Looking for my 3rd Sound Card

Autockr989 · 04-16-2008, 10:05 AM

I have run into some limitations with searching for sound cards. I'm currently on my second card which is a turtle beach roadie. Card is great, but doesn't play all channels through the line in, only front channels.

I need a card that can:

1) Have seperate output lines for front,rear,sub channels.
2) volume can be adjusted through windows.
3) input line can play through ALL channels on output.

Autockr989 · 04-17-2008, 08:21 AM

Any suggestions????

danielkh · 04-17-2008, 08:25 AM

Have you looked under hardware reviews? I found Jan's last soundcard there. I went looking for external USB solutions, and the best I can find is the Live External is pretty much the latest and greatest. I'm not sure what case you are using, but I found by taking the front cover (output end) off my case and modifying it. The using a PCI flex riser, I was able to add a PCI video card. You say you already have great video, so maybe try the same thing with a PCI sound card? Then your options go through the roof!

Autockr989 · 04-17-2008, 09:29 AM

Looks like with some Ghetto rigging I might be able to pull this off. I'm guessing plug in install drivers and away I go?

http://www.jetwaycomputer.com/spec/J9F2-KHDE.pdf

danielkh · 04-17-2008, 10:13 AM

Is that the board you are using? That was my second choice on upgrade. What rigging are you speaking of? Using the internal audio card of the board? Or what i suggested about putting a PCI card it? If answer is B, then I can get a picture of the modification I did to the case. Not pretty, but it is functional.

Autockr989 · 04-17-2008, 10:27 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by danielkh

Is that the board you are using? That was my second choice on upgrade. What rigging are you speaking of? Using the internal audio card of the board? Or what i suggested about putting a PCI card it? If answer is B, then I can get a picture of the modification I did to the case. Not pretty, but it is functional.

Picture would be perfect. I was going to use the internal card as the second card but can't figure out how to get the input routing correctly to the output on the roadie, so I want to try the other way. Use the input on the roadie to output throught the pci card. This board has a 6 channel which i'm going to try, but doubt it will be good.

Also, did you get the other board you showed me?

danielkh · 04-17-2008, 10:43 AM

Ok, no laughing, this is a constant work in progress, so I quit cleaning it up!

The big thing to remember here is to put some kind of insulator under the card. On the video card, there is a fan on top (plastic) so I didn't have to insulate above, but soundcard might. Make sure whatever you use as an insulator doesn't contact cooling fan (if fan is present). I tried pulling out of the case to show better, but it didn't come out easily, and it always causes me other problems. This should give you an idea. If you have the USB ports on the front, notice I disconnected and just have the header cable (along with a second one) running out of the case on the right.

I think this is the riser I used.

http://store.mo-co-so.com/left-facin...iser-p-23.html

Autockr989 · 04-17-2008, 10:54 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by danielkh

Ok, no laughing, this is a constant work in progress, so I quit cleaning it up!

The big thing to remember here is to put some kind of insulator under the card. On the video card, there is a fan on top (plastic) so I didn't have to insulate above, but soundcard might. Make sure whatever you use as an insulator doesn't contact cooling fan (if fan is present). I tried pulling out of the case to show better, but it didn't come out easily, and it always causes me other problems. This should give you an idea. If you have the USB ports on the front, notice I disconnected and just have the header cable (along with a second one) running out of the case on the right.

I think this is the riser I used.

http://store.mo-co-so.com/left-facin...iser-p-23.html

I see what your saying.. I have to comment that man you got a lot going on back there. I'm more laughing with you becuase i have yet to completely hide my wires running in the truck since it is a continuous work in progress. Especially when every week is a new addition. zip ties are your friend

danielkh · 04-17-2008, 10:57 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Autockr989

I see what your saying.. I have to comment that man you got a lot going on back there. I'm more laughing with you becuase i have yet to completely hide my wires running in the truck since it is a continuous work in progress. Especially when every week is a new addition. zip ties are your friend

What can I say....most people here are software people. I'm hardware. I want to see just how many different components I can get to working at once. lol

Now you see why I am looking at that case from Logic Supply. It will give me room for 2 PCI cards, and enough places to mount USB ports on the side or back. Sucks that in 6 months, I have outgrown my computer.

danielkh · 05-01-2008, 07:23 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Autockr989

I see what your saying.. I have to comment that man you got a lot going on back there. I'm more laughing with you becuase i have yet to completely hide my wires running in the truck since it is a continuous work in progress. Especially when every week is a new addition. zip ties are your friend

Looks like I am finally taking the plunge on my upgrade and strangely enough, it's going to match your system perfectly (same board, 2.33 processor). So, what did you find on that sound thing so you can save ME some $$$? lol

Autockr989 · 05-01-2008, 08:55 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by danielkh

Looks like I am finally taking the plunge on my upgrade and strangely enough, it's going to match your system perfectly (same board, 2.33 processor). So, what did you find on that sound thing so you can save ME some $$$? lol

Well first off, I haven't done anything yet with the sound. I got the xm working on the front channels, but have yet to figure out how to spread it out, so I haven't even activated the service. I called Jetway about running the 6.1 sound card.

Here's the issue why I can't run it.

One the back of the computer there is a line in, line out, mic in (so far only 3 channels)
When I purchased my original mobo, it came in a case already and had another circuit board (I forget what they called it) but it sat in front of the mobo and had a two usb inputs and 2 channel for audio White/Red. That was set for the old mobo.

I bought my new mobo by itself (prob. how your doing it) and didn't realize till after that that front circuit board isn't compatible with the new one (and if it is, is abosultely useless for sound)the only thing that works is wher I plug in the two fans that are built in the case. The compatible front circuit board has 3 more channels for the sound which would make it 6 channel. Jetway told me that this board is not supplied by them and i have not gotten around to calling mp3car (where I bought my original system) about how to get that front board. I hope this makes sense, because I was a bit confused about this whole front board crap.

Basically if I run it now, I can use Linein for rear channel, lineout for front channel, and mic in for sub channel, but that doesn't allow me to have any line inputs, so useless. If you look in the manual (follow the link) towards the bottom of the manual where it goes over the screen shots for the sound driver and eq. you will see in one of the screen shots all of the 3.5mm jacks to make 6 channel. then go back up to the top of the manual and look at the picture specs of the back of the mobo, only 3 channel. If you have any ideas on a resolution, I'm all ears. From the mobo you are currently running I
m assuming you have the same front circuit board.

Another note: I'm to the conclusion that the xm over the pc just simply sux. I think the better route especially for the sound card issue, is going with a rhapsody type service. I was going to hook up an at&t card anyway so rather spend the money for xm, I think i'm going to try out rhapsody. l

Also, besides for the sound roadblock I have (others prob. don't) the mobo is great. I hated my carpc until I upgraded. Everything is so smooth and crisp especially SD. Good luck and let me know how things go. Also I run 2gb memory at 667. others i read have had issues with that, but I they also bought the processor seperate from mobo. Mine was already embedded and tested. I can't find it right now, but I googled and found a guide how to change out a mobo without re-installing windows. i don't know if you already now how to, but it worked like a charm.

http://jetwaycomputer.com/Intel.html

danielkh · 05-01-2008, 04:53 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Autockr989

I bought my new mobo by itself (prob. how your doing it) and didn't realize till after that that front circuit board isn't compatible with the new one (and if it is, is abosultely useless for sound)the only thing that works is wher I plug in the two fans that are built in the case.

Actually, looking at a complete system with PCI slot in the case. It's got the 3 rear sound ports and front 2, but I am guessing the front 2 are just extentions of the back (line in/mic). The PCI slot is more than likely going to be used for a sound card since you said the onboard video is good.

Autockr989 · 05-01-2008, 07:10 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by danielkh

Actually, looking at a complete system with PCI slot in the case. It's got the 3 rear sound ports and front 2, but I am guessing the front 2 are just extentions of the back (line in/mic). The PCI slot is more than likely going to be used for a sound card since you said the onboard video is good.

On board video is great. 224MB. Can't complain. Your right about the sound inputs, but i think through the software you can tell which port is for which channel. Or they tell you to use this port for this channel. All I know is from looking at the screen shot you can do multichannel support rather than having to split the signal.

danielkh · 05-04-2008, 04:25 PM

I apologize if we have covered this board before, but wouldn't this one work perfectly? It even has a phone hookup for mute!

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Value On-Board Connectors

Line level out (Front / Side / Rear / Center / Subwoofer)
Microphone in
Line in
Digital I/O (for stereo SPDIF output to Digital I/O Module*)
Telephone Answering Device in
Aux In

http://cgi.ebay.com/Creative-Sound-B...QQcmdZViewItem

danielkh · 05-04-2008, 07:23 PM

Now I'll show it.....Matches my car perfectly.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWN:IT&ih=020

Couldn't build this system for what he was asking, so didn't want to make it public. I'm selfish that way.