WhiteCap as an Application

      Although most users use WhiteCap as a visual plugin for an audio player, it WhiteCap also exists as a stand-alone application that visualizes an arbitrary sound source (ex, line-in, CD audio, mic input). This is useful when you want to visualize audio that doesn't exist in the form of an audio file (ex, mp3) and is typically popular at live performance events or social gatherings. See the license agreement for the terms of use and visit the SoundSpectrum Home for the latest versions and announcements. The stand-alone builds of WhiteCap can be found in the "WhiteCap" folder (use your OS to search for this folder if you're having problems locating it).

Instructions

MacOS 9

    1. Exit any programs using audio input (including other instances of the WhiteCap application)
    2. Open your "Sound" control panel and click on the "Input" tab.
    3. Specify a sound source (Built-in Mic, Sound In, and CD are commonly used sources).
    4. Check the signal level and adjust the gain as necessary. The "0 db" or "line" level should be about 3/4 up the scale.
    5. Close the control panel (to apply the changes)
    6. Run either the Carbon or Classic version of WhiteCap (it's recommended you use the Classic version
    7. Use the +/- keys to adjust the signal gain or exit WhiteCap and re-adjust the gain in the Sound control panel.

Mac OS X

    1. Exit any programs using audio input (including other instances of the WhiteCap application)
    2. Open "Sound" in the Finder Preferences.
    3. Under the "Input' tab, specify a sound source (Line In, and Internal microphone are commonly used sources).
    4. Check the signal level and adjust the gain as necessary. The "0 db" or "line" level should be about 3/4 up the scale.
    5. Close the preference panel (to apply the changes)
    6. Run either the Carbon version of WhiteCap (see the above section).
    7. Use the +/- keys to adjust the signal gain or re-adjust the gain in the Sound preference panel.

Windows 95, 98, ME

    1. Exit any programs using audio input (including other instances of the WhiteCap application).
    2. Open your recording/input options for your sound device and switch the recording source to the source you want to visualize (the specifics of this depends on your operating system and sound driver). For example, for a SoundBlaster in Windows 98, go to Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Audio HQ -> Mixer -> Record Control and proceed to enable/disable what sources are passed to your SoundBlaster's input channel. Note: a useful source often called "What You Hear" is whatever you're already hearing over your speakers. What You Hear can be convenient because you don't have to go into your sound controls every time your sound source changes (ex, from audio CD to an mp3 audio player), but it has the disadvantage that it's loudness/amplitude is proportional to your system's volume setting (ideally, you don't want the output of WhiteCap to be dependent on your volume level).
    3. Run the program named "WhiteCap.exe" (you can search your PC by right-clicking on 'My Computer' and selecting "Find").

Windows 2000/XP

    1. Exit any programs using audio input (including instances of the WhiteCap application).
    2. Sets the system's audio input channel to be the default audio input (WhiteCap will use the default audio input source).
    3. Run the program named "WhiteCap.exe" (you can search your PC by right-clicking on 'My Computer' and selecting "Find").
    4. Using the steps described in the above Mac OS Section, adjust the sound gain within your OS and within WhiteCap to achieve the visual response level.