Frequently asked questions about Sound Analysis
& BatSound
Question.
I have
made a recording with BatSound, but no signal is displayed in the window. What
can be the problem?
Answer.
1. Check the cables and
connectors in your system. Is the cable from your tape recorder or detector
connected to the appropriate input of the sound card (connecting a microphone
to the line input will result in very weak recordings)?
2. Check the volume control
and input channel selector settings of the sound card. There may be a knob on
the sound card that controls the output level to the speakers. In addition to
this, it is also possible to adjust playback and recording levels using the
'volume control' utility that often comes with the sound card. Enabling/disabling
of the input channels is usually also possible.
The Windows Volume Control
offers similar options. You can access the Windows 'Volume Control' (the name
may be different on your system) either by double-clicking the loudspeaker
symbol to the right in the Windows task bar or by choosing "Programs -
Accessories - Multimedia - Volume Control" from the Start menu. If you use
the Windows Volume Control, please note that there are separate sets of
controls for recording and playback. Normally the playback controls are
displayed automatically when you start the Volume Control. To show the
recording controls instead, start the Volume Control and choose Properties from
the Options menu, and check 'Recording' in the 'Adjust volume' box.
3. If you make a 'mono'
recording, some sound cards use only the left channel (or mixes both channels).
Change the recording mode to 'stereo' and view both channels to check if this
is the cause of the problem. If so, use the 'stereo' mode, but choose to view
only the desired channel (using the Spectrogram settings command).
Question.
There
is severe distortion in the recordings I make with BatSound. What can be the
problem?
Answer.
Make sure that the sound
level from your sound source matches the input of the sound card. E.g.
connecting the output of a tape recorder to the microphone input of the sound
card is likely to result in a distorted sound. Connect the tape recorder to the
LINE input instead, or use an attenuator to lower the signal level before
connecting it to the microphone input.
You may also need to adjust
the recording level in the Windows "Volume Control" (see above!).
Question.
Why don't I get any
shades of gray when I print diagrams from BatSound on my printer?
Answer.
Usually this is a problem
with the printer driver or the configuration of the printer. Try changing the
printer properties for printing graphics and make sure you are using the latest
printer drivers. Most printer manufacturers make new printer drivers available
to download from their web sites.
Question.
When I try to print
or copy a power spectrum/pulse length/pulse interval diagram from BatSound, I
get the oscillogram/spectrogram instead. What am I doing wrong?
Answer.
The print command in the
File menu and the Copy command in the Edit menu work on the main window only
(containing the oscillogram and/or spectrogram). To print or copy diagrams from
the other windows, use the Print or Copy command in the 'right mouse button
menu' of the respective window. To invoke this menu, position the mouse arrow
anywhere in the Power Spectrum, Pulse Interval or Pulse Length diagram and then
click the right mouse button.
Question.
When I attempt to
run BatSound for the first time, the error message 'Error in installation data'
appears. Why?
Answer.
You have probably entered
an incorrect serial number/installation code during the installation of the
program. Uninstall BatSound and then install it again. The serial number is
printed on a label on the inner back cover of the BatSound user’s manual. Please
note that the serial number is case sensitive.