Audigy SPDIF Not working??

BOTA:X · Feb 13, 2005, 02:08 AM

(I searched the forum up and down but only found SBLive posts on this issue)

I'm using an SB Audigy 0090 on XP Pro SP2. KX Driver version 3537.

Using a cable from the Digital Out on the back of the Audigy to a KOSS KS3102. The reciever is set to recieve audio from the Coax.

I get no sound at all, though. When I set the KX Mixer to 'Digial Output Only' it turns off the analog outputs, but still no sound out of the system.

What needs to be done?
Thanks in advance for your help...

Samir · Feb 13, 2005, 12:44 PM

There is a problem with Digital out (orange?) connector on back of Audigy card series, as it requires special cable... What sort of cable you are using? Digital out connector should output 3 indenpendant SPDIF channels...

good luck!

Spielfreek · Feb 13, 2005, 05:05 PM

I have a SB Audigy 0090 on XP Pro SP2 with KX Driver version 3537 and had no problems with the (orange) output. Like you, I got the signal coming out of the analog then switched to digital only which output the digital signal to the coax input of my Yamaha 5540 surround sound system. I did have an initial issue with it as this input could accept both analog and digital and I forgot to change it to digital. I wondered if this might help you fix your problem.
The other thing ... I followed your web link for the KOSS KS3102. It says the only audio input is RCA, but for the outputs it says RCA, Coax and optical. Is it possible the coax is an output only?

Spielfreek · Feb 13, 2005, 05:09 PM

Samir - I'm using a standard 3.5 mm jack cable -> Coax cable. Works fine. Am intrigued though... maybe if I had a special cable you think I could get more than one SPDIF output from it? Was wondering where the source of your info is - looks like mandatory reading for me!!!

BOTA:X · Feb 13, 2005, 06:49 PM

Hey guys...

This has me interested in looking farther into the cable I'm using. I picked one up from radio shack that is a standard 3.5mm MONO plug to an RCA. The link about the system isn't quite correct, it has Optical+Coax in, as well as Coax out. I believe I have it configured correctly to recieve audio on the coax, but I can find another SPDIF device to confirm that.

I haven't really looked at the Audigy in a while, I think I'll take it out later to see if that Digital plug supports 3 channels, but I think its only one :shrug: I know that ere are more pinned out on the board itself...

I'll fire up my digital camera later and get you a shot of the cable I'm using. Maybe the length of the connections on the 3.5mm are wrong.

BOTA:X · Feb 13, 2005, 09:23 PM

http://www.teambota.com/botasig/X/temp/spdif.jpg

Heres the cable I'm using. It feels like it fits right into the orange digital-out.

Spielfreek · Feb 13, 2005, 11:19 PM

Looked at the cable - seems tp be fine. I'm using the same connectors. My cable is made from a pretty cheap (and possibly nasty!) bit of screeded lead I had lying around and is about 15 ft long. It definitely not 'low loss' or "gold plated" or any such nonsence. I suspect any screened cable would do, but I may be getting in to deep water here. Some audio guys really get excited about cables. In the UK you can buy specialist ones for £57!! I actually saw one today. I mean, who has that sort of money for a cable????
Anyway (climbing down from horse..). Do you have a voltmeter? I was thinking if you have, then you could put it on AC Volts and measure the output of the SPDIF whilst changing from analog to digital only output. Just might prove whether the output is working.

Samir · Feb 14, 2005, 01:59 AM

See kX help, Appendix A: Technical Reference, Orange connector info...

Nothe that the picture is not right; that connector should have one more signal, so, there should be (in this order):
SPDIF#1(front), SPDIF#2(rear), SPDIF#3(center+lfe), GND .

Good luck!

Spielfreek · Feb 14, 2005, 03:42 AM

Thank you - very interesting reading - now where do you buy a 3.5 jack plug with THREE signal bits (tip ring ring2??)...and it will be so much fun wiring it up as well. They're small enough at the best of times!

**dj_stick** · Feb 14, 2005, 06:25 AM

easy to get - go to a local electronics store and ask for a camcorder cable, it is a 4 pole jack with 3 RCA jacks on the other end

BOTA:X · Feb 14, 2005, 08:35 AM

Ahh OK good idea. I shudder at how much RadioShack would charge for these if they repackaged them as Sound Blaster SPDIF cables

http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...t%5Fid=16-3686

Followup: I remembered that my onboard sound card had an RCA spdif out, so I enabled that horrible peice of equipment. Using a regular RCA to the coax in on the recieiver.... it worked!

(Well sorta, the nvidia mixer doesn't work for crap. And playing music is way loud...while playing games its too quiet.)

So its the cable after all. I intend to hit Radio Shack tomarrow. Thanks all who helped!

**dj_stick** · Feb 14, 2005, 09:49 AM

yep, that cable should work perfectly for you

Samir · Feb 14, 2005, 12:50 PM

Da, regular camcoder cable should work well enough with Live! & Audigy1 cards... But there is a slight problem with Audigy2 card series, seems that SPDIF#3 & GND are SWAPPED!

Good luck!

Spielfreek · Feb 14, 2005, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj_stick

easy to get - go to a local electronics store and ask for a camcorder cable, it is a 4 pole jack with 3 RCA jacks on the other end

Thanks for the info. I was unaware of this type of cable (my camera has different connectors). One thing, I read in one of the threads that there were different voltage levels for some SPDIF. I think it said the CD_SPDIF was a 5V input, implying others weren't. Has anyone got more info on this? I would like to connect all 3 outputs into the 3 AUD_EXT SPDIF inputs of another Audigy1 (giving me 6 mono inputs to the 'master') and don't want to kill the card. Don't know how to route the audio to the separate SPDIFs but I'm trying to work it out...

TravelRec. · Feb 15, 2005, 06:09 AM

All AUD_EXT SPDIFs in and out are on TTL level 0 - 5V and can be interconnected as you like, CD-SPDIF works on both 0 - 0.5V and 0 - 5V so you can apply also TTL levels. Be sure that you do no prolongued short circuits on SPDIF outs, that will damage the output stage.

BOTA:X · Feb 15, 2005, 08:21 AM

Thanks for the info on that, TravelRec.... always wondered.

BTW the camcorder cable didn't work.... it made a loud crackling noise when I plugged in any of the RCAs!

Then I tried your standard, everyday 3.5mm --> Stereo RCAs and both of those channels worked....sorta. The front speakers were the only ones that worked in the speaker test, and they were playing the REAR channel.

I reset global settings and played around with the Surrounder, rebooted a few times. I flipped the 'Reverse Front/Rear' switch in combination with changing lots of other settings, but nothing could get it right.

I understand these are the n00by controls, so tomarrow I'll dive into learning how to tweak the DSP to get the channels where I need them to be.

In the mean time I installed the updated Creative SB drivers to see if it would work....and it did. I get 5.1 sound in games and in movies. The AC-3 passthrough doesn't work so these stock drivers just won't do.... but at least I know theres not a hardware problem with the card anymore.

**dj_stick** · Feb 15, 2005, 09:11 AM

set the kX mixer to digital output only if you are using the digital outs

Spielfreek · Feb 17, 2005, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravelRec.

All AUD_EXT SPDIFs in and out are on TTL level 0 - 5V and can be interconnected as you like, CD-SPDIF works on both 0 - 0.5V and 0 - 5V so you can apply also TTL levels. Be sure that you do no prolongued short circuits on SPDIF outs, that will damage the output stage.

Thank you for the info. Was a bit puzzled though, is there a setting for the 0-0.5V and another for 0-5V or does it "autosense"? I ask, because I've successfully connected the AUD_EXT SPDIF of my 'SEND' 0900 card to the RCA input on my Audigy drive (which is connected to my "MASTER" Audigy card) and it works fine (I hear it in the speakers and I get a good ASIO signal into SX). However, using the same cable, I then connect it to the CD_SPDIF and hear/see nothing at all. In the mixer, I have unmuted the CD digital in and upped the fader to 0dB. Can't see anything else I need to (ASIO is all wired up etc.) so I thought the voltage levels might be different. Would appreciate any thoughts you have on this.

TravelRec. · Feb 18, 2005, 06:20 AM

I just read you had a broken CD_SPDIF input, right? Normally it works fine. The only thing that will not work is to connect a coaxial SPDIF signal of 0.5V magnitude to AUD_EXT SPDIF input, it´s too weak and needs amplification to reach the specified 5V.

Feb 14, 2005, 01:59 AM	#8
Samir kX Lover Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 520 Rep Power: 0	See kX help, Appendix A: Technical Reference, Orange connector info... Nothe that the picture is not right; that connector should have one more signal, so, there should be (in this order): SPDIF#1(front), SPDIF#2(rear), SPDIF#3(center+lfe), GND . Good luck! __________________ MU3NKA 3A HAPO6!

Feb 14, 2005, 08:35 AM	Thread Starter #11
BOTA:X DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	Ahh OK good idea. I shudder at how much RadioShack would charge for these if they repackaged them as Sound Blaster SPDIF cables http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...t%5Fid=16-3686 Followup: I remembered that my onboard sound card had an RCA spdif out, so I enabled that horrible peice of equipment. Using a regular RCA to the coax in on the recieiver.... it worked! (Well sorta, the nvidia mixer doesn't work for crap. And playing music is way loud...while playing games its too quiet.) So its the cable after all. I intend to hit Radio Shack tomarrow. Thanks all who helped! Last edited by BOTA:X; Feb 14, 2005 at 08:41 AM.

Feb 14, 2005, 12:50 PM	#13
Samir kX Lover Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 520 Rep Power: 0	Da, regular camcoder cable should work well enough with Live! & Audigy1 cards... But there is a slight problem with Audigy2 card series, seems that SPDIF#3 & GND are SWAPPED! Good luck! __________________ MU3NKA 3A HAPO6!

Feb 15, 2005, 06:09 AM	#15
TravelRec. Alternative Audioproductions Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Germany / Sachsen-Anhalt Posts: 1,710 Rep Power: 0	All AUD_EXT SPDIFs in and out are on TTL level 0 - 5V and can be interconnected as you like, CD-SPDIF works on both 0 - 0.5V and 0 - 5V so you can apply also TTL levels. Be sure that you do no prolongued short circuits on SPDIF outs, that will damage the output stage. __________________ Always take a look behind.

Feb 18, 2005, 06:20 AM	#19
TravelRec. Alternative Audioproductions Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Germany / Sachsen-Anhalt Posts: 1,710 Rep Power: 0	I just read you had a broken CD_SPDIF input, right? Normally it works fine. The only thing that will not work is to connect a coaxial SPDIF signal of 0.5V magnitude to AUD_EXT SPDIF input, it´s too weak and needs amplification to reach the specified 5V. __________________ Always take a look behind.

Feb 13, 2005, 02:08 AM	#1
BOTA:X DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	Audigy SPDIF Not working?? (I searched the forum up and down but only found SBLive posts on this issue) I'm using an SB Audigy 0090 on XP Pro SP2. KX Driver version 3537. Using a cable from the Digital Out on the back of the Audigy to a KOSS KS3102. The reciever is set to recieve audio from the Coax. I get no sound at all, though. When I set the KX Mixer to 'Digial Output Only' it turns off the analog outputs, but still no sound out of the system. What needs to be done? Thanks in advance for your help... Last edited by BOTA:X; Feb 13, 2005 at 02:15 AM.

Feb 13, 2005, 12:44 PM	#2
Samir kX Lover Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 520 Rep Power: 0	There is a problem with Digital out (orange?) connector on back of Audigy card series, as it requires special cable... What sort of cable you are using? Digital out connector should output 3 indenpendant SPDIF channels... good luck! __________________ MU3NKA 3A HAPO6!

Feb 13, 2005, 05:05 PM	#3
Spielfreek DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 26 Rep Power: 0	I have a SB Audigy 0090 on XP Pro SP2 with KX Driver version 3537 and had no problems with the (orange) output. Like you, I got the signal coming out of the analog then switched to digital only which output the digital signal to the coax input of my Yamaha 5540 surround sound system. I did have an initial issue with it as this input could accept both analog and digital and I forgot to change it to digital. I wondered if this might help you fix your problem. The other thing ... I followed your web link for the KOSS KS3102. It says the only audio input is RCA, but for the outputs it says RCA, Coax and optical. Is it possible the coax is an output only?

Feb 13, 2005, 05:09 PM	#4
Spielfreek DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 26 Rep Power: 0	Samir - I'm using a standard 3.5 mm jack cable -> Coax cable. Works fine. Am intrigued though... maybe if I had a special cable you think I could get more than one SPDIF output from it? Was wondering where the source of your info is - looks like mandatory reading for me!!!

Feb 13, 2005, 06:49 PM	Thread Starter #5
BOTA:X DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	Hey guys... This has me interested in looking farther into the cable I'm using. I picked one up from radio shack that is a standard 3.5mm MONO plug to an RCA. The link about the system isn't quite correct, it has Optical+Coax in, as well as Coax out. I believe I have it configured correctly to recieve audio on the coax, but I can find another SPDIF device to confirm that. I haven't really looked at the Audigy in a while, I think I'll take it out later to see if that Digital plug supports 3 channels, but I think its only one :shrug: I know that ere are more pinned out on the board itself... I'll fire up my digital camera later and get you a shot of the cable I'm using. Maybe the length of the connections on the 3.5mm are wrong.

Feb 13, 2005, 09:23 PM	Thread Starter #6
BOTA:X DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	http://www.teambota.com/botasig/X/temp/spdif.jpg Heres the cable I'm using. It feels like it fits right into the orange digital-out.

Feb 13, 2005, 11:19 PM	#7
Spielfreek DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 26 Rep Power: 0	Looked at the cable - seems tp be fine. I'm using the same connectors. My cable is made from a pretty cheap (and possibly nasty!) bit of screeded lead I had lying around and is about 15 ft long. It definitely not 'low loss' or "gold plated" or any such nonsence. I suspect any screened cable would do, but I may be getting in to deep water here. Some audio guys really get excited about cables. In the UK you can buy specialist ones for £57!! I actually saw one today. I mean, who has that sort of money for a cable???? Anyway (climbing down from horse..). Do you have a voltmeter? I was thinking if you have, then you could put it on AC Volts and measure the output of the SPDIF whilst changing from analog to digital only output. Just might prove whether the output is working.

Feb 14, 2005, 03:42 AM	#9
Spielfreek DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 26 Rep Power: 0	Thank you - very interesting reading - now where do you buy a 3.5 jack plug with THREE signal bits (tip ring ring2??)...and it will be so much fun wiring it up as well. They're small enough at the best of times!

Feb 15, 2005, 08:21 AM	Thread Starter #16
BOTA:X DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	Thanks for the info on that, TravelRec.... always wondered. BTW the camcorder cable didn't work.... it made a loud crackling noise when I plugged in any of the RCAs! Then I tried your standard, everyday 3.5mm --> Stereo RCAs and both of those channels worked....sorta. The front speakers were the only ones that worked in the speaker test, and they were playing the REAR channel. I reset global settings and played around with the Surrounder, rebooted a few times. I flipped the 'Reverse Front/Rear' switch in combination with changing lots of other settings, but nothing could get it right. I understand these are the n00by controls, so tomarrow I'll dive into learning how to tweak the DSP to get the channels where I need them to be. In the mean time I installed the updated Creative SB drivers to see if it would work....and it did. I get 5.1 sound in games and in movies. The AC-3 passthrough doesn't work so these stock drivers just won't do.... but at least I know theres not a hardware problem with the card anymore.