Live! or Audigy?

cerendir · Sep 1, 2008, 10:50 AM

Hi all.

My SB Live! Value has been the hub of my music making for a number of years now, and despite its age I've been very happy with it. Thanks to kX there's super-low ASIO latency, lots of fun stuff you can do with the DSP, etc. Today, however, I got hold of a SB Audigy (SB0160) real cheap. So my questions are:

Would you recommend switching to the Audigy?

or

Are there any advantages to running the Live and Audigy in parallell?

TIA

Russ · Sep 1, 2008, 01:04 PM

The Audigy gives you more DSP resources, 24 bit ASIO recording, and allows more analog inputs to be used at the same time (plus AC3 passthough if that is useful for you).

An advantage of using both cards is more inputs.

cerendir · Sep 1, 2008, 02:16 PM

More DSP resources and 24 bit recording is definitely nice to have. More inputs isn't really a priority for me, as I never record multiple things simultaneously. The outboard stuff (just a mic and a guitar preamp) is hooked up to my mixer, which in turn goes to line in on the sound card. That is really the only input I ever use.

OK, thanks for the info Russ. I'm gonna switch to the Audigy. I think I'll donate the Live! to a friend of mine who is looking to get started with computer-based music making and needs a better sound card.

Edit: I'm not sure I even know what AC3 passthrough is. Something to do with surround sound?

Russ · Sep 1, 2008, 02:30 PM

AC3 passthrough is only useful if you have an external receiver that decodes AC3/Dolby Digital.

I think you will be happy with the Audigy, but of course test it out to make sure that it is working correctly, and that you are happy with it before giving your Live! away.

cerendir · Sep 2, 2008, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ

I think you will be happy with the Audigy, but of course test it out to make sure that it is working correctly, and that you are happy with it before giving your Live! away.

It seems to be working just fine.

Okay, so let's see. I've been using a 1998 Live! card for a few years now. Now I've upgraded to a 2001 Audigy. Judging from that trend I will be moving to an Audigy 2 somewhere around 2011 or so. I hope the PCI standard will still be around by then

Doug W · Sep 2, 2008, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Judging from that trend I will be moving to an Audigy 2 somewhere around 2011 or so. I hope the PCI standard will still be around by then

You are in good company around here, since most of us are using "obsolete" sound cards and computers in some cases. I am beginning to think that Eugene and the team are not going to get around to DOS 6.22 / Windows for Workgroups kX support so I may have to retire that particular computer.

RIV@NVX · Sep 3, 2008, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doug w

you are in good company around here, since most of us are using "obsolete" sound cards and computers in some cases. I am beginning to think that eugene and the team are not going to get around to dos 6.22 / windows for workgroups kx support so i may have to retire that particular computer.

Good one!

But really, are there any motherboards that don't have a _single_ PCI slot?

Doug W · Sep 3, 2008, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIV@NVX

But really, are there any motherboards that don't have a _single_ PCI slot?

I guess that I haven't really been in the market lately, out of curiosity I went to a couple of sites to see what is included with some new motherboards
-------------------
Abit
Socket AM2
AN78GS
1 x PCI-E X16 (PCI Express 2.0)
2 x PCI-E X1
3 x PCI
-------------------
ASUS P5N-E SLI (90-MBB5G0-G0EAY00Z) Motherboard
• PCI Express x1 x 1
• PCI x 2
• Dual PCI-Express x16 with S
-------------------
Guess we should be good for a while.

**dj_stick** · Sep 4, 2008, 12:07 AM

i've got 2 PCI-E X16 slots and 2 PCI-E X4 slots.... that's it, but then I am running a mac

as for running both cards at once, the only benefit to that would be multi-tracking, but as you say that's not your thing, you might as well retire the Live! card

Encapsulated · Sep 4, 2008, 12:48 AM

I have SB Live! (SB0060) and like cerendir is has been the centre of my music for years. Recently updated my XP SP2 OS to SP3, now it seems I have lost the AC3 passthru over digital out (SBLive!) to coaxial in on reciever (Onkyo). My Onkyo only shows PCM source, when I am sending confirmed 5.1 source material. I am certain this was all working fine under SP2. I am not currently using KX (still using original 2003 SB drivers) but my google search to solve problem lead me here.

My questions: Has anyone else had similar problem with update to SP3? Also, seems that KX drivers should solve my problem in any case - am I correct? Is it possible a simple reinstall of SB drivers over SP3 upgrade would solve the problem?

Many thanks!

**dj_stick** · Sep 4, 2008, 01:38 AM

kX does NOT support AC3 passthrough for 10k1 (Live!) cards - so kX can't help you here

try using DH's DriverCleaner to remove the creative drivers in safe mode, reboot, reinstall the drivers, reboot - download any patches/updates available

Encapsulated · Sep 4, 2008, 03:14 AM

Okay, at least I know KX can not solve my problem. Will do the reinstall and see what happens.

Thanks for the response!

cerendir · Sep 10, 2008, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIV@NVX

But really, are there any motherboards that don't have a _single_ PCI slot?

Well most mobos have 'em today, but in a few years -- who knows?

kX native · Jan 2, 2009, 04:43 PM

in case "PCI-E only mobo" you can try to find pci-e to pci slot adapter\converter kits
picture

Sep 1, 2008, 10:50 AM	#1
cerendir DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 38 Rep Power: 0	Live! or Audigy? Hi all. My SB Live! Value has been the hub of my music making for a number of years now, and despite its age I've been very happy with it. Thanks to kX there's super-low ASIO latency, lots of fun stuff you can do with the DSP, etc. Today, however, I got hold of a SB Audigy (SB0160) real cheap. So my questions are: Would you recommend switching to the Audigy? or Are there any advantages to running the Live and Audigy in parallell? TIA __________________ west's nest

Sep 1, 2008, 01:04 PM	#2
Russ HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5,563 Rep Power: 62	The Audigy gives you more DSP resources, 24 bit ASIO recording, and allows more analog inputs to be used at the same time (plus AC3 passthough if that is useful for you). An advantage of using both cards is more inputs. Last edited by Russ; Sep 1, 2008 at 02:10 PM.

Sep 1, 2008, 02:16 PM	Thread Starter #3
cerendir DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 38 Rep Power: 0	More DSP resources and 24 bit recording is definitely nice to have. More inputs isn't really a priority for me, as I never record multiple things simultaneously. The outboard stuff (just a mic and a guitar preamp) is hooked up to my mixer, which in turn goes to line in on the sound card. That is really the only input I ever use. OK, thanks for the info Russ. I'm gonna switch to the Audigy. I think I'll donate the Live! to a friend of mine who is looking to get started with computer-based music making and needs a better sound card. Edit: I'm not sure I even know what AC3 passthrough is. Something to do with surround sound? __________________ west's nest

Sep 4, 2008, 12:48 AM	#10
Encapsulated DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	I have SB Live! (SB0060) and like cerendir is has been the centre of my music for years. Recently updated my XP SP2 OS to SP3, now it seems I have lost the AC3 passthru over digital out (SBLive!) to coaxial in on reciever (Onkyo). My Onkyo only shows PCM source, when I am sending confirmed 5.1 source material. I am certain this was all working fine under SP2. I am not currently using KX (still using original 2003 SB drivers) but my google search to solve problem lead me here. My questions: Has anyone else had similar problem with update to SP3? Also, seems that KX drivers should solve my problem in any case - am I correct? Is it possible a simple reinstall of SB drivers over SP3 upgrade would solve the problem? Many thanks! __________________ Case: Antec P190-1200 \| PSU: Neo-Link 1200W dual \| Memory: G.SKill F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ DDR2-1000 CL5-5-5-15 \| CPU cooler: OCZ Vendetta 2 Triple Heatpipe w/120MM Fan \| Motherboard: Asus Rampage Formula x48 (Bios v403) \| Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 \| Graphics card: Visiontek Radeon HD 3870 X2 Overclock 1GB GDDR3 4XDVI - CAT8.4 \| OS: Vista Ultimate 64bit - SP1

Sep 4, 2008, 03:14 AM	#12
Encapsulated DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Okay, at least I know KX can not solve my problem. Will do the reinstall and see what happens. Thanks for the response! __________________ Case: Antec P190-1200 \| PSU: Neo-Link 1200W dual \| Memory: G.SKill F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ DDR2-1000 CL5-5-5-15 \| CPU cooler: OCZ Vendetta 2 Triple Heatpipe w/120MM Fan \| Motherboard: Asus Rampage Formula x48 (Bios v403) \| Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 \| Graphics card: Visiontek Radeon HD 3870 X2 Overclock 1GB GDDR3 4XDVI - CAT8.4 \| OS: Vista Ultimate 64bit - SP1

Sep 1, 2008, 02:30 PM	#4
Russ HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5,563 Rep Power: 62	AC3 passthrough is only useful if you have an external receiver that decodes AC3/Dolby Digital. I think you will be happy with the Audigy, but of course test it out to make sure that it is working correctly, and that you are happy with it before giving your Live! away.

Jan 2, 2009, 04:43 PM	#14
kX native DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Russia Posts: 20 Rep Power: 0	Îòâåò: Live! or Audigy? in case "PCI-E only mobo" you can try to find pci-e to pci slot adapter\converter kits picture Last edited by kX native; Jan 2, 2009 at 04:55 PM.