Audigy SB0090-signal is cut off

Doug W · May 17, 2004, 04:31 PM

I posted this same question at the ntrack forum, not knowing if I have a problem in my ntrack or KX setup:

I have had a setup with nTrack, KX drivers 2 SBLive cards (CT4830) and recently added a third card (Audigy SB00890). I didn't have time to mess around with the new setup until last night and only had a few minutes before I had to go.

My wife sang while I fiddled with the signal from the Audigy. It acted as if I had put some limiter in the signal chain and I couldn't boost the signal beyond -15db. The resulting wav file was just evenly squared off at the top and bottom. From my mixer, I can see that I am sending a stronger signal.

When I sent a weaker signal into the Audigy and didn't surpass that limit, I got a decent sounding recording but kind of weak.

I then tried with one of the other cards and didn't have the problem. I could boost the signal as far as I wanted.

I tried this both from my Behringer mixer and my Tascam 4 track cassette recorder that I use as a second mixer-same result.

Anyone have any idea what is going on? I have no effects going at the time.

Thanks,
Doug

TravelRec. · May 17, 2004, 06:44 PM

Hi!

Sounds a bit strange - all fine here with same SB0090! Just check all your mixer settings (input faders) and be sure that the mixer you are editing is the one for the audigy (with other words: select the right card). Are there other problems with the card too?

TravelRec.

Doug W · May 17, 2004, 09:20 PM

TravelRec,

Have not found any other problems with the card yet, but I haven't had much time. I know I was using the right mixer because I was able to decrease the signal enough to get a recording that didn't create a square wave, (if that is the right term here).

I might stick it temporarily in another computer, that has KX loaded, to see if it does the same thing.

Hope this is not a defective card because I was hoping to use it to try out your electronic gizmo when I have the time and don't have any recording projects coming up.

I will look at it all again tonight. Right now I am being forced to work to make a living (against my will).

Doug

**dj_stick** · May 18, 2004, 07:54 AM

try setting up the audigy as the recording card… adn the lives as the send cards… you may have a dodgy cable with a high resistance

Doug W · May 18, 2004, 02:52 PM

dj_stick,

The Audigy is set up as the recording card. I am not sure what changed, but last night the Audigy was not doing the self-limiting thing. I was randomly moving sliders up and down and got all 3 cards working and recording.

I am going to see if I can recreate the self-limiting situation.

Thanks for the replies,
Doug

TravelRec. · May 18, 2004, 06:40 PM

Hi DougW!

Fine that all is working well (for now). Hope this will stay on

! If you are ready for testing the electronics feel free to send your experiences and questions to me!

Greetings!

TravelRec.

Doug W · May 18, 2004, 09:59 PM

TravelRec,

I haven't done many electronic lately. About 15 years ago, I did a number of projects from Craig Anderton's book "Electronic Projects for Musicians". Some were successful and some are gathering cobwebs in the basement, so I have to gather up courage to pick up the soldering iron again.

Doug

TravelRec. · May 19, 2004, 07:18 PM

Hi again!

Hmm, I think you should give it a try - I´ve done some weird things with my audigy here, and 'she' is still alive and works very fine. The hardest part to do is to solder the really little SMT-parts so you need to have a very fine solder tip and a steady hand of course! And very fine solder wire (0.5mm dia) will help you also. I believe that you can do this right. If you have problems: write here or contact me directly via my site.

Greetings!

TravelRec.

**dj_stick** · May 19, 2004, 09:53 PM

a pair of clamps (those little hand things) really help when you need to use both hands to solder something… just a tip from me

Doug W · May 20, 2004, 03:20 PM

I guess I could start scrounging up the components. I found the English version of Target 2001 V8 last night and opened TravelRec's PCB layout:

http://www.mofunzone.com/downloadsof...00017651.shtml

The English version will be a bit easier for me since all I can remember from my 3 years of Junior High German, (1960s), is how to say "I can't find my rubber overshoes". That phrase has not been as useful as you might think.

Doug

TravelRec. · May 20, 2004, 04:38 PM

Hi Doug!

Thanks for the link, I´m just downloading the english Target and then I add it on my site. So I can kill the dangerous (

) description for "non-germans". Fine that you want to try to build the thing - I can say (if it´s working for you anytime) you will never regret it (I hope). From the day I powered the device first time to the present-day it works quiet perfectly. I wish I had some money and time to build 2 devices more. As a tip for you: If you want to put more than 1 device into a box you don´t have to add a quarz-oszillator and divider to each device. One timing unit can drive 5 or more devices and then they are all absolutely synchronous. That may be important if you want to feed both of the free I2S inputs. This is not tested yet, but if you want... ahh, and don´t forget: never short the analogue grounds together (except over the input cable inside your external mixing device). Otherwise you will add some db of ground-loop-noise into you audio-track...

Greetings!

TravelRec.

dj_stick: yes, it´s a good tip to use some clamps to hold the PCB, or you solder all onto the ground where nothing can fall down

!

May 17, 2004, 04:31 PM	#1
Doug W HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Montevideo, MN USA Posts: 965 Rep Power: 0	Audigy SB0090-signal is cut off I posted this same question at the ntrack forum, not knowing if I have a problem in my ntrack or KX setup: I have had a setup with nTrack, KX drivers 2 SBLive cards (CT4830) and recently added a third card (Audigy SB00890). I didn't have time to mess around with the new setup until last night and only had a few minutes before I had to go. My wife sang while I fiddled with the signal from the Audigy. It acted as if I had put some limiter in the signal chain and I couldn't boost the signal beyond -15db. The resulting wav file was just evenly squared off at the top and bottom. From my mixer, I can see that I am sending a stronger signal. When I sent a weaker signal into the Audigy and didn't surpass that limit, I got a decent sounding recording but kind of weak. I then tried with one of the other cards and didn't have the problem. I could boost the signal as far as I wanted. I tried this both from my Behringer mixer and my Tascam 4 track cassette recorder that I use as a second mixer-same result. Anyone have any idea what is going on? I have no effects going at the time. Thanks, Doug

May 17, 2004, 06:44 PM	#2
TravelRec. Alternative Audioproductions Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Germany / Sachsen-Anhalt Posts: 1,703 Rep Power: 44	Hi! Sounds a bit strange - all fine here with same SB0090! Just check all your mixer settings (input faders) and be sure that the mixer you are editing is the one for the audigy (with other words: select the right card). Are there other problems with the card too? TravelRec. __________________ Always take a look behind.

May 18, 2004, 06:40 PM	#6
TravelRec. Alternative Audioproductions Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Germany / Sachsen-Anhalt Posts: 1,703 Rep Power: 44	Hi DougW! Fine that all is working well (for now). Hope this will stay on ! If you are ready for testing the electronics feel free to send your experiences and questions to me! Greetings! TravelRec. __________________ Always take a look behind.

May 19, 2004, 07:18 PM	#8
TravelRec. Alternative Audioproductions Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Germany / Sachsen-Anhalt Posts: 1,703 Rep Power: 44	Hi again! Hmm, I think you should give it a try - I´ve done some weird things with my audigy here, and 'she' is still alive and works very fine. The hardest part to do is to solder the really little SMT-parts so you need to have a very fine solder tip and a steady hand of course! And very fine solder wire (0.5mm dia) will help you also. I believe that you can do this right. If you have problems: write here or contact me directly via my site. Greetings! TravelRec. __________________ Always take a look behind.

May 20, 2004, 04:38 PM	#11
TravelRec. Alternative Audioproductions Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Germany / Sachsen-Anhalt Posts: 1,703 Rep Power: 44	Hi Doug! Thanks for the link, I´m just downloading the english Target and then I add it on my site. So I can kill the dangerous ( ) description for "non-germans". Fine that you want to try to build the thing - I can say (if it´s working for you anytime) you will never regret it (I hope). From the day I powered the device first time to the present-day it works quiet perfectly. I wish I had some money and time to build 2 devices more. As a tip for you: If you want to put more than 1 device into a box you don´t have to add a quarz-oszillator and divider to each device. One timing unit can drive 5 or more devices and then they are all absolutely synchronous. That may be important if you want to feed both of the free I2S inputs. This is not tested yet, but if you want... ahh, and don´t forget: never short the analogue grounds together (except over the input cable inside your external mixing device). Otherwise you will add some db of ground-loop-noise into you audio-track... Greetings! TravelRec. dj_stick: yes, it´s a good tip to use some clamps to hold the PCB, or you solder all onto the ground where nothing can fall down ! __________________ Always take a look behind.

May 17, 2004, 09:20 PM	#3
Doug W HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Montevideo, MN USA Posts: 965 Rep Power: 0	TravelRec, Have not found any other problems with the card yet, but I haven't had much time. I know I was using the right mixer because I was able to decrease the signal enough to get a recording that didn't create a square wave, (if that is the right term here). I might stick it temporarily in another computer, that has KX loaded, to see if it does the same thing. Hope this is not a defective card because I was hoping to use it to try out your electronic gizmo when I have the time and don't have any recording projects coming up. I will look at it all again tonight. Right now I am being forced to work to make a living (against my will). Doug

May 18, 2004, 02:52 PM	#5
Doug W HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Montevideo, MN USA Posts: 965 Rep Power: 0	dj_stick, The Audigy is set up as the recording card. I am not sure what changed, but last night the Audigy was not doing the self-limiting thing. I was randomly moving sliders up and down and got all 3 cards working and recording. I am going to see if I can recreate the self-limiting situation. Thanks for the replies, Doug

May 18, 2004, 09:59 PM	#7
Doug W HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Montevideo, MN USA Posts: 965 Rep Power: 0	TravelRec, I haven't done many electronic lately. About 15 years ago, I did a number of projects from Craig Anderton's book "Electronic Projects for Musicians". Some were successful and some are gathering cobwebs in the basement, so I have to gather up courage to pick up the soldering iron again. Doug

May 20, 2004, 03:20 PM	#10
Doug W HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Montevideo, MN USA Posts: 965 Rep Power: 0	I guess I could start scrounging up the components. I found the English version of Target 2001 V8 last night and opened TravelRec's PCB layout: http://www.mofunzone.com/downloadsof...00017651.shtml The English version will be a bit easier for me since all I can remember from my 3 years of Junior High German, (1960s), is how to say "I can't find my rubber overshoes". That phrase has not been as useful as you might think. Doug