two sound cards

bser01@hotmail. · Nov 12, 2005, 03:23 AM

can someone please give me the quick and dirty on how to use 2 sound cards in a 5.1 setup for movies fully actively crossing over my 2-ways . One card being for the mids, one for the tweeters. I can't seem to find any info on how to do this and would really like to know before purchasing a few hundred dollars worth of equipment to test with.

Maddogg6 · Nov 12, 2005, 04:03 AM

Im thinking - if you have 2 Audigy 2's (or maybe ZS's??.. I dont think SBLives have enough SPDIF in ports, I could be wrong tho.

CARD 1 is a 'master' - it is the playback device and WAVE HQ chosen in the movie player.
Card 2 is a 'slave'

If you can phsically connect all 3 SPDIFS OUT of card1 to 3 SPDIF ins on card2.

In card 1 desp window - use the P16V (movie playback source) outputs & run each of the 6 channels through freq splitters - or eq's to 'split' the freqs - send the highs to the analog outs of card 1 and send the mids to the spdif outs to card 2 (all available on Profx/K2lt).

In card 2 dsp window - just connect the 3 SPDIFS ins (ProFX SRC) to the coresponding analog outs (on K2lt) - the signals were already filtered / split - but you could used card 2 dsp for filtering and just send clean signal to the spdif outs of card 1 in card 1 dsp.

This is all dependant upon if you can physically connect the 3 spdifs outs on 1 card to the ins on the other card- the concept in itself is sound otherwise i beleive - anyone?.

**dj_stick** · Nov 12, 2005, 06:39 AM

Live cards (apart from the live value) have the same AUD_EXT header as the audigy one, so they have three spdif ins (if they have the CD_SPDIF header)

bser01@hotmail. · Nov 12, 2005, 05:39 PM

okay so assuming that connecting all the spdif outs on the master to the ins on the slave card will work which card do you all recommend and the best for quality. The only difference I see between some of the high end cards and the middle of the road and budget cards is the ability to hardware decode dts and dolby. Is there more to it than that? Someone please help me pick the best card specifiacally for a good sounding home theater system.

Maddogg6 · Nov 13, 2005, 01:03 AM

If you HAVE to have DTS - sorry - not supported with KX directly. - Its software that decodes it anyway AFAIK. - Much like DVD-A, I think you had to use the CL media player to get the support, but that media player wont work if CL drivers arent installed.
KX will be NECESSARY to provide the freq splitting, as I dont think it can be done with CL drivers.
-----
EDIT: - I do recall some who have 2 cards and use CL and KX drivers concurrently - that *may* get the DTS support.
-----

I can say with good conscience (2) Audigy 2 ZS (not value - not platinum) - The 'gamer' or 'MP3' versions would most likely work. I only say this because I KNOW i could do what your looking to do IF I had a second A2ZS. I could even make the DSP configs and post/email to show how its implemented if needed.

Also, here in the US, 'OEM' versions are popular, but you may end up with a value, which may not have all the connectors you would need. This was the case with *some* SBLives. My old value DID have this connector, but plastic rear connectors instead of the gold/metal ones.?? So, all because its labeled VALUE - ONLY means you have to be more carefull... Make sure that the cards physically have the 'AUD-EXT' and 'CD/DVD digital in' on 1 and AT LEAST the AUD-EXT connector on the 2nd.

Search these forums for 'AUD-EXT pin out' - theres a digram that shows how to find the right pins on the connector to access all the SPDIF ports - it prolly sounds harder than it is, but it IS a warning that its NOT plug n play - what your trying to do.

Also, Any other card by other manufacturers (not listed on the compatable hardware list on the KX driver pages) WILL NOT work with the KX driver. A 2 ZS's I think shows 'limited' support, but with KX V3538h - is solidly supported, SPDIF works well for me and sound quality is pretty good (lower noise than my old yamaha DD decoder/receiver) for movies.

Nov 12, 2005, 03:23 AM	#1
bser01@hotmail. DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8 Rep Power: 0	two sound cards can someone please give me the quick and dirty on how to use 2 sound cards in a 5.1 setup for movies fully actively crossing over my 2-ways . One card being for the mids, one for the tweeters. I can't seem to find any info on how to do this and would really like to know before purchasing a few hundred dollars worth of equipment to test with.

Nov 12, 2005, 04:03 AM	#2
Maddogg6 Tail Razer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bernyurass, AZ - USA Posts: 4,027 Rep Power: 0	Im thinking - if you have 2 Audigy 2's (or maybe ZS's??.. I dont think SBLives have enough SPDIF in ports, I could be wrong tho. CARD 1 is a 'master' - it is the playback device and WAVE HQ chosen in the movie player. Card 2 is a 'slave' If you can phsically connect all 3 SPDIFS OUT of card1 to 3 SPDIF ins on card2. In card 1 desp window - use the P16V (movie playback source) outputs & run each of the 6 channels through freq splitters - or eq's to 'split' the freqs - send the highs to the analog outs of card 1 and send the mids to the spdif outs to card 2 (all available on Profx/K2lt). In card 2 dsp window - just connect the 3 SPDIFS ins (ProFX SRC) to the coresponding analog outs (on K2lt) - the signals were already filtered / split - but you could used card 2 dsp for filtering and just send clean signal to the spdif outs of card 1 in card 1 dsp. This is all dependant upon if you can physically connect the 3 spdifs outs on 1 card to the ins on the other card- the concept in itself is sound otherwise i beleive - anyone?. Last edited by Maddogg6; Nov 12, 2005 at 04:34 AM.

Nov 12, 2005, 05:39 PM	Thread Starter #4
bser01@hotmail. DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8 Rep Power: 0	okay so assuming that connecting all the spdif outs on the master to the ins on the slave card will work which card do you all recommend and the best for quality. The only difference I see between some of the high end cards and the middle of the road and budget cards is the ability to hardware decode dts and dolby. Is there more to it than that? Someone please help me pick the best card specifiacally for a good sounding home theater system.

Nov 13, 2005, 01:03 AM	#5
Maddogg6 Tail Razer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bernyurass, AZ - USA Posts: 4,027 Rep Power: 0	If you HAVE to have DTS - sorry - not supported with KX directly. - Its software that decodes it anyway AFAIK. - Much like DVD-A, I think you had to use the CL media player to get the support, but that media player wont work if CL drivers arent installed. KX will be NECESSARY to provide the freq splitting, as I dont think it can be done with CL drivers. ----- EDIT: - I do recall some who have 2 cards and use CL and KX drivers concurrently - that may get the DTS support. ----- I can say with good conscience (2) Audigy 2 ZS (not value - not platinum) - The 'gamer' or 'MP3' versions would most likely work. I only say this because I KNOW i could do what your looking to do IF I had a second A2ZS. I could even make the DSP configs and post/email to show how its implemented if needed. Also, here in the US, 'OEM' versions are popular, but you may end up with a value, which may not have all the connectors you would need. This was the case with some SBLives. My old value DID have this connector, but plastic rear connectors instead of the gold/metal ones.?? So, all because its labeled VALUE - ONLY means you have to be more carefull... Make sure that the cards physically have the 'AUD-EXT' and 'CD/DVD digital in' on 1 and AT LEAST the AUD-EXT connector on the 2nd. Search these forums for 'AUD-EXT pin out' - theres a digram that shows how to find the right pins on the connector to access all the SPDIF ports - it prolly sounds harder than it is, but it IS a warning that its NOT plug n play - what your trying to do. Also, Any other card by other manufacturers (not listed on the compatable hardware list on the KX driver pages) WILL NOT work with the KX driver. A 2 ZS's I think shows 'limited' support, but with KX V3538h - is solidly supported, SPDIF works well for me and sound quality is pretty good (lower noise than my old yamaha DD decoder/receiver) for movies.