hi everyone.i have searched the forums but i couldnt find anyone with my problem.so i thought i had better post it.this is my story
my wife is disabled so she spends a fair bit of time talking and playing music in chatrooms.now she could only play music through the speakers into the mic using the onboard audio,so i installed a soundcard.(Audio Excel 6 channel pci sound card).the problem now is that she can either play music or talk through the mic by changing some settings .she cannot do both.everytime she tries the sound is very weak.i have disabled the onboard audio through the bios in case there was a conflict but still no go.i have uploaded the latest driver through win xp but still the same.i cant help but feel that the problem is settings but i have no idea where to adjust them.have tried through sounds and audio devices and through properties in the master volume control with no luck.
has anyone any ideas on this.(the wife is getting a bit upset over this)
any help will be very much appreciatted

Quote: Originally Posted by keepaf1 hi everyone.i have searched the forums but i couldnt find anyone with my problem.so i thought i had better post it.this is my story my wife is disabled so she spends a fair bit of time talking and playing music in chatrooms.now she could only play music through the speakers into the mic using the onboard audio,so i installed a soundcard.(Audio Excel 6 channel pci sound card).the problem now is that she can either play music or talk through the mic by changing some settings .she cannot do both.everytime she tries the sound is very weak.i have disabled the onboard audio through the bios in case there was a conflict but still no go.i have uploaded the latest driver through win xp but still the same.i cant help but feel that the problem is settings but i have no idea where to adjust them.have tried through sounds and audio devices and through properties in the master volume control with no luck. has anyone any ideas on this.(the wife is getting a bit upset over this) any help will be very much appreciatted

Hello keepaf1, i will try to see if i can help you out here , i had a simular problem one time it so happen that it ended up being a bad sound card even thu it was a brand new sound card, i ended up bring the sound card back to where i baught it and baught a cheap one called Creative labs Sound Blaster Audigy 4 this is the one i am using now http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=4978927
Now i am not saying that this is your problem, but the way you are describing the issue you are having that is the same thing that happen to me., i hope this will help you out, there is enother sound card that is out there called Sound blaster live 24bit which is alot cheaper that i baught that sells for around $30.00 US currency that Walmart had, but i can not find it on there website and this card also works just as good as my other one and they do have it in my local Walmart near me.

the issue is with one of the following: crappy drivers, budget card limitations (such as a lack of OpenAL support), user error (misconfiguration in the sound mixer, very common).

the easy, best, and recommended solution to the problem....especially if your wife appreciates decent sound quality...is to return what you just got and replace it with a card that has more "oomph", something along the lines of an Audigy or Audigy 2, as they can all be had for a very affordable price and any one of them will easily allow your wife the versatility she needs for her voice chatting and music...

browse over to THIS thread, seems this guy has a decent soundcard for sale for $12 shipped, its a really, really good deal and is exactly what you need...


OR for $28.99 + $4.99 shipping at Newegg.com (very well respected online retailer)
Creative Sound Blaster SB0570 Audigy SE 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card - OEM

I vouch for the Audigy 2 and "upwards"... great sound quality and there are even "alternative" drivers
for it...

TDR

thanks guys.really appreciate the help.i will spring for another soundcard and put hers in my donkey.i dont talk in chat rooms so i will find a use for it .
cant return it as it was brought off an online auction fairly cheap.so will pay bit more for a better card.
once again thank you for the help

Quote: Originally Posted by The Dragon Reborn I vouch for the Audigy 2 and "upwards"... great sound quality and there are even "alternative" drivers for it... TDR

i could be mistaken, but i was pretty sure the Kx drivers worked for all EMU10K based SPU's (Live!, Audigy, Audigy2)

i used them for a while, and they are definately awesome for studio work and such, but for games, you lose quite a bit of your fancy EAX effects...

dumb question... when you installed the new sound card ... did you unistall/disable the onboard sound card?

i disabled the onboard sound through the bios

Quote: i could be mistaken, but i was pretty sure the Kx drivers worked for all EMU10K based SPU's (Live!, Audigy, Audigy2) i used them for a while, and they are definately awesome for studio work and such, but for games, you lose quite a bit of your fancy EAX effects... __________________

Heard that as well.... that's why I just use Creative's latest drivers.... just thought I mention it...
since it's quite a unique "feature" for any soundcard, imho...

TDR