FYI, Audigy & ASIO - ASIO I/Os Explained

Question

FYI, this is based on Audigy 2 Platinum eX but functionality is ~same w/ other models too:
Creative wrote:
Asio Inputs
At 16 bit 48KHz, Sound Blaster Audigy 2’s ASIO driver also supports 12 simultaneous sample-synchronous, low-latency ASIO audio inputs that are sample-synchronised to the ASIO outputs listed above. Again, there are more sources available than merely the physical inputs of the system, and these are mapped as follows:
(Note that in 24 bit 96KHz mode the inputs are limited to the analog input pairs.)
• ASIO inputs 1 and 2 come from the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 eX Drive Line In 2 stereo input;
!! My NOTE: AnalogMix(Line-In/Aux-In/analog CDAudio/PC (W-U-H)/TAD/...)
• ASIO inputs 3 and 4 (Mix Pre EQ) This records a simple downmix of all audio coming out of the sound card, without EAX effects, regardless of what speaker mode you are in. (This isn’t a physical input);
!! My NOTE: (this functions as "What U Hear")
• ASIO inputs 5 and 6 are "Mix (Post EQ Front L/R)", and this, too, isn’t a physical input. Using compatible software, this allows the signal to be fed via the onboard Creative DSP Spatializer and main EQ, making it possible to record a "virtual" 6.1 mix for playback over a two-channel headphone or loudspeaker system. What happens is that the DSP Spatializer processes the individual surround components in a way that recreates the illusion of 6.1 surround-sound from a two-speaker system. Very neat! What’s more, you can hear the effect when replayed over any two-speaker system or headphones, and so, if you use this effect on one of your own tracks, anyone can play it back using regular stereo playback equipment. Note, however, that, if you’re in 6.1 speaker mode and record this output, no signal will be output from the rear, centre or subwoofer channels. What you hear will be the virtual surround-sound coming from a single stereo output. If you want to hear these elements separately, choose "Mix (Pre EQ)";
• ASIO inputs 7 and 8 are "Mix (Post EQ Rear L/R) ;
• ASIO inputs 9 and 10 are "Mix (Post EQ Centre/Sub)" ;
• ASIO inputs 11 and 12 are "Mix (Post EQ Rear Centre L/R)" ;
these virtual inputs allow tracks output to the onboard Creative DSP Spatializer and main FX and EQ, to be recorded to separate tracks to allow you to add a virtualised surround feel to your stereo mix.
• ASIO inputs 13 and 14 come from the S/PDIF input on the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card. This input includes automatic sample-rate conversion, enabling any consumer digital source to be used. (Sound Blaster Audigy 2 always clocks from its own internal sampling clock);
• ASIO inputs 15 and 16 come from the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 eX Drive Line In 1/Mic In stereo input;
• ASIO inputs 17 and 18 come from the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 eX Drive Line In 3 stereo input;
(note that the order and naming conventions of the Asio I/O is subject to change)
Asio Outputs
At 16-bit 48KHz, the ASIO driver supports up to 14 simultaneous, sample-synchronous, low-latency ASIO audio outputs, which, as you may have noticed, is more than the number of physical outputs. This is because the ASIO driver can access a number of internal points (virtual inputs and outputs) within the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 hardware environment, as well as the physical inputs and outputs. One function of these virtual outputs is to allow several different signal sources to be routed and/or mixed via Sound Blaster Audigy 2’s internal effects.
Physically, the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX Card has the following outputs which are all located at the rear of the card:
Analog
• Front left and right (rear of the card);
• Real left and right (rear of the card);
• Front Centre, Rear Centre and LFE (sub) (rear of the card);
Digital
• S/PDIF out - Optical and Coaxial (front and rear of the Creative Audigy 2 eX Drive respectively)
ASIO can route to all of these physical outputs directly, as long as the host software supports this facility.
The ASIO outputs are identified as follows:
• Asio outputs 1 and 2 (Wave/MP3) go via the stereo upmix path, internal to the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card. Depending on the speaker mode and the CMSS (Creative Multi-Speaker Surround) settings, they may also be output to the rear and centre speaker physical outputs. For example, if CMSS is active and the card is set to 6.1mode, the audio is processed to make it sound more natural and some of the signal is routed to the centre speaker. Furthermore, EAX CONTROL may be used to add effects to the "WAV/MP3" path, in which case whatever effects are assigned there will affect the signals being output;
• ASIO outputs 3 and 4 (front left/right) feed the left and right output sockets at the rear of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX card directly. These are the outputs that would be used for most desktop recording work, where the desired final product is mostly a conventional stereo mix;
• ASIO outputs 5 and 6 (rear left/right) feed the left and right surround outputs on the rear of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX card directly (when the card is set to 4/5 or 6.1 speaker mode), although these can simply be utilised as an additional stereo pair by software that can access them. They don’t have to be used for surround purposes
• ASIO outputs 7 and 8 (centre/LFE) feed the centre and subwoofer outputs on the rear of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX card directly (when the card is set to 5.1 speaker mode), although these too can simply be utilised as an additional stereo pair by software that can access them and also don’t have to be used for surround purposes;
• ASIO outputs 9 and 10 (rear centre) feed the Rear centre output on the rear of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX card directly (when the card is set to 5/6.1 speaker mode), although this too can simply be utilised as an additional mono output by software that can access it and also doesn’t have to be used for surround purposes. As Asio outputs are seen as pairs the single mono output which is part of the Centre/Sub/Rear Center triple jack output must be addressed as a stereo pair. Simply pan hard Left when mixing. You will need to arm yourself with a three pole minijack to 3 RCA mono outs cable to make best use of this output.
• ASIO outputs 11 and 12 (FX Slot 1/2) allow you to send a specific channel from your VST mixer directly to one of the Audigy 2’s EAX hardware effects. 4 effects can be added to the EAX Control panel, and this buss accesses the first two as mono sends. Use your track’s Effects Send Destinations to select “FX Slot 1/2 Left” for Effect 1 (Reverb) and “FX Slot 1/2 Right” for Effect 2 (Chorus). Set the send level in Pre Fader mode to allow you to control the send level independent of the channel’s dry volume. Then use the EAX Control panel to select the required Reverb preset, tweak as desired and then configure the Effect levels under the “Source” tab, with Source set to “WAVE/MP3”. You can then create a new track in Cubasis VST CE with the input set to Post EQ which will allow you to monitor the return signal from the Effect and also record it to that track. This new “wet” effected track can be played back alongside your original dry track.
• ASIO outputs 13 and 14 (FX Slot 3/4) use the same principle as with Slot 1/2 except that the effects in Slots 3 and 4 are user selectable. A step by step guide of how to use these busses is given below.
Note that when you select “SB Audigy Asio 24/96” for 24 bit 96 Recording, you will only have access to the 4 Asio pairs which correspond to the analog ouputs on the rear of the card. This, however, is perfect for 6.1 output.
Above, and a lot more valuable information can be found in online help file called "Music Creation Guide" which can be found @
- installation path; C:\Program Files\Creative\_your_card_model_\Music Creation Guide\
- path on original installation CD; \Audio\Setup\GuideBk\ (select language)
You normally need to use (w/ std Audigy 2 Zs):
AnalogMix L/R for the Line-In, (Aux-In, analog CDAudio, PC (WUH), TAD)
Mix L/R functions as "What U Hear")
S/PDIF In L/R for digital input (use bit-accurate setting w/ this input method)
Mic In L/R for microphone
jutapa
Message Edited by jutapa on 07-25-2006 11:25 AM

Answer 1

As I said before, this surely is a ASIO host related problem. All available analogue inputs refer to a certain physical input of your soundcard. Here is what to do:
. Open the "VST Connections" menu and enable the analogue inputs that are related to your Mic In.
2. Enable as many analogue outputs as you want (enabling "Front L/R" is mandatory).
3. Create a new Audio Track and set its input to your corresponding Mic In port.
4. Enable/arm this track for recording.
5. Check (enable/disable) the Direct Monitoring status of this audio track.
I believe that it has to do with some audio inputs and direct monitoring on/off ststus, so this procedure should be a solution to your problem.