Upgrading SBlive to Audigy2

5th element · Aug 12, 2004, 09:30 PM

As the title suggests im currently using a bog standard SBlive card, currently using the digital outs into a high quality DAC. All with KX ofcourse.

Now im contemplating getting an Audigy2 because they have significantly dropped in price since I last looked. I would use the card in the same way as I do now, a bit of DSP then into a DAC, the DAC is 24/96 capable, so I would make full use of the audigys 24/96 output.

Now I mainly use the computer to play uncompressed waves which are copied to the harddisk at 16bit 44100. I use foobar to upsample to 48 which would be altered to 96 upon getting the A2. Now can foobar also upsample or output its data in 24bit? If it doesnt is there anything that can, a plug in perhaps?

Also does the audigy work completely in 24/96 or 16/96 from input to output, or will it perform any down or upsampling along the way. I read somewhere that the DSP can only work at 16/48 so it will resample anything on the input to match this and then resample to the desired output bitrate and sample frequency? I dont want any resampling going on.

Cheers for any help Matt

**dj_stick** · Aug 12, 2004, 10:34 PM

alright 24/96 does not work just yet with kX, but the theory is you can record with 24/96, just any effects you use on the DSP will the 16/48 and then upsampled and mixed in with the original 24/96 stream

5th element · Aug 13, 2004, 01:32 AM

Yeah thats what I wanted to know, why cant the DSP work at 24/96? seems like a really stupid thing to do make a 24/96 card that cannot handle 24/96 in the important area of the card.

All I do in the DSP is use three notch filters to remove room modes, if it resamples to 48 then there is no point in getting the card then.

Are their any other cards that offer 24/96 capability WITH the dsp?

**dj_stick** · Aug 13, 2004, 02:33 AM

look for the professional audio cards, or those based on the via envy chip

the 10k2 chip in use is based on the same architecture used in the APS from about 1997 or so, all creative did was add a 24/96 sub-processor that gives the ability to record directly with 24/96

Doomsayer · Aug 13, 2004, 10:46 PM

If you don't need to use the DSP, I think you CAN play 24/96 material without resampling on an Audigy 2. If you need it, however, you're in trouble - only VERY expensive cards will feature a 24/96 DSP onboard. The Envy-based cards dj_stick mentioned don't have a DSP at all...

Aug 12, 2004, 09:30 PM	#1
5th element DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 19 Rep Power: 0	Upgrading SBlive to Audigy2 As the title suggests im currently using a bog standard SBlive card, currently using the digital outs into a high quality DAC. All with KX ofcourse. Now im contemplating getting an Audigy2 because they have significantly dropped in price since I last looked. I would use the card in the same way as I do now, a bit of DSP then into a DAC, the DAC is 24/96 capable, so I would make full use of the audigys 24/96 output. Now I mainly use the computer to play uncompressed waves which are copied to the harddisk at 16bit 44100. I use foobar to upsample to 48 which would be altered to 96 upon getting the A2. Now can foobar also upsample or output its data in 24bit? If it doesnt is there anything that can, a plug in perhaps? Also does the audigy work completely in 24/96 or 16/96 from input to output, or will it perform any down or upsampling along the way. I read somewhere that the DSP can only work at 16/48 so it will resample anything on the input to match this and then resample to the desired output bitrate and sample frequency? I dont want any resampling going on. Cheers for any help Matt

Aug 13, 2004, 01:32 AM	Thread Starter #3
5th element DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 19 Rep Power: 0	Yeah thats what I wanted to know, why cant the DSP work at 24/96? seems like a really stupid thing to do make a 24/96 card that cannot handle 24/96 in the important area of the card. All I do in the DSP is use three notch filters to remove room modes, if it resamples to 48 then there is no point in getting the card then. Are their any other cards that offer 24/96 capability WITH the dsp?

Aug 13, 2004, 10:46 PM	#5
Doomsayer DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Latvia Posts: 154 Rep Power: 0	If you don't need to use the DSP, I think you CAN play 24/96 material without resampling on an Audigy 2. If you need it, however, you're in trouble - only VERY expensive cards will feature a 24/96 DSP onboard. The Envy-based cards dj_stick mentioned don't have a DSP at all...