Volume

[ciphergoth]

Between the MP3 file and the speakers there are no fewer than seven different volume controls. One is on the MP3 application itself. Two in the Linux kernel, "master" and "PCM". Then it comes out of the sound card and into Kitty's mixer, where it goes past a "gain" dial, a level slider and a crossfader. Finally the amplifier which feeds the speakers has a standard issue dial on the front.

Many of them don't like being right at the top; you have to push them up until it sounds nasty. I get that "all life is misdesigned" feeling.

I have a note in my brain to quote purplerabbits as saying "You wouldn't want an off-centre badger spinning mechanism!". I have no idea why now, but anyway, there's an item off my TODO list.

Comments

[ex-meta.livejournal.com]

I've noticed that about PC sound cards too. The ThinkPad volume control will go up to a level where the sound is horribly distorted. What were they thinking?

(Probably "PC users don't care about quality, let alone sound quality".)