Any suggestions for audio settings?
I purchased the Fujitsu laptop direct from Eclipse. They loaded the software, my settings, my dictionary, etc.
I've spoken with tech. support numerous times, met with a former Eclipse trainer, and even spoken with Anthony at Eclipse. The audio quality is nowhere near as good as the IBM laptop I purchased from Eclipse several years ago when I first went on the software. Totally not acceptable, especially working in a court setting.
I have tried using the Martel external microphone that plugs into the microphone jack, which is what I was using for the IBM laptop. I even purchased the Martel USB microphone to see if that was better since it has an external sound card.
After many, many tests and suggestions from Anthony at Eclipse, I found the Martel USB microphone and settings of Speex, 44kBits,32.0kHz, mono, Q10, 5kb/sec improved the quality and volume of the audio. I thought my problem was solved UNTIL I tried to edit a transcript with the audio and realized that I cannot control the playback speed of the audio. I've since been told by tech support that when it's set on Speex you cannot control the playback speed.
I would very much appreciate any suggestions. Perhaps someone has purchased the Fujitsu from Eclipse. I am very frustrated. The point of buying the laptop from Eclipse was so that I wouldn't have these issues!
Anyone ever tried Audio2Me? How about something from Sound Professionals?
Gayle & Heather,
I was reading your posts from late 2010. I'm still looking for a new laptop, and I was considering the Fujitsu sold by Advantange, but I'd like to know whether or not your audio problems have been resolved. Any comments would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Sandy
Hi, Heather.
Yes, that sounds like typical virus behavior: They block downloads of popular antivirus programs as part of their programming.
Should you have the misfortune to have a similar difficulty, try downloading the AV program on someone else's computer and save it to a flash drive, then (if necessary) boot into Safe Mode and install and run the AV program, and you should be okay.
There's also a method where you boot your computer off of a CD or DVD running some variant of Linux that has a functional version of Avast. Alas, this is not an easy solution to implment, but making one of these up in advance might be Good!
You might need your "Neighborhood Geek" for this one, though.
--gdw
Gayle & Heather:
I am so sorry you're having issues. I also bought a Fujitsu from Advantage very recently, and I couldn't be any happier with the audio! It's the E Series. The audio is just awesome. I don't even use a mike. I don't want to take away from your posts regarding your audio issues. They definitely need to get fixed! But I just wanted to let other folks viewing this thread know they should not shy away from getting the Fujitsu Lifebook *E* Series. I looooove this computer! Windows 7, 32-bit. And, yes, I did opt for the upgrade.
Debbie
Gayle, there ARE some SPEEX settings that allow you to adjust your playback speed. The ones that show "8 kHz mono" should allow that. Sounds like the tech you spoke to was not familiar with SPEEX enough to know that.
The one most reporters like is 24.6 kBit/s 8.0 kHz mono Q10 3kb/sec. It does allow for playback speed adjustment. But that might not work well on your Fujitsu even though it works for lots of other people. I have a reporter in New Orleans who tried the 24.6 and one further down with a 44 number (that didn't have the 8.0 kHz mono). The sound from the 44 choice was appreciably better, but we lost the ability to adjust the playback speed.
Good luck with your problem. Audio is so critical. I see Anthony thinks there might be a line in your .ini file that could be changed to solve the problem. Hope that works. Maybe Dotchie's suggestion will help as well.
joyce davis
I didn't like the Fuji when I first bought it from Advantage. I was even thinking of returning it; however, after a year later, I will have to admit that it is the best computer I've ever owned. Coming from a woman that buys computers like most women buy shoes, that's saying a lot. The mouse still drives me crazy, but the computer just works!! Most other computers I'm having to constantly tinker with them for some reason or another. With the Fuji, I don't.
If you want excellent audio out of the Fuji, use these instructions: LINK.
Here is a small section of an audio file I recorded yesterday before my deposition with the Olympus: LINK. The guy doing the bulk of the talking was ten feet away from my mike. They were engaged in small talk before the depo started, and you know how low they speak on those occasions.
I always have to turn my sound way down or else I'll be blown out. It doesn't matter which CODEC you choose either.
Gayle,
As I explained to you at length, you're comparing your new laptop's audible level with your old IBM. IBM emphasized on the audio level of their laptop, while compromising on other components. We're not comparing apples to apples here. Overall, the Fujitsu laptop is a better machine, that emphasizes on the quality of their components.
I have tested these laptops extensively and find their sound quality and audible level to be good even more so when coupled with a pair of headphones, which I need to turn down the volume on. Their's an entry in your Gayle.ini file, which in the past, I've seen can cause your recording levels in Eclipse to sound lower. Please e-mail so we can go over this setting.
Cordially,
Anthony
Gayle,
The volume on the Fujitsus is low, no question about that, BUT, it has been demonstratred to me that with a headset the volume is perfectly acceptable, so while I still have an IBM T43 bought from Advantage five years ago that has excellent audio, most of these newer laptops do not have the quality sound card that older laptops had. Buy a good headset and you will find that the audio volume and quality are very good. Have you tried another codec that will allow you to adjust playback speed? Howard
Gayle,
I too bought a Fujitsu from Eclipse, and I've had problems with it, still unresolved after a year. Way too expensive to have all these problems.
Hope yours is resolved.
Heather
Heather,
Can you tell me specifically, the unresolved problem you state you're still having after a year? I recall the inital issue being a bad LCD converter, which I helped you with. According to your support records, you claimed that your current issues, began with a download from Microsoft.
Anthony
I forgot about the bad LCD converter. That was resolved.
The real problem was that I tried to download an antivirus software the very day I received it, and it wouldn't load. I used it sparingly for about a year since I tried multiple times to get it loaded. You gave me a couple of ideas, but it never worked. When I went to the Vegas seminar I tried to get some help there, but there was no Internet service in the hotel.
Finally I really needed to use the laptop with the Internet since my desktop was becoming unreliable, so I reformatted the hard drive. Now it works like a charm.
Heather
Hi, Heather.
Just curious, but do you remember which antivirus you installed and had such problems with?
I'm asking because sometimes when I'm online with my Mac (and *not* running Windows), I will get a pop-up window telling me that some nasty virus was detected, with a fairly convincing picture of a typical Windows C drive as the "scanner" does it's thing.
Trouble is, I am running the Mac OS, and my hard drive isn't named C:/ (it's actually named "Glenz MacBook Pro," but I digress).
I let the "scan" continue because I wanted to see what it would do when it was finished: Would it tell me my system was virus-free? Or would it tell me my Mac has been infected with ImminentDeath 1.0?
Sure enough, this "scan" told me my hard drive was infected with -- well, I forget what -- and helpfully advised me to download their software so I could "fix" the problem.
It took me a few clicks to dismiss the offer, but I declined.
That said, I highly recommend checking around the CR forums to see what the best antivirus software is.
Sure, Norton Antivirus has been around for a while and is the natural one to reach for, but I haven't heard anything good about it of late ("resource hog" being one of the kinder things I've heard), so it is best to do some checking.
I would start over at Depoman.com. Use the Search function and search for "antivirus" or "best antivirus."
You might also just start another topic here and get some recommendations.
Good luck with your newly working laptop!
--gdw
Well, I could never actually install it till I reformatted the hard drive.
The day I received the laptop, I TRIED to download AVG, which I've had on all my other computers. I went to their website to download it. It would get so far, then say it couldn't access the internet. (I could get on the internet, so I don't know what that was about.) I also tried Avast, to no avail. I tried it multiple times, never could get it to work.
Just weird.
Heather
Hi, Howard
Thanks for your suggestions. I use a good quality headset and the volume is still not where I would like it. I have not changed the setting to something in PCM because I want the ability to adjust the playback speed.
I spoke with Support again yesterday. I'm still playing around with the settings. I'm tempted to go back to my old IBM. That was great quality audio.
Once again, thanks for your suggestions. I start a job in Federal Court on Monday. That will be the true test of the audio quality. Perhaps it will work better in a larger setting that where I've been testing it.
Thanks ...
Gayle