multi sound card audio glitching

m00j · Dec 19, 2005, 11:09 AM

Hi,

I am not sure that this is the right section to post this but...

When ever I put more than two sound cards into the computer I get a sort of scratchy beepy glitching in the audio that makes it horribly usesless. I have tried with 3 creative cards running KX drivers ( 1x Audigy 2 ZS, 2x SB Live) and with 2 running KX and a Live Digital running creative drivers but all to the same effect.

Two cards runs without problems and I can use each channel correctly (I am using them for multi-zone sound).

The IRQ settings are fine (the cards are at 9,10 and 11 respectively) and it doesn't seem to matter if I use different PCI slots.

I am at a loss as to what is causing it but it is a BIG problem for me as I definately need at least 3 cards (probably 4) running in the computer.

Computer is running XP Pro, is a P4 2.8Ghz, 768 mb RAM, 80gb hard drive.

Thanks for any help!

TravelRec. · Dec 19, 2005, 09:02 PM

Think, this is a computer problem - some guys and girls are having up to 3 cards running simultaneously in one computer - search the forum for "multi-card".

Russ · Dec 20, 2005, 01:31 AM

One thing you might want to check is your motherboard voltages (i.e. the +5 and +12 voltage rails). It is possible that PSU is dying or is underpowered, and the additional cards are bringing down the voltage for the mobo (below its required threshold). This can cause a mutitude of problems which can be difficult to track down.

m00j · Dec 21, 2005, 01:31 AM

Well I tried using a different power supply, a much more powerful one (the one from my main computer) but that did not help.

I did manage to destroy my GeForce 6800 card though as I forgot to unplug it when I plugged up the music server (I just put the cases right next to each other rather than unscrewing the PSU). I will see if I can replace the damaged component or I might use this as an excuse to upgrade to PCI-Express.

My next move is to reinstall windows and install all three sound cards in a row. Might try 2003 server since it is apparently a lot better for stability.

Doug W · Dec 21, 2005, 02:33 AM

I am running 3 cards with kX and XP Pro with no problems. How are your SPDIF cables connected (pin numbers, connectors etc.)?

m00j · Dec 21, 2005, 06:07 AM

No spdif cables connected.

The sound glitching happens on the standard stereo jacks at the back on all three outs (front/rear/center+sub) on all three cards. I am using Direct Sound output to route it to each output. I also tried wave out but that didn't help and it is not the media player as I get the sound glitching also when I start the pinball game that comes with XP (the only other bit of sound I could find on the computer!)

Russ · Dec 21, 2005, 07:47 AM

Sorry to hear about your video card. I only meant for you to check the volatges (i.e. in the BIOS (if your BIOS has that option), or possibly using a multimeter (if you have one and know what you are doing), etc). It was just one possible explanation for some strange behavior. Try searching the internet for 'leaky capacitors', and you might be surprised to find out what has been happening over the last few years (effecting some mobo's and PSU's, etc). It maybe completely unrelated to your problem, but it is something to look into that could possibly explain some odd behavior.

m00j · Dec 21, 2005, 08:56 AM

Yeah I have heard about the leaky capacitors from a few years back but I don't think my motherboard suffered from it. Might see if one of my friends has a spare socket 478 board floating around that I can try.

It was a silly mistake with my graphics card but I am not too worried about it. It was having a few problems before and I was going to send it in for repair to fix them so I might still do that.

I will throw my multimeter across the pins on the ATX connector though to see if it is a bit low. The particular motherboard I have is a weird one as it is a socket 478 board but does not have the ATX-12V connector. They some how built it without it!

The computer is running thru the onboard graphics, has a single hdd and a single dvd -rom drive though so I think it may be a pecurliarity with this particular motherboard not likeing extra sound cards.

Doug W · Dec 25, 2005, 08:13 PM

Quote:

No spdif cables connected.

I guess that you are not doing simultaneous recording with the cards then....

m00j · Dec 26, 2005, 12:33 PM

No, at the moment it is all output. In the future I will be hooking the SPDIF out of one card to another, or more.

As a side question, is it okay to run a cable from 1 SPDIF out to 2 SPDIF ins? (all 3 on different cards) I was planning on making a Y adaptor. I may even need to make it go to three ins.

I just built a new computer and put the cards in to test (using an old p3 933MHz I had laying around) and it worked flawlessly. Only problem I have with using that is that it is a Mini-ATX motherboard and I need more than 3 pci slots!

I am currently duplicating what I did for setup there in a fresh install on the system that is causing problems, if it works then yay! If not I think I will just have to shuffle around some computers I have at home to get one that will like three sound cards.

Thanks for the help guys!

Dec 19, 2005, 11:09 AM	#1
m00j DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	multi sound card audio glitching Hi, I am not sure that this is the right section to post this but... When ever I put more than two sound cards into the computer I get a sort of scratchy beepy glitching in the audio that makes it horribly usesless. I have tried with 3 creative cards running KX drivers ( 1x Audigy 2 ZS, 2x SB Live) and with 2 running KX and a Live Digital running creative drivers but all to the same effect. Two cards runs without problems and I can use each channel correctly (I am using them for multi-zone sound). The IRQ settings are fine (the cards are at 9,10 and 11 respectively) and it doesn't seem to matter if I use different PCI slots. I am at a loss as to what is causing it but it is a BIG problem for me as I definately need at least 3 cards (probably 4) running in the computer. Computer is running XP Pro, is a P4 2.8Ghz, 768 mb RAM, 80gb hard drive. Thanks for any help!

Dec 19, 2005, 09:02 PM	#2
TravelRec. Alternative Audioproductions Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Germany / Sachsen-Anhalt Posts: 1,710 Rep Power: 0	Think, this is a computer problem - some guys and girls are having up to 3 cards running simultaneously in one computer - search the forum for "multi-card". __________________ Always take a look behind.

Dec 20, 2005, 01:31 AM	#3
Russ HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5,563 Rep Power: 62	One thing you might want to check is your motherboard voltages (i.e. the +5 and +12 voltage rails). It is possible that PSU is dying or is underpowered, and the additional cards are bringing down the voltage for the mobo (below its required threshold). This can cause a mutitude of problems which can be difficult to track down.

Dec 21, 2005, 01:31 AM	Thread Starter #4
m00j DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	Well I tried using a different power supply, a much more powerful one (the one from my main computer) but that did not help. I did manage to destroy my GeForce 6800 card though as I forgot to unplug it when I plugged up the music server (I just put the cases right next to each other rather than unscrewing the PSU). I will see if I can replace the damaged component or I might use this as an excuse to upgrade to PCI-Express. My next move is to reinstall windows and install all three sound cards in a row. Might try 2003 server since it is apparently a lot better for stability.

Dec 21, 2005, 02:33 AM	#5
Doug W HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Montevideo, MN USA Posts: 973 Rep Power: 0	I am running 3 cards with kX and XP Pro with no problems. How are your SPDIF cables connected (pin numbers, connectors etc.)?

Dec 21, 2005, 06:07 AM	Thread Starter #6
m00j DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	No spdif cables connected. The sound glitching happens on the standard stereo jacks at the back on all three outs (front/rear/center+sub) on all three cards. I am using Direct Sound output to route it to each output. I also tried wave out but that didn't help and it is not the media player as I get the sound glitching also when I start the pinball game that comes with XP (the only other bit of sound I could find on the computer!)

Dec 21, 2005, 07:47 AM	#7
Russ HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5,563 Rep Power: 62	Sorry to hear about your video card. I only meant for you to check the volatges (i.e. in the BIOS (if your BIOS has that option), or possibly using a multimeter (if you have one and know what you are doing), etc). It was just one possible explanation for some strange behavior. Try searching the internet for 'leaky capacitors', and you might be surprised to find out what has been happening over the last few years (effecting some mobo's and PSU's, etc). It maybe completely unrelated to your problem, but it is something to look into that could possibly explain some odd behavior.

Dec 21, 2005, 08:56 AM	Thread Starter #8
m00j DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	Yeah I have heard about the leaky capacitors from a few years back but I don't think my motherboard suffered from it. Might see if one of my friends has a spare socket 478 board floating around that I can try. It was a silly mistake with my graphics card but I am not too worried about it. It was having a few problems before and I was going to send it in for repair to fix them so I might still do that. I will throw my multimeter across the pins on the ATX connector though to see if it is a bit low. The particular motherboard I have is a weird one as it is a socket 478 board but does not have the ATX-12V connector. They some how built it without it! The computer is running thru the onboard graphics, has a single hdd and a single dvd -rom drive though so I think it may be a pecurliarity with this particular motherboard not likeing extra sound cards.

Dec 26, 2005, 12:33 PM	Thread Starter #10
m00j DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	No, at the moment it is all output. In the future I will be hooking the SPDIF out of one card to another, or more. As a side question, is it okay to run a cable from 1 SPDIF out to 2 SPDIF ins? (all 3 on different cards) I was planning on making a Y adaptor. I may even need to make it go to three ins. I just built a new computer and put the cards in to test (using an old p3 933MHz I had laying around) and it worked flawlessly. Only problem I have with using that is that it is a Mini-ATX motherboard and I need more than 3 pci slots! I am currently duplicating what I did for setup there in a fresh install on the system that is causing problems, if it works then yay! If not I think I will just have to shuffle around some computers I have at home to get one that will like three sound cards. Thanks for the help guys!