Digital Processing options with 5.1 - Page 5

wysocki · 03-06-2005, 02:16 PM

The Extigy doesn't have a CMSS setting as far as I can see, but it DOES have a button on the unit itself that enables it. The Playcenter (for mp3s) has an EAX button for effects but I'm not using it. I set the bass/treble to max on the mixer which sounds pretty much like I want it. Although I would really like a true eq somehow.

Squid · 03-06-2005, 02:58 PM

As you can see above that picture.. I state that is from my desktop machine running an Audigy 2 ZS....

But the Audigy 2 NX has the same screen.. it's just lacking the middle option CMSS 2.
(and no THX)

So since the Extigy is all hardware.. u can't control what kinda CMSS it is? Well that's bunk!

hmm... must.. be... some.. way...

Squid · 03-06-2005, 03:01 PM

And yea.. I'm running all the current Creative drivers... and SP2...
I didn't answer that.. cause that screen is not because of drivers.. but card...

Dr. Jeff · 03-06-2005, 06:05 PM

Concerning the EQ - Doesn't WMP 10 have a built in 10-channel? If it is configured by loading it in straight, closing, then running Frodo, won't Frodo use those settings?

wysocki · 03-06-2005, 07:27 PM

Yes, Frodo basically uses whatever wmp is setup for, I guess, because I use DFX for wmp and it comes up in Frodo too. Don't know how I lived before DFX although it takes an extra 30% of cpu (same that the wmp eq does but the eq doesn't provide half the impact that dfx does).

However, none of this comes into play for external sources like XM. I'm just glad the Exitgy has a bass/treble that work so well on everything.

sivart321 · 04-07-2005, 10:00 PM

does anyone know of the audigy pcmcia version pprocesses the line-in and allows 6 channel output? Someone mentioned it did, but no one confirmed.

If it isn't, is the only option the extigy?

jcdillin · 04-08-2005, 01:47 PM

And I have a question, is anyone using optical in from the XMDirect and optical out to a processer or digital amp?

ChilliPepper · 04-20-2005, 09:31 PM

Since this thread isn't totally dead yet and has alot of bearing on many carPC sound systems, I thought I'd throw in this link. This is a Flash demo on the Extigy from Creative's site.

http://www.soundblaster.com/product....asp#easeofuse2
(hmm...on the preview screen it doesn't show this link right. not sure if it will work, but here it is again "http://www.soundblaster.com/products/extigy/tour.asp#easeofuse2")

Especially check out the 5 slides under the Multi-Channel Performance section. While the Creative CSRs don't seem to know jack, the demo clearly says that users can experience ALL of their audio in 5.1 using CMSS, including stereo input. Further, it says the system smartly switches between CMSS and true Dolby Digital 5.1 depending on the input. Even better, it says the CMSS mixing occurs in real-time, such as game-playing.

I've wrestled with digital 5.1 outputs and DTS processors for about 12 hours now. I really think this is the answer (for many of us). If this turns out to be as great as I think it will be, I will be upgrading my home system to this as well.

Thanks a ton Cletis and Wysocki for your input in this thread. It's made my 12 hours (errr day

).

cletus323 · 04-21-2005, 11:07 AM

anytime, haha

Good find on the flash demo!

P.S. I'm parting out my setup and have an Extigy for sale in case you are interested.

ChilliPepper · 04-21-2005, 11:16 AM

Are you serious? Gah! I just bought one refurbished on Ebay from Creative.

I know the Extigy docs say it has a built-in amp, but are you running the outputs to another amp to boost the signal more or is the Extigy volume level good enough?

wysocki · 04-21-2005, 06:47 PM

I hadn't even considered the fact that the Extigy was putting out enough power to be fed directly to a speaker. OTOH it drives my amp system (100w/channel) much better than my Audigy 2NX did. Now I can tweak the levels on my amps to less than full volume to balance the sound out and still have plenty of power to crack a window if I wish. So far I only have two issues with the Extigy: the input mixer doesn't have a selection for SPDIF-IN for recording (only "What-U-Hear" which mixes all input sources). This makes it difficult/impossible to use with things like the FrodoPlayer EQ. Also, when I come out of hibernate I sometimes lose my subwoofer and have to reboot. Anyone know how to fix this?

nubz69 · 04-21-2005, 08:52 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Red GTi VR6

XM is music, music doesn't play in 5.1, it's left and right stereo.....

as for getting only the two front channels.....what is your setup? that sounds screwy....hehe

Not true. DVD-A and SACD are both 5.1 audio formats. In addition some channels on sirus are broadcasted in dolby but they don't advertise it.

ChilliPepper · 04-21-2005, 09:46 PM

Yeah I'm probably going to use an amp anyway as well. But if the Exitgy creates sound anywhere near the volume I get with my Cambridge Soundworks DTT3500 decoder, I'd be all set for volume.

As for the hibernate subwoofer problem, I'll test this out and let you know if I get the same problem.

There are several problems with some electronics not coming back online properly after hibernate. I may not use it at all, considering the system boots within about 20/30 secs even without hibernate.

wysocki · 04-22-2005, 12:21 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by ChilliPepper

the system boots within about 20/30 secs even without hibernate.

Damn! My Epia M10000 Win2k takes about three minutes to come up. Hibernate resume takes about 20 seconds. Chilli, are you the same guy in the phonecontrol forum?

ChilliPepper · 04-22-2005, 12:50 AM

No, not the same guy sorry wysocki.

As for booting, Win 2K is one of the slowest operating systems. Don't get me wrong, I love Win 2K. I still run it on several machines, but it's VERY slow booting. Slower than possibly every other operating system MS put out.

Win XP is significantly faster to boot. So that would explain the time difference.

I'll still try hibernate mode, because that's even faster (maybe 10 secs??). But if I start to run in to a bunch of hardware failure errors, I'll just boot normally. Honesly, by the time I reverse out of the driveway and get halfway up the block, I'd be GTG.