Audigy 2 ZS Recording Noise

Violoncello · Jun 30, 2011, 11:40 AM

Hi at all,
I'm not exactly sure if I do something wrong or if this just a Hardware limitation... My Problem is the following:

In the DSP: If I connect a peak meter directly to the AC97 Recording Output of the Prolog I get a static noise level at about -80db. This noise increases when adding gain in the AC97 mixer page. Firstly I wonder: I always thought the mixer shouldn't have any influence on the signal as long as it doesn't the pass xrouting-device in the DSP?

Furthermore I wonder if a recording noise of -80db is normal with the Audigy2ZS? Even my Realtek onboard does better in this...

Greets and thanks

Russ · Jun 30, 2011, 12:58 PM

I do not know about the Audigy 2 ZS as I do not have one, but that noise level sound about right.

e.g.
With Line In (with nothing actually connected to it) on my SB0090 (Audigy 1) with the AC97 level at 0 dB and analog recording gain at 0, the noise level is @-73 dB.

With Line In (with nothing actually connected to it) on my SB0228 (Live! 5.1 (which is actually a newer model than the Audigy)) with the AC97 level at 0 dB and analog recording gain at 0, the noise level is @-80 dB.

Any increase in level or recording gain will increase the noise level (and vice versa).

Also, some card models (e.g. my SB0090) have an AC97 2 option, which gives slightly better results, so you might want to try that.

e.g.
With Line In (with nothing actually connected to it) on my SB0090 (Audigy 1) using AC97 2, with both the AC97 2 level and the Line In level at 0 dB, the noise level is @-82 dB.

To use AC97 2:
Use the AC97 2 slider on the Ins and Outs page of kX.
Use the AC97 2 pins of prolog (the second to last pair of pins (for me)).
Enable the "AC97 <--> I2S Routing mode" on the AC97 page of kxmixer.
Unmute the AC97 source (at the bottom of the AC97 page) that you would like to use, and set the level to 0 dB.
(adjust levels as needed).

Violoncello · Jun 30, 2011, 01:57 PM

Ok, thanks for the testing and the tip with AC97 2. It works exactly as you said, so I get -82db noise.

I guess the Audigy 2 ZS is just no recording card. I hoped it would do better in loudspeaker measurements than my onboard sound, but it seems it doesn't.

Still, the DSP is the best thing you could have in developing loudspeakers!

Russ · Jun 30, 2011, 02:14 PM

Well... it is not terrible for a non-pro card from @8 years ago, is it?

Yeah, kX and the DSP make these cards so much more useful/fun

peate · Jun 30, 2011, 08:21 PM

For recording, the ideal with these cards is the live drive. Very quiet for recording. No AC97 noise at all.

Jun 30, 2011, 11:40 AM	#1
Violoncello HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	Audigy 2 ZS Recording Noise Hi at all, I'm not exactly sure if I do something wrong or if this just a Hardware limitation... My Problem is the following: In the DSP: If I connect a peak meter directly to the AC97 Recording Output of the Prolog I get a static noise level at about -80db. This noise increases when adding gain in the AC97 mixer page. Firstly I wonder: I always thought the mixer shouldn't have any influence on the signal as long as it doesn't the pass xrouting-device in the DSP? Furthermore I wonder if a recording noise of -80db is normal with the Audigy2ZS? Even my Realtek onboard does better in this... Greets and thanks

Jun 30, 2011, 12:58 PM	#2
Russ HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5,563 Rep Power: 62	Re: Audigy 2 ZS Recording Noise I do not know about the Audigy 2 ZS as I do not have one, but that noise level sound about right. e.g. With Line In (with nothing actually connected to it) on my SB0090 (Audigy 1) with the AC97 level at 0 dB and analog recording gain at 0, the noise level is @-73 dB. With Line In (with nothing actually connected to it) on my SB0228 (Live! 5.1 (which is actually a newer model than the Audigy)) with the AC97 level at 0 dB and analog recording gain at 0, the noise level is @-80 dB. Any increase in level or recording gain will increase the noise level (and vice versa). Also, some card models (e.g. my SB0090) have an AC97 2 option, which gives slightly better results, so you might want to try that. e.g. With Line In (with nothing actually connected to it) on my SB0090 (Audigy 1) using AC97 2, with both the AC97 2 level and the Line In level at 0 dB, the noise level is @-82 dB. To use AC97 2: Use the AC97 2 slider on the Ins and Outs page of kX. Use the AC97 2 pins of prolog (the second to last pair of pins (for me)). Enable the "AC97 <--> I2S Routing mode" on the AC97 page of kxmixer. Unmute the AC97 source (at the bottom of the AC97 page) that you would like to use, and set the level to 0 dB. (adjust levels as needed).

Jun 30, 2011, 01:57 PM	Thread Starter #3
Violoncello HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	AW: Audigy 2 ZS Recording Noise Ok, thanks for the testing and the tip with AC97 2. It works exactly as you said, so I get -82db noise. I guess the Audigy 2 ZS is just no recording card. I hoped it would do better in loudspeaker measurements than my onboard sound, but it seems it doesn't. Still, the DSP is the best thing you could have in developing loudspeakers!

Jun 30, 2011, 02:14 PM	#4
Russ HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5,563 Rep Power: 62	Re: Audigy 2 ZS Recording Noise Well... it is not terrible for a non-pro card from @8 years ago, is it? Yeah, kX and the DSP make these cards so much more useful/fun

Jun 30, 2011, 08:21 PM	#5
peate HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 409 Rep Power: 57	Re: Audigy 2 ZS Recording Noise For recording, the ideal with these cards is the live drive. Very quiet for recording. No AC97 noise at all.