Problems with Audiophile 24/96

[moelar2]

Hello,

I've recently purchased an Audiophile 24/96 but have had trouble getting my software (Cubase, Cool Edit 2000, and Acid) to recognize it. Here's an email explaining my problems that I sent to M-Audio Tech support (who haven't "gotten" back to me):

recently purchased an Audiophile 2496 but am having a real difficult time with it.

I have a AMD Athlon processor, 1.7Ghz w/538mb of RAM using windows 2000. Basically, I'm having a hard time getting programs to see the audio. I installed the acid express that comes with it and not even that recognizes it. I also tried Cool Edit 2000, went into the Devices tab to make sure the Audiophile was selected for playback and record, and yet still, no results.

In Cubase VST32, it says that it looses communication with the soundcard. When I go into Multimedia in the Control Panel under the HARDWARE tab, it says that the device is working properly, however, once I click on the properties for that device, it reads: "No drivers are installed for this device.

If you are having problems with this device, click Troubleshooter to start the troubleshooter."

The M-audio Hardwarde panel does work, and it does show the inputs and respective levels of the inputs. The other programs, however, can't see the audio.

I hope this is enough information. I hope to hear from you soon."

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[webstop]

Although it is not impossible, it is very unlikely that the card itself is defective.
Most likely its the problem with the driver. Try to uninstall it and install it back. Make sure it is correct driver for 2000.
Also, M-audio insists that the card does not share its IRQ with anything. Check it out. If you see any device besides 2496 on the same IRQ, this may be your problem. Then it gets worse. Windows 2000 uses PCI steering by default, and it will not let you to manually re-assign resources. The only solution will be to reinstall 2000 with PCI steering disabled.

 

[moelar2]

Webstop,

Thank you for your reply.

Two questions:
1. What is IRQ?
2. What is PCI Steering?

I have uninstalled the drivers for 2000 several times now. The card in my computer is actually a second card, as I exchanged the first one thinking it might be defective; I'm almost certain its my computer now, unless I have two defective cards in a row!

One more question...would u recommend uninstalling 2000 and installing ME?

Thanks.

 

[webstop]

moelar2,
Your questions would require pretty big explanations.
Try reading these articles: http://win95-help.brimac.com/irqfaq1.html
http://www.fasteasy.com/tech/irq001.htm
The first article is OLD, but once you struggle through it you would know what IRQ is, how it works and why IRQ sharing is not good. This has not changed since 1996.
What changed was that Microsoft introduced PCI Steering as part of operating system to enable two hardware resources to use the same IRQ without conflict. This is exactly what its called: steering.
In Windows 98 you could manually re-assign resources between the cards and the system would honor that. Windows 2000 does not have this ability, and it will always assign resources as it thinks fit, UNLESS it is installed a certain way.
From what you said it is very possible that 2496 shares its IRQ with something else: other sound card, modem, video card etc. etc.
I haven't used Windows ME myself, but I heard it is not the best choice for sound editing. If 2000 does not work for you, it may be better to downgrade to Windows 98 SE.

 

[man@work]

moelar,

Most likely it's not the sound card, but an irq problem as
others have suggested. In the list of drivers from m-audio
you will find an uninstall drivers utility. Make sure you down
load that and run it each time to properly uninstall the drivers.
Try moving the card to a different pci slot, Windows should
assign a different irq to card.....follow the directions that
came with the card and make sure you have the latest
drivers that are on the m-audio website.

Hope that helps!

Mike