Audio & Video Problems

[stublack]

I am considering installing windows 7 on all my show computers including those that were windows 8 to begin with.
I use to simply do windows updates on XP and 7 and not have to worry about understanding the technical stuff behind it all. I don't even see on windows 10 how to do updates so I assume it's done automatically. I've seen on other posts things about updating graphic and audio drivers, I'm sure I don't know how to do that and how often would have to do that once I gain the knowledge. At different times on 4 of my 5 show computers all upgraded to windows 10 the graphics or the audio has screwed up. I first used HDMI2AV converters and thought that was the problem, I have in the last 2 or 3 weeks used a converter purchased from Radio Shack that goes from HDMI and converts to composite red, white and yellow. During my show Tuesday night the graphics on my external monitors would shut off for a few seconds and then come back on about 40% of the songs. Then later in the evening the music would skip at the same time the graphics would go bad. Before last nights show I reverted back to windows 8.1 same problem. I brought a home work computer with Windows 7 with me just in case and everything worked smoothly.
On the show computer I'm referring to the HDMI2AV worked well for a few months. The Radio Shack converter worked well since I purchase it a few weeks ago. I cannot afford to have the problems that have been occurring at my shows and my helper shows. If it is the drivers then they were working fine for a while???
I'm sorry for this long winded narrative, but to make a long story longer what would you do if you were me.
Thanks, Stu

[stublack]

I realize that the issues I'm having maybe converter related I have used HDMI2AV MINI converters and the radio shack comparable converter and I don't believe that either is very reliable. I use to use VGA for video and the headphone jack for audio in windows 7 without ever having a problem but neither work the same way in windows 8 or windows 10
What are people using is there a reliable way to get audio to my mixing board and video to my external monitors.

[WaltR]

Originally Posted by stublack

I am considering installing windows 7 on all my show computers including those that were windows 8 to begin with.
I use to simply do windows updates on XP and 7 and not have to worry about understanding the technical stuff behind it all. I don't even see on windows 10 how to do updates so I assume it's done automatically. I've seen on other posts things about updating graphic and audio drivers, I'm sure I don't know how to do that and how often would have to do that once I gain the knowledge. At different times on 4 of my 5 show computers all upgraded to windows 10 the graphics or the audio has screwed up. I first used HDMI2AV converters and thought that was the problem, I have in the last 2 or 3 weeks used a converter purchased from Radio Shack that goes from HDMI and converts to composite red, white and yellow. During my show Tuesday night the graphics on my external monitors would shut off for a few seconds and then come back on about 40% of the songs. Then later in the evening the music would skip at the same time the graphics would go bad. Before last nights show I reverted back to windows 8.1 same problem. I brought a home work computer with Windows 7 with me just in case and everything worked smoothly.
On the show computer I'm referring to the HDMI2AV worked well for a few months. The Radio Shack converter worked well since I purchase it a few weeks ago. I cannot afford to have the problems that have been occurring at my shows and my helper shows. If it is the drivers then they were working fine for a while???
I'm sorry for this long winded narrative, but to make a long story longer what would you do if you were me.
Thanks, Stu

Stu,
As far as Windows 10, updates are done automatically. If you have the Pro version you can control the updates as far as when and how, etc. You didn't mention what version of Hoster you are using, not that this has to do with any of your problems. Some that have converted to Windows 10 have reported graphics problems which had to be solved by updating the graphics drivers. A couple of months ago, there was a new release to Windows 10 which included a lot more drivers from my understanding. Have you installed the codecs that MTU recommends? You can find the link from the support page where it explains the Windows settings for the particular version you are using. I'm not sure if MTU has added recommended changes for Windows 10 yet. I have upgraded all of my computers to Windows 10 and they are pretty much problem free once you get the proper drivers installed. Just a note, I had a friend recently buy Hoster and I helped him install it on a Dell computer. The graphics were a constant problem. He took the computer back and exchanged it for a Toshiba and everything is great now. I may not have offered much help but I hope I have given you some thought on a direction to go. If you do decide on the Windows 10 you may need to do the graphics driver upgrade if it isn't included in the lasted Win 10 version.

[WaltR]

Originally Posted by stublack

I realize that the issues I'm having maybe converter related I have used HDMI2AV MINI converters and the radio shack comparable converter and I don't believe that either is very reliable. I use to use VGA for video and the headphone jack for audio in windows 7 without ever having a problem but neither work the same way in windows 8 or windows 10
What are people using is there a reliable way to get audio to my mixing board and video to my external monitors.

Stu,
I use a usb cable for my audio setup to my mixer. Of course you need a mixer with that capability. I have a late model Mackie mixer and new Peavey mixer. This way you don't need to use the headphone jack. Right now I am using a more expensive HDMI converter. I don't remember the name of it but it cost about 70 or 80 dollars. The little square white ones are the ones I believe are what you are describing. I have some of them as backups and I have found some of them to cause graphics problems and others work fine. If you have a spare, try swapping it and see if you get better results. When I get a chance to unpack my gear, I'll see if there is a name on my converter and get back to you. If the converters you are using works with Windows 7 then I doubt that is your problem.

[Roy Dennis]

I've no idea of what installing Windows 7 on a computer that never had it might bring.

Regarding your problems with the HDMI2AV MINI converters, all I can say I've been using the same one for about three years without a problem.
Do you try running it without the usb power lead connected ?

I ask as I have noticed myself that once it's powered up you can remove the usb lead and it may still work (for a while) but don't think it's wise to run it without.

Also as you say "I use to use VGA for video and the headphone jack for audio in windows 7"

Are you using the HDMI2AV MINI audio outs for your audio connection ? only I never use them, I only use the video out "yellow" you can still use the computer audio jack out as your sound source. Although what I use is a "Native Instruments Traktor Audio 2 USB DJ Audio Interface" as it gives improved audio to that from the onboard computer.

Then of course what with having to use another usb port for my external hard drive may present a problem with some computers not having enough usb connections but that should be solvable with a usb hub.

If you want to stop the audio passing through the HDMI connection so that you can carry on using the headphone jack you need to disable the audio in the HDMI output.
To do this open the sound playback devices dialog while the HDMI is connected, right click the HDMI audio item and select "Disable" (this only affects the audio not the video signal)then right click speakers or headphone and select make default device then Apply and OK. or if using a separate sound card or mixer with it's own sound card make that the default choice.

As regards to graphic driver problems you could still run into these problems if you convert a widows 8 to 7.
Updating a graphics driver is normally a simple procedure as they normally install themselves, you just need to go to your computer manufactures website enter your model # and see if they have updated drivers for your model if not try the manufacturer of your graphics cards website for updated drivers.

As to how to update Windows 10 there are a number of ways, one easy way click on the start button and select "Settings" this should bring up a page showing an update & security option.
But there has been a major update to Windows 10 so you may not wont to install that if you are using the computer in a show the next day so be warned. It can take a good hour to install and that's with a good internet connection. Having said that it installed without issue on my own computer.

[stublack]

Thank you for your help Roy. I have decided to try to do some of the things you mentioned at least the ones I can figure out on my own. I have been working furiously to make sure I have enough stable show computers for the weekend so I don't believe I'll have any time to work on the laptops that are not stable until next week. I may want to pick your brain as I go through the things you suggested 1 by 1. Thanks again, Stu

[stublack]

The idea of connecting the audio through USB sounds great to me and maybe something I want to do, regardless if my laptops are windows 10 or windows 7. I have to check to see if all my mixing boards can handle it. Where do I find the right type of cable/converter to do that. I have been using the Mini converter as my audio and video output, do you think if I use the yellow for Video out only it will make the converter more stable?

[stublack]

What type of things did you do to make sure you had the proper drivers installed after upgrading to windows 10. It sure would be nice to know if my problem is drivers or converters I don't know how to do that however.

[Roy Dennis]

Originally Posted by stublack

The idea of connecting the audio through USB sounds great to me and maybe something I want to do, regardless if my laptops are windows 10 or windows 7. I have to check to see if all my mixing boards can handle it. Where do I find the right type of cable/converter to do that. I have been using the Mini converter as my audio and video output, do you think if I use the yellow for Video out only it will make the converter more stable?

All I can say is I only use the yellow video out and I have never had a problem. Perhaps I've been lucky.
Maybe if WaltR comes back with more info on his one that might be a better option for you.
As to what cable you use to connect to your mixer depends if your mixer has USB connectivity, then you would have to refer to it's type of connector that could be a standard usb2 cable like in my attachment 1 or a mini connector like attachment 2
I don't use the usb sound input on my mixer because it does not allow me to use the EQ for that individual channel, some mixers do, I don't know if Waltr mixers do. That is why I use the Native instruments tractor 2 soundcard and that is supplied with a connection lead. I then run from the mini audio out of that to a stereo line in on my mixer that has EQ on that input.

Originally Posted by stublack

What type of things did you do to make sure you had the proper drivers installed after upgrading to windows 10. It sure would be nice to know if my problem is drivers or converters I don't know how to do that however.

Again I can only speak from my own experience but my only windows 10 computer which is a Samsung Ultrabook has Amd Radeon graphics card in it and on first installing Windows 10 was getting audio drop outs as well as graphic issues, I ended up going to the AMD graphics own website and at that time installed a beta driver and from then on all worked OK if I used it with the accelerated graphics turned off. This also cured the audio drop outs, why a graphics card improved audio I don't know. That was the early days of Windows 10 since then I updated to the latest Windows 10 which as WaltR mentioned may have included updates to drivers I don't know but immediately after that update my Samsung update tools offered an updated driver which I installed and that seems to run OK without turning the accelerated graphics off.

So you first want to try the manufacturer of your computers own website to see if they are offering an update and try that first, follow their instructions for installing it.
If you don't find a suitable Updated driver there Identify your graphics manufacturer (Usually a sticker on the computer showing this) or open control panel and look for device manager then click on display adaptors to expand that and you should see them listed you may have two Intel and another, whatever the other is, is probably the one you want to update. You can try right clicking on it and choose update driver software from there but that does not always find one.

[WaltR]

The video processor I have has no name on it other than "video processor". It is made in china and I don't remember where I purchased it. It was a few years ago. I even have the box it came in and there is no name on it either. Here is one that looks like it on Amazon. It comes with it's own power supply and I have had good luck with it.
http://www.amazon.com/Converter-Keed...onverter&psc=1

[stublack]

Thank you Walt, what cable/converter do you use for audio.
Thanks again, Stu

[RIKKI TIKKI]

StuBlack,
Are you depending on Venues TV's/Monitors for Audio?
Are they a mixture of older TV's and newer flat screens? (HDMI & Composite video inputs)
External Sound Card, i.e. Lexicon Alpha, could, and should improve your Audio processing of older, non-usb mixers...

[WaltR]

Originally Posted by stublack

Thank you Walt, what cable/converter do you use for audio.
Thanks again, Stu

Not sure what you mean by cable converter. I use a usb cable from my computer to my Mackie or Peavey mixer. The cable is the first one in Roy's earlier post.