need help with monitoring/windows mixer

[cactuseskimo]

Hi, just got a new set of M-audio DX4's. They sound quite nice. I have noticed though that the vocals on a lot of mp3's I have seem a little in the backgound and washed out.

Well, I think I found out why. There is a control on the windows mixer/volume control called "stereo wide". It was turned up about 75%. I turned it all the way down, and I now I can hear everything much more distinctively but the music doesn't sound as big or wide and excited. So, I think I this control might be a control for widening the stero image or adding excitation.

However, here's my problem. I of course want an accurate sound. I'm not sure if turning this all the way down gives me an accurate sound, or if it's actually cutting the stero image. (example - half way up might be neutral). Does anybody have any information for me on this control. My 'help' menu doesn't seem to work.

Thanks!

 

[Ethan Winer]

> half way up might be neutral <

I doubt it. I always turn stuff like that all the way off. You should too.

--Ethan

 

[altitude909]

I have noticed though that the vocals on a lot of mp3's I have seem a little in the backgound and washed out.

Thats because they are MP3s

 

[cactuseskimo]

Thats because they are MP3s

Nice try, but it's not because they're mp3's. Also I said the problem is fixed with the "stereo wide" control, but now I want to know if all the way down, or half way up is the neutral setting.

 

[altitude909]

Try playing them through something other than the windows driver, it should help get you a proper baseline sound. If you are using a stock soundcard, there is ASIO4All which supports just about everything