sound blaster 5.1 and windows 7 problem

Picosierra · Jul 13, 2010, 06:50 PM

Hello, I´d installed window 7 32bits, and my soundblaster live 5.1 dead, then I installed kx 3550 drivers and ...........wow, its alive, but in winamp rears speakers don´t work. Testing speakers return me "failed to create sound", but testing in windows panel control all is ok. I tried to change to 5.1 front=rear in sourrander panel but don´t work. In control panel is master mixer the selected playback device.

Thanks.

Tyrsonswood · Jul 13, 2010, 08:30 PM

The KX speaker test doesn't work in Windows 7 or Vista.... that's a known issue so not part of your problem.

Check the speaker setup in Windows audio panel (control panel) It may not be the same as what you have connected.

Picosierra · Jul 13, 2010, 08:42 PM

Thank you for your reply. I selected spdif/ac3 output In control panel as the selected playback device and surrounder speaker in 5.1-speaker mode and on-surround. All correct, thank you very much.

Tyrsonswood · Jul 13, 2010, 08:57 PM

Yeah, it's been found that SPDIF/AC3 works better in most instances than Master Mixer does....... more of a Windows flaw than anything else I think. Glad you got it working.

RPGWiZaRD · Jul 13, 2010, 09:37 PM

Yea SPDIF/AC3 for 5.1 setups, 4/5 for stereo/headphones IMO, Master Mixer should be avoided on Windows 7.

Kermet · Jul 15, 2010, 02:32 AM

Hello,

i had some problems with crackling noises and the surrounder did not expand stereo-sound to surround-speakers & subwoofer,
so i just switched the default device from "Master" to "SPDIF/AC3".

Now the crackling noises are gone and expanding stereo using the surrounder works fine, but now i've got anoger huge problem:

The device "SPDIF/AC3" is only recognized by Windows 7 as "2 channel" instead of "8 channel" like the "Master"-device, and i can't change the setting as you can see on the attached screenshot.

As result, i can't get any real 5.1 sound.

Is ther a solution for this problem?

Thanks!

Kermet · Jul 15, 2010, 06:54 PM

I think i would have to select the matching speaker setup as seen there:
http://www.thelifedigital.com/wp-con...r-settings.jpg
How do i get that with the kX-driver?

Tyrsonswood · Jul 15, 2010, 07:55 PM

There is a speaker setup icon on the KX mixer page (looks like a little speaker with a ? next to it.) That should also be set to 5.1....... I no longer have Win7 and don't have surround either so I can't verify anything for you.

RPGWiZaRD · Jul 15, 2010, 09:11 PM

I may be wrong but as long as you use spdif/ac3 output and select 5.1 speaker mode in Surrounder+ and set "surround = on" you should be set, no matter what Windows 7 sound settings show you as kX drivers aren't fully compatible with it yet, it's also using 48kHz rather than typical 44.1kHz sample rate in Windows 7 and the option is greyed out and can't be changed for example.

Just test if 5.1 sound is working properly using some 5.1 demo samples from the net or something.

Kermet · Jul 15, 2010, 09:13 PM

@Tyrsonswood:
Thanks, but of course i tried every possible setup of the speaker configuration in the surounder, this doesn't affect anything (when using SPDIF/AC3, with "Master" it is ok, but with Master the known other problems occur)

@RPGWiZaRD: Of cours i testet with 5.1 demo vid and other stuff, i definitley get only stereo sound when using SPDIF/AC3. This stereo signal can be upmixed to multichannel using the options of the surrounder, but that's not real 5.1 sound.

Kermet · Dec 1, 2010, 12:54 PM

Hi, are there any news regarding the above mentioned problems?

Tyrsonswood · Dec 1, 2010, 01:05 PM

There's been no updated drivers yet..... Seems that's what is going to fix these issues. BTW, SPDIF/AC3 is stereo only...... Master mixer still causes noise.

Shadow_Fi · Mar 23, 2011, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyrsonswood

There's been no updated drivers yet..... Seems that's what is going to fix these issues. BTW, SPDIF/AC3 is stereo only...... Master mixer still causes noise.

So, am i able to use "true" 5.1 in Windows 7?

And when i choose SPDIF/AC3 i have no sound at all.

Audigy 2 Zs i have. How to configure 5.1?

Tyrsonswood · Mar 23, 2011, 07:46 PM

Master Mixer should give you 5.1 if setup properly in Windows speaker configuration..... But as it's been said here and elsewhere there may be some noise problems.

Shadow_Fi · Mar 24, 2011, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyrsonswood

Master Mixer should give you 5.1 if setup properly in Windows speaker configuration..... But as it's been said here and elsewhere there may be some noise problems.

Ok, if usin SPDIF output i hear noise on a background. If i pause video, i hear some "shhhhhhhhhhhhh" for a maybe 15 seconds, and then it goes of and i cant hear anything. What is this?

Tyrsonswood · Mar 24, 2011, 09:26 PM

I wouldn't know. I mean obviously it's background noise, but it's source and why it shuts off after 15 seconds I don't know.

Dexter81 · Mar 27, 2011, 10:25 AM

I have the same problem.no surround.
I tried to configure speakers in windows 7 64 but the configure button is not functional.... another soution please?
And with spdif/ac3 and master mixer is no diference, still no surround

The integrated sound card is rubbish...
Thx.

Kermet · Mar 27, 2011, 10:37 AM

SB Audigy Series Support Pack 3.8 (04/19/2010) - Creative Labs

Sound & surround is fine, but of course no kX-functionality :-(

Dexter81 · Mar 27, 2011, 02:38 PM

I forgot to say i have a creative live 5.1 digital sound card.

Dexter81 · Mar 31, 2011, 08:50 PM

no solve i guess

( sounds very good ,the creative sound card...
i hate the integrated one ...

Tyrsonswood · Mar 31, 2011, 09:39 PM

Are you using the Kx drivers? You came in late in the thread and never said which drivers.......

Dexter81 · Apr 1, 2011, 07:02 AM

Oh , sorry.The latest kx drivers on the site.kx 3550 i guess.

Tyrsonswood · Apr 1, 2011, 11:36 AM

Okay, as it's been said, Master Mixer in Windows audio panel selected as your default output device should give you 5.1.... there is also a speaker setup in Kx's mixer which should also be set to 5.1.

Master Mixer may cause some snap, crackle, pop, sounds which you MAY be able to clear up by increasing the buffers in Kx, some guys have success with this and some don't..... See if it works for you and report back.

Question, is your 5.1 being routed from your card via analog jacks (Front/Rear/Center-Sub) or digitally? In other words 3 cables, or one cable?

Dexter81 · Apr 1, 2011, 08:46 PM

my 5.1 is being routed via 3 cables.black,green and orange.
i bought 5.1 system with sound card, package.
and in deed i hear some snaps, crackles, sounds...
master mixer is default, from kx mixer selected 5.1 and surround on, but no progress... still no surround...
i've changed the buffer size and seem like the snap, sounds , beeps have dissapeared, i will test it tomorrow more, and i will write here.
sorry about my english, i am from Romania.
thanks anyway.

Russ · Apr 1, 2011, 09:31 PM

What is the source audio?

If the source audio is stereo (e.g. mp3's) then use SPDIF/AC3 instead of Master Mixer (this will route stereo audio to the correct bus and give the ability for it to be upmixed to 5.1, etc).

If the source audio is multichannel, then use Master Mixer.

EDIT (more info):

If all else fails:

If your speaker system has any speaker mode settings, verify it's settings.
Verify that Surrounder+ is set to 5.1 with Surround On (and Use Subwoofer Output is enabled).

Try kX Wave 2/3 and verify that it plays to the front speakers.
Try kX Wave 4/5 and verify that it plays to the rear speakers.
Try kX Wave 6/7 and verify that it plays to the center/lfe speakers.

If the above tests fail (i.e. no sound from rear, center/lfe):
Double check the physical speaker connections (disconnect/reconnect all speaker connections).
Try "Reset AC97" (AC97 page of kxmixer). (Note: May need to redo some kX settings)
Try "Reinitialize the DSP" (kX DSP) . (Note: May need to redo some kX settings)

peate · Apr 2, 2011, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dexter81

i've changed the buffer size and seem like the snap, sounds , beeps have dissapeared, i will test it tomorrow more, and i will write here.
sorry about my english, i am from Romania.
thanks anyway.

There is nothing wrong with your English, ask me to write Romanian, ha-ha.

Could you post your buffer settings? I have the same card and thinking of trying Windows 7 with it. However I'm not sure what the best settings would be and how to test properly.

Dexter81 · Apr 2, 2011, 08:17 AM

from buffer setup
first i selected 2048 k
2nd 8352 bytes
3rd 16384
4 16 buffers , max
5 512 samples
the dubios sound dissapeared, not totally but it is better.

Still no work

The sound card have 5 jacks.one orange for sub/center, one black for rear, and one green for front, and pink one for mic, blue one for line in, and gameport...
in device manager i have a pci device that has no driver for it ...

Tyrsonswood · Apr 2, 2011, 01:10 PM

The missing driver is the joystick port (game port) don't worry about that.... you can disable it in control panel if you want.

Russ · Apr 3, 2011, 01:05 PM

Sorry to hear that it still is not working, but I was hoping for a little more info...

Did you try anything I posted in my last reply?
e.g.

Quote:

Try kX Wave 2/3 and verify that it plays to the front speakers.
Try kX Wave 4/5 and verify that it plays to the rear speakers.
Try kX Wave 6/7 and verify that it plays to the center/lfe speakers.

Where you able to verify any of the above?

Dexter81 · Apr 3, 2011, 02:25 PM

i will, time is not my friend...
i will keep you posted.

Jul 13, 2010, 06:50 PM	#1
Picosierra HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	sound blaster 5.1 and windows 7 problem Hello, I´d installed window 7 32bits, and my soundblaster live 5.1 dead, then I installed kx 3550 drivers and ...........wow, its alive, but in winamp rears speakers don´t work. Testing speakers return me "failed to create sound", but testing in windows panel control all is ok. I tried to change to 5.1 front=rear in sourrander panel but don´t work. In control panel is master mixer the selected playback device. Thanks.

Jul 13, 2010, 08:42 PM	Thread Starter #3
Picosierra HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Re: sound blaster 5.1 and windows 7 problem Thank you for your reply. I selected spdif/ac3 output In control panel as the selected playback device and surrounder speaker in 5.1-speaker mode and on-surround. All correct, thank you very much.

Jul 13, 2010, 09:37 PM	#5
RPGWiZaRD HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 132 Rep Power: 0	Re: sound blaster 5.1 and windows 7 problem Yea SPDIF/AC3 for 5.1 setups, 4/5 for stereo/headphones IMO, Master Mixer should be avoided on Windows 7.

Jul 15, 2010, 02:32 AM	#6
Kermet HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 0	AW: sound blaster 5.1 and windows 7 problem Hello, i had some problems with crackling noises and the surrounder did not expand stereo-sound to surround-speakers & subwoofer, so i just switched the default device from "Master" to "SPDIF/AC3". Now the crackling noises are gone and expanding stereo using the surrounder works fine, but now i've got anoger huge problem: The device "SPDIF/AC3" is only recognized by Windows 7 as "2 channel" instead of "8 channel" like the "Master"-device, and i can't change the setting as you can see on the attached screenshot. As result, i can't get any real 5.1 sound. Is ther a solution for this problem? Thanks! Attached Thumbnails

Jul 15, 2010, 06:54 PM	#7
Kermet HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 0	AW: sound blaster 5.1 and windows 7 problem I think i would have to select the matching speaker setup as seen there: http://www.thelifedigital.com/wp-con...r-settings.jpg How do i get that with the kX-driver?

Jul 15, 2010, 09:11 PM	#9
RPGWiZaRD HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 132 Rep Power: 0	Re: sound blaster 5.1 and windows 7 problem I may be wrong but as long as you use spdif/ac3 output and select 5.1 speaker mode in Surrounder+ and set "surround = on" you should be set, no matter what Windows 7 sound settings show you as kX drivers aren't fully compatible with it yet, it's also using 48kHz rather than typical 44.1kHz sample rate in Windows 7 and the option is greyed out and can't be changed for example. Just test if 5.1 sound is working properly using some 5.1 demo samples from the net or something. Last edited by RPGWiZaRD; Jul 15, 2010 at 09:16 PM.

Jul 15, 2010, 09:13 PM	#10
Kermet HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 0	AW: sound blaster 5.1 and windows 7 problem @Tyrsonswood: Thanks, but of course i tried every possible setup of the speaker configuration in the surounder, this doesn't affect anything (when using SPDIF/AC3, with "Master" it is ok, but with Master the known other problems occur) @RPGWiZaRD: Of cours i testet with 5.1 demo vid and other stuff, i definitley get only stereo sound when using SPDIF/AC3. This stereo signal can be upmixed to multichannel using the options of the surrounder, but that's not real 5.1 sound.

Dec 1, 2010, 12:54 PM	#11
Kermet HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 0	AW: sound blaster 5.1 and windows 7 problem Hi, are there any news regarding the above mentioned problems?

Mar 27, 2011, 10:25 AM	#17
Dexter81 HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 0	Re: sound blaster 5.1 and windows 7 problem I have the same problem.no surround. I tried to configure speakers in windows 7 64 but the configure button is not functional.... another soution please? And with spdif/ac3 and master mixer is no diference, still no surround The integrated sound card is rubbish... Thx.

Mar 27, 2011, 10:37 AM	#18
Kermet HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 0	AW: sound blaster 5.1 and windows 7 problem SB Audigy Series Support Pack 3.8 (04/19/2010) - Creative Labs Sound & surround is fine, but of course no kX-functionality :-(

Mar 27, 2011, 02:38 PM	#19
Dexter81 HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 0	Re: sound blaster 5.1 and windows 7 problem I forgot to say i have a creative live 5.1 digital sound card.

Mar 31, 2011, 08:50 PM	#20
Dexter81 HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 0	Re: sound blaster 5.1 and windows 7 problem no solve i guess ( sounds very good ,the creative sound card... i hate the integrated one ...

Apr 1, 2011, 07:02 AM	#22
Dexter81 HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 0	Re: sound blaster 5.1 and windows 7 problem Oh , sorry.The latest kx drivers on the site.kx 3550 i guess.

Apr 1, 2011, 08:46 PM	#24
Dexter81 HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 0	Re: sound blaster 5.1 and windows 7 problem my 5.1 is being routed via 3 cables.black,green and orange. i bought 5.1 system with sound card, package. and in deed i hear some snaps, crackles, sounds... master mixer is default, from kx mixer selected 5.1 and surround on, but no progress... still no surround... i've changed the buffer size and seem like the snap, sounds , beeps have dissapeared, i will test it tomorrow more, and i will write here. sorry about my english, i am from Romania. thanks anyway. Last edited by Dexter81; Apr 1, 2011 at 08:54 PM.

Apr 1, 2011, 09:31 PM	#25
Russ HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5,563 Rep Power: 62	Re: sound blaster 5.1 and windows 7 problem What is the source audio? If the source audio is stereo (e.g. mp3's) then use SPDIF/AC3 instead of Master Mixer (this will route stereo audio to the correct bus and give the ability for it to be upmixed to 5.1, etc). If the source audio is multichannel, then use Master Mixer. EDIT (more info): If all else fails: If your speaker system has any speaker mode settings, verify it's settings. Verify that Surrounder+ is set to 5.1 with Surround On (and Use Subwoofer Output is enabled). Try kX Wave 2/3 and verify that it plays to the front speakers. Try kX Wave 4/5 and verify that it plays to the rear speakers. Try kX Wave 6/7 and verify that it plays to the center/lfe speakers. If the above tests fail (i.e. no sound from rear, center/lfe): Double check the physical speaker connections (disconnect/reconnect all speaker connections). Try "Reset AC97" (AC97 page of kxmixer). (Note: May need to redo some kX settings) Try "Reinitialize the DSP" (kX DSP) . (Note: May need to redo some kX settings) Last edited by Russ; Apr 1, 2011 at 10:54 PM.

Apr 2, 2011, 08:17 AM	#27
Dexter81 HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 0	Re: sound blaster 5.1 and windows 7 problem from buffer setup first i selected 2048 k 2nd 8352 bytes 3rd 16384 4 16 buffers , max 5 512 samples the dubios sound dissapeared, not totally but it is better. Still no work The sound card have 5 jacks.one orange for sub/center, one black for rear, and one green for front, and pink one for mic, blue one for line in, and gameport... in device manager i have a pci device that has no driver for it ...

Apr 3, 2011, 02:25 PM	#30
Dexter81 HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 0	Re: sound blaster 5.1 and windows 7 problem i will, time is not my friend... i will keep you posted.