Enabling Digital Coax Out

nOw2 · Jul 25, 2009, 04:48 PM

I have one of these: Amazon.com: Creative Labs OEM Sound Blaster Live 5.1: Electronics

It identifies as SB0060 10k1 and works brilliantly in analogue output mode on my Hackintosh.

My amp is connected via digital coax however; on this card the subwoofer and digital output share the same port, and the card needs to be switched between modes. This works fine on Linux and in Windows.

I can't find anyway to do this with kX and several hours of searching hasn't found anything here or on the web. Is there a kxctrl command I could use?

Russ · Jul 25, 2009, 04:56 PM

Enable digital output only mode: "shw 0 1"
Disable digital output only mode:"shw 0 0"

nOw2 · Jul 25, 2009, 07:52 PM

Thanks, the amp now reports that the coax link is active.

I'm not getting any audio played though - on 0, iTunes is playing over analogue and the amp is reporting no connection; on 1, no sound leaves the computer (analogue or digital) and the amp is reporting a live connection.

I'll keep playing with it but if you have any more suggestions they will be well received.

Russ · Jul 25, 2009, 08:43 PM

Is front and rear swapped by default in the MAC driver?

Type "ghw 4" in kX Console and if it is shows "HW Parameter 4 is: 1" (indicating that front and rear are swapped) then type "shw 4 0" and then try using the digital output again (with DOO mode enabled).

nOw2 · Jul 25, 2009, 09:27 PM

Not the problem, it seems: register 4 defaults to 0 here, and changing it to 1 has no effect either.

I've tried blindly changing other registers too but to no avail.

Russ · Jul 25, 2009, 09:48 PM

Yeah, I thought that was the default setting in the MAC driver, but wasn't sure that was still the case.

Make sure that you reset settings (type reset in kX Console) if you are going to change things blindly (note: not all of the HW parameters are simple toggles).

I guess while you are at it, you might as well check HW parameters 3 and 6 as well and make sure that they are set to 0 (disabled).

Have you tested the kX driver under Windows to verify that everything (i.e. DOO mode, etc) work correctly with your card and kX?

Jul 25, 2009, 04:48 PM	#1
nOw2 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Enabling Digital Coax Out I have one of these: Amazon.com: Creative Labs OEM Sound Blaster Live 5.1: Electronics It identifies as SB0060 10k1 and works brilliantly in analogue output mode on my Hackintosh. My amp is connected via digital coax however; on this card the subwoofer and digital output share the same port, and the card needs to be switched between modes. This works fine on Linux and in Windows. I can't find anyway to do this with kX and several hours of searching hasn't found anything here or on the web. Is there a kxctrl command I could use?

Jul 25, 2009, 04:56 PM	#2
Russ HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5,563 Rep Power: 62	Re: Enabling Digital Coax Out Enable digital output only mode: "shw 0 1" Disable digital output only mode:"shw 0 0"

Jul 25, 2009, 07:52 PM	Thread Starter #3
nOw2 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Re: Enabling Digital Coax Out Thanks, the amp now reports that the coax link is active. I'm not getting any audio played though - on 0, iTunes is playing over analogue and the amp is reporting no connection; on 1, no sound leaves the computer (analogue or digital) and the amp is reporting a live connection. I'll keep playing with it but if you have any more suggestions they will be well received.

Jul 25, 2009, 08:43 PM	#4
Russ HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5,563 Rep Power: 62	Re: Enabling Digital Coax Out Is front and rear swapped by default in the MAC driver? Type "ghw 4" in kX Console and if it is shows "HW Parameter 4 is: 1" (indicating that front and rear are swapped) then type "shw 4 0" and then try using the digital output again (with DOO mode enabled).

Jul 25, 2009, 09:27 PM	Thread Starter #5
nOw2 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Re: Enabling Digital Coax Out Not the problem, it seems: register 4 defaults to 0 here, and changing it to 1 has no effect either. I've tried blindly changing other registers too but to no avail.

Jul 25, 2009, 09:48 PM	#6
Russ HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5,563 Rep Power: 62	Re: Enabling Digital Coax Out Yeah, I thought that was the default setting in the MAC driver, but wasn't sure that was still the case. Make sure that you reset settings (type reset in kX Console) if you are going to change things blindly (note: not all of the HW parameters are simple toggles). I guess while you are at it, you might as well check HW parameters 3 and 6 as well and make sure that they are set to 0 (disabled). Have you tested the kX driver under Windows to verify that everything (i.e. DOO mode, etc) work correctly with your card and kX?