Welcome Creative Labs!

[creativeguy]

Hi all,

I'm happy to be here representing Creative Labs. Post any questions you have, and I will do my best to answer them. What do you want to talk about?
Soundcards?Speakers?Webcams? MP3?


Thanks to Jason for getting me on here!

Demian Bowman
Marketing Associate
Creative Labs, Inc.

[Jason]

Demian,

Im certain that our forum visitors will be happy to ask you ton's of questions.

Welcome aboard.

[StinkyMojo]

oooo nice.. Hey demian, nice to have you here. Please don't hurt me because I use SoundStorm and not an Audigy.. j/k :biggrin:

[Jason]

The audio quality of the Audigy blows soundstorm away. Its just facts.

[StinkyMojo]

lol of course it does man.. I was just playing. You thought I was for real?

[Jason425]

You are for real.. audigy 2 = ownage.. I like creative hardware, but the software is so invasive and retarded (you CAN'T download the drivers, you have to install off the CD and then update) .. and I still haven't successfully gotten my 6.1 inspire system to sound evenly front and back

btw.. i was listening to some soundstorm.. and I heard a bunch of junk like all onboard sound.. no thanks!

[Jason]

The creative software isisnt that invasive as others. Try philips cards then LMK. BTW I will never own another philips card as long as I breathe air. Those drivers make no sense and need to be installed manually in many cases.

[Jason425]

let phillips stick to toothbrushes.. I wouldn't buy them either.. I've heard good things about the turtle beach cards.. but I got this because of the 6.1 capability..

[Uranium-235]

I hear about Problems with creative cards, how they cards use up more CPU, and install more crap programs you don't need. Someone I know has one and it installed and it installed this bar on top of her desktop, more memory needlessly used up.

viva la Hercules Fortissimo III

edit: but yeah I hear your speakers are pretty good

[Jason425]

yea since you can spend $300 on megaworks.. $100 for these doesn't seem that bad.. i mean they can't be 3 times better than this.. The software is invasive but can be controlled.. and I don't like the fact that the front center is always the quietest speaker no matter how loud you tell it to get (yes i've switched speakers.. they're all the same)

[Jason]

The creative speakers do rock. and TWL might be giving away a set of travel speakers, so stay tuned.

[Prometheus]

I have to get a sound card soon :) my onboard sound card lags up when there are heavy graphics or high cpu usage (Far cry cinema scenes)

[Jason425]

ouch...

[StinkyMojo]

I have to get a sound card soon :) my onboard sound card lags up when there are heavy graphics or high cpu usage (Far cry cinema scenes)

are you using ac97 ?

[Prometheus]

indeed

[StinkyMojo]

yeah.. when i had ac 97 i just used a soundblaster live 5.1.. (I hated that card too)

[Prometheus]

I found a forum in Ireland with a classified/wanted for techies so I will just ask for one there.

[Dragon]

and replacing graphics lag for things my computer does wrong: *sound lag*

hmmm..... logic please? is this not a little better than graphics lag?

[Prometheus]

the sound goes slower than the graphics

[Jason425]

sound is on 33mhz pci bus and graphics on 66mhz agp bus...

[creativeguy]

Jason was absolutely right about the software- you can control the "invasiveness" of our software. Just choose a custom installation for tons of options.
As to our cards: The Creative chips have a lot of kick. What other PCI card actually helps the CPU in processing (besides a video or capture card) Rhetorical question!
Take a look at some recent benchmarks. You'll be amazed. No other company has anything like the Audigy 2 in processing power or true audio quality. Competitive offerings make a stab at one or the other.

D

[vee_ess]

I don't know as much as I'd like to about the top-level sound cards, so I was wondering how the Audigy 2 and the Revolotion 7.1 compare.

[creativeguy]

It's funny, I don't get many competitive sound card questions anymore. ;) It's getting harder to find competition in retail- with the exception of Fry's Electronics.
The Audigy 2 is similar in audio quality to the card you mentioned. The processing power is the key here. However, the latest ZS cards can decode Dolby Dig EX and DTS ES in hardware.
As for gaming, the Audigy cards are the only ones to process EAX Advanced HD. Other cards handle an older version of EAX, but only in software.

Hope this helps facilitate discussion!

D

[Prometheus]

If I wasnt saving for my x800 I might buy an audigy my onboard doesnt cut it...

[Jason425]

pfft @ x800.. 9500 = pwnage until hl2 comes out.. which will never happen (well basically) so there is nothing to worry about.. hopefully they time it with the x880xt

[Prometheus]

of course

[eviltechie]

hl2 comes out in sept i think
might be another fat cheque but that date is what newegg.com and walmart.com believes it to be

Audigy 2 is a great card
will the SB Live! 5.1 Platinum live drive work with Audigy 2 card?

[creativeguy]

Audigy 2 is a great card
will the SB Live! 5.1 Platinum live drive work with Audigy 2 card?

Yes and No- for the newbies, the pinouts on the card and drive are different...so you can't use the cables that come w/ it. If you're careful, you could use an ide cable to do it, but not recommended.

[vee_ess]

Can the Audigy encode Dolby Digital? I'm planning on eventually putting a preamp and amp with some real speakers, and that would make it a lot easier, reliable, and better in terms of performance.

[creativeguy]

Dolby Digital was no problem, going all the way back to the Live!
For higher end Dolby D-EX or DTS, go for the Audigy 2ZS.
It's worth your while.

[vee_ess]

Good to hear. I had thought that they could only decode DD.

EDIT:
I forgot to mention a few more questions I had about future connections. Are there going to be any digital coax connectors as inputs on the cards? Will the new digital audio over IEEE 1394 standard be supported (not the same as what's currently on the card for networked gameplay; what'll be used for high-bandwidth digital audio connection in home theater) and will there be a possibility that there is an input in addition to an output of that?

[creativeguy]

Good questions. Truthfully, I don't know what's going to be on the next Sound Blaster.

[vee_ess]

Thanks. I hope I don't seem too persistent with these.

[Jason425]

Well this kind of is his job (well i'm pretty sure he's not doing this on his free time) so no.. help yourself ;)

[creativeguy]

Absolutely, J. This is my job, so keep the questions coming!
I sincerely don't know what;s happening with the new card, and I couldn't leak the info if I did.
NEWS: We just announced the Zen Touch on the website. It's our smallest Portable Audio player yet, and with some amazing features like a 24-hour battery. WOW!

[StinkyMojo]

woot.. all nomads own.. I have the original MuVo 64mb ;)

[bilo86]

I have a Sound Blaster 16 PCI and it sucks. =/ It's the truth. I wish I wouldn't of under estimated sound cards when I built my computer, I should have invested more into a half way decent one. Any suggestions...

[Jason425]

lol...

yea.. get an audigy 2 oem.. pretty cheap and you don't need that extra drive (I got it because of 6.1.. the zs's support 7.1)

[Dragon]

yea ive got a question... whats the advantage of having, say, a 500w 5.1 system as opposed to an 80w 5.1 system?

also, since im in the market for new speakers: how do i get the best quality, im not necessarily looking for LOUD loud, but i still want loud. i use my computer for watching alot of movies, so i want to get 5.1, THX, and whatnot, but i dont really know what all the acronyms mean, and the ones i do know, like square means root, just confuse me more. any help, or referral to where i can learn these things would be great. thx.

right now im using a set of justers with a subwoofer, the subwoofer plugs into my PC, and the speakers plug into the sub. in back i have my 150 SHARP shelf system... i have terrible bass quality. not sure how relavent any of that was..

[Dragon]

i was looking a this one http://www.klipsch.com/product/product.aspx?cid=712&cmd=More&cmd_r=, and im stuck between the audigy 2 ZS and the Audigy 2 ZS platinum Pro... does the Pro have better sound quality, or just more features? i like the guitar inputs, do you know what size those jacks are?

[Jason425]

i'm fairly certain it's the same quality...

If you're going to splurge on that good of a sound card.. why not get more speakers? They get in the way i'll admit.. but it helps in the "audio immersion experience"

[StinkyMojo]

my "audio immersion experience" is a set of these:

http://www.plantronics.com/north_america/en_US/products/cat640035/cat1430032/prod440020

never going back to speakers. well maybe when they make 10.1 ...

[vee_ess]

Headphones are great, but you don't get that punch in the stomach from the bass from explosions, etc. or feel of the high's shaking your clothes.

[Dragon]

yeah.. theres always that whole "its all in your head" type of feeling.... weve got an $800 JBL unit on our main TV, and i was watching independence day... you get the idea...

[eviltechie]

oh creativeguy, ive got a question for you

i've got the Klipch Promedia 4.1 speakers
http://www.klipsch.com/product/product.aspx?Cid=102

and Creative SB Live! 5.1 Platinum.
ive been using this combination for a few months now
and the rear speakers have been giving me a low whizzing sound since the day i bought the speakers
ive tried RMAing twice and still no improvements
i dont think there are any EM interference or anything strange happening to my soundcard but just wondering if this is soundcard related

btw, i used to have some cheaper 4.1 speakers with this card and there were no problems
but since these klipsch are more sensative and well tuned, im worried that its the card thats giving the noise


thanx in advance

[creativeguy]

First, the new products: I've just received the Zen Portable Media Center player. It's 20GB of goodness.
What's your take on a $499 player that can play video, stills, and music with its own screen? Sure, a few have done this already. But what about the ability to download content, legally :) that you really want? Like last week's episode of your favorite TV show, or full high-quality movies.

And for my reply,
As for the Klipsch and SB Live, get a new card! The sound quality on the newer Sound Blasters kick the Live to the curb (Live SNR is 95dB, Audigy 2ZS is 108dB). While you're at it, you should get a set of our Gigaworks, rated at 98dB SNR.

[question123]

Hi Creativeguy. I just bought a Soundblaster Audigy OEM. I t didn't come with any drivers or software like my previous soundblaster card. I had to go online to find drivers (there were none for it on the Creative site). I was wondering if there was any software that should come with it. And how can I get it. Thanks a lot.

The part number is SB0370. Thanks again.

[Jason425]

if they do the same for the one as they do the audigy 2, you're screwed.. there might be a way around it now, but as far as I know, you HAVE to have the cd's to get sound to work at all.. because all files online only update the original drivers..

that was the situation back when I had a problem and thus looked it up.. they might have a way around it now though... look on :google: and you're bound to find some good info.. if not a solution..

[creativeguy]

question123:

I won't be remedial, but remember that OEM is just that- it was meant to be used by a system integrator, and they would only need one driver disk for the bunch. That's why they usually don't give you one, or give you a burned copy.
Creative is planning to supply basic drivers on the website, due to OVERWHELMING demand. I think it's plain good sense.

You could get drivers from Driverguide.com
Do a search for Creative Audigy. The Audigy Platinum drivers will work as well.
Then UPDATE from the Creative site! We always have huge advances in the drivers.

[Jason425]

:thumbsup: to creative finally figuring out that drivers are a good thing to put on your site!

[ptzink01]

Creativeguy,
How do you connect the Audigy 2 to an old Live Drive? I know the connectors are rearranged, but they are essentially the same as the Audigy Drive. Please help....

Thanks,
pt

[creativeguy]

You know, I wound up with that same situation myself. Either b/c of laziness, or lack of time, I have done nothing with it.
It turns out the newer cards and Audigy drives are keyed differently. Creative tech support will tell you to just get the new drive.
I would tell you to find one on ebay, or a trade forum.
The truth is, the newer drives have more features, and just look better. Mine is just decoration at this point.