Awe32 Line-In - Right speaker level extremely low

[MusicallyInspired]

I have an Awe32 in my old 486. I was just using it last night to play Hocus Pocus with the GS device in my CM-500 and plugging the output into the AWE32's Line-In. It was working fine last night. Now today I go to use it and the sound volume is extremely low in the right speaker. Digital sounds, FM Synth, and Wavetable are all fine but it seems the right input for the Line-In is permanently set low or something. Is it possible it's blown? I can't understand how that could happen as it was working fine just last night and nothing happened that could blow it. And you can still hear it fine if you turn it up and mute the left speaker, no distortion or anything. The volume is just really really low. I've tried working with the MIXERSET DOS program that comes with the drivers and nothing's panned, muted, or turned down or anything. Any ideas what's going on?

[jharris01]

Most likely the audio cable you are using has gone bad. In my experience I've obeserved that sometimes a section of the cable or the 3.5mm plug loses its ability to connect or transmit the signal properly. The line-in jack could also be the one showing signs of wear (eg, if you plugged/unplugged things constantly).

Other than to check all your cable connections I would replace the cable and see if the problem clears.

[MusicallyInspired]

I've tried 3 different cables. Exactly the same thing. And I tried them on other devices with no problems either.

[Salient]

I have had the same experience with a Gus classic LOOONG time ago (when the card was still "hot"). It turned out to be the amplifier chip (TDA or TEA something if i remember correctly). After changing it for a new one it worked perfectly again.

[MusicallyInspired]

Really? On the Line-In? Well that sucks. How do I change that?

[Salient]

Ohh, i misread No, that was on the line-out, sorry.

By the way, if there is a TEA2025B or similar chip, that is the amplifier chip that goes for the line-out.
the TDA (TDA7284 on the card I have in front of me) chip is a record/playback circuit and COULD be the problem but I can't tell for sure.

[Cloudschatze]

I feel silly suggesting this, but if you haven't already done so, here is something simple to try:

On both the AWE32 and CM-500, twist the jacks on your audio cables back and forth several times within the input/output sockets, and then remove and re-insert them a couple of times.

I've run into similar problems on occasion, especially with soundcards, where oxidation on the input/output connectors has caused either distortion, or low-level audio, in one or both channels.

[MusicallyInspired]

I don't think that's the problem. Because when I mute and unmute the left channels for the Line-In in the mixer there is no sound but when I mute and unmute the right channel you hear this really loud clipping sound like something's being unplugged from or plugged into an amp while it's on or something. Same goes for altering volume level of Line-In on the mixer. Also when you put the volume at maximum the right channel cuts out completely and all you hear is the left channel. Same when altering the right channel's gain.

I'll try that anyway, though. But it's definitely a problem with the Line-In.

EDIT: Doesn't work.

[Rhizome]

Sounds like the ADC is on it's way out.

[Cloudschatze]

Eh, the ADC isn't really a factor here. Any failure with the board will likely be in the mixer chip itself, or in some component of the input circuitry between it and the line jack.

Brandon, I have a spare CT3900, if you're interested.

[Rhizome]

Eh, the ADC isn't really a factor here. Any failure with the board will likely be in the mixer chip itself, or in some component of the input circuitry between it and the line jack.

I'll be honest, I know very little.

[MusicallyInspired]

Brandon, I have a spare CT3900, if you're interested.

Indeed I am!

[MusicallyInspired]

I received my new AWE32 today (Thanks, Eriq!) and it works fine. But  and MIDI notes get stuck. Which is weird because I'm not even using the AWE32 as a MIDI out device. I've always used and am still using my Music Quest card as my primary MIDI Out device. Any idea what's happening here? Could there be a conflict of some sort with the new card? I noticed some jumpers on the board were in different places than the other AWE32 I have.

It seems to be a 1995 model whereas the other one I have is a 1994 model. But they're both CT3900s.

EDIT: I fixed it. Turns out it was an IRQ conflict. I moved around the jumpers on the board to match the ones on my old AWE32 and now there is no more note-sticking. It still says that the AWE32 is on port 330 when in fact the MQ card is also on port 330 but it doesn't seem to be messing anything up.