Realtek HD audio manager vs Sound blaster cinema 2

Hey guys,
Quick question. I have an MSI GAMING 5 motherboard and I have both Realtek HD audio manager and Sound blaster cinema 2 installed. Can I remove one? Which one provides the best sound through headphones (Razer Kraken)?

As okultis said, you can have both.
The Realtek HD audio manager is the driver and manager for the actual sound card itself.
The Sound Blaster Cinema 2 is mainly software that works in conjunction with the audio card driver to give it some more advanced features.
You don't NEED the Sound Blaster Cinema 2 software, but it's generally good to have it installed. It will improve the sound output under many conditions.

Similar Messages

  • MOVED: Realtek HD audio manager vs Sound blaster cinema 2

    This topic has been moved to GAMING Motherboards.
    https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=255103.0

    As okultis said, you can have both.
    The Realtek HD audio manager is the driver and manager for the actual sound card itself.
    The Sound Blaster Cinema 2 is mainly software that works in conjunction with the audio card driver to give it some more advanced features.
    You don't NEED the Sound Blaster Cinema 2 software, but it's generally good to have it installed. It will improve the sound output under many conditions.

  • Realtek HD Audio Manager distorted sound - 9921

    Hello everyone,
    I have an Asus G750 running Windows Technical Preview as my only OS. My HD audio driver has always been Realtek. In build 9921, I noticed a load roaring sound on top of every other sound that comes out of the system. It makes Cortana sound absolutely demonic.
    This glitch usually does not start on startup, but once it starts (an hour or so in), it does persist. Is anyone else experiencing this?
    Kind Regards!

    GP
    Have you tried re-installing the audio driver?
    More often than not when a device isn't working it is because the driver has become corrupted. Re-installing a fresh copy should help
    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Update-a-driver-for-hardware-that-isnt-working-properly?SignedIn=1
    http://captaindbg.com/how-to-update-drivers-on-windows-7/   (works on win 8 & win 10)
    Wanikiya and Dyami--Team Zigzag

  • Sound Blaster Cinema v1 Alternatives for GE Notebooks?

    Hello everyone,
        For a few months I've been using a GE60, and I've been more satisfied than I was expecting to be by far (for someone who is afraid to put money into a more-than-decent notebook because of lack of upgrades), however one department in which this notebook lacks has to be audio software. Sound blaster Cinema has become one of the only banes in my daily use with this notebook. Pretty much all I do is either play CubeWorld or listen to music.. and when doing either of these two things, both, or anything else involving audio, the automatic volume leveler, at least with any pair of headphones or earbuds, is far too under-intelligent to be considered anywhere near convenient. Even on the Quiet setting it will slowly raise the volume of anything without constant bass to the point that, in the default mixer, 3% volume sounds like 70-80% volume. This can become annoying if I'm doing something IRL while listening to music and cannot instantly correct the volume, or whenever I don't want to continually correct the volume to suffice for changes in songs, for example when a bass line in a song ends, Sound Blaster starts to slowly boost the volume of the song to what (very) closely amounts to full volume, regardless of distortion.
       Additionally, this software is of a novice level since, in replacement of an actual equalizer, it has a 'crystalizer' which is not very useful to someone who wants to tune their audio. I've searched for any feasible alternatives to no avail, and made this post to ask, are there any alternatives to Sound Blaster Cinema compatible with the GE60 that at least include an actual equalizer?
       Thanks for your time in at least reading this lengthy post.

    Hi nevrean,
    It's been said by others that audio driver and audio system management software for computers is some of the worst in the industry and I agree. I don't have a GE60, but if I did, the first thing I would do is find our what audio DSP is on the motherboard. You can get an idea from the Windows Device Manager. Look for your main audio device under "Sound, video and game controllers". Ignore the ones for your video card (which work via its HDML and/or mDP outputs).
    For example, my MSI GT80 Titan-001 lists the following:
    Sound, video and game controllers
    ----NVIDIA High Definition Audio
    ----NVIDIA Virtual Audio Device (Wave Extensible) (WDM)
    ----Realtek High Definition Audio
    In my case, the motherboard audio DSP is from Realtek and it's their high-definition part which is good. Hopefully you have a Realtek part also.
    If you do, go to the Windows Control Panel and select Programs > "Uninstall a program" and remove your Sound Blaster Cinema software. It should restore the Realtek HD Audio Manager to its original state which includes a graphic EQ.
    My GT80 came with Sound Blaster Cinema v2 and, in my opinion, it is pure junk. The sound quality is terrible (I've worked in the pro audio industry since the early 1980s) and it's user interface is beyond awful. This isn't new---Creative Labs (or Creative Technologies) has consistently turned out lousy audio software. It's a shame because their hardware isn't bad.
    But the Sound Blaster Cinema v2 software took over part of the Realtek HD Audio Manager in my GT80 and removed it's acoustic environment settings, EQ presets and graphic equalizer options in favor of its own. Uninstalling the Sound Blaster Cinema software restored the Realtek stuff. Perhaps this will work for you as well.
    If, on the other hand, you have a different audio DSP on your motherboard, you'll need to do an online search for audio drivers and managers for it (usually the audio management software comes with and is installed with the audio driver). And you'll probably need to find out the specific model and version of your DSP.
    Kind regards, David

  • P755 and Realtek HD Audio Manager sound effects don't work

    Hi. I have a P755 and the Realtek HD Audio Manager sound effects don't work. Everything seems to be up to date, but the equalizer and environment features have never worked. I am using the Analog stereo out. The Speaker Configuration is Stereo. The only thing that seems to change the audio characteristics is switching from Headphone to Line Out.
    Solved!
    Go to Solution.

    Satellite P755-S5390
    Can't hurt to reinstall the drivers.
       Realtek Audio Driver
       nVidia HD Audio Driver
    -Jerry

  • Re: [Z87-GD65 Gaming] Sound Blaster Cinema not compatible?

    |I have the solution here mates. All you do is install the Realtek audio drivers 8.1 from the manufacturers website then restart. Now install the sound blaster cinema from the same manufacturers website restart. Now install the sound blaster cinema sof...

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    Idle @ 324 MHz, GPU load @ 10%, Power consumption @ 6.1%.
    Using GPU-Z render test l get the following:
    Load @ 979.8 MHz, GPU load @ 99%, Pow...

  • Is it possible to install Realtek HD Audio Manager over BeatsAudio

    Hello,
    I recently bought an HP Envy 700qe PC and I'm really happy with it and its specification except for the fact that comes with BeatsAudio. I tried setting it up like my previous e9240f desktop where you can manage the sorrund  speakers since I have dual z-5500's, but the sound is just horrible and somotimes there's no sound coming out of the sorround speakers. I tried installing the Realtek HD Audio Manager after deleting BeatsAudio, but nothing shows after I restart. My current system comes with an IDT High Definition Audio Codec so I'm thinking that's why it doesn't recognize the Realtek Codec when I download it.
    Also, if there's no way to download the Realtek HD Audio Manager, will it be easier to just install an Asus Mio-892 HD Card or a Creative SB1350 or both just disable one decide which one is better even though I'm sure I won't be able to use Realtek HD Manager on the Creative Either. And also do these audio cards take too much power. My system has a 500watt power system or would I need to upgrade the power as well?
    Any help would be highly appriciated.
    Thanks in advance.

    Hello @Jccr510,
    Yes that ASUS MIO-892 will indeed work on your computer and will give you the Realtek HD Audio Manager that you are looking for.
    Hope I have answered your question to your satisfaction. Thank you for posting on the HP Forums. Have a great day!
    Please click the "Thumbs Up" on the bottom right of this post to say thank you if you appreciate the support I provide!
    Also be sure to mark my post as “Accept as Solution" if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others who face the same challenge find the same solution.
    Dunidar
    I work on behalf of HP
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    "Customers don’t expect you to be perfect. They do expect you to fix things when they go wrong." ~ Donald Porter

  • GT80 Titan 094 - Realtek HD Audio Manager

    On the Speakers -> Speaker Configuration tab the Speaker Configuration drop-down only lists stereo as an option yet in various online forums and tutorials I see options for Dolby 5.1, THX 7.1 and other theater level surround sound choices.
    The stereo option appears even when I have four external speakers and subwoofer connected.
    Is there a driver update or something else I need to upgrade in order to have support for these other sound options?

    Hi rpisarzjr,
    My GT80 2QE (Titan-001) is the same and this is perfectly normal. I think part of the problem you're having is the unclear labeling of the tabs in the Realtek HD Audio Manager.
    The Realtek DSP (digital signal processor) in our Titans has two audio "outputs": (1) analog and (2) digital. Each one appears as an output "device". The analog output is labeled "Speakers" and feeds the stereo headphone jack and the built-in speakers. The built-in speakers are only stereo, too, even though they have five drivers (two full-range transducers per each of the two stereo channels and one subwoofer that is shared by both stereo channels).
    Some notebooks include analog surround sound outputs and therefore have Dolby Digital and/or DTS controls in their Audio Manager software. But it is rare and our GT80 Titans do not. The tab labeled "Speakers" is the analog tab. Since the Titan does not include analog outputs for surround sound, you will not see any surround sound options under the "Speakers" tab.
    The only way to get true surround sound out of the Realtek DSP in the Titan is via its digital output. It uses an S/PDIF optical jack which must be connected via Toslink optical cable to a complimentary digital input to an external DSP. This could be a home theatre receiver, HDTV with built-in surround sound decoding, or a high-end computer speaker system with its own DSP.
    When you use the Realtek DSP's digital output for Dolby Digital or DTS surround sound, the Realtek DSP serves only as a "pass-through" device to send the unprocessed digital surround sound signal out the S/PDIF connector. That's why you must have an external DSP to decode it to the analog audio that your external speakers will need.
    It is not normal to find any digital surround sound controls in the Realtek HD Audio Manager software unless Dolby Digital Live has been activated. The Realtek DSP in our Titans is capable of generating a Dolby Digital Live signal from a non-surround stereo source but MSI apparently didn't license the technology and did not provide the controls for it in the Realtek HD Audio Manager. However, if you search the internet, you will find some hacks that enable you to activate it, yourself. Just remember: The only way you'll hear any digital surround sound is with the digital output using an external DSP that can decode the Dolby Digital (or DTS) signal. None of this will benefit the analog ("Speakers") output because it is hardwired only for stereo operation. Plus, the built-in amplifier in our Titans has only two channels and only does stereo.
    Don't confuse "fake" surround sound for the real deal. For example, MSI's new Nahimic software will create a "fake" surround sound effect which you can hear over stereo speakers or headphones. It messes with the phasing of the two-channel audio signal to trick your ears into thinking the sound stage is quasi-surround. But these are just gimmicks which add distortion and are worthless in my opinion.
    Unfortunately, this stuff is way more complicated than it needs to be.
    Our Titans also have digital audio outputs as a part of their HDMI and mDP ports. These are the video outputs from our NVidia GPUs. If you total all of the built-in audio outputs in our Titans, we have five. One digital audio output each for the three video outputs, one digital audio output for the Realtek DSP, and one analog ("Speakers") output from the Realtek DSP which feeds both the headphone jack and the internal speakers. Each of the four digital outputs can pass a full 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound signal.
    Finally, the digital audio is usually controlled in the application where the audio originates---not with the Realtek HD Audio Manager. For example, when I play a blu-ray movie, the surround sound audio controls are in my Cyberlink PowerDVD software. The Dolby Digital or DTS selection is made there along with the speaker configuration.
    Kind regards, David

  • Realtek HD Audio Manager on Z87-G41 Motherboard

    I have the Z87-G41 PC Mate MB with the Realtek HD Audio Manager installed.   It seems to be working properly, both the rear and front panel ports produce sound.   However, when I plug headphones into the front panel port, the Audio Manager program pops up with a box stating the current connected device is:  Headphones.   I then have to click the OK button and click out of the program.   Is there anyway I can avoid having to go thru this step?   Can't the program be set to recognize the headphones without me verifying it?   It's a wast of time.

    ok follow these steps!
    enter your realtek HD audio Manager
    go into Device Advanced settings for your Speakers
    Mute The Rear Jack Device when a front Headphone Plugged in is selected
    click ok
    now click the folder icon on the analog section or just above it
    and now check both the connector settings there then make sure that it doesn't ask anymore for you to go through confirming it each time you plug in or unplug your headphones!

  • Realtek HD audio manager

    My previous motherboard was a Z87-Gaming GD65. I was able to have my 5.1 surround speaker system connected to the motherboard and also my headset plugged into the front panel case audio jacks and Realtek HD audio manager was able to detect them as two seperate devices.
    So I was able to select via the Realtek HD audio manager which device I want to output the sound, either my headset or the speaker setup.
    But my new motherboard, X99S Gaming 7 does not detect them as two seperate devices, Realtek HD audio manager sees only speakers output in the software. But the sound is always being output to the headset unless I have it unplugged which it will then output the sound to the speakers.
    How do I make Realtek HD audio manager see the headset and the speaker as two seperate devices so I can select which one to output sound to via the software instead of having to unplugg the headset if I want it from the speakers?

    When you plugging in the front panel jacks, Realtek HD audio manager will auto switch the audio output to your headset.
    If you want you change the audio output to speaker with headset plug in, you can disable front panel jack detection in Realtek HD audio manager.

  • Realtek HD Audio Manager - Hibernate

    I have an MSI MS-7390 Motherboard with WinXP Pro.
    When I either turn off my PC completely, or use "hibernate", I always turn off my 4.1 sound system and my monitor, by a shared switch.
    I have to do this, or my sound system will be running all the time, as the only switch to really turn it off, is at the backside of the subwoofer.
    Now, after hibernating and turning off the subwoofer, when I turn them on again, the Realtek HD Audio Manager always starts up and detects "new hardware" plugged in to the sound jacks. It's always just the subwoofer I only had turned off and on.
    What can I do to prevent this?
    It's not a majour issue, but annoying nevertheless.
    Not turning off the sound system is no option either.

    use latest drivers from msi web:2009-07-24
    http://eu.msi.com/index.php?func=driverfile&dno=2423&i=0

  • Having issues with Realtek HD Audio Manager, need help

    Sorry if I am in the wrong section for this,
    I just got a Z87-G45 MB (v1.10) latest is: 1.30 which has the Realtek HD Audio onboard, now to the problem:
    I have the Logitech Z906 speakers which is a 5.1 setup and I have them plugged through the Digital S-PDIF/out on the back panel (Green) but the problem is, the computer isn't detecting the speakers and since it doesn't detect them, I don't have the option tab to manage the audio settings in the Realtek HD Audio Manager Control Panel so that I can set it to 5.1/2.1/quad, etc. Even when I disconnect/connet the digital cable, it doesn't detect that it's been disconnected/connected and the speakers appear as "Ready" in the Playback Devices menu .
    Another problem I have is that there's audio, but the audio level is way too low, even at 100% and I think this has to do with me not being able to set up Realtek to 5.1.
    When I plugged my headphones through the front panel, everything worked fine and the option to set up the audio for stereo, etc. appeared.
    I did a rollback on the Realtek HD Audio Drivers
    Current: 6.0.1.6873
    Latest: 6.0.1.6959
    Things I've done:
    1.Re-install Realtek drivers from motherboard CD
    2.Update drivers
    3.Disconnect/connect the cable to see if the computer would recognize it
    4.Check the Playback Devices, choose Digital SPDIF green as default
    5.Turned off all enhancements
    6.Set the Realtek Digital Audio level to 100% in the properties tab
    I'll provide some screenshots of what I see:
    What I should be able to see:
    Also:

    Try this.  Right click on the Audio icon in the tray.  Then, click  Properties.  This opens the 'Sounds and Audio Devices Properties'.  Check all of the settings to assure they are correct.  You may have to change the settings one at a time to see if one of them does the trick.  When I have had a problem with the speakers not being recognized, it was incorrect speakers chosen.
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  • Tip to control Realtek HD Audio Manager

    I'm enjoying my new HP p6813w quad-core computers after seriously debating whether to purchase Macs and eliminate all Windows PCs in our office.  Aside from some HP printer driver issues (resolved by using Vista 64-bit drivers), these machines have worked extremely well.  I encountered a simple audio situation that's not clearly explained or at least not where I could easily find it.
    I'm using a Vizio HDTV as my monitor, which unfortunately only has a digital audio (SPDIF) output and otherwise an analog (3.5 mm) audio input with my configuration.  However, I have a Sony home theater in my office as well that includes a digital coaxial input as one of many sources that it handles.  Therefore, I plugged my new HP into each audio source output (both the Vizio as analog and the Sony theater as digital coaxial).  Because I don't always use the Sony home theater, I wanted a simple way to "toggle"/switch between the two.
    The Realtek HD Audio Manager handles this well.  You merely open it (Control Panel > Hardward and Sound > Realtek HD Audio Manager -- at the bottom), and will see the available audio output choices.  My analog appears as a "Speakers" tab, and the digital coaxial appears as a "Digital Output" tab.  To switch from one to the other, simply click the "Set Default Device" button under the tab/source that you want to use.  For example, if I want to use my Sony/digital coaxial, I select the "Digital Output" tab and click the "Set Default Device" button.  To use my Vizio/analog, I do the opposite.
    It seems to me that this is one of those "obvious in retrospect but perhaps after too much frustration and wasted time" situations.  I hope that this helps someone to avoid that.  It's a great way to enjoy iTunes or Amazon's Cloud Player while working.
    Jason E. Havens
    Destin, FL, USA

    Hello @Jccr510,
    Yes that ASUS MIO-892 will indeed work on your computer and will give you the Realtek HD Audio Manager that you are looking for.
    Hope I have answered your question to your satisfaction. Thank you for posting on the HP Forums. Have a great day!
    Please click the "Thumbs Up" on the bottom right of this post to say thank you if you appreciate the support I provide!
    Also be sure to mark my post as “Accept as Solution" if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others who face the same challenge find the same solution.
    Dunidar
    I work on behalf of HP
    Find out a bit more about me by checking out my profile!
    "Customers don’t expect you to be perfect. They do expect you to fix things when they go wrong." ~ Donald Porter

  • Query on Sound Blaster Cinema 2

    I have the 970 Gaming with the board-isolated RealTek 1150 & the frequency booster integrated into the circuit design, and I'm very pleased with it--I'm actually surprised that the quality of sound seems (to my ears at least) noticeably superior to the sound of the RealTek 892 in my last motherboard (a MSI G46-970.)
    I'm running Windows 10x64 build 10122 at the moment, with the RealTek 6.0.1.7503 drivers, and everything is great--no problems, no hiccups at all.  Very pleasing.  But I am puzzled by the SB Cinema 2 software that is meant to overlay the standard RealTek 1150 driver software--I can't see what it is supposed to do...  I've actually uninstalled it completely because I think the 1150 sounds much better with the unvarnished RealTek drivers and nothing else.  This is really not surprising to me--only logical.  Yet I'm wondering if there is some purpose to the SB Cinema 2 software that I have somehow missed because it doesn't seem worthwhile for MSI to put the software in the 970 Gaming package--unless there's something I'm missing somehow.
    I've tried every configuration I could think of for the 1150 & the SB Cinema 2 software--can't escape that the sound quality is simply better by a large degree if I uninstall the Creative software.  If someone could shed some light on the purpose of this software I'd surely appreciate it... 

    Quality is measurable, but what you are talking about is personal preference.
    The Sound Blaster Cinema is altering or "enhancing" the sound which may not be to your taste (or mine).
    IMO it takes less than a day for the ear to get used to any sound environment, and the sound chips now a days are super no matter which one it is.
    Are you using the same speakers/headphones you have used with the 892, same settings?
    Bottom line is, why worry about it, if you are happy with your sound without Sound Blaster Cinema than just don't use it

  • NO PLAYBACK AUDIO CONTROL FOR MIC IN REALTEK HD AUDIO MANAGER.

    I have a l355d-s7825 laptop that I can not get my mic to playback through the speakers. I have attached two screen shots that show my computer is missing the volume slider and playback option under mic. I have the latest driver installed with no help. I would appreciate if anyone can shed some light on this issue. Thank you. Oops couldnt get the pics in the attachments....if you google Realtek HD Audio Manager under images you will find the pics im talking about.

    Satellite L355D-S7825
    This image, Kevin?
    I have the latest driver installed...
    Sometimes those get corrupted. Did you reinstall?
       Realtek Audio Driver for Windows Vista (32/64bit)
    Did you try the Realtek control panel instead of the Windows one?
    -Jerry

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