Computer Info – January 3, 2001

Happy New Year !!!

This Week’s Program

        This week will hope to demonstrate recording music from a cassette tape and saving it on your computer. We will use the program Sound Forge. Also, Hugh will tell us his experiences with a USB Hub.

Creating Multiple Dialers

        If your internet provider has more than one number that you can dial to connect to their service, then you can create additional dialers – and when one number is busy (or has a problem), you can connect through one of the other numbers.
        If you have a paid service for your internet connection, but sometimes connect through a free internet service – you need two dialers.
        Here is how you create the ability to have multiple dialers.
        Double click on MY COMPUTER – then on DIALUP NETWORKING (in Windows ME, you will find the DialUp Networking under CONTROL PANEL). Normally this window contains two icons – one labeled MAKE A NEW CONNECTION and one for the dialer that you are using now. To create an additional dialer, double click on MAKE A NEW CONNECTION and follow the wizard. There are only two places that you have to fill in information. On the first page, you are ask to type a name for the computer you are dialing – this will be the name that the icon you create will be given – so make it something that you can identify with. Press NEXT. On the second page, you are ask for the phone number of the computer you will be calling – this will be the number that connects you to the internet provider – only enter an area code if you are required to dial 10 digits to that area. Click on NEXT. The next page just tells you that you have completed the task – so click on FINISH and your icon has been created.
        Now right click on the icon that you created and choose PROPERTIES from the menu. On the GENERAL tab, remove the checkmark from in front of Use area code and dialing properties if you are not required to dial the area code. On the NETWORKING tab, remove the checkmark from in front of NETBEUI and IPX/SPX COMPATIABLE. These are for working with networks (which, for most of us at home, we do not use). Also remove the checkmark from in front of LOG ON TO NETWORK (again, that is for networking of computers – which we normally do not use at home).
        Now, how do I make use of these dialers? When you click on your browser, it should already be opening up your dialer. You should see a down arrow next to the provider. This will open up a menu choice of all of the dialers that you have created. Choose the one you want before you press the CONNECT button.

Profiles in Netscape

        Netscape allows you to set up multiple profiles. What is this? A profile is a separate setting for each individual user. It saves bookmarks, mail folders, email address and address book for each profile.
        To set one up, go to the START button – then PROGRAMS – NETSCAPE – UTILITIES – USER PROFILE MANAGER. Click on ADD. Next put in the name that you want attached to your emails and enter your email address. On the next screen, enter the name that will help you identify whose profile this is. On the next two screen, you will have to know the incoming and outgoing address of your email provider – if it is the same as the one that you are already using, you can get this information by opening Netscape and checking under EDIT – PREFERENCES – MAIL AND NEWS GROUPS.
        When you start Netscape, you will be ask which profile to use.
 
 

Cassette to Computer

        Do you have old music or voice recordings on a cassette tape that you would like to be able to put on a CD to share with others? With today’s computer programs and a CD-Writer, it’s easy.
        What do you need?
                    1. A cassette player that has an unamplified audio output
                                            like a earphone jack
                    2. A sound card in your computer that accepts a line input
                    3. A cable (cord) that has the correct jacks to plug into both the cassette player and the computer.
                    4. A program that will help you do the recording and then saving to your computer’s hard drive.
                                            like Sound Forge
                    5. A CD-Writer
                    6. A program that will write to the CD

        You will have to check your mixer setup to see what input is being excepted and if the microphone is muted so that you do not get feedback. You can check these settings by double-clicking the SPEAKER icon located on the taskbar near the clock.
 
        You can download a demo copy of Sound Forge XP 4.5 at
                            http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/programs/SoundForgeXP/
        Or purchase a copy of it for $41.95 at
                            http://www.sonicfoundry.com/products/NewShowProduct.asp?PID=6