http://www.techlore.com?src=blog_rss Does your device have a feature that you're not sure how to use or what it does? Confused about a technology term? Did a salesman tell you something you don't think is true? Submit your question to the TechLore Experts for clear answers to your technology questions. Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:36:13 GMT admin@techlore.com TechLore 60 http://www.techlore.com/brand/techlore/community.gif http://www.techlore.com?src=blog_rss http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/31834/Ask-the-Experts-How-to-Capture-Analog-Audio-on-a-PC/?src=blog_rss <img align="right" hspace="10" src="http://www.techlore.com/imagelib/contentitem/31834/39e706a46ad531be--40033b64-1300ef8f59b--1490105426518.jpg">Question: I have a MDS-JE440 I want to put the music that is on mini discs into my PC. How do I accomplish this? Do I require a software program to get the songs into my computer and in the mp3 format via the mini disc player itself? -submitted by Songbird Answer: Believe it or not, just about any PC should be able to do exactly what you're looking for with little to no extra software installed. I've frequently do audio capture when recording telephone interviews, for example, or catpuring game music when building my own custom ringtones. The advice I'm going to give below is pretty generic for analog audio in general, but will work for your MiniDisc player, too. Some people have portable MiniDisc players that can interface directly with a PC over USB, allowing users to check in or out songs via Sony's (arguably terrible) SonicStage Software. Since your home deck doesn't do that, I can only assume you're trying to convert a commercial MiniDisc, or you captured audio from another source. To get started, your PC must have a 1/8" (3.5mm) stereo audio input jack. Most desktops and laptops do. If not, you'll need a USB...<div><a href="http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/31834/Ask-the-Experts-How-to-Capture-Analog-Audio-on-a-PC/">[Read more]</div> Ask the Experts Computers, Laptops, and Media Servers Portable Audio / Video Players Portable Accessories and Software Fri, 20 May 2011 20:02:01 GMT Matt Whitlock http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/31834/Ask-the-Experts-How-to-Capture-Analog-Audio-on-a-PC/#discussion?src=blog_rss http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/31834/Ask-the-Experts-How-to-Capture-Analog-Audio-on-a-PC/?src=blog_rss http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/31664/PC-to-TV-DVI-vs.-VGA-vs.-HDMI-vs.-Display-Port/?src=blog_rss <img align="right" hspace="10" src="http://www.techlore.com/imagelib/contentitem/31664/39e706a46ad531be--7e1fdd01-12fb7899ac3-6d47424751221.jpg">Question: Which is a better connector DVI or VGA? -submitted by TechLore member chuckeman Answer: Even though your question specifically focuses on DVI and VGA, I'm going to toss HDMI and Display Port into the mix to make sure I cover the bases for everyone. When hooking up your PC or laptop to a monitor (or subsequently certain devices to TVs) you'll want to use the best quality connection possible. There are some key differences between all the major connection types that may not make choosing a "best" really possible, depending on the display you're connecting to, but for the most part, use the information below as a general rule. VGA connections (made via a DB-15 connector) is the oldest PC connection still commonly in use today, although its use is diminishing now that computers and flat panel monitors are commonly supporting digital connection standards much more often. VGA connections carry analog signals to a monitor, via the RGBHV color format. This connection is prone to signal erros associated with analog signals, like image degredation, crosstalk, etc, but a moderately decent cable at short lengths will provide an excellent high-resolution image. DVI is a much newer connection type than VGA,...<div><a href="http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/31664/PC-to-TV-DVI-vs.-VGA-vs.-HDMI-vs.-Display-Port/">[Read more]</div> Home Theater Accessories Ask the Experts Computers, Laptops, and Media Servers Televisions and Projectors Tue, 03 May 2011 21:03:44 GMT Matt Whitlock http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/31664/PC-to-TV-DVI-vs.-VGA-vs.-HDMI-vs.-Display-Port/#discussion?src=blog_rss http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/31664/PC-to-TV-DVI-vs.-VGA-vs.-HDMI-vs.-Display-Port/?src=blog_rss http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/31391/Ask-the-Experts-How-do-I-connect-a-PC-to-my-older-projector/?src=blog_rss <img align="right" hspace="10" src="http://www.techlore.com/imagelib/contentitem/31391/39e706a46ad531be-6ca6aead-12f21fb59aa-235d-1744222897.jpg">Question: I have a Compaq Presario CQ70 laptop PC, running Vista, which I wish to connect to a Sharp XV-PN300 LCD projector in order to project video from the PC. The PC has a female VGA socket in addition to the usual USB ports. The projector has a female S-Video input socket, a yellow jackplug socket labelled "Video Input," and white and red sockets labeled "Audio Input." I have been told that I need a digital to analog converter with the appropriate cables. Is this true? Do you know where I can buy the correct connection equipment? Do I need to change the resolution on the PC? Answer: Connecting a PC to an older projector isn't really any different than connecting a PC to an older, analog television. I wrote a guide on some ways to do this years ago, which you can find here . To summarize for your specific situation and address one of your specific questions, you do not need a "digital to analog converter" to make a connection to your older projector. The signal coming out of your laptop's VGA jack is already analog, but not in a format that your television can understand. The jacks...<div><a href="http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/31391/Ask-the-Experts-How-do-I-connect-a-PC-to-my-older-projector/">[Read more]</div> Home Theater Accessories Computers, Laptops, and Media Servers Televisions and Projectors Mon, 04 Apr 2011 19:41:42 GMT Matt Whitlock http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/31391/Ask-the-Experts-How-do-I-connect-a-PC-to-my-older-projector/#discussion?src=blog_rss http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/31391/Ask-the-Experts-How-do-I-connect-a-PC-to-my-older-projector/?src=blog_rss http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/31063/What-RF-Modulators-Do-and-Don-t-Do/?src=blog_rss <img align="right" hspace="10" src="http://www.techlore.com/imagelib/contentitem/31063/39e706a46ad531be-4aa2617b-12dcdb4bc48--5c02-1138757043.jpg">Question: I have an older TV, no converter box and a pair of rabbit ears. I am attempting to hook up an RF modulator to connect my DVD. I attempted hooking everything up &amp; using the rabbit ears but I've had no success in obtaining a signal. Am I just doing something wrong or would I need a converter box to obtain a signal? - submitted by sflower Answer: You're absoluetely correct on both parts. If connecting an older TV (assuming one that doens't have any line level inputs at all, and only an analog RF connection) to a DVD player, you'll need to hook the video output of the DVD player into the RF modulator, and then into the TV. As far as your rabbit ears go, analog broadcasting has ceased to exist, and stations now only broadcast in digital formats. Your TV doesn't have the right kind of tuner to receive those. So, you'll need to obtain a digital converter box to receive digital broadcasts and convert them into the older format usable by your TV. Without one, you'll get nothing but static. Getting both items hooked up to your TV may be easier said than done, particularly...<div><a href="http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/31063/What-RF-Modulators-Do-and-Don-t-Do/">[Read more]</div> Home Theater Accessories Ask the Experts Video Playback / Recording Devices Televisions and Projectors Fri, 28 Jan 2011 17:40:44 GMT Matt Whitlock http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/31063/What-RF-Modulators-Do-and-Don-t-Do/#discussion?src=blog_rss http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/31063/What-RF-Modulators-Do-and-Don-t-Do/?src=blog_rss http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/27657/Streaming-Internet-Video-Without-the-Herky-Jerky/?src=blog_rss <img align="right" hspace="10" src="http://www.techlore.com/imagelib/contentitem/27657/f0f219158e118e83--7e5e825f-125274baef0--4d8b-1689811614.jpg">Question: I have successfully hooked up my laptop to my TV.. I have a new Toshiba computer and have made the connection using a VGA to TV converter box. Everything works good except for one thing, The videos and live TV broadcasts seem to be a little jerky, like they are buffering or something. I am receiving internet through a Verizon wireless DSL modem. Is there a computer or modem setting that needs to be changed. Or do you need something else to produce seamless video similar to cable TV. -Submitted by Fischer Answer: Your question has me thinking from several angles, since you weren't exactly clear if the issue occurs when streaming content over the web (since you mentioned how you're connected to the web) or viewing local content (since you mentioned live TV broadcasts). I'll hit on both topics, though, since others could be facing problems with each. Let's first start by assuming that we're talking Internet streaming, meaning you're pulling content from the web and trying to display it on a TV. Diagnosing issues with Internet streaming is tricky business; there are just so many variables between the server that houses the video and your display. We...<div><a href="http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/27657/Streaming-Internet-Video-Without-the-Herky-Jerky/">[Read more]</div> Audio / Video Streaming Ask the Experts Computers, Laptops, and Media Servers Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:05:39 GMT Matt Whitlock http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/27657/Streaming-Internet-Video-Without-the-Herky-Jerky/#discussion?src=blog_rss http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/27657/Streaming-Internet-Video-Without-the-Herky-Jerky/?src=blog_rss http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/26868/Uprading-a-Graphics-Card...-What-Are-the-Limitations/?src=blog_rss <img align="right" hspace="10" src="http://www.techlore.com/imagelib/contentitem/26868/f0f219158e118e83-63ce67e6-12381562b54--3f7168659071.jpg">Question: I have an Acer Aspire T160 MB-70 PC with an Acer FC51GM motherboard. It has built in graphics ( Nvidia 6100 ). It has a 2.2 ghz CPU and a standard PSU. It can take a maximum of 4GB RAM. I would like to buy a new graphics card which can be placed in a PCI Express slot. It must be the best one that my motherboard will accept as money is not an object. In addition, I am willing to upgrade the PSU if necessary and also the CPU. I will be using the graphics card as an all rounder as I do gaming and watch alot of videos, dvds etc on the PC. It must preferably have a hdmi output on it and have HD capabilities. I would like this to be connected to the TV. I am having difficulty finding information regarding what graphic cards my system in its present state will accept. I want the best I can get and am willing to upgrade other components. I have seen one which I believe will fit into my present system which is the Nvidia GeForce 9500 GPU. Will this motherboard accept a 1GB card or do...<div><a href="http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/26868/Uprading-a-Graphics-Card...-What-Are-the-Limitations/">[Read more]</div> PC Gaming Ask the Experts Computers, Laptops, and Media Servers Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:37:34 GMT Matt Whitlock http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/26868/Uprading-a-Graphics-Card...-What-Are-the-Limitations/#discussion?src=blog_rss http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/26868/Uprading-a-Graphics-Card...-What-Are-the-Limitations/?src=blog_rss