Soundblaster Live!

[steve15]

I installed a Soundblaster Live! card in my computer to record my band's demo cd. But, when I tried to open up the Surround Mixer, it returned an error like this: CtDevcon.dll has returned an error. Mixer will now exit. And then it doesn't allow you to access the surround mixer. Also, it won't enable 16-bit digital audio. I have disabled all virus software, and have reinstalled the card software many times, but it still won't work. Any got any ideas as to why my card isn't working? Thanks.

 

[MaxB]

Do you have another sound card installed in your computer?
I had this problem and was due to a conflict between SBLive drivers and SBlaster 128 drivers... I think you must try the KXDrivers!

http://kxproject.spb.ru

With these drivers now I can record at 96k 32bit with a background noise at -114 db!!

But using KXDrivers can't be easy if you are a newbie

...If you have a sound card on your mobo try to disable the SB16 compatibility (I think you must tweak the BIOS settings).

Hope this can Help!,

MaxB

 

[christiaan]

With these drivers now I can record at 96k 32bit with a background noise at -114 db!!

Bullshit.

An sblive records at 16 bits/48kHz max. period.

 

[steve15]

I know that there is onboard sound, but not another soundcard. But I don't, know how to disable onboard sound?

 

[Toki987]

Usually the first screen that pops up when you boot your computer, before windows starts, that identifies the Bios,the amount of memory, the drives, and the video. Most the newer ones will tell you to press "Del for setup". There should be aoption to disable the onboard sound, and to turn off SB16 emulation.

You could also have a corrupt file pack as well. You can download the most current set of utilities and drivers from creative.com

 

[steve15]

Okay thanks. Also, is there anyother interface/soundcard that would be better suited to record a rock band? Thanks.

 

[Toki987]

Okay thanks. Also, is there anyother interface/soundcard that would be better suited to record a rock band? Thanks.

There are 7 pages of posts here in this one forum dealing with souncards. I recommend browsing through them and reading the posts. There are multiple reasons given in the posts you`ll read, that would prompt me to say "Yes" to answer your question in most cases. Although circumstance such as, finance, hardware and software requirements, expertise, how many channels you need, microphones, whether or not you want to use midi, whether or not you wish to track everything at once, or one or more at the time that could affect choice. The Live is quite capable of tracking a Stereo mix from a mixer, or one channel at the time from the mixer using multitrack software. However there are several that are not much more in cost that can give you even more accurate and clean audio fidelity in the conversion of analog to digital.
You can go to sites such as zzsounds.com , musiciansfriend, and several others to read the info and compare pricing, as well checking out reviews on individual cards. I will say that I have seen the Audiophile 24/96 suggested and rated as the better of the entry level semi-pro to pro type audio cards.

 

[MaxB]

Bullshit.

An sblive records at 16 bits/48kHz max. period.

With KXDrivers you can record at 96K 32 Bit with programs like cool edit and 48K 32 Bit with ASIO.

Just try the link in my previous message... It's not bullshit.

 

[AlChuck]

Uh, can you be a bit more explicit about where on the kX Project website it claims to be able to derive sampling rates and bit depths that the hardwrae doesn't support?

By the way, that's an old link, the correct one is http://kxproject.lugosoft.com/

 

[MaxB]

Uh, can you be a bit more explicit about where on the kX Project website it claims to be able to derive sampling rates and bit depths that the hardwrae doesn't support?

By the way, that's an old link, the correct one is http://kxproject.lugosoft.com/

I don't know... you can look in the forum...

Here is the Device Properties of my SBLive with KX Drivers...
KXWave is the name of SBLive under KXDrivers.

If you all are interested download the drivers or read the KX forum.

 

[AlChuck]

Well, the bit rate stuff there is the internal data format that the audio is processed at, no the sampling rate of the hardware. It sure does seem to suggest that 96 kHz files are supported -- but I suspect this means that 96 kHz data can be loaded. To actually play out the Sound Blaster is must be downsampled on the fly... and you certainly cannot get a 96 kHz sampling rate from the hardware on recording.

 

[darnold]

wow, it can record 32 bit? Thats better than my Motu 2408mk3. Why didnt i just go with the Sb Live?

 

[MaxB]

You need to try... Believe me... Before KXDdrivers there was an hack of the APS drivers (Emu APS - And live shares the same EMU10K1 chip) that was amazing... But with KX you have infinite possibilities. The 96K recording it's not "hardware" (I don't remember how it works... read the KX Forum for technical infos) but you can really hear the difference between 44k and 96k... Then you can use anykind of effect in line in... for example... I'm using an expander, modified by me, as noise gate, and I have a background noise at -114 dB.

I'm surprised that no one here in this forum don't know of KXDrivers.

 

[christiaan]

I know the KX drivers. I've used a sblive myself for quite a while.
Like you said yourself, it's definately not hardware. It all goes through the 16 bits/48kHz converters on the card. Everything extra is extrapolated and not how it went into the card.

 

[MaxB]

I know the KX drivers. I've used a sblive myself for quite a while.
Like you said yourself, it's definately not hardware. It all goes through the 16 bits/48kHz converters on the card. Everything extra is extrapolated and not how it went into the card.

Anyway I reccomend KXDrivers for SBLive users... I think you agree with me they are better than Creative drivers

 

[christiaan]

Anyway I reccomend KXDrivers for SBLive users... I think you agree with me they are better than Creative drivers

I do!

 

[deemic]

wow, it can record 32 bit? Thats better than my Motu 2408mk3. Why didnt i just go with the Sb Live?

hilarious

 

[deemic]

Anyway I reccomend KXDrivers for SBLive users... I think you agree with me they are better than Creative drivers

I never used the KX drivers with my SB Live. But when I had my Audigy 2, I was pretty impressed with the KX drivers too.....

I've since upgraded to a Terratec DMX 6Fire though and I have to tell ya, I thought Creative Labs made decent soundcards until I bought a somewhat more serious "Audio" card as opposed to a "Gamer" card.

BTW.... not to burst your bubble, but even with the KX drivers the best your gonna do with that card is 16/48 recording and downsampled playback.
Even the Audigy 2 didn't have support for 24/96 ASIO2 recording and the 24/96 recording I did with the Audigy 2 doesn't even compare to the quality and clarity I get with the Terratec.

If your going to record, don't buy your soundcard at Best Buy or Circuit City.... go to a pro sound retailer or buy online from a respected distributor.

 

[AlChuck]

I too am using the kX drivers with my SB Live, they work great. But they can't make 16-bit, 48kHz hardware magically into 32-bit, 192 kHz recordings.

 

[MaxB]

I too am using the kX drivers with my SB Live, they work great. But they can't make 16-bit, 48kHz hardware magically into 32-bit, 192 kHz recordings.

Ehm I'm not talking 'bout ASIO recording in Cubase, Nuendo, etc...
My 96K 32Bit Recordings are wonderful.