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Mac FAQs & Support for the
AstoundSound™ Expander 2.1

Is AstoundSound Expander compatible with the 10.6.2 release of Snow Leopard?

  • No. Apple's 10.6.2 OS update causes Expander to lose audio when it starts up. GenAudio's development staff is aware of the problem. We are working quickly to resolve this issue and return great sounding audio to your Mac. Once a solution is ready, it will be made available as a free update.
  • If you have already installed Snow Leopard 10.6.2, there are three interim approaches you can take with Expander:
  • (1) Use the Expander System Preference to turn Expander off and listen to music in normal stereo. On the Expander About tab, ensure that the automatic check for updates option is checked. Expander will automatically update itself after we post a fix.
  • (2) Each time Expander starts (login or boot-up), plug in a USB audio device (USB external speakers or USB headphones) and select the USB device via the Output selection in the lower left portion of the Expander System Preference. Expander will process and expand audio. Once you've done this, you can unplug the USB device and Expander will continue to process audio, sending the output to the Mac's internal speakers. On the Expander About tab, ensure that the automatic check for updates option is checked. Expander will automatically update itself after we post a fix.
  • (3) Uninstall Expander and periodically check our website for the next update.
  • NOTE: When starting the Expander's Preference Pane, a message will display stating that the AstoundSound Expander preference pane must be restarted. This is because our preference pane is currently running in 32-bit mode rather than 64-bit mode. Click OK. The Expander's preference pane will automatically restart, allowing you to adjust Expander's audio controls.

Is AstoundSound Expander a 64-bit application under Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6)?

  • Currently version 2.1.2 is not a 64-bit application. It will run under Snow Leopard's 32-bit kernel, not the 64-bit kernel. Most Macintosh computers by default run the 32-bit kernel. Porting Expander to be a full 64-bit application will be looked at in a future release.
  • To verify if your Snow Leopard installation is running the 32-bit kernel, use the Apple icon in the Menu Bar and select About This Mac --> More Info... --> Software. There will be an entry titled "64-bit Kernel & Extensions", and a value of No means that your system is running the 32-bit kernel. If you need to force your system to run the 32-bit kernel, restart your system while holding down the '3' & '2' keys.

I was playing audio through AstoundSound Expander 2.1 and now I hear no audio.

  • Open the AstoundSound Preference Pane
  • Disable AstoundSound
  • Go to the Sound Preference Pane and select your desired output device (such as Internal Speakers, Headphones, etc).
  • Go back to the AstoundSound Preference Pane and enable AstoundSound Expander.
  • If necessary select the appropriate output device from the AstoundSound Expander output device pull-down list.

In trial mode, I reset my system clock and now the trial has prematurely expired.

How do I get AstoundSound onto my iPod/MP3 Player?

  • AstoundSound Expander 2.1 is not currently supported on an iPod/MP3 Player.

I'm running Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger), why can't I install the AstoundSound™ Expander 2.1 on my machine?

  • The AstoundSound Expander only supports Macintosh OS X 10.5.1 (Leopard) or greater. Due to technical limitations within the Tiger operating system, we have decided to withdraw Tiger compatibility from this version. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We are working with Apple to resolve the Tiger limitations and hope to reintroduce Tiger compatibility in the future.

I'm hearing a strange pop or glitch in the audio when a system sound plays through AstoundSound™ Expander. What do I do?

  • If you hear a strange pop or glitch in the audio when a System Sound plays (like the sound effect associated with sending email), you should switch the output device for Sound Effects.
  • Open the System Preferences (under the Apple Menu Bar icon) and select the Sound preference pane.
  • Select the Sound Effects tab.
  • From the "Play alerts" pull-down list, select an output other than AstoundSound (2ch), such as Internal Speakers or Headphones.

I am hearing a periodic popping sound, what do I do?

  • Under certain CPU loading conditions a quiet, periodic popping noise can be heard. If this occurs, open AstoundSound Expander (via the black Menu Bar icon or the System Preferences) and press the Power button the lower right corner of the user interface, once to turn Astoundsound processing off and once more to turn it back on.

Can I use my license code on either Mac or PC?

  • License codes purchased for Mac only work on Mac computers.

Can I install and license AstoundSound Expander on multiple computers?

  • Each purchased license code is intended for use on a single computer. Consult the installed User's Guide for information regarding transferring a license to a new computer.

Why does my AstoundSound Expander application stop when I switch the output device?

  • If you want to change the audio output to another device, you must do so using the Output Audio Device popup in the lower left corner of the AstoundSound Expander preference pane. The application will shut down if you use the Output tab of the Sound system preference pane to change from "AstoundSound (2ch)" to any other output device. Consult the installed User's Guide for more information regarding changing audio devices.

Why doesn't the application accept the license code I purchased?

  • When entering the license code, it's best to copy it from the purchase confirmation web page or from the confirmation e-mail. Make sure no additional spaces or characters get pasted into the field along with the code. If entering the license code manually, ensure all alpha characters are upper case. The license code is case sensitive.
  • Also ensure that you have a proper internet connection at the time that you attempt to enter and submit the license code. If you do not have an internet connection, or experience other problems, then use the Register Manually button and follow those instructions.

How do I uninstall AstoundSound Expander 2.1?

  • Run the uninstall program located in the AstoundSound Expander folder, which is within the Applications folder.

I sometimes hear feedback or an echo when I use AstoundSound Expander 2.1 with iChat or Skype, what do I do?

  • If you experience feedback or an echo in the audio when using iChat or Skype, start iChat/Skype and open that application's Preferences panel (e.g. the iChat --> Preferences... menu item at the top of the Desktop). In the Audio Preferences section, select the Sound Output option to be Built-in Audio or Headphones, not AstoundSound (2ch).

How do I make AstoundSound broadcast wirelessly on my network to my home stereo or Apple TV?

  • AstoundSound Expander 2.1 is compatible with Rogue Amoeba's AirFoil 3.2.1. AirFoil is a product that can wirelessly broadcast audio from your Mac to an Airport Express, Apple TV or another computer. During the AirFoil installation, you must also install the SoundFlower Extra option. Once installed, set the AirFoil input source to "System Audio". You can now broadcast AstoundSound wirelessly. View the AirFoil website and user guide for additional information.

When playing a web video I sometimes notice that the audio can get out of sync with the video; how do I fix that?

  • If you notice that the audio has gotten out of sync with the video simply disable and re-enable AstoundSound Expander 2.1 and the audio will sync back up.

I put my computer to sleep overnight and when I started playing music the next morning I heard no audio; how do I fix this condition?

  • This issue was corrected in version 2.0 of AstoundSound Expander. If you are experiencing this problem in version 2.0 or a subsequent version, please fill out a Tech Support request describing the issue with as much detail as possible.

Windows FAQs & Support for the
AstoundSound™ Expander 2.1

Is AstoundSound Expander compatible with Windows 7?

  • No, Expander is not currently compatible with Windows 7. A new release of AstoundSound Expander for Windows will address Windows 7 compatibility. As with all of our previous updates, the upcoming Windows 7 compatibility update will be free of charge.

How do I hear my video game through AstoundSound on Windows?

  • Beginning with version 2.0 of AstoundSound Expander, the audio from your video games will be expanded by our patent-pending process. Simply ensure that the AstoundSound process is active and set to your liking, then start your video game. Keep in mind that some video games take over audio controls, so you may not be able to use the AstoundSound Expander short-cut keys while playing your game. This depends on your game.

In trial mode, I reset my system clock and now the trial has prematurely expired.

How do I get AstoundSound onto my iPod/MP3 Player?

  • AstoundSound Expander is not currently supported on an iPod/MP3 Player.

I downloaded the software, but I don’t hear a difference

  • Some computers only have one speaker; listen on headphones or plug 2 speakers into your audio output.

Can I use my license code on either Mac or PC?

  • License codes purchased for Windows only work on Windows PCs

Can I install and license ASE on multiple computers?

  • Each purchased license code is intended for use on a single computer. Consult the installed User's Guide for information regarding transferring a license to a new computer.

Why doesn't the application accept the license code I purchased?

  • When entering the license code, it's best to copy it from the purchase confirmation page or from the confirmation e-mail. Make sure no additional spaces or characters get pasted into the field along with the code. If entering the license code manually, ensure all alpha characters are upper case. The license code is case sensitive. If you are still unable to enter the license code, re-install the software and then enter the code using the fresh install.
  • Also ensure that you have a proper internet connection at the time that you attempt to enter and submit the license code. If you do not have an internet connection, or experience other problems, then use the Register Manually button and follow those instructions.

How do I uninstall AstoundSound Expander?

  • Run the uninstaller by selecting Start Menu | All Programs | AstoundStereo | Uninstall

I am hearing a periodic popping sound or garbled audio, what do I do?

  • Under certain CPU loading conditions a quiet, periodic popping sound can be heard or occasionally a garbled noise can be heard. If this occurs, open AstoundSound Expander user interface and press the Recycle button the lower right corner of the user interface. This quickly turns the Astoundsound processing off and on.

When playing a web video I sometimes notice that the audio can get out of sync with the video; how do I fix that?

  • This is a known issue that we will be addressing in a future release. In the mean time, if you notice that the audio has gotten out of sync with the video simply disable and re-enable AstoundSound Expander and the audio will sync back up.

Why does the audio volume of my computer sound much quieter after installing Expander?

  • If you're experiencing diminished (or potentially muted) sound after installing AstoundSound Expander, following these steps should solve the problem.

    For Windows XP:
    1. Double click the volume icon in the system tray (the one that looks like a speaker), in the lower right hand corner of the screen.
    2. In the window that opens (Master Volume), click on "Options". In the menu that drops down, click "Properties".
    3. Click the dropdown menu labelled "Mixer Device:". Here, select the "Audio Output" option. It may not say "Audio Output", but it should be fairly similar (For example, it could be "Realtek HD Audio output".)
    4. After selecting the correct option, make sure the checkbox next to "Master Volume" is checked. The checkbox is near the bottom of the window.
    5. Click "OK".
    6. Back in the Master Volume window, turn up the Master Volume slider all the way. This could make the audio very loud, depending on where your volume was set at the beginning of the process.
    7. Click on "Options", then "Properties" again.
    8. Click the dropdown menu labelled "Mixer Device:". Here, select the "GenAudio AstoundSound 1" option.
    9. Make sure the checkbox next to "Master Volume" is checked, then click "OK".
    10. Back in the Master Volume window, adjust the Master Volume slider as you see fit. Turning it up all the way will maximize the volume. Using your keyboard volume controls (or the System Tray control) will change this slider from now on. Feel free to close the Master Volume window.

    For Windows Vista (32-bit & 64-bit):
    1. Click the volume icon in the system tray (the one that looks like a speaker), in the lower right hand corner of the screen.
    2. Click "Mixer".
    3. In the window that opens (Volume Mixer), click on "Devices".
    4. In the menu that drops down, select "Speakers (High Definition Audio Device)".
    5. Turn up the slider under "Speakers" all the way. This could make the audio very loud, depending on where your volume was set at the beginning of the process.
    6. Click on "Devices", then select "Line 1 (GenAudio AstoundSound)".
    7. Adjust the slider under "Line 1" as you see fit. Turning it up all the way will maximize the volume. Using your keyboard volume controls (or the System Tray control) will change this slider from now on. Feel free to close the Volume Mixer window.

I want to listen to music through a USB audio device on Windows XP, but the audio won't play through the device correctly?

  • To use a USB device to listen to audio on Windows XP you have two options.

    The first option is:
    1. Close your audio program (iTunes, Winamp, WMP, etc.).
    2. Plug in your USB device.
    3. Open your audio program back up. If you still get no sound through your USB device, follow the next set of steps as well.

    The second option is:
    1. Plug in your USB audio device.
    2. Click on the Start menu, then click Control Panel.
    3. In the window that opens, click "Sounds and Audio Devices".
    4. In the next window that opens, click on the "Audio" tab.
    5. In that tab, find the drop down menu inside the "Default Audio Device" box.
    6. Click that menu, then select "GenAudio AstoundSound 1".
    7. Click "OK" at the bottom of that screen.