How to: Connect sound card to an external CD-ROM drive.
Solution:
Connect CD-ROM drive audio output into the 'Line In' port on the sound card.
CAUTION: Connecting the sound card to an external CD-ROM drive requires a shielded audio cable. The cable must be shielded to prevent any serious electro-magnetic interference with the computer or monitor. Unshielded cables also cause damage to data stored on magnetic storage media such as floppy diskettes, digital tapes, or removable hard drives.
NOTE: A shielded audio cable may be supplied with the external CD-ROM drive. Please refer to the user manuals of the CD-ROM drive and sound card for the recommended type of shielded audio cable.
1) Turn off the computer, monitor, and external CD-ROM drive.
2) Connect one end of the shielded audio cable to the audio output port on the CD-ROM player.
3) Connect the other end of the shielded audio cable into the 'Line IN' port on the sound card.
CAUTION: Connecting the audio cable to the wrong port on the sound card may damage the sound card. Refer to the sound card's user manual to identify the proper port.
NOTE: The 'Line IN' port is usually a mini stereo jack on the sound card labeled 'Audio In', 'Line In', or 'CD In'.
4) Turn on the computer, monitor, and external CD-ROM drive.
NOTE: Test the system by playing an audio CD in the external CD-ROM drive with the speakers or headphones connected to the sound card and not the CD-ROM drive.
