Home theatre systems, computer audio, how to record audio, home entertainment systems.

The Audio page and the Video page work together, so you may find related topics on either page.

Recording Audio On Your Computer

If you have a reasonable quality sound card in your computer, get a small switch box from Radio Shack or similar retailer. These usually come with an average of four inputs. Connect the output of the switch box to the line in of your sound card.

Then connect your audio devices that you want to record from to the inputs on this switch box. For example, a cassette player can be connected to input #1, a dvd player to #2 and so on. Any normal audio input you choose can be connected easily.

Then when it comes time to use your favourite program for audio recording, just select the source by pushing the button on the switch box. The sound cards on screen volume controls will still control levels to the various programs you decide to use. If you are making VCDs or DVDs, this allows you to get sound from a cassette, mic, or whatever at the push of a button without switching a bunch of cables.

One important note: Use good quality cables (the thick kind). They are more expensive, but you will end up with less hassles from interference and hums that normal cables often create.

Get A Mixer

If you do a lot of movie making, or dub a lot of old cassettes or albums to digital format, get a small audio mixer. Yes these are the same kind that DJs use for dances and such. Plug your cassette decks, turntables and mics into the mixer. The mixer output is directly connected to the sound card line in. Or if you want the flexability that the switch box above uses, you could connect the mixer output to one of the switch box's inputs and select the mixer that way.

Using a mixer gives you crossfade capability, cue circuits, level meters and much more, depending on the model of mixer you buy. I have used this setup for some time and it works very well for most home video/audio projects.

Upgrading Home Theatre System

As mentioned on the video page, I have been upgrading the home system. Here are a few things I have found so far, usually the hard way:

* The good old fashioned 'Brace & Bit" is best for drilling hole through floors, beams, etc. when installing wires. We tend to like to use the electric portable drills, but the brace & bit cuts faster and does the job better. Get one if you don't have one.

* Make a diagram. When you build a system, make sure you have a diagram to go by should the thing fail. Tracing those wires later is next to impossible. Be it a block diagram or a schematic type - either is worth its weight when you need it.

* Label the wires as you go. Sounds simple enough, but most people don't until its too late. I tried the stick on label maker type and they always seem to fall off. Coloured tape is much the same and it fades or comes off when you move the wires around. The best thing I found over all is the little round tags with the string on them that you can loop around the wires and secure by pulling the button through the string. Then write on them with a marker. They stay on and are easy to read, and they only cost pennies for a bunch in a package. .

* Speaker wire - Sometimes it is good to use the nice fat professial cables. I always do between equipment. However for long runs in between walls I have found lamp cord to do just as good a job with minimal losses. Get the heavy guage stuff, and be aware it is not shielded, otherwise save yourself a bundle.

* Is 6.1 better than 5.1

When I first upgraded, my new system had a connection for a rear centre speaker. My previous unit did not. When I went through the configuration and setup, it would always say center speaker off. That bugged me. Would a center speaker even be noticable? After several weeks I broke down and purchased a matching center speaker for the rear and set it up according to instructions.

Is it noticable, is it worth it? The answer is a definite yes. Not all programs have information that can be fed to the rear center channel, but those that do are awesome. Most Dolby and DTS programs have center rear information. It is most effective when in a club or restaurant setting, where you can hear people chatting all around you. Or in scenes where traffic is passing behind you and you hear the vehicles go through the entire sound field. Also when there is a sound that goes diagonal from left front to right rear or left rear to right front.

In summary, 6.1 puts you in the center of the sound field and the experience is very real.