4 speakers or 2x2 channels?

[otheos]

All new soundcards support 4 speakers -> 2 front 2 rear!

I used my trusty SB AWE64 ISA but need to replace it due to the 44KHz limitation (poor playback of DVD/DiVx, and no codecs for 48K either).

The AWE64 has 2 outputs: 1 speaker out (powered) and 1 line out. I have my PC speakers on the speaker speaker out (powered) and 1 line out. I have my PC speakers on the speaker out and Stereo Amp on the line out. So if I want to play MP3's on the stereo I just turn it on and get what I get on my PC speakers.

All new cards with the 4 speaker support cannot do that because the second channel is the rear channel.

Any suggestions?
Are there any cards that support 48K and have two line outs (not front rear, but identical).

Is there a way to force a 4 speakers card to play the same in both channels (front and rear) so that I can use the rear as a line out for the amp?

BTW: I don't play games. (EDIT: lol)

TIA

________________________
otheos: www.otheos.clara.net (http://www.otheos.clara.net)

[This message has been edited by otheos (edited 02-09-2001).]

[Gomer]

Not sure about your sound card issues (edit: re-read your post--guess I have something to add after all). But my Altec-Lansing ACS 56 work either in front-rear mode, or just all four speakers playing in stereo. There is a button I push. Right now I have my speakers on the front out, and my wireless headphones on the rear out. But all 4 of my speakers are enabled at all times.

edit

The soundblaster live plays the same thing in both front and rear channels. Seems that way at least. Creative Labs Livewear has to be installed in order for this to work. Then I just select four speakers in the setup. Both channels kick out the same signal.

[This message has been edited by Gomer (edited 02-09-2001).]

[otheos]

they do?
when I put the rear speakers of my Live value on the Stereo AMP, I only hear the reverb of what the PC speakers play. If I try to watch a movie and have the rear speakers enabled I again only hear the reverb. I'll check again though.

[jpheg]

You'd need to disable any enviromental audio through the Liveware software, easily done through Livetask. If the software is set to Movie-mode, as you said, or to Auditorium or forest for example, it will vary the front and rear speaker outputs. Another way is to specify "two speakers" in Speaker Setup.

[Roy]

Just get two "Y" adaptors. The destinations can share the source without interference.

[otheos]

Roy, the Y splitter will cause a signal loss up to 30%. Thanks for the help, but Y splitters are always a bad idea.

[Roy]

I have to disagree! In classical audio systems that used load matching for optimum power transfer to preserve frequency response, a double termination resulted in a loss because the power was shared by the two loads. On a VU meter this appeared as a 3dB (roughly 30%) reduction. The first (matching) termination reduces the unterminated source voltage by 6dB/50% because the power is shared equally by the load and the internal impedance of the generator.

In modern systems, source impedances are very low and input impedances are quite high. Both destinations "bridge" the source and draw nearly zero power, hence no signal loss. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/biggrin.gif

[otheos]

Thanks for the insight! I'll put it to test and see how it works!

For the moment I found the Guillemot Muse (CMI chip). It supports 2 independent line outs:
http://uk.guillemot.com/brand/gamme/son/msmuse/muse-0.html

what do you think?

[Roy]

Nice card, looks expensive! I usually opt for generic equivalents who don't pay their webmasters so well. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

I'm not sure the outputs aren't Front & Rear, though. 2 independent pre-amplified stereo outputs to connect 4 speakers. It's somewhat ambiguous.

[otheos]

It's £14 OEM or £19 retail
£1=$1.4

[JayMan]

Why not get a SB LIVE Platinum, it comes with the "live drive" which goes into a 5 1/4 bay and gives u access to many different inputs/outputs. If u can't afford a platinum just get the value and buy a live drive.

JayMan

[otheos]

I'd love to but it's 10 times (exactly) more expensive, and I only need the card for the codecs to allow me Mp3 encoding at 48K.