Soundcard options

What would you recommend if I want a soundcard for my Mac Pro that has the capability to output 5.1 or 7.1 audio digitally to a Denon A/V receiver?

MarcoM1982 wrote:
Hi,
Need some help with choosing a new external soundcard.
Currently running a Mac Book 2.6Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB 667 Mhz DDR2 SDRAM with an M Audio Firewire Solo Audio Interface.
Using a lot of DSPs in logic and its eating up my power. Used Freezing and its still not great.
Can someone suggest a Soundcard at £200 - £300 price tag that is portable and has enough power to deal with all my needs?
Has anyone used the Audio DJ 8 from Native Instruments with ? I am thinking of getting Traktor Scratch Pro and wanted to know if this device would cover my Logic needs too.
Thanks,
M
An audio interface will not solve your issue. Your issue is with not enough CPU processing power.
Freeze some tracks, or better yet, export the plug in intensive tracks to audio, and then remove the excess plug-ins. Of course, for this you have to commit to the sound you're rendering.
Since I have had bad experiences with M-Audio audio interfaces I won't say anything more about that there.
Cheers

Similar Messages

Logic 7 - External Soundcard Options

Hi,
Need some help with choosing a new external soundcard.
Currently running a Mac Book 2.6Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB 667 Mhz DDR2 SDRAM with an M Audio Firewire Solo Audio Interface.
Using a lot of DSPs in logic and its eating up my power. Used Freezing and its still not great.
Can someone suggest a Soundcard at £200 - £300 price tag that is portable and has enough power to deal with all my needs?
Has anyone used the Audio DJ 8 from Native Instruments with ? I am thinking of getting Traktor Scratch Pro and wanted to know if this device would cover my Logic needs too.
Thanks,
M

MarcoM1982 wrote:
Hi,
Need some help with choosing a new external soundcard.
Currently running a Mac Book 2.6Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB 667 Mhz DDR2 SDRAM with an M Audio Firewire Solo Audio Interface.
Using a lot of DSPs in logic and its eating up my power. Used Freezing and its still not great.
Can someone suggest a Soundcard at £200 - £300 price tag that is portable and has enough power to deal with all my needs?
Has anyone used the Audio DJ 8 from Native Instruments with ? I am thinking of getting Traktor Scratch Pro and wanted to know if this device would cover my Logic needs too.
Thanks,
M
An audio interface will not solve your issue. Your issue is with not enough CPU processing power.
Freeze some tracks, or better yet, export the plug in intensive tracks to audio, and then remove the excess plug-ins. Of course, for this you have to commit to the sound you're rendering.
Since I have had bad experiences with M-Audio audio interfaces I won't say anything more about that there.
Cheers

How do i enable CMSS in the soundcard option

How do i do this? I have sound blaster 24bit

It can be installed from the original CD came w/ the card. If you don't have the CD you perhaps can DL it by following the thread --> http://forums.creative.com/creativelabs/board/message?board.id=soundblaster&message.id=25677&vie w=by_date_ascending&page=32
jutapa

No Option for Digital Out

After a week of trying to get the Digital Audio Out to work on the X-Fi Audio Extreme card I purchased I'm giving up on Creative! I've always used SoundBlaster Li've & Audigy cards on every computer I've built in the past. I'm building an HTPC & I want to be able to run Digital Audio signals thru my A/V receiver. I have a couple of other units that work just fine this way. One using the original Audigy card & another with the built in C-Media sound. I did a lot of searching & see a lot of other people with the same problem. From what I've determined is that "digital port" is a combination I/O port. In both the Creative console & the Audio console there is no option to enable the Digital Out and no soundcard option to enable "spdif bypass". How can it be with all the posts on the forum here and elsewhere that someone from Creative hasn't realized that there is no option in the software to do this?I bought a Gigabyte motherboard for this HTPC that has built in sound with SPDIF out. After a lot of screwing around trying to get SPDIF to work I found in small print in the manual that to enable the spdif out you need to order a special cable/bracket to enable the SPDIF out from the motherboard. Nowhere on any web site was this mentioned. Turns out the ONLY place in the US to get one of these is from Gigabyte directly!?Very frustrated with these computer hardware outfits that don't supply the proper info for their products. Anyone else feel the same way??

I'm pretty sure I installed all the programs that came on the cd. Did all the upgrades also. I've always liked the sound quality of the SBlaster line of cards. I was searching last nite on the Compusa site & saw a couple of Diamond Multimedia cards and they had separate SPDIF in & out ports on the back of the card. Certainly seems they would be a lot simpler to get working properly than having one port for both in & out functions. Now a moot point for me as I sent away for the SPDIF cable & bracket from Gigabyte to use the onboard sound. Returned the X-Fi card last nite to CC.

ALSA: Sound not working when webcam is plugged in. [Solved]

I'm using the out-of-the-box sound setup (ALSA, nothing else). My sound card setup (including the USB webcam with mike):
mrkline $ cat /proc/asound/cards
0 [VX5000 ]: USB-Audio - Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000
Microsoft Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000 at usb-0000:00:1d.7-2, high speed
1 [Intel ]: HDA-Intel - HDA Intel
HDA Intel at 0xfdff4000 irq 42
I'm aware of what the wiki says on the issue, and tried it to no avail. I created /etc/asound.conf and gave it the following contents, but as you can see from /proc/asound/cards, the webcam still initializes first sometimes.
ctl.dmixer {
type hw
card Intel
What additional steps can I take?
Last edited by slavik262 (2012-11-12 23:36:45)

Update: As mentioned above, the current wiki contents were useless. However, I discovered a fix and will be adding it to the wiki:
I noticed several of the more hands-off repos (namely Linux Mint and Ubuntu) contain an ALSA config file at /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf. In it, among other things, are lines that ensure USB cards are not selected as the first sound card. Creating a file at /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf with the following contents fixed the problem:
options bt87x index=-2
options cx88_alsa index=-2
options saa7134-alsa index=-2
options snd-atiixp-modem index=-2
options snd-intel8x0m index=-2
options snd-via82xx-modem index=-2
options snd-usb-audio index=-2
options snd-usb-caiaq index=-2
options snd-usb-ua101 index=-2
options snd-usb-us122l index=-2
options snd-usb-usx2y index=-2
# Keep snd-pcsp from being loaded as first soundcard
options snd-pcsp index=-2
# Keep snd-usb-audio from beeing loaded as first soundcard
options snd-usb-audio index=-2

How to reload sound modules?

I'm using alsa + pulse sound system. I also have Openbox as a stand-alone WM and lightDM, but the same thing occurs on my debian testing + gnome. I've been trying to solve this issue for several days but with no success.
Below is the output from alsa-info.sh script
http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=9f32f … f7cdddcc40
Installed packages:
morfik:~$ pacman -Qs alsa
local/alsa-lib 1.0.27-1
An alternative implementation of Linux sound support
local/alsa-plugins 1.0.27-1
Extra alsa plugins
local/alsa-utils 1.0.27-4
An alternative implementation of Linux sound support
local/pulseaudio-alsa 2-2
ALSA Configuration for PulseAudio
morfik:~$ pacman -Qs pulse
local/libao 1.1.0-3
Cross-platform audio output library and plugins
local/libcanberra-pulse 0.30-3
PulseAudio plugin for libcanberra
local/libpulse 3.0-3
A featureful, general-purpose sound server (client library)
local/paprefs 0.9.10-2
A simple GTK-based configuration dialog for PulseAudio
local/pavucontrol 2.0-1
A GTK volume control tool for PulseAudio
local/pulseaudio 3.0-3
A featureful, general-purpose sound server
local/pulseaudio-alsa 2-2
ALSA Configuration for PulseAudio
Everything works fine until hibernation. After my system goes up, one speeker (of 4) is missing, I mean that 3 others play sound well, but the rear-left is silent. I don't know what is wrong, but on debian I can deal with it by reloading sound modules:
$ pulseaudio -k
# alsa force-reload
$ pulseaudio -D
But unfortunately there is no such a thing like "alsa" in Arch. When I type alsa force-reload on my debian, I get this:
root:/# alsa force-reload
Unloading ALSA sound driver modules: snd-ca0106 snd-seq-midi snd-seq-midi-event snd-rawmidi snd-ac97-codec snd-pcm snd-page-alloc snd-seq snd-seq-device snd-timer.
Loading ALSA sound driver modules: snd-ca0106 snd-seq-midi snd-seq-midi-event snd-rawmidi snd-ac97-codec snd-pcm snd-page-alloc snd-seq snd-seq-device snd-timer.
I tried to change a little pulse settings in /etc/pusle/daemon.conf but this does nothing. Now the file looks like this:
daemonize = yes
allow-exit = yes
use-pid-file = yes
exit-idle-time=0
resample-method=speex-float-0
default-sample-rate = 44100
alternate-sample-rate = 48000
default-sample-channels = 4
default-channel-map = front-left,front-right,rear-left,rear-right
I can't use hibernation because after my system comes to life, I have to reboot it in order to make sound work properly.
I don't know what info I should provide, so if you want to know something more about configuration of my pc, feel free and ask, I'll post the info as soon as possible.

Raynman -- thanks for the hint. I looked for the alsa script on debian, and it exists, so I moved it to arch.
This is the script:
#!/bin/sh
# alsa-base control script
# Description: Used to load and unload ALSA modules and
# restore and store mixer levels. There is no
# longer any need to run this script on bootup
# or shutdown. It is now moved to /usr/sbin.
set -e
# Exit if alsa-base package is not installed
[ -f /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf ] || exit 0
MYNAME=/usr/sbin/alsa
PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin
# Default values of variables in /etc/default/alsa
force_unload_modules_before_suspend=""
[ -f /etc/default/alsa ] && . /etc/default/alsa
# $* MESSAGE
warn() { echo "${MYNAME}: Warning: $* " >&2 ; }
# Attempt to create /var/run/alsa if it is absent.
# Return true if /var/run/alsa exists after this attempt,
# otherwise false.
check_run_dir()
[ -d /var/run/alsa ] && return 0
# We have no business creating /var/run if it doesn't exist
if ! [ -d /var/run ] ; then
warn "Could not create /var/run/alsa/ because /var/run/ is not present."
return 1
fi
if ! mkdir --mode=755 /var/run/alsa ; then
warn "Failed to create /var/run/alsa/."
return 1
fi
[ -d /var/run/alsa ] && return 0
return 1
echo_procs_using_sound()
for i in /proc/[0-9]*/fd/* ; do
var="$(readlink $i)"
if test x"$var" != x"${var#/dev/snd/pcm}" ; then
IFS=/; set -- $i; unset IFS; echo $3
fi
done
# $* [PID]...
echo_with_command_names()
[ "$1" ] || return 0
echo $( \
ps --no-headers -o "%p %c" "$@" \
| sed -e 's/$[0-9][0-9]*$ $.*$/\1(\2)/' \
kill_procs_using_sound()
procs_using_sound="$(echo_procs_using_sound)"
if [ "$procs_using_sound" ] ; then
echo -n "Terminating processes:"
for attempt in 1 2 3 4 ; do
echo -n " ${procs_using_sound}"
kill $procs_using_sound || :
sleep 1
procs_using_sound="$(echo_procs_using_sound)"
[ "$procs_using_sound" ] || break
done
# Either no more procs using sound or attempts ran out
if [ "$procs_using_sound" ] ; then
echo -n " (with SIGKILL:) ${procs_using_sound}"
kill -9 $procs_using_sound || :
sleep 1
fi
procs_using_sound="$(echo_procs_using_sound)"
if [ "$procs_using_sound" ] ; then
echo " (failed: processes still using sound devices: $(echo_with_command_names $procs_using_sound))."
return 1
fi
echo "."
fi
return 0
# $* MODULE-NAME [MODULE-NAME]... | "all"
unload_modules()
procs_using_sound="$(echo_procs_using_sound)"
if [ "$procs_using_sound" ] ; then
warn "Processes using sound devices: $(echo_with_command_names $procs_using_sound)."
fi
if check_run_dir ; then
:> /var/run/alsa/modules-removed
else
warn "Not keeping list of removed modules because /var/run/alsa is absent.
It will not be possible automatically to reload these modules."
fi
echo -n "Unloading ALSA sound driver modules:"
[ -d /proc/asound ] || { echo " (none loaded)." ; return 0 ; }
echo_snd_modules_loaded()
lsmod \
| sed -n -e 's/^$snd[-_][^[:space:]]*$[[:space:]].*/\1/p' \
| sed -e 's/_/-/g'
for FSMBS in $* ; do
MODULES_TO_REMOVE=""
SND_MODULES_LOADED="$(echo_snd_modules_loaded)"
case "$FSMBS" in
all)
MODULES_TO_REMOVE="$SND_MODULES_LOADED"
snd_*|snd-*)
FSMBS="$(echo "$FSMBS" | sed -e 's/_/-/g')"
for M in $SND_MODULES_LOADED ; do
if [ "$FSMBS" = "$M" ] ; then
MODULES_TO_REMOVE="$FSMBS"
break
fi
done
esac
[ "$MODULES_TO_REMOVE" ] || continue
if [ -d /var/run/alsa ] ; then
echo "$MODULES_TO_REMOVE" >> /var/run/alsa/modules-removed
fi
for M in $MODULES_TO_REMOVE ; do
echo -n " ${M}"
modprobe -r "$M" >/dev/null 2>&1 || :
done
done
if [ -f /var/run/alsa/modules-removed ] ; then
MODULES_STILL_LOADED="$(echo_snd_modules_loaded | grep -F -f /var/run/alsa/modules-removed)"
MODULES_STILL_LOADED="$(echo $MODULES_STILL_LOADED)"
else
MODULES_STILL_LOADED=""
fi
if [ "$MODULES_STILL_LOADED" ] ; then
echo " (failed: modules still loaded: ${MODULES_STILL_LOADED})."
return 1
else
echo "."
return 0
fi
# $* MODULE-NAME [MODULE-NAME]... | "all"
force_unload_modules()
kill_procs_using_sound || :
unload_modules "$@" || return 1
return 0
load_unloaded_modules()
LUM_RETURNSTATUS=0
MODULES_TO_LOAD=""
[ -d /var/run/alsa ] || warn "Directory /var/run/alsa is absent."
echo -n "Loading ALSA sound driver modules:"
[ -f /var/run/alsa/modules-removed ] && MODULES_TO_LOAD="$(echo $(cat /var/run/alsa/modules-removed))"
[ "$MODULES_TO_LOAD" ] || { echo " (none to reload)." ; return $LUM_RETURNSTATUS ; }
echo -n " $MODULES_TO_LOAD"
for MDL in $MODULES_TO_LOAD ; do
modprobe $MDL || LUM_RETURNSTATUS=1
done
case "$LUM_RETURNSTATUS" in
0) echo "." ;;
*) echo " (failed)." ;;
esac
return $LUM_RETURNSTATUS
case "$1" in
unload)
unload_modules all || exit $?
reload)
EXITSTATUS=0
unload_modules all || EXITSTATUS=1
load_unloaded_modules || EXITSTATUS=1
exit $EXITSTATUS
force-unload)
force_unload_modules all || exit $?
force-reload)
EXITSTATUS=0
force_unload_modules all || EXITSTATUS=1
load_unloaded_modules || EXITSTATUS=1
exit $EXITSTATUS
suspend)
case "$force_unload_modules_before_suspend" in
""|false) : ;;
all|true) force_unload_modules all || exit $? ;;
*) force_unload_modules $force_unload_modules_before_suspend || exit $? ;;
esac
resume)
case "$force_unload_modules_before_suspend" in
""|false) : ;;
*) load_unloaded_modules || exit $? ;;
esac
echo "Usage: $MYNAME {unload|reload|force-unload|force-reload|suspend|resume}" >&2
exit 3
esac
It requires two other files in /etc/modprobe.d/ . I also moved them from debian:
alsa-base-blacklist.conf
# Uncomment these entries in order to blacklist unwanted modem drivers
# blacklist snd-atiixp-modem
# blacklist snd-intel8x0m
# blacklist snd-via82xx-modem
# Comment this entry in order to load snd-pcsp driver
blacklist snd-pcsp
alsa-base.conf
# autoloader aliases
install sound-slot-0 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-0
install sound-slot-1 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-1
install sound-slot-2 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-2
install sound-slot-3 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-3
install sound-slot-4 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-4
install sound-slot-5 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-5
install sound-slot-6 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-6
install sound-slot-7 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-7
# Cause optional modules to be loaded above generic modules
install snd /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet snd-ioctl32 ; /sbin/modprobe --quiet snd-seq ; : ; }
install snd-rawmidi /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-rawmidi && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet snd-seq-midi ; : ; }
install snd-emu10k1 /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-emu10k1 && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet snd-emu10k1-synth ; : ; }
# Keep snd-pcsp from beeing loaded as first soundcard
options snd-pcsp index=-2
# Keep snd-usb-audio from beeing loaded as first soundcard
options snd-usb-audio index=-2
# Prevent abnormal drivers from grabbing index 0
options bt87x index=-2
options cx88_alsa index=-2
options snd-atiixp-modem index=-2
options snd-intel8x0m index=-2
options snd-via82xx-modem index=-2
options snd-ca0106 index=0
options snd-hda-intel index=1
After hibernation, the script provides sound as expected. I also notticed that I can reload only snd-ca0106 and the sound comes back.
Now I have to make a .service file that could make my sound work. But I need more info how to do so.

[SOLVED] Trouble selecting Line-in instead of Mic

I'm trying to use QSSTV to display SSTV signals from my ham radio. The only problem I'm having is that it's listening to my laptop's built-in mic instead of the line-in jack. The input soundcard option in QSSTV is set to default, so I presume I'll have to play around with ALSA to make line-in its default input source.
Please help me here, I'm a bit stuck.
Last edited by phillid (2013-08-04 00:24:15)

Hi phillid,
Welcome to Arch Linux. One of the things we ask is that when you regard something as solved, edit the title of your thread and prepend [SOLVED] to the thread title. You do this by editing the first post in the thread. We ask that you do this because you are the only one who really can determine that the problem is solved, and (aside from the moderators) you are the only one who can do that. And -- I hear the moderators are all lazy

Digital out on Soundblaster Audigy 2

I put the digital modul on the digital out. In the software i fill the only digital out buttom. On the digital modul out i go with a coxial cabel to my Dolby Digital reci'ver .But it doesnt com sound ! Also with the optical cabel the same. What can i make to acitvate the digital out from the Audigy 2 ?
Thanks Andy

What are you trying to play, movies or music. If it's a movie, you need to select SPDIF output in your DVD software and SPDIF pass through in the soundcard options. If it's not working with music, maybe you need to change a setting on your receiver.

Calibrating the speakers for a Home Theater sys

I started a similar thread in the PCMCIA forum but there seems to be a lot more traffic here... The question is: how do you deal with speaker calibration when your card is connected to a Home Theater system?
If you calibrate the speakers with the card, don't you send a "modified" source into your HT? And then, if you calibrate the speakers again in the HT system, don't you end up compounding the effect?
In other words, the question could be: How do you make the card appear "neutral" to the HT system, like a DVD player would?
Thanks!

Aha; just before I go, I have just found the following in one of the Creative sticky messages at the top of the forum (Digital Connections, SPDIF and Dolby Digital Info ) which explains the digital connection stuff much better than I did; confirms that for dvd movies, using the digital out bypasses the card's internal meddling. Still ask Letropaks or Keene re the correct cable however. This solves your movie problem, outputting the same signal as a DVD player would to your amp, with minimal loss of signal quality. So get ready to throw away those nasty analogue cables...


Movies wth Dolby Digital (AC3) & DTS
Movies on DVD often use encoded audio in the form of Dolby Digital (AC3) or DTS. This means that all 6 channels are compressed into a single stream of digital data. A decoder is required to extract the channels and send the sound to the correct speakers. There are three ways to do this.


) Pass the AC3/DTS signal to a external decoder.

This is where your optical/coax connection is used. To go down this route, you must first have a set of speakers or a decoder that supports Dolby Digital. In your DVD software, select 'SPDIF' as the audio output method and 'SPDIF Pass-through' in your soundcard options. What this does is tells both the software and soundcard to leave the audio from the DVD in compressed form and send it straight through the digital outputs. Your digital speakers/receiver will do all the decoding to give you full surround sound. Please note that this is the only way to get 6 channels through an optical/coax cable.

Digital Connections, SPDIF and Dolby Digital Info

I have noticed that many people have problems using their digital connections, so I put together this info to try and explain the difference between digital and analogue, and how to use them.
Digital ConnectionsDigital connections come in two standard forms, optical and coax. They both give you exactly the same result, the only difference is the medium (material) through which the signal travels. The thing to remember about digital is that for ordinary, uncompressed sound, it will only carry a stereo signal. So, if you like to use CMSS with your music, or you try the speaker test function, optical/coax is useless as you only hear the front left/right speakers.
Movies wth Dolby Digital (AC3) & DTSMovies on DVD often use encoded audio in the form of Dolby Digital (AC3) or DTS. This means that all 6 channels are compressed into a single stream of digital data. A decoder is required to extract the channels and send the sound to the correct speakers. There are three ways to do this.
) Pass the AC3/DTS signal to a external decoder. This is where your optical/coax connection is used. To go down this route, you must first have a set of speakers or a decoder that supports Dolby Digital. In your DVD software, select 'SPDIF' as the audio output method and 'SPDIF Pass-through' in your soundcard options. What this does is tells both the software and soundcard to leave the audio from the DVD in compressed form and send it straight through the digital outputs. Your digital speakers/receiver will do all the decoding to give you full surround sound. Please note that this is the only way to get 6 channels through an optical/coax cable.
2) Decode the AC3/DTS with your Sound Blaster.You should choose this option if you don't have an external decoder. In the DVD software, select 'SPDIF' as the audio output method and make sure that 'SPDIF Pass-through' in the souncard options is off. The DVD software will now pass the compressed audio to your soundcard, which will then decode the data. The soundcard will output the 6 channels using the analogue connections (or digital DIN, more on this later). If you try to use a digital optical/coax connection to your speakers, you will only hear faint sounds from the front left/right speakers.
3) Decode the AC3/DTS with software.If you have a soundcard that doesn't support Dolby Digital (like the SB Li've! 24-bit) and you don't have digital speakers, the only way for you to get surround sound in movies is to use software to decode the AC3/DTS. The free versions of DVD software you get with hardware often don't support this feature, you will most likely need a full version. First select 'Dolby Digital' or 'DTS' decoding in the DVD software audio options (you must select the right sound format for the movie you are watching). Then make sure that 'SPDIF Pass-through' in the soundcard options is off. As with method (2) you must connect your speakers with the 3 analogue cables, not optical/coax.
PC GamesPC games usually use technologies like as EAX to create surround sound, not Dolby Digital. So even if your speaker system has a Dolby Digital decoder, it will be of no use when playing games. The EAX processing is done on the soundcard, and the 6-channel sound is output via the analogue (or digital DIN if available). So you still need analogue connections to your digital speakers for games, if you just use an optical/coax cable you will only get the front left/right sound.(N.B. X-Box games do support Dolby Digital, so if you connect your X-Box to your Dolby Digital receiver/speakers with the optical cable, you can get full surround sound.)
Creative's 4-pole mini-jack & Digital DINYou can only get the full use out of this connection when used between Creative Sound Blasters and compatible Creative speaker systems. It is the digital equivalent of the analogue connections, but instead of using 3 stereo sockets, you use just one digital socket. There are 4 conducting connections in the socket (unlike coax which has two) so there are enough connections to carry 3 different digital stereo signals (front R/L, rear R/L and Sub/Centre). You will probably require a 4-pole mini-jack > DIN converter to connect your Creative speakers to this socket. Using this connection will allow you to get surround from games (unlike SPDIF). However the digital DIN input on some Creative speakers can't receive AC3/DTS data, so you may still require an optical/coax connection.
N.B. This digital socket on the Sound Blaster cards doubles as the digital coax output. If you don't have digital DIN, you can use a mono or stereo mini-jack > RCA converter to connect to the coax input on your speakers, as the front R/L or AC3/DTS signals are sent through the tip of the plug.
More InfoCreative's Speaker Conectivity Guide: http://support.creative.com/kb/ShowA....aspx?sid=5035
Dolby Surround info: http://www.dolby.com
I hope that clarifies the issue .
Message Edited by KokChoy-CL on 07-04-2008 :0 AM

Digital Connections, SPDIF and Dolby Digital (german revision)
Options
03-08-2007 01:52 AM
Digital Connections, SPDIF and Dolby Digital Info
Übersetzung + Erweiterungen + Revision 03-08-07
Der Digitale Anschluß
Ich habe beobachtet, daß viele Leute Fragen zu den Sound-Anschlüssen haben, daher trage ich hier einige Infos zusammen und erkläre die Unterschiede in der Verwendung der digitalen und analogen Anschlüsse.
Digitale Anschlüsse – S-PDIF & Toslink
Am PC gibt es zwei häufig verwendete digitale Anschlußformate optisch (Toslink) und koaxial (S-PDIF).
Im Prinzip erzielen beide Anschlüsse genau das gleiche Audio-Ergebnis.
Der primäre Unterschied ist das Medium ( das Material ) durch das das Signal übertragen wird. ( Glasfaser oder Kupfer )
!! Update !!
Ein wichtiger Aspekt in der Auswahl von digital-optischen Anschlüssen erklärt sich durch das Vermeiden einer sogenannten „Brummschleife“, d.h. eine elektrisch leitende Verbindung zweier Geräte muß vermieden werden.
( mit Lichtwellenleiter - LWL- z.B. mit dem Anschluß-System Toslink )
In der Elektrotechnik ( Niedervolttechnik ) wird oft der „Negative“ Pol der Spannungsversorgung über das elektrisch leitende Gehäuse ( die sogenannte Masse )geführt. Das spart einerseits einen weiteren Kabelweg ( also Kupfer ) ein und ergibt eine mehr oder weniger wirksame (Ab-) Schirmung. Diese Schirmung soll die elektronische Schaltung vor elektromagnetischen, hochfrequenten und niederfrequenten Störeinflüssen je nach Ausführung der Schirmung schützen.
Üblicherweise besitzt jedes elektronische Gerät eine eigene Spannungsversorgung. Netzteile in elektronischen Geräten unterscheiden sich in der Art der Spannungsumformung, in der Höhe der Spannung, in der zur Verfügung gestellten Leistung, durch verschiedene Bauarten und unterschiedliche Bauteil-Tolleranzen entstehen somit verschiedenste Masse-Potentiale.
Werden solche Geräte durch elektrisch leitende Kabel verbunden, kommt es zu einem Ausgleich der verschiedenen Masse-Potentiale. Ein negatives Ergebnis der Verbindung von TV-Geräten oder PC-Komponenten mit Audio-Komponenten ist oft eine hörbare Beeinträchtigung von Audio-Signalen - ein tieffrequentes Brummen.( auch Brummschleife oder Masseschleife genannt )
Hierfür verantwortlich zu machen ist eine elektrisch leitende Verbindung. In der HiFi-Technik ist das in der Regel ein Koaxialkabel und dessen Schirmung.
Vermeidung u. Reduzierung dieser Störgeräusche Ansätze
!! Der einfache Weg !!
Einsatz einer optischen Signal- / Datenübertragung mit Lichtwellenleiter
- Glasfaser als Trägermaterial
( Einsatz einer Datenübertragung ohne elektrisch leitende Verbindungen )
aufwendige Wege
Einsatz einer Galvanischen Trennung - mit einem Ground-Isolator
(Massetrennung )
+ die elektrische Verbindung der Schirmung wird umgangen
- aber Leistungs- & und Klangverlust(geringere Dynamik)
- Verwendung von ( hochwertigen ) symmetrischen Verbindungen
( „PLUS“ „MINUS“ „Masse“)
+ Trennung der Schirmung an einer „Seite“ des Kabels möglich
[bei Koaxialkabel unsinnig weil eine Ader zerstört wird und
anschließend dieses Kabel wertlos ist ]
- sehr große Anschlüsse
- Profibereich
- Einsatz einer zentralen Spannungsversorgung für alle miteinander
verbundenen Geräte
Nachtrag
Bitte nicht verwechseln mit Netzbrummen - die Einstreuung der Netzfrequenz 50 Hz ( EU ) oder 60 Hz ( US ) in den Audio-Signalweg das ist üblicherweise auf eine nicht ausreichende Entstörung oder(Ab-)Schirmung zurückzuführen ist.
- End - !! Update !!
Einige Vorbetrachtungen
Die traditionelle Ton-Übertragung ist ein unkomprimiertes Signal, es wird in Stereo übertragen.
Wenn du CMSS ( Creative Multi Speaker Surround simulierten Surround Sound ) aus deiner Stereo-Musik erzeugen willst oder der Sprach-Test abgerufen wird ( nur über den Center ) ist der digitale Anschluß ( optisch & koaxial ) unbrauchbar, denn es würden nur die Lautsprecher Front-Rechts und Front-Links angesprochen !! Es wird ein anderer Anschluß benötigt, der die Kanäle einzeln ansteuert.
Für das Format 5.1 ist das die Verbindung über die drei 3,5 mm Klinken-Stecker ( 3 mal 2 Kanäle ) mit der folgenden
Kanalzuweisung 5.1
Front R / Front L + Rear R + Rear L + Subwoofer / Center
Mehrkanalton in Filmen - DolbyDigital (AC3 / DD) oder DTS
Filme auf DVD verwenden häufig ein kodiertes Mehrkanal-Audiosignal, in der Form DolbyDigital ( AC3 / DD ) oder DTS. Bei dem gebräuchlichsten Format 5.1 werden 6 Signale ( 3 mal 2 Kanäle ) in einem digitalen Datenstrom zusammengefaßt und komprimiert = das Kodieren.
Nach der Übertragung des Signals muß aus diesem Datenstrom ein Decoder die entsprechenden Töne trennen und jedem Kanal zuordnen = das Dekodieren.
Drei Varianten der Decodierung sind möglich.
(1) - AC3 / DTS Signal wird zu einem externen Decoder geführt
Genau hier wird der optische / koaxiale Anschluß genutzt. Um diese Variante nutzen zu können, mußt du ein digitales Lautsprecher-Set oder einen Digital-Decoder ( z.B: Digital-Receiver ) besitzen, der die Dekodierung des gewünschten Formats ( DD, AC3, DTS) übernimmt. Für jedes Digital-Format benötigt man einen entsprechenden Decoder – das Handbuch weiß hier oft mehr – welches Format von welchem Gerät dekodiert werden kann !!
Wähle in deiner DVD-Software den zur digitalen Datenübertragung gewünschten Anschluß "S-PDIF"( Koaxial ) oder "Optisch" als Audio-Ausgang.
In den Soundkarten-Einstellungen muß die Option "S-PDIF-Durchschleifen" ( "SPDIF Pass-through" ) eingestellt werden.
Dadurch wird das Audio-Signal von der DVD in digitaler ( komprimierter ) Form direkt an die Digital-Ausgänge der Soundkarte weitergeleitet. Anschließend kann ein angeschlossener externer Decoder z.B. im digitalen Lautsprecher-System oder im Digital-Receiver die Decodierung übernehmen und es entsteht ein „Räumliches Klangbild“.
Bitte merken:
Daß ist der einzige Weg 5.1 Signale ( digital ) über ein koaxiales bzw. optisches Kabel zu übertragen.
(2) - AC3 / DTS mit der Soundkarte decodieren
Diese Variante ist zu verwenden, wenn du keinen externen Decoder / Receiver verwenden willst.
In der DVD-Software wird "S-PDIF" als Audio-Ausgang gewählt und es muß zwingend in den Optionen der Soundkarte "S-PDIF-Durchschleifen" ( "SPDIF Pass-through" ) deaktiviert werden.
Die DVD-Software wird jetzt das ( digitale ) komprimierte Audio-Signal an deine Soundkarte senden und dann werden dort die digitalen Daten decodiert. Die Soundkarte gibt dann die 6 Audio-Kanäle ( bei 5.1 ) über ihre drei analogen Anschlüsse aus ( 3 mal 3,5 mm Klinke ) mit folgender
Kanalzuweisung 5.1
Front R / Front L + Rear R + Rear L + Subwoofer / Center
Es wird in diesem Beispiel also ein 5.1-Lautsprecher-System benötigt, mit der analogen Anschluß-Option von drei Klinken-Steckern.
( also 3 x 2 Kanäle = 3 mal 3,5 mm Klinke )
- die Einspeisung eines digitalen Signals über DigitalDIN, ist mit dem optionalen digitalen E/A-Modulbei möglich ***
- wird hier ein optisches / koaxiales Kabel verwendest, hörst du nur schwache Töne der Front-Lautsprecher R + L
*** Bei Karten der SB073X-Serie verfügt diese Buchse nicht über die Digital-In-Funktion !! zur Unterstützung des digitalen E/A-Moduls )
[ mehr unten ]
(3) - AC3 / DTS mit einer Software decodieren
Wenn deine Soundkarte kein DolbyDigital unterstützt
( wie die SB Live! 24-bit ) und auch kein digitales Lautsprecher-System vorhanden ist, kannst du Raumklang
(Surrsound-Sound ) aus DV-Filmen auch über eine AC3 / DTS fähige Software erzeugen.
Gratis-DVD-Software-Versionen unterstützen diese Funktion häufig nicht, du benötigst dann eine Software-Voll-Version.
Wähle die gewünschte digitale Audio-Tonspur „DolbyDigital“ oder „DTS“, im Audio-Menü einer DVD.
Dann stelle sicher, das in den Soundkarten-Optionen "S-PDIF-Durchschleifen"
( "SPDIF Pass-through" ) ausgeschaltet ist.
Wie unter (2) mußt du deine Lautsprecher mit den drei analogen Kabeln anschließen und nicht optisch oder koaxial !! ( 3 mal 3,5 Klinke )
Kanalzuweisung 5.1
Front R / Front L + Rear R + Rear L + Subwoofer / Center
Generell sind bei zuvor genannten Varianten (1) – (3) auch andere mehrkanalige
Wiedergabeformate möglich.
In Abhängigkeit von der Ausstattung der Quelle also von der DVD. der CD. der TV-Karte, dem Game usw. sind andere Formate z.B. 2.0 / 2.1 / 4.0 / 4.1 / 5.1 / 7.1-Kanal Wiedergabe möglich.
PC Spiele
PC Spiele nutzen normalerweise Technologien wie EAX, die ihren eigenen Surround-Sound, ohne Verwendung von DolbyDigital erzeugen. Selbst wenn dein Lautsprecher-System einen DolbyDigital-Decoder besitzt, ist dieser für Games unbrauchbar. Denn die EAX Verarbeitung findet direkt auf der Soundkarte statt und die Ausgabe der 6 Kanäle ( 5.1 ) erfolgt über die analogen Ausgänge
( 3 mal 3,5 mm Klinke ) ( oder über DigitalDIN, wenn vorhanden *** ).
*** Bei Karten der SB073X-Serie verfügt diese Buchse nicht über die Digital-In-Funktion !! zur Unterstützung des digitalen E/A-Moduls ) [ mehr unten ]
Kanalzuweisung 5.1
Front R / Front L + Rear R + Rear L + Subwoofer / Center
Für Mehrkanalwiedergabe in Spielen benötigst du also Lautsprecher-Systeme mit analogen Anschlüssen oder einen Digital-Receiver mit analogem ( 5.1 ) Eingang.
Wenn du ein optisches / koaxiales Kabel verwendest, dann kannst du nur die vorderen Kanäle ( links / rechts ) hören.
!!! Notiz !!!
X-Box Spiele unterstützen DolbyDigital, wenn du deine X-Box mit einem DolbyDigital-Receiver oder einem digitalen Lautsprecher-System über optische Kabel verbindest, kannst du den vollen Surround Sound nutzen.
Die Sound Blaster Karten der SB073X-Serie bieten neben dem digitalen ( koaxial / extern ) Anschluß über den Anschluss Flexi-Jack auch noch einen weiteren Anschluß, direkt auf der Karte ( koaxial / intern )
Flexi-Jack - DigitalDIN
Wenn du kein digitales E/A-Modul ( Digital I/O-Modul ) benutzen kannst, ist es möglich mit einem Klinke-Chinch Adapter ( RCA-Adapter ), ein digitales Lautsprecher-System oder einen Digital-Receiver digital ( koaxial ) über den Flexi-Jack-Ausgang der Soundkarte zu verbinden. Alle MiniDin bzw. 3,5 mm Klinken-Stecker können in der Mono- oder auch in der Stereo-Ausführung verwendet werden, denn der mittlere / vordere Pin des 3,5 mm Klinken-Steckers überträgt das AC3 / DTS Signal. Dazu benötigt man eine der folgenden Verbindungen
3,5 mm Klinke ( Mini DIN ) auf Chinch - Adapter ( RCA-Adapter )
für den S-PDIF-Anschluß( koaxial ) an Lautsprecher-Systeme mit digitalem Eingang bzw. Digital-Receiver kann man folgende Varianten verwenden
- Klinke-Mono - Chinch-Stecker ( Stecker –Stecker ) ( Favorit !! )
- Klinke-Mono auf Chinch-Mono ( Stecker - Kupplung ) + Chinch-Verbindungkabel
( Stecker - Stecker )
- Klinke-Stereo auf Chinch-Mono ( Stecker - Kupplung ) + Chinch-Verbindungkabel
( Stecker - Stecker )
Das digitale E/A-Modul ( Digital I/O – Modul )
Die Verwendung von optionalem Zubehör Digitales E/A-Modul ( Digital I/O-Modul ) bietet die Möglichkeit der direkten Verwendung eines S-PDIF Verbindungskabels und stellt zusätzlich zum koaxialen Anschluß einen optischen Anschluß ( Toslink ) bereit. Die optische Verbindung kann wie oben beschrieben zur Vermeidung einer Brummschleife hilfreich sein.
Des weiteren wird ( abhängig von der Ausstattung der Soundkarte *** ) ein digitaler Eingang über das E/A-Modul bereitgestellt, der Eingang ist ebenso wie der Ausgang in optischer ( Toslink ) und koaxialer ( S-PDIF ) Bauform ausgeführt.
Achtung !!
( *** Bei Karten der SB073X-Serie verfügt diese Buchse nicht über die Digital-In-Funktion !! zur Unterstützung des digitalen E/A-Moduls )
interner S-PDIF E/A-Anschluss ( für Geräte der SB073X-Serie )
zum Anschluß einer Decoderkarte oder externer Decoder bzw. Lautsprechersysteme mit digitalem Eingang ist ein entsprechender Adapter erforderlich
Bei einigen Modellen ist eine Dekoderkarte im Lieferumfang enthalten bzw. in einigen Regionen als Zubehör erhältlich
Front Panel-Sockel (für Geräte der SB073X-Serie)
2 x 5-poliger Front Panel-Sockel nur für Verbindungen mit einem Intel HD Front Panel Audio-Standardsockel (nur Geräte der SB073X-Serie) Intel Front Panel Audio-Kabels (separat erhältlich)
Anschlusskompatibilität
Ausschließlich Intel HD Front Panel Audio-Standard
Nicht kompatibel mit AC97 oder Intel-kompatiblem HD Front Panel Audio
Einschränkungen
Wenn neben den hinteren Mikrofonen auch Frontmikrofone angeschlossen sind, werden die hinteren Mikrofone automatisch deaktiviert.
Sound Blaster X-Fi E/A-Konsole
Auf der Rückseite Ihrer X-Fi-E/A-Konsole* befindet sich eine sogenannte DIN-Buchse. Um die Funktionen für eine integrierte Lautsprechersteuerung zu nutzen, können Sie an diese Buchse ausgewählte analoge Creative-Lautsprechersysteme anschließen, die über eine Kabelfernbedienung oder eine Audiokonsole verfügen.
So können Sie beispielsweise über den Master-Lautstärkeregler Ihrer X-Fi-E/A-Konsole die Lautstärke der Lautsprecher regeln oder die Lautsprecher stummschalten.
-eof-

Can't find the 'decoder' tabe in audio console wind

I just bought a x-fi fatalty. All drivers was installed.
However when I tried to set the spdif passthru to an external AV amp, I can't find the decoder tab in the audio console windows as shown in below screen capture I found on the web.
http://soundblaster.com/images/inline/articles/audio_console.jpg

Hi adrianmak?If you use spdif don?t need X-Fi decoder, when use spdif you send signal to a external decoder. Digital Connections, SPDIF and Dolby Digital Info[/b] ?Movies wth Dolby Digital (AC3) & DTSMovies on DVD often use encoded?audio in the form of Dolby Digital (AC3) or DTS. This means that all 6 channels are compressed into a single stream of digital data. A decoder is required to extract the channels and send the sound to the correct speakers. There are three ways to do this.
) Pass the AC3/DTS signal to a external decoder. This is where your optical/coax connection is used. To?go down this route, you must first have a?set of speakers or a decoder that?supports Dolby Digital.
In your DVD software, select 'SPDIF' as the audio output method and 'SPDIF Pass-through' in?your?soundcard options. What this does is?tells both the software and soundcard to leave the audio from the DVD in compressed form and send it straight through the digital outputs. Your?digital speakers/receiver will do all the decoding to give you full surround sound.
Please note that this?is the only way to get 6 channels through an optical/coax cable.
2) Decode the AC3/DTS with your Sound Blaster.?You should choose this option if?you don't have an external decoder. In the DVD software, select 'SPDIF' as the audio output method and make sure that 'SPDIF Pass-through' in the souncard options is?off. The DVD software will now pass the compressed audio to your soundcard, which will then decode the data. The soundcard will output the 6 channels using the?analogue connections (or digital DIN, more on this later). If you try?to use a digital optical/coax connection to your speakers, you will only hear faint sounds from the front left/right speakers.
3) Decode the AC3/DTS with software.?If you have a soundcard that doesn't support Dolby Digital (like the SB Li've! 24-bit) and you don't have digital speakers, the only way for you to get surround sound in movies is to use software to decode the AC3/DTS. The free versions of DVD software you get with hardware often don't support this feature,? you will most likely need a full version. First select 'Dolby Digital' or 'DTS' decoding in the DVD software audio options (you must select the right?sound format for the movie you are watching). Then make sure that 'SPDIF Pass-through' in the soundcard options is off. As with method (2) you must connect your speakers with the 3 analogue cables, not optical/coax.[url="http://forums.creative.com/creativelabs/board/message?board.id=soundblaster&message.id=270">[/url]?What version you have?Try to update drivers from creative, MS Windows Update X-fi driver version?disable decoder tab.
Message Edited by Rad-Wulf on 2-04-200709:26 PM

Audigy 2 ZS digital out, 4 pole 1/8" adap

Please help. I've been looking around for a while.
I have the Audigy 2 ZS card. I want to use the digital out of the soundcard to connect to my 'coax in' of my component home theater system. I was reading and looking at the Audigy 2 ZS documentation, Chapter 'Connecting Speakers' and the sub-chapter 'connecting digital speakers systems.' It shows that I need a 4-pole /8 jack.
I found this part on creative's store: is this the correct part to hook up a digital coax to my component system and get 5. surround sound?
<IMG height= alt="" src="http://images.americas.creative.com/images/dot-clear.gif" width=3 border=0>
/8 inch to Mini Din and RCA AdapterPN 0400005

Optical and digital coax connections can't carry multichannel audio, only stereo. The only way to get multichannel via digital is if it is an AC3 bitstream. Creative also use a 4-pole connector that can carry multichannel digital but your speakers must have a digital DIN connection to use this feature. Otherwise for games, you must use the analogue connections. For your movies, you can use your digital connection, but you must select SPDIF output in the DVD software and select SPDIF pass through in the soundcard options. This way your speakers will decode the AC3 bitstream.
You might want to look at this: http://us.creative.com/support/kb/ar...p?l=2&sid=5035
A suggestion to Creative moderators: I think it would be a good idea for Creative to supply a guide with the sound cards and speakers on the various types of connections. Stuff like the capabilities/limitations of each connection and details on AC3 and the way games output audio. There seems to be so many people confused by the multitude of connection possibilities (I was at first).
Message Edited by pjc on 02-26-2005 01:10 AM

GD580 + Audigy 2 ZS + Digital Out 5.1 = only stereo

Alright, I didn't think this would be so complicated, but maybe it is. I just purchased a Creative Inspire GD580 5.1 surround speaker setup. I have an Audigy 2 ZS PCI sound card. I want to connect the digitial out to my speaker setup using the digital out on my Audigy 2 ZS. My main reason for the surround setup is for gaming. So far I have only been able to get stereo sound with both gaming AND DVD movies.
Anyone who can enlighten me on how to do this, I would be very grateful.
Thanks!

Optical and digital coax connections can't carry multichannel audio, only stereo. The only way to get multichannel via digital is if it is an AC3 bitstream. Creative also use a 4-pole connector that can carry multichannel digital but your speakers must have a digital DIN connection to use this feature. Otherwise for games, you must use the analogue connections. For your movies, you can use your digital connection, but you must select SPDIF output in the DVD software and select SPDIF pass through in the soundcard options. This way your speakers will decode the AC3 bitstream.
You might want to look at this: http://us.creative.com/support/kb/ar...p?l=2&sid=5035
A suggestion to Creative moderators: I think it would be a good idea for Creative to supply a guide with the sound cards and speakers on the various types of connections. Stuff like the capabilities/limitations of each connection and details on AC3 and the way games output audio. There seems to be so many people confused by the multitude of connection possibilities (I was at first).
Message Edited by pjc on 02-26-2005 01:10 AM

Logic Pro X 5.1 surround HDMI output

It seems that Logic Pro X (all Logic versions for that matter) cannot use HDMI output for 5.1 surround mixing. Yet all the preference settings in Logic, in Apple Sound and in Midi/Audio Interface utility seem to indicate that it should be possible.
Has anyone ever had any success ??
If not, what is the best alternative ?
I have an Impact Twin that can have 8 optical outputs going to a DAC then to a 6-8 channel amplifier or 6-8 amplified speakers. Expensive proposition when an HDMI would be so much simpler and cheaper.
Thanks in advance to PanCenter for his comments.
Phil

Hello octopi - wanted to answer earlier when I get all hooked up, tested and running, but got caught up in some other business.
In any case, you'll find pretty well all the info you need from this thread. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3639822
In short, you can get 5.1 out of a Mac by 3 avenues :
1. mini HDMI (Mac) to HDMI (AV amp) - for Mac products since late 2009 - or
2. headphone converted to SPDIF (Mac) to SPDIF (AV amp) - for Mac products a bit before that (2006???).
3. an external sound card, either USB (as early as USB 1.1) or FireWire.
For recent Macs, there is also the Thunderbolt option which doubles as a HDMI.
There are also FireWire to HDMI adapters, but I'm not sure how that would work.
For the soundcard options, you need the right amount of audio outputs - 6, for 5.1 - many are 8, which gets you up to 7.1 And of course, you need amps for all those outputs, or powered speakers. Not a cheap avenue.
For the HDMI or SPDIF avenues, you need an AV amp to do the Digital to Analog Conversion, plus an appropriate wattage distribution, the sub needing much more power than the satellites, etc. So there is lot of processing to do on the fly, and that's why there are no special computer speakers with HDMI or SPDIF inputs - would almost be as expensive as an AV amp.
The HDMI and SPDIF are not equivalents. For one, the SPDIF goes only up to 5.1 whereas HDMI can go to 7.1 (or more?). But more importantly, transfers through SPDIF are downmixed to stereo then upmixed to original format - a point that caused some confusion on the posts. In any case, that will work fine for most DVDs played on the Mac or Movies played through iTunes & Quick time.
But if you want to work with 6 (or more) distinct PCM audio files, like you would if working with Logic Pro or Final Cut, then you need to go the HDMI route.
Btw, all AV amps, even the cheaper ones, are supposed to be able to read PCM - it's mandatory. Check here : http://www.the-home-cinema-guide.com/dolby-ac-3.html#axzz37kwyN8FK
But get an AV amp that can read Blu-Ray which can process up to eight PCM channels in 48kHz/24bit depth.
Hopes that helps. Phil

No surround sound with USB SoundBlaster 5.1

Hey there,
I'm using the Creative 5. USB X-Fi SurroundBlaster for quite some time now. When I ran Windows Vista on my laptop I never got 5. sound out of the?exernal soundcard (only front left en front right speaker where working) but since I only listend to music?that wasn't much of a problem.
No?I run?Windows 7?for some time and I have the exact?same problem?as I did with Vista: only the?fronts are working.
But now I want to watch movies and I would like to enjoy full 5. experience.
The stuff I have:
Dell Vostro 500 notebook with Windows 7 64-bit
USB 5. F-Xi SurroundBlaster
Driver version: ..92.0 (updated 4/7/2009)
Panasonic SC-HT855 Home Cinema Set (connected to the soundcard with a optical/TOSlink cable).
[color="#008000">The card DOES work, because when I press?'test' to check which encoded formats the card can handle in the Windows soundcard menu, the 'Dolby Digital' test gives perfect sound on all 5 speakers + sub.
[color="#ff0000"]
[color="#ff0000"]BUT, when I test the speakers in the Creative Startup Console, only the two fronts work. The same goes for when I play a movie in VLC with Dolby Digital sound format.
So the only moment when I hear sound comming out of the center, sub and rears, is in the Windows soundcard testing, but not when using the programs the card SHOULD function with.
I've searched the forum but wasn't able to find a answer to the solution of this problem. I hope I can posting this thread.
Grtz,
JimPaul

I've read that topic. But the funny fact is: In the windows soundcard options I have perfect 5. surround?via toslink. In the creative menu, only the front speakers work when I test them on position or noise. Also in VLC media player, I only have those front two working.
Another thing I just found out:
In the Creative Control Panel for Sound, I can never press 'apply' when I change my speaker settings to 5. (it's not that I can't click it, it's just not there. Only the the 'close' and 'help' button.) So everytime I change it to 5., i click close, and when I open the control panel again, it says 'Headphones'. Everytime!!

Soundcard options

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