After having to pay someone to remove clunking Windows Vista and install Windows 7, my VGN-CR590’s still running fast enough for most web-based tasks. And as it also has a fairly new system drive and 4GB memory, I will eventually be using it to run room equalizing software, such as Room EQ Wizard and Acourate.
To get my feet wet are these excellent primers for REW.
http://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/room-measurement-tutorial-for-dummies-part-1.4/ and http://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/room-measurement-tutorial-for-dummies-part-2.5/ Before buying the right mic and preamp, I can learn how to make some informative measurements by using the laptop’s internal mic. But every Windows 7 audio recording dialog box was no help in raising the mic’s record gain high enough beyond the system noise level. Using Windows recorder, the only thing audible in the recorded file was when I rapped on the laptop’s chassis. Even when switching to an external mic I was barely able to hear my voice.
Checking the CR590’s spec sheet and manual, as it includes a Realtek audio chip some kind of Realtek software utility was clearly missing. Going here https://esupport.sony.com/US/p/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNCR590&upd_id=5022&os_group_id=5
I found the Realtek audio driver for Windows 7 32 bit download. But after installing it I found it without any such unity, which I later learned is the Realtek HD Audio Manager-and which should solve the internal and external microphone’s low record gain problem, as revealed here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNULfk2yCqc and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RelmsDtRkvM
As my CR590 laptop has long since been discontinued, it’s anyone guess how long it will take for this important download to be posted at Sony support. So I emailed Realtek weeks ago, but no reply. And the U.S. Realtek rep said only to contact Sony. I tried looking for what I need here
http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=14&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false but HD Audio Manager is apparently not available for Windows 7 as a download apart from the driver. And I’d still wouldn’t know exactly which of these to download, if any.
I will email Sony support about the missing utility. Meanwhile, I’d greatly appreciate any assistance in finding where else this software may be available.
Thank you.
