Sound Blaster

[LorindaM]

Was unhappy to learn that I am unable to record streaming audio with this card. Apparently Dell, and Creative have seen fit to block the ability to do this.  Understand they are concerned about protecting rights of copyright holders. In my case I had a legitimate reason to do this...... record yahoo chat, skype and other content.  This policy makes absolutely no sense as I can hook up an FM Stereo or player to the line in and jack and record,.

Understand I can purchase the retail version of the card and wav or what you hear recording options are available however no provision to connect the card to my headphone and mic jack on the front panel of the PC.

I think it's pretty deceptive of both Creative and Dell to offer this sound card as an option without offering a disclaimer that these functions have been disabled.

Am wondering if there is some type of software upgrade which will restore the wav and what you hear function so that I may use this expensive Dell box for the same functions I used my previous computer for.  Funny my old computer has more abilities than this Dell and the disable SB Card.  Tought I was gettign an upgrade when I bought the SB card, but that sure wasn't the case.

io realize it's a Dell system but creative should ask Dell to note on the option sheet that the card has been disabled for certain recording functions. 

Message Edited by LorindaM on 06-11-2008 02:11 PM

[split10]

If you look on the Dell forums, you will see loads of people (used to at least) moaning about the loss of stereo mix which stops people recording.

Dell released a driver to correct this on the sigmatel chips they use, but it only works in XP.

A lot of the new Creative cards have also dropped this feature (in Vista), and that includes the dear gamer cards so be carefull what you buy if thats what you intend to do.

There is a way of recording from the web (youtube for instance) if you look here you can see how.

It's not perfect, but it's good enough for what most want to do.

I don't think that will do what you want if you want to record more, and I have seen reference to something called total recorder which can maybe do more than the thing in that video, but I'm not sure it's a 100% free.

There has been many theories on the web why this function is being disabled, and it's very hard to draw a final conclusion.

Newer drivers I tried on one of my creatives lost me the mix facility, but when I let windows install it's own I got it back so that sort of blows the MS conspiracy theory out of the window.

This info is on Creatives FAQ...search  the database for What U hear (creatives mix) for say the X-Fi XtremeGamer and you'l find..

The What U Hear recording option is supported in Windows Vista for Sound Blaster X-Fi series (excluding Extreme Audio series) and Sound Blaster Audigy series (excluding Sound Blaster Audigy LE, SE, and Audigy Value).

If the "What U Hear" option is missing in the Recording menu, it could be disabled or hidden. To make it appear in the list, right click anywhere in the Recording menu, and select "Show Disabled Device", right click on "What U Hear" option and select Enable. Right click it again, and select "Set as Default".

The "What U Hear" feature for Sound Blaster Audigy SE/LS/Live!24 bit cards had changed since the latest driver update. The previous version of Windows Vista driver (SB24_VTDRV_LB_1_04_0065A.exe) for Sound Blaster Audigy SE/LS/Live!24 bit has an option for recording with "What U Hear";

The latest version (SB24_VTDRV_LB_1_04_0077.exe) no longer has the option for "What U Hear" recording with Sound Blaster Audigy SE/LS/Live!24bit.

Both drivers are currently available for download. The only way to get the "What U Hear" back is to reinstall the previous drivers, or roll back drivers.

Anyway, have a look at that video and total recorder and see if it does what you want.

[LorindaM]

Quote: 

 "The What U Hear recording option is supported in Windows Vista for Sound Blaster X-Fi series (excluding Extreme Audio series) and Sound Blaster Audigy series (excluding Sound Blaster Audigy LE, SE, and Audigy Value).

If the "What U Hear" option is missing in the Recording menu, it could be disabled or hidden. To make it appear in the list, right click anywhere in the Recording menu, and select "Show Disabled Device", right click on "What U Hear" option and select Enable. Right click it again, and select "Set as Default".

The "What U Hear" feature for Sound Blaster Audigy SE/LS/Live!24 bit cards had changed since the latest driver update. The previous version of Windows Vista driver (SB24_VTDRV_LB_1_04_0065A.exe) for Sound Blaster Audigy SE/LS/Live!24 bit has an option for recording with "What U Hear";

The latest version (SB24_VTDRV_LB_1_04_0077.exe) no longer has the option for "What U Hear" recording with Sound Blaster Audigy SE/LS/Live!24bit.

Both drivers are currently available for download. The only way to get the "What U Hear" back is to reinstall the previous drivers, or roll back drivers.

What you hear and wave out not availble in the Extreme Audio series...  Ironic to name a sound card "Exterme Audio" when it;s function is disabled. What other reason is there to do this then to prevent people form recording streaming audio?  None.

My gripe is Dell and SB should prominently display a disclaimer stating that these functions have been disabled so that when one is ordering online and comes to the sound card option thye will now this. I would have never shelled out an additonal $60 for the card and used the onboard audio or found another sound card somewhere.

I found total recorder and it allows you to do this if you use TR's drivers, but seems to me that diminsihes the audio output of the sound card itself. 

Just funny a computer I bought years ago  and the last three all do something which these more advance systems should do.   Next one, I;ll leave out the sound card and find one in a store.

i was told the retail versions of this card do not disable thes efunctions. yet the statement you provided seems to indicate they are disabled.

Thanks 

[split10]

I totally agree with you...in these days of so called multimedia you'd think it was a function that would be standard as it always was.

With more people making videos etc and wanting to record media, I think it's a step backwards.

I personally use What U hear (aka stereo mix) and when people ask me these day what to buy esp new vista PC's, I draw a bit of a blank especially on laptops. I made a page on it here for people using the same app as I do and want the mix function.

You may find that usefull if your in the market for a card and your on Vista.

I know a guy who spend over 4000 AUS on a Dell system and is shocked to have no mix after getting the so called better sound card.

I guess we have to assume that these extreme cards give you better sound in games, but that's hardly multimedia.

Someone said to me recently there will be a huge hole in the karaoke market as more people change PCs and find it isn't going to work in Vista.

[LorindaM]

Is funny I also purchased a modem as well with the system.  Same as  the one in last system and it had wav drivers.  I could use my PC as a phone answering machine too with multiple mailboxes. Not with this machine. Can't even answer the phone and take a message with this one.  Really pathetic.  LOL 

I guess part of the problem is Vista, but you would think in this day of hi-tech something like this could be accomplished.  So my modem is fine if I want to send a fax,  which brings me to another issue, MS deletes Fax program with Vista Home Premium and there are very few fax programs available for Vista.

If enough people complain perhaps a software patch or upgrade will come about.   I see no reason to purchase a new pc or a sound card if these functions are unavailable.  So I may just have to put my own system together and or go back to winxp and use my sb audigy card from the prior system.

I really feel like I was cheated by both Dell and Creative,

Message Edited by LorindaM on 06-12-2008 12:59 AM

Message Edited by LorindaM on 06-12-2008 01:00 AM

Message Edited by LorindaM on 06-12-2008 01:01 AM