Hardware Advice

cosmo wrote on 3/28/2003, 9:46 AM
I have a decent machine, new from Dell, p4 etc. I added the Hercules Muse DVD 5.1 audio card and Creative Inspire 5.1 speakers. I know...cheap ass stuff but this is just a project studio and the budget is tight! I want to gain 5.1 control while mixing so i don't have to burn dvds to check the mix.

So i brought home the speakers to go with the card and hooked everything up and it works well except for the sound is not discreet from all speakers when playing back DD content. even the THX test tones they put on dvds - anything in FL or RL comes out of BOTH FL and RL and the same for the right side. It's like the signal is getting decoded - or, it's a "simulated 5.1" effect. I'm clueless. The sound card came with a volume control device for L,R,C,RL,RR,LFE respectively. It does in fact control the volume of each dpeaker independently. Very strange...it is only the only that doesn't seem to get decoded - wether watching a dvd or using vegas. Even mixes that I've done in vegas and tested in my theatre do not play in discreet 5.1 through the pc setup.

So I'm hoping someone can shed some light on this for me, you guys seem to be pretty damn knowledgable on this topic. I just want to know if the hardware I have *should* be able to reproduce discreet 5.1 or if i have to upgrade it. And what about the speakers? I'm assuming they're ok - while they don't sound tops.../they seem to function.

Thanks,
*andy

Comments

cosmo wrote on 3/28/2003, 1:57 PM
looks like i'll need to scrap the gay speakers and i can use the 6 analog outputs straight to my extra receiver setup's 5.1 analog input. duh.
JohanAlthoff wrote on 3/28/2003, 3:28 PM
Ah, sweet. I have a similar issue w. a Dell P4 can, Windows XP, Audigy and Delta 410.

First, make sure you have configured the speaker config (control panel >> sound and audio devices) in Windows to 5.1 speakers. By default, it's set to stereo, which screws everything up.

Next, get all the latest drivers / fixes / updates / whatnot.

Now, here comes my problem: I can natively position everything using e.g. the surround mixer, nemas problemas. My ASIO projects work fine aswell, but when I start up a 3D-positioning game (Tribes 2 in this case), I get the same problem you do: Center / sub channels are dead, and the rear speakers only mimic the front ones.

Could this be a Dell issue, or a Windows XP one? I don't know, and I still found anyone willing to help me. Grr.
cosmo wrote on 3/31/2003, 8:35 AM
i'm not sure where the issue lies....but the audio 2 card with latest drivers etc is freezing everywhere. i'm gonna try the turle beach santa cruz card today and see if it works....
JohanAlthoff wrote on 3/31/2003, 9:53 AM
Ah, screw it. It was my bad; wrong drivers. Works like a breeze now.
cosmo wrote on 3/31/2003, 1:01 PM
well...now I've got the latest drivers, been on the phone with creative tech support, changed irq settings, disabled integrated sound...NOTHING WORKS!! I think still I'll make one last effort towards 'prosumer' cards with the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz card...couldn't be worse than what I have!
Geoff_Wood wrote on 3/31/2003, 1:23 PM
Should be much better. I haver one running alongside my MOTU and it seems fine, though I am really only using it to 'carry' my DB50XG !

geoff
cosmo wrote on 3/31/2003, 2:57 PM
i think i'm gonna go with the delta 410...nothing but kind words found about it at this board....
JohanAlthoff wrote on 3/31/2003, 3:12 PM
Good call, I've been using one for about a month now. It's stable as a concrete slab.
cosmo wrote on 3/31/2003, 3:55 PM
"stable as a concrete slab"

that's what I like to hear man. there's no reason why this card wouldn't work but i've got my fingers crossed anyways...!
Geoff_Wood wrote on 4/1/2003, 3:09 AM
I've seen concrete slabs that have slid down hillsides !

But , crossed fingers, you should be OK given the majority seem to have good success-rates on the M cards.


geoff