Troubleshooting Pronunciation Power Technical Problems

The remedies outlined below refer mainly to the Windows version of the products, but many suggestions are relevant to both platforms. Items referring only to the online product are marked with a icon. Items referring only to the CD-Rom versions of the product are marked with a icon.

Sound Playback Problems

Can your computer play other sounds?

1. Can your computer play a standard wav file? [Test]
2. Can your computer play an mp3 file? [Test]
3. Remedies
   • Hardware
     1. Are speakers turned on? Plugged in?
     2. Is the volume turned up? Mute off? You can adjust various volume settings with the Sound Volume applet. To open the applet, click Start>Run... and type sndvol32 in the Run dialog.
   • Software
     1. Update sound drivers - make sure you have the latest drivers for your sound card. Consult the documentation that came with your computer to determine how to update this software.
     2. Update DirectX - Windows computers use a software called DirectX for playing sounds. You can get it here: [Update]
     3. Update OS - Many problems can be fixed by updating your operating system. Microsoft provides a site for this purpose here: [Update]

Are you using the optimal Macromedia Sound Device for your computer?

Macromedia is capable of using different software devices to play and record sound. You may have better success with a different sound device.

Changing the Sound Device

The latest versions of the Pronunciation Power products each include an applet for changing the sound device. It is found by clicking the Sound Preferences button:

Updating older CD-Roms

For some older versions you can copy the entire CD to your hard drive and place the DirectSound Xtra in the Xtras folder next to the program. [Download]

This fix is only available for the following CD's:

Speech Solutions (ESL Bundle)

English Talking Dictionary

8 in 1 Dictionary

Pronunciation Power 1 (QT)

Pronunciation Power 1

Pronunciation Power 2 (QT)

Pronunciation Power 2

Available Sound Devices

1. DirectSound
   • Uses DirectX [Update]
2. Macromix
   • This is the most basic device and works well on many systems. It is the default on older CD's.
3. QuickTime
   • Requires QuickTime [Download]
   • Requires the QuickTime Xtra [Install]

Sound Recording Problems

Can you record with other software?

1. To test recording with the Windows recorder click Start>Run... sndrec32
2. Remedies
   • Hardware
     1. Microphone plugged in? Levels set?
     2. Is the volume turned up? Mute off? You can adjust various volume settings with the Sound Volume applet. To open the applet, click Start>Run... and type sndvol32 in the Run dialog.
     3. Pronunciation Power does not currently support USB Microphones.
   • Software
     1. Update sound drivers - make sure you have the latest drivers for your sound card. Consult the documentation that came with your computer to determine how to update this software.
     2. Update DirectX - Windows computers use a software called DirectX for playing sounds. You can get it here: [Update]
     3. Update OS - Many problems can be fixed by updating your operating system. Microsoft provides a site for this purpose here: [Update]

Are you using the optimal Macromedia Sound Device for your computer?

See above...

Are you giving enough time for operations to complete?

Don't click the stop/record/play too quickly between operations.

Other Issues

General

Make sure other software is not running at the same time (screen savers)

Program will not run

• Older versions may benefit from running in "Compatibility Mode" on Windows XP. Right click on the program, select Properties, and click on the compatability tab. Try running the program in compatability mode for Windows 95.
• Make sure you have the latest Shockwave version. [Update].