SoundBlaster PCI 128 Rear Out Problem

uishtiek · TweakNOOB Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 12

i own a SoundBlaster PCI 128 which boasts a front and rear out port so that you can connect two stereo sets to create a surround sound experience, i have emailed creative and recieved less than adequate answers claiming end of service agreements. has anyone ever found a way to fix this on XP?

Google · Sponsor

[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

uishtiek · TweakNOOB Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 12

uh yes i can, seeing as how other manufacturers still support all their cards

Xal · Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 4:35 am Post subject:

I have had this issue too, I eneded up just buying a signal splitter and connecting both sets of speakers to the same output. This was over five years ago though. As Nathan said, this is an old outdated product that creative no longer supports. I mean come on, I have a soundblaster Live and I don't even get support for that anymore. A cheap soundcard with surround costs almost as little as a signal splitter these days. I seroiusly wouldn't waste my time on that card. If manufacturers are still supporting it then they are certainly not any manufacturer I would ever buy from, even the likes of PCChips has stopped using that sound chip and I would never willingly buy a PCChips product.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but there comes a time when old is just too old.

Welcome to TN by the way

_________________
Phenom II x4 955 @ Stock
Asus M3N78-EM
4gb Corsair XMS2 DDR2 667 @ 800
1gb Powercolor Radeon HD 5850 @ Stock
X-fi Extreme Audio PCI E
Nexus 600W Silent PSU
Nexus Fans
Custom case

[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

uishtiek · TweakNOOB Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 12

thanks for the gracious welcome

and its not easy for a student to come across money, especially one of the credit card form; most soundcards i find in stores are >40$
i was wondering if i connected a pair of speakers to a case with a front audio out would it just mirror the signal? or actually become a front out? im not too sure as my brother's case can use all 4 speakers at once (2 stereos), is it just a mirror?

ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

oh!!! chances are, yes it would be a mirror.

What are the connections on the back of the cound card? How many are there?
_________________

uishtiek · TweakNOOB Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 12

two an front output and a rear output which is supposed to enable a quadraphonic surround sound system

sickofsoyo · Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 9:54 pm Post subject:

I see, and did you try enabling quadratic sound in windows?

control panel -> soudns and audio devices -> click advanced under speaker settings, and change it from there.
_________________
P4 3.2ghz
lanparty pro875b
Enermax Liberty 500 Watt Modular PSU
Sony 52X CD-RW
Samsung 120gig SATA hdd
Maxtor 100gig SATA hdd
Powmax Demon case
ATI X800 XL AIW, 525 Core, 525 mem
Creative X-Fi Platinum
PDP systems Patriot Ram 2,3,2,5 timings

uishtiek · TweakNOOB Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 12

lol yeah, thats the first step i took

my only solution is now...anyone wanna donate one to me?

sickofsoyo · Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 10:29 pm Post subject:

how bout a little more info...

did it just start not working for 4 speakers?

if you plug 2 speakers into the front, and then switch them into the rear, do you get signal from both?
_________________
P4 3.2ghz
lanparty pro875b
Enermax Liberty 500 Watt Modular PSU
Sony 52X CD-RW
Samsung 120gig SATA hdd
Maxtor 100gig SATA hdd
Powmax Demon case
ATI X800 XL AIW, 525 Core, 525 mem
Creative X-Fi Platinum
PDP systems Patriot Ram 2,3,2,5 timings

uishtiek · TweakNOOB Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 12

yeah, its not a speaker problem, both speakers are of good quality and condition, its a soundcard/driver problem.

i found a soundcard that i might attempt to gain ownership of

ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

didnt have time to read it all...but did you peruse this link?

http://www.active-hardware.com/english/reviews/soundcards/sbpci128.htm

dont know if the solution is in there...but i thought it was worth a shot.

...this is buggin me...
_________________

ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

STOP!

your user guide makes no mention of quadraphonic ability....

http://ccftp.creative.com/manualdn/Manuals/TSD/2384/AudioPCI128.pdf
_________________

uishtiek · TweakNOOB Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 12

does this mean nothing?:

On-Board Connectors
Microphone in
MPC-3 CD Audio in
Line Level out
Amplified out
Auxiliary In / Rear Out
MIDI / Joystick port

though i might be calling it by the wrong name, maybe its 4-point or 4 speaker setup not quadraphonic

ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

i can see where that would be confusing....but yes, i believe its only another stereo out....mirroring the main two stereo outs.

sorry man.
_________________

uishtiek · TweakNOOB Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 12

lol, yeah i thought of that possibility, i'd be happy with that, but it doesn't work as a four-point OR a quadraphonic, so my only choices now are:
1) new soundcard ( i have one in mind, yay!)
2) maybe the other line out on the front of my new case
3) benevolent soul gives me surround sound speakers (heh best idea)

ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

even with speakers you'll still need the card to drive them....;D

Are you sure the front case ports are hooked up? Have you tried pluggin both wires into the back?
_________________

uishtiek · TweakNOOB Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 12

well some speakers only require one line out and they use the subwoofer to decode the signals to the speakers.

and ill get back to you on the case front line out as the case is still sitting in the garage; i think i might install it during christmas.

ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

youre right about the speakers...but thats not true surrounds sound....;D

Keep us posted!!
_________________