audio quality poor

[dougbrown]

I purchased a AVerMedia UltraTV PCI300 Capture Card. The audio quality is poor on VHS tapes and worse on DVD. I have checked and the DMA is activated. The jumper audio cable is connected from the Capture Card line out to the Sound Card line in. (I also tried it to the Sounc Card microphone which is no improvement.) The audio is poor when playing a VHS and DVD, and worse when I play a recorded VHS or DVD clip. I have tried adjusting the audio line in and mircophone levels without improvement. The only two variables I can come up with at this time is a defective Capture Card or defective VHS/DVD combination player. Do you have any other ideas?

[edsmith77]

DougBrown,
Can you help us out and describe what is meant by "audio quality is poor."
Does this mean the audio is low in volume, cracks and pops with hissing, or the sound is distorted, like when the volume is turned up to loud and just before the speakers blow.
A bit more detail is needed because "poor audio quality" has a different meaning to a lot of different folks (myself included) and you could get well intentioned help that is counter productive.
From the steps that you have given, it seems that you have done all the first level type fixes. Now to go farther, it is necessary to understand "poor audio quality." Also, consider whether this happens on "every" play or just specific ones. This could indicate bad media or sound recordings.

[dougbrown]

The distortion appears to me as if the volume is too high. Even at low levels, it sounds as if the volume is turned up too loud. I have experienced this with sound systems where there is an impedence mismatch. I have tried numerous VHS tapes and DVDs, so I don't believe the source of the recording is the problem.

[edsmith77]

DougBrown,
Aha, I had that same problem before. My solution was due to adding an unwanted 20db boost to my volume control. Somewhere in the volume settings is a checkbox that includes a 20db boost to be applied to the sound. Verify that this box is NOT checked. Then see if that does not fix your poor audio.
I get to mine by double clicking on the speaker in the sys tray and then looking for some advanced options or advanced controls or more options. I can not recall the exact place since I am not at my home computer. But a little searching and I am certain you will find it.

[dougbrown]

I searched my system and never found any audio boost boxes to uncheck.

[edsmith77]

dougbrown,
Here are a couple of places. My desktop system (with an SB sound card), I double click on the speaker icon in the sys tray, then click on advanced button under the Volume Control, then in the section under "other controls", read the text and it will explain what that check box is for.
On my laptop which has WinXP Home, go to "Start", "Control Panel", Sounds and Audio", "Voice", "Volume", under the File select "Advanced Options", under the Volume Control column, "Advanced" button. Read the text in the section titled "Other controls" and make the proper selection with the check box called "Digital Speaker."

Let me know how you fared.