Microphone and Speaker are not working in Multisim

[Mr. Fender]

Hello,

I'm having an issue where the labVIEW microphone and speaker instruments are not working in Multisim 10 on my desktop PC.  I've used these features before, and know how to use them (they both work fine on the install on my laptop).  However, on my desktop pc, when I add the microphone and/or speaker to my project and double click them to open up the properties, all the options are disabled (i.e. greyed out).  It shows that it recognizes my sound card, but I am unable to change any settings or record audio.  The simulation does run, but I can't record any audio before hand.  I'm trying to use Multisim to simluate some guitar audio projects that I am designing (distortion, signal boosters, tremolo, etc.)  the audio feature allows me to get a decent approximation of the sound of the circuit prior to actually building it.  While these features do work on my laptop, it is too slow to be useful.  My desktop is a much faster computer, but I can't get the microphone and speaker to work.  My destop is a Window XP based PC running at 3.4GHz with 1GB ram and a Sound Blaster Live soundcard.  Could this be some kind of hardware or software compatibility issue?

Please help!!!!

[Mr. Fender]

Anyone?

[lacy]

Well, I have to say that there is something wrong somewhere. My buttons are not greyed out and it seems the microphone will record sound (based upon my scope readings), but I can't get any sound ouput from the speaker component. I was using the sample circuit for testing. It could be an incompaitiblity in my system causing this, but I am not sure. My audio card is a RealTec AC97, so this may be causing my problem, but I can't ne for certain.

The NI team will have to look at this and see if indeed they are malfuntioning.

[Fernando_D]

Hi,

Remember that both the microphone and speaker are not real time components:

"As simulation runs, the Speaker instrument collects the input data until the simulation time reaches the limit you configured in the Playback Duration field."

Please try the following test:

1. Open a new schematic.

2. Place the speaker and the Function Generator (sine, 1 kHz, 1 Vp); wire them.

3. Run the simulation some seconds and then stop it.

4. Open the speaker properties and press 'Play Sound'; you should hear a beep.

In the case of the microphone you first have to 'Record Sound" and then run the simulation.

Please let me know how this goes.

Fernando

[lacy]

Nope. I still couldn't get any sound out of the speaker component. Thanks for trying, but it could be my sound card

[Mr. Fender]

As I stated before, I know how to use these instruments, so that isn't much help.  The problem is that the options are all disabled (i.e. grayed out) when I open the properties of the microphone and speaker.  Neither one will work.  Are there any known compatibility issues with the microphone and speaker and certain soundcards, software, drivers, etc.?  By the way, the labVIEW signal generator and signal analyzer both work fine, so it doesn't seem to be a labVIEW runtime engine problem.  I'm stuck.

[lacy]

I think since we are both having problems with this it might be a good idea to let Nestor, Max, or Tien take a crack at it and see what they have to say.

[Fernando_D]

Hi again, I've been doing some tests.

Lacy, could you please try the following?:

1. Wire and configure the sample circuit showed in the attached image.

2. Record one second of sound.

3. Start the simulation. Make sure the simulation runs for 'one simulation' second; use the 'simulation clock' (red arrow) in Multisim for reference.

4. Now stop the simulation; "Play Sound".

Let me know how it goes...  by the way, do you have a 24-bit sound card?

Mr.Fender, can you please send us more details about the issue:

1. Multisim 10 or 10.0.1?

2. What driver are you using for you sound card (generic, Windows, manufacturer)?

3. I found that you sound card has 24 bits of resolution, please confirm.

4. Make sure you have DirectX 8 or later in your desktop: Start>>Run>>dxdiag.

As you know the mic and speaker are LabVIEW based; they use some functions that call Windows dlls in order to access the sound card. If your sound driver its managing all the sound settings, it could be responsible for the error.

Fernando

[lacy]

Still no joy. Believe me, I have tried everything except a new sound card. I do not know if my card is 24-bit (I am assuming that it isn't). What I did find out is that I need to update my driver. I am going to update my driver tomorrow and try it again. If this requires a 24-bit sound card and mine isn't a 24-bit sound card, then I just won't be able to use it, unfortunately.

Thanks for all your help.

Message Edited by lacy on 08-20-2007 08:50 PM