automatic volume leveling preamp thing?

[Carl Farrington]

This probably isn't the correct NG, but it's the only electronics one I read
and the posters seem to be mature so I'm not expecting a major flame.. hence
I'm going to ask anyway

I have had my computer hooked to an Aiwa midi system for some time.. it
works a treat and the massive Sony speakers sound great with it. I only use
the Aiwa as an amplifier with it's "t-bass" and "bbe" or whatever turned on
full (i.e. so it sounds like a normal amp would if it didn't have these
'features'). The problem though, is that these e.q things seem to be
dependant on a good input level. If I have the source (computer) too loud it
clips as would be expected, but if it's too quiet the sound is very very
dead. (it is this deadness that I want to alleviate without having to turn
up the computers sound when I play a song that's recorded quietly)

What I want is some kind of auto-limiter box that'll take the input from my
computer turned up full all the time, so it can drop the signal so that it
is always at the correct level, thus saving me from having to tweak the
computers volume controls all the time so I can just use the master control
on the amp.

Does anyone know of such a device? I specifically say that the computer will
be turned up full all the time so that the signal is always loud enough,
therefore I won't need a device that amplifies an inadequate signal, simply
a device that drops the volume.

any ideas? I'm in the UK but I don't think that really matters.

cheers,
Carl

 

[JeffM]

I want...some kind of auto-limiter box
that'll take the input from my computer turned up full all the time,
...saving me from having to tweak the computers volume controls all
the time
Carl Farrington

It's called an AGC.
http://www.google.com/search?&q=automatic-gain-control+fet+amplifier+-rf+-theory+-lab+-oscillator+-Acronyms

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/radiokits/technical/agc_amplifier/

 

[Chaos Master]

Carl Farrington bleeding:

Does anyone know of such a device? I specifically say that the computer will
be turned up full all the time so that the signal is always loud enough,
therefore I won't need a device that amplifies an inadequate signal, simply
a device that drops the volume.

If I understand you correctly: you say that the sound output is either too weak
or too loud.

For this case I think you could use Winamp [1] to control the volume/equalizer
stuff
on the PC side, controlling the volume via Winamp [1].


[1] Or any audio player program that has equalizer controls, Like Winamp on
Windows or XMMS on Linux.


[]s
--
Chaos MasterŽ - Posting from Brazil
MSN: wizard_of_yendor@hotmail.com
BRASNET: wizard_of_yendor
"A Elbereth Gilthoniel, silivren penna miriel o menel aglar elenath!"

 

[Carl Farrington]

JeffM wrote:

I want...some kind of auto-limiter box
that'll take the input from my computer turned up full all the time,
...saving me from having to tweak the computers volume controls all
the time
Carl Farrington

It's called an AGC.

http://www.google.com/search?&q=automatic-gain-control+fet+amplifier+-rf+-theory+-lab+-oscillator+-Acronyms

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/radiokits/technical/agc_amplifier/

well it would be an AGC, but I want something to lower the volume rather
than increasing it, so I can leave the computer set "too loud" all the
time..

 

[Carl Farrington]

Chaos Master wrote:

Carl Farrington bleeding:

Does anyone know of such a device? I specifically say that the
computer will be turned up full all the time so that the signal is
always loud enough, therefore I won't need a device that amplifies
an inadequate signal, simply a device that drops the volume.

If I understand you correctly: you say that the sound output is
either too weak or too loud.

For this case I think you could use Winamp [1] to control the
volume/equalizer stuff
on the PC side, controlling the volume via Winamp [1].


[1] Or any audio player program that has equalizer controls, Like
Winamp on Windows or XMMS on Linux.

point being though I have three volume controls on the computer (winamp
directsound out, sound card wave and sound card master), as well as the
"master" on my amplifier. I want just to use the amplifier.