Computer as a prepro

[prerich]

Oh big ups to Andrew Robinson - made me consider what I did tonight! Buying Audiolense would have been easier, but this was a lot cheaper!!!!

[Johnny Vinyl]

Good morning Rich!

[Show spoiler](err....I mean David!)

So I'm doing the room changeover this week and want to connect my PC to my audio rig. How exactly do I go about doing this?

Pat told me to get 2 Y-Adapters (which I did) and I know one has to go into the soundcard. Where does the other one go?

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Johnny Vinyl

Good morning Rich!

[Show spoiler](err....I mean David!)

So I'm doing the room changeover this week and want to connect my PC to my audio rig. How exactly do I go about doing this?

Pat told me to get 2 Y-Adapters (which I did) and I know one has to go into the soundcard. Where does the other one go?

Wait a minute, if you're not using an external DAC, you don't need a Y-adapter at all. Just simply connect the stereo RCA cables to the analogue RCA outs of the STX to an analogue input on your pre-amp/integrated amp. It's that simple using the STX. I'll look at your setup real quick because it has changed a lot!

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Johnny Vinyl

Good morning Rich!

[Show spoiler](err....I mean David!)

So I'm doing the room changeover this week and want to connect my PC to my audio rig. How exactly do I go about doing this?

Pat told me to get 2 Y-Adapters (which I did) and I know one has to go into the soundcard. Where does the other one go?

Just realized -you no longer have a gallery, Johnny. Can you tell me the equipment that you're using?

P.S. the only reason I can see for y-connectors is if you wish to maintain your PC speakers (but with your Genesis I couldn't imagine why you would want to ).

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by prerich

Wait a minute, if you're not using an external DAC, you don't need a Y-adapter at all. Just simply connect the stereo RCA cables to the analogue RCA outs of the STX to an analogue input on your pre-amp/integrated amp. It's that simple using the STX. I'll look at your setup real quick because it has changed a lot!

I've got my Monitors hooked up to the OUTS and I have one INPUT. I'm confused.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Johnny Vinyl

I've got my Monitors hooked up to the OUTS and I have one INPUT. I'm confused.

Ok, you want your pc to be a source component, right? Ok - here's the simple way.

1. Disconnect your PC monitors.
2. The red and white RCA cables coming out of STX, connect them to an empty input on your preamp (CD,AUX, Tape In, ect)
3. Select that input on your preamp and play some music through your PC. The sound should be coming from your Genesis speakers.


That should be all she wrote. All of this is just using simple stereo RCA cables - no y cables. Unless you wish to switch between your Genesis and your pc monitors...then we will need to use a Y or better yet a switch.

What exactly are you attempting my good friend?

[prerich]

We'll I'm gong to take some time and build a sticky on the connection of PC's to Stereo/Ht equipment. I'll have I up this evening ! Off to the PC - this will require typing, not pecking

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by prerich

We'll I'm gong to take some time and build a sticky on the connection of PC's to Stereo/Ht equipment. I'll have I up this evening ! Off to the PC - this will require typing, not pecking

Yea that would be great. As for John I believe he does want to keep both systems hooked up together. The 2 Y connectors were for that. A switch might be better at isolating between systems but unless he has a ground loop problem or so it should be just fine IMO.

So John, you put the male end of your Y into the outputs on your Xonar, then connect each female outputs of the Ys to the RCA ICs that go to your monitors and your pre for your 2 ch rig. Use Asio and control your volume with your pre. Easy as 1, 2, 3

[prerich]

Originally Posted by pentatonic

Yea that would be great. As for John I believe he does want to keep both systems hooked up together. The 2 Y connectors were for that. A switch might be better at isolating between systems but unless he has a ground loop problem or so it should be just fine IMO.

So John, you put the male end of your Y into the outputs on your Xonar, then connect each female outputs of the Ys to the RCA ICs that go to your monitors and your pre for your 2 ch rig. Use Asio and control your volume with your pre. Easy as 1, 2, 3

10-4 ...I was wondering wh he needed the Y's (it was the only thing I old think of - I suggested the switch for that very reason, but you are correct - if he didn't have a ground loop (60hz hum)problem - he'll be fine.

I just finished a honey-do list (cleaning out the exterior wash-house ) ! A couple of errands left at lowes and monkey-mart and then I'm on the case of the sticky !!!!

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by prerich

10-4 ...I was wondering wh he needed the Y's (it was the only thing I old think of - I suggested the switch for that very reason, but you are correct - if he didn't have a ground loop (60hz hum)problem - he'll be fine.

I just finished a honey-do list (cleaning out the exterior wash-house ) ! A couple of errands left at lowes and monkey-mart and then I'm on the case of the sticky !!!!

Better get that up, because I'm still lost.

Insert MALE part of Y-adapter into the XONAR. Check!
Attached 2 RCA IC's to the female end of the Y-Adapter. Check.

This is where I lose it.

Where do I plug in the opposite ends of the IC's?

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Johnny Vinyl

Better get that up, because I'm still lost.

Insert MALE part of Y-adapter into the XONAR. Check!
Attached 2 RCA IC's to the female end of the Y-Adapter. Check.

This is where I lose it.

Where do I plug in the opposite ends of the IC's?

Johnny - Let's make it easy . Buy these http://www.amazon.com/RCA-AH96PBN-Pi.../dp/B003GSLEL2


When you get them... Rca out of the STX, into your preamp and piggyback to your PC monitors .... That should take care of you.

[prerich]

Here's a picture for you Johnny Of course your amp will have the Genesis connected to them. I just put that onkyo pic there for a place holder. This will allow you to send the signal from your pc to either or both sets of speakers.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by prerich

Johnny - Let's make it easy . Buy these http://www.amazon.com/RCA-AH96PBN-Pi.../dp/B003GSLEL2


When you get them... Rca out of the STX, into your preamp and piggyback to your PC monitors .... That should take care of you.

Thanks buddy! I was totally confused as I thought I only had one OUT jack, when in fact I have two (connected to monitors). This piggyback option then makes sense to me (finally).

I will check the Radio Shack (The Source here) for a pair. I checked Amazon CA and they have a pic of the same cable...guess how much?

[Show spoiler]$22.99

Someone is making a tidy profit!

This connection will thereby allow me to use either my Behringer monitors or my Genesis speakers. I assume I control where the sound is going via my soundcard?

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by prerich

Here's a picture for you Johnny Of course your amp will have the Genesis connected to them. I just put that onkyo pic there for a place holder. This will allow you to send the signal from your pc to either or both sets of speakers.

Thanks for the pic illustrating the proper connection. (I'm such a digital newb..)

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Johnny Vinyl

Thanks buddy! I was totally confused as I thought I only had one OUT jack, when in fact I have two (connected to monitors). This piggyback option then makes sense to me (finally).

I will check the Radio Shack (The Source here) for a pair. I checked Amazon CA and they have a pic of the same cable...guess how much?

[Show spoiler]$22.99

Someone is making a tidy profit!

This connection will thereby allow me to use either my Behringer monitors or my Genesis speakers. I assume I control where the sound is going via my soundcard?

Nope...easier than that. If you want the sound to go to just the Genesis...make sure your PC monitors are off. If you want it to go to just the PC monitors - turn off your main rig or at least mute it. All of this takes place after the soundcard - so it's all analouge - soundcard has no routing responsibilities whatsoever. It's that simple.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by prerich

Nope...easier than that. If you want the sound to go to just the Genesis...make sure your PC monitors are off. If you want it to go to just the PC monitors - turn off your main rig or at least mute it. All of this takes place after the soundcard - so it's all analouge - soundcard has no routing responsibilities whatsoever. It's that simple.

Sweet! Even easier!

[prerich]

Watching Rango BD on my PC...I'm still impressed and I don't miss my Onkyo! Pans are smooth and seamless! I actually got consumed in the Movie because of the life-likeness of the soundfield!!!!

That causes me to wonder, how many of you have attempted to manually EQ your systems? I have only sat in my sweet spot, but it sounds better to me than Audyssey, so much that I don't want to, and won't add an outboard MultiEQ XT to the system!!!! I believe with the right tools you can achieve very good results EQ'ing your own system.

[prerich]

Now add psycoacoutics to the list of tricks my PC can do!!!! I'd purchased the ambiophonics plugin months ago but it only works with close spaced speakers, so I gave up on psycoacoutsics (I loved the Carver Sonic Hologram and the Polk Audio SDA effects - although the Carver unit could get phasey and have a wandering center image - I didn't like that).

I started hearing about a piece of gear from BSG Technologies called the signal completion stage. Stereophile, TAS, and quite a few others have given this piece of gear great reviews. Listeners from shows have posted in forums the virtues of this piece. Some saying they don't know how it's being done - but it does make the music sound better (ambience,detail, layering).
The problem...this piece of gear is $4000.00!!!! I'm sorry - I'm not going to pay that for a piece of psyco-acoustic gear!!!!

Enter the Voxengo MSED Plug-in! This thing is the real deal! It's based off the same Q0l effect (pronounced "coal") as the BSGT unit...but it's free!!!! Better yet...it works!!!!

If you have computer based audio running software that can use VST plugins (such as JRiver or Ammare) I'd suggest that you try this plug in (be very cautious with the levels - I'd go no further than 1.5 on the side ajustment and no more than 0.9 for the mids). See if it doesn't reveal details that you missed before - it opened layers of music that I didn't know that were there before...really!!!! And here's the good part, if you don't like it - just uncheck it in your plug-ins.

If you're an audio purist and you want nothing in the path ect... this is not for you, but if you are one that will trust your ears over everything else, its worth a try! I have mine perminately engaged ! When I'm hearing piano riffs that were covered by a lead sax, or mistakes that a stand-up bass player made in the performance - that's what I call involving, give me that anyday!!!!

Here's a link to the plugin

http://www.voxengo.com/product/msed/

And here's a link to the users guide

http://www.voxengo.com/files/usergui...Guide%20en.pdf

Try it, see if you like it!!!!!

[onyxbfly]

If I understand this correctly. If I wanted to use my computer as a prepro all I would need is one of the sound cards you previously mentioned.

One of the main reasons for having an AVR PRE/pro si that you can have all of your sources into one box and then have the audio out to your amp and or your speakers depending on what route you take.

My question is how do you get your different source audio into your HTPC to have the sound output via your card to your amp then your speakers?

I can see this being a great idea if your only sources that you are concerned with is a tuner card and or movies/music via the HTPC.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by onyxbfly

If I understand this correctly. If I wanted to use my computer as a prepro all I would need is one of the sound cards you previously mentioned.

One of the main reasons for having an AVR PRE/pro si that you can have all of your sources into one box and then have the audio out to your amp and or your speakers depending on what route you take.

My question is how do you get your different source audio into your HTPC to have the sound output via your card to your amp then your speakers?

I can see this being a great idea if your only sources that you are concerned with is a tuner card and or movies/music via the HTPC.

I only have one source ! I play Blu-ray, music, and TV all through my HTPC