Click to expand...

My old one did and I'm not in the Albert Hall. Just a local village hall, but an iPod isn't suitable for that.

The amount of tracks I have has no bearing on the question I was asking.

I already have professional speakers and amp....I said I had speakers and amp in my first post, so hardly Mickey Mouse...and yet you informed me that computer speakers are 'tinny' so you didn't read what I had said.

There's no need to be nasty just because you didn't read my first post properly and answered questions I didn't ask.

Frisbee
 
Usual problem with sound on computers is you're stuck with whatever digital to analogue chips the maker decided to put in. Not an area where they're looking to spend a lot and they're not a big feature on the marketing spec. Plus electronic isolation and quality power supplies are important in audio electronics but not really a priority when audio is something of an afterthought.

If it's all digital, fine. As long as there's storage space and everything runs fast enough there's not a lot of difference between computers. For editing there are paid for utilities but Audacity is well regarded as free audio editing software and does everything I've ever needed. You have probably been using software you know your way around, so that's where we're starting. What's missing is better than default digital to analogue for your output. There are dedicated sound cards for desktops. Have a look on audio discussion boards, a random search for what's currently available finds things like this: http://www.maudio.co.uk/index.php?do=products.family&ID=PCIinterfaces

If it has to be portable like a laptop there are external sound devices driven through the USB. Something like http://www.maplin.co.uk/5.1-usb-multimedia-sound-card-97120 Maplin are not the only suppliers and I've not tried this device. It's just a national chain where you might be able to see what sort of thing is available. There are cheaper plug in devices on Amazon and ebay, audio specialists sell items for professional studio use rising to well into 4 figures, you have a much better idea of your budget than I do.
 
Last edited:
I already have professional speakers and amp....I said I had speakers and amp in my first post, so hardly Mickey Mouse...and yet you informed me that computer speakers are 'tinny' so you didn't read what I had said.
Click to expand...
I read perfectly well what you said. You are using speakers and an amp but the output is crap. We suggested you try an iPod. We didnt know you already has tried one.
As your speakers gave good results with your old laptop it seems to me that you have sadly bought a laptop not suitable for your needs... confirmed by yourself by the fact that it is still crap when used with another person's speakers/amps whatever.
I doubt there is anything that you can download to make the laptop perform how you want it to.
If you bought it from the PC World group with the last three weeks. Take it back. You dont need a reason.
When buying something that you know nothing about, it is usual to take some time doing research on the subject as opposed to choosing the cheapest option available.
 
alanf said:
Usual problem with sound on computers is you're stuck with whatever digital to analogue chips the maker decided to put in. Not an area where they're looking to spend a lot and they're not a big feature on the marketing spec. Plus electronic isolation and quality power supplies are important in audio electronics but not really a priority when audio is something of an afterthought.

If it's all digital, fine. As long as there's storage space and everything runs fast enough there's not a lot of difference between computers. For editing there are paid for utilities but Audacity is well regarded as free audio editing software and does everything I've ever needed. You have probably been using software you know your way around, so that's where we're starting. What's missing is better than default digital to analogue for your output. There are dedicated sound cards for desktops. Have a look on audio discussion boards, a random search for what's currently available finds things like this: http://www.maudio.co.uk/index.php?do=products.family&ID=PCIinterfaces

If it has to be portable like a laptop there are external sound devices driven through the USB. Something like http://www.maplin.co.uk/5.1-usb-multimedia-sound-card-97120 Maplin are not the only suppliers and I've not tried this device. It's just a national chain where you might be able to see what sort of thing is available. There are cheaper plug in devices on Amazon and ebay, audio specialists sell items for professional studio use rising to well into 4 figures, you have a much better idea of your budget than I do.
Click to expand...

DulwichGnome said:
OK, looking at the spec for the Toshiba it does not have a integrated audio controller so the main CPU is having to do all the work. Adding an external sound card,
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/compon...58328-pdt.html
may help.

Mike.

On a practical note, if you can find one which has the USB plug on a lead you are less likely to damage the port on your laptop.
Click to expand...

Thanks both...that's given me the answers I wanted and ideas where to look.

Frisbee
 
Dishmop said:
When buying something that you know nothing about, it is usual to take some time doing research on the subject as opposed to choosing the cheapest option available.
Click to expand...

What can I say...other than the insight into my affairs is fascinating to say the least. As I don't have a degree in computer or sound technology anything told in the brochure is pretty much over my head. I had one day to sort out a laptop and music for a class, oh plus work to go to as well....so sorry I wasn't able to look into it more. I didn't buy the cheapest, but couldn't afford the most expensive either....which may have not done the job anyway.
It's been interesting listening to your 'opinions' and I'm sorry you bothered to reply too.

Frisbee
 
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