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No sound from Soundblaster Live 24-bit card



 
 
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  #1  
Old August 18th 13, 01:11 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware,microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
No_Name
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4
Default No sound from Soundblaster Live 24-bit card

Not sure where's best to ask this, but basically, I've taken my
soundcard from my old PC and installed it in my new one. My Windows XP
recognises it, recognises the drivers, and mentions it in several
places (Control Panel/Sounds etc.)

But no sound comes out, whether it be playing a midi, an mp3, a CD,
whatever. Checked volumes and speakers etc. a dozen times.

There wasn't a soundcard as such before. There was something called
Realtek(?) - I dont really know what that's all about, but anyway,
before I installed the Soundblaster card, I went into the BIOS
settings and turned the "onboard sound" off. (That did as intended
because I checked afterwards.)

It may be a silly question, but I don't have to attach any cables from
the new soundcard to the motherboard do I? Or to the CD drive? I got
the impression it wasn't necessary, but could be wrong!

Thanks for any suggestions!
Max.

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  #2  
Old August 18th 13, 04:20 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware,microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
JJ[_10_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 172
Default No sound from Soundblaster Live 24-bit card

On Sun, 18 Aug 2013 12:11:20 GMT, wrote:
Not sure where's best to ask this, but basically, I've taken my
soundcard from my old PC and installed it in my new one. My Windows XP
recognises it, recognises the drivers, and mentions it in several
places (Control Panel/Sounds etc.)

But no sound comes out, whether it be playing a midi, an mp3, a CD,
whatever. Checked volumes and speakers etc. a dozen times.

There wasn't a soundcard as such before. There was something called
Realtek(?) - I dont really know what that's all about, but anyway,
before I installed the Soundblaster card, I went into the BIOS
settings and turned the "onboard sound" off. (That did as intended
because I checked afterwards.)

It may be a silly question, but I don't have to attach any cables from
the new soundcard to the motherboard do I? Or to the CD drive? I got
the impression it wasn't necessary, but could be wrong!

Thanks for any suggestions!
Max.


I have the same OS and card as yours. In the PC, you only need to attach
cable if you want to listen to CD audio from your CD-ROM drive.

On the back panel...

Try plugging the speaker/headphone to the rear speaker socket instead of the
main/front speaker socket. You'll need to change the speaker configuration
setting to at least 4-speakers. I heard user reports that the main/front
line-out got broken or has lower sound quality, so only the rear line-out
works.

On software side...

Check the Volume Control and make sure no output lines is muted. Also try
toggling (enable, then disable) the "Digital Output Only" setting in the
"Advanced Controls for Play Control" dialog, which is accessible from the
"Advanced" button below the "Play Control" slider. It sometimes able to fix
the problem, at least in my system.

On hardware side...

I also occasionally have the same problem. No sounds came out from the card,
even though all seems to work correctly.

The problem seems to be fixed by itself after warm or cold rebooting the
system.

I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing that it's a glitch/bug in the card
hardware. My previous card is identical to current one. The old works well
for a few years, but later it makes the PC won't boot at all when reseated
or plugged into any other PCI slot.
  #3  
Old August 18th 13, 05:34 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware,microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
dadiOH[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,020
Default No sound from Soundblaster Live 24-bit card

wrote in message

Not sure where's best to ask this, but basically, I've
taken my soundcard from my old PC and installed it in my
new one. My Windows XP recognises it, recognises the
drivers, and mentions it in several places (Control
Panel/Sounds etc.)

But no sound comes out, whether it be playing a midi, an
mp3, a CD, whatever. Checked volumes and speakers etc. a
dozen times.


Did you also install the software that came with the card? You probably
need their "mixer".

There wasn't a soundcard as such before. There was
something called Realtek(?) - I dont really know what
that's all about


Its the onboard sound chip. Why did you want thw Soundblaster rathwe than
it?


--

dadiOH
____________________________

Winters getting colder? Tired of the rat race?
Taxes out of hand? Maybe just ready for a change?
Check it out... http://www.floridaloghouse.net


  #4  
Old August 19th 13, 09:36 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware,microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
rjk
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 478
Default No sound from Soundblaster Live 24-bit card


wrote in message
...
Not sure where's best to ask this, but basically, I've taken my
soundcard from my old PC and installed it in my new one. My Windows XP
recognises it, recognises the drivers, and mentions it in several
places (Control Panel/Sounds etc.)

But no sound comes out, whether it be playing a midi, an mp3, a CD,
whatever. Checked volumes and speakers etc. a dozen times.

There wasn't a soundcard as such before. There was something called
Realtek(?) - I dont really know what that's all about, but anyway,
before I installed the Soundblaster card, I went into the BIOS
settings and turned the "onboard sound" off. (That did as intended
because I checked afterwards.)

It may be a silly question, but I don't have to attach any cables from
the new soundcard to the motherboard do I? Or to the CD drive? I got
the impression it wasn't necessary, but could be wrong!

Thanks for any suggestions!
Max.


I've had several (old) Soundblaster pci cards which did not survive being
transplanted, (despite decent anti-static precautions / ...always use mains
powered/active wrist straps when rummaging inside a PC), ...sometimes they
just die !!!

regards, Richard



  #5  
Old August 19th 13, 12:32 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware,microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
Paul
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 18,275
Default No sound from Soundblaster Live 24-bit card

RJK wrote:
wrote in message
...
Not sure where's best to ask this, but basically, I've taken my
soundcard from my old PC and installed it in my new one. My Windows XP
recognises it, recognises the drivers, and mentions it in several
places (Control Panel/Sounds etc.)

But no sound comes out, whether it be playing a midi, an mp3, a CD,
whatever. Checked volumes and speakers etc. a dozen times.

There wasn't a soundcard as such before. There was something called
Realtek(?) - I dont really know what that's all about, but anyway,
before I installed the Soundblaster card, I went into the BIOS
settings and turned the "onboard sound" off. (That did as intended
because I checked afterwards.)

It may be a silly question, but I don't have to attach any cables from
the new soundcard to the motherboard do I? Or to the CD drive? I got
the impression it wasn't necessary, but could be wrong!

Thanks for any suggestions!
Max.


I've had several (old) Soundblaster pci cards which did not survive being
transplanted, (despite decent anti-static precautions / ...always use mains
powered/active wrist straps when rummaging inside a PC), ...sometimes they
just die !!!

regards, Richard


I've seen a picture of at least one Creative SoundBlaster
for PCI bus, where two pins were burned on it. The pins
burned when the card was plugged into a new computer.
A suspicion is, something incompatible from a power
perspective was done, and the power supply took great
joy "correcting" the error. Needless to say, the card
no longer functioned.

So it's not always static. Something else is afoot.

Paul
  #6  
Old August 19th 13, 05:14 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware,microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
No_Name
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4
Default No sound from Soundblaster Live 24-bit card

Thanks all for your responses. I've made a discovery, but to answer
points raised:-

1. I do a lot of MIDI work and all the instruments sound much better
with a soundcard than onboard sound, hence my persevering.

2. I've always just used the minimum with Soundblaster cards, i.e.
basic drivers, not all the "Creative" extras that come with it. That
was always enough for me.

3. Not sure about 4 speakers. I only have an option for 2 on a
desktop. All the other options are laptops, 5.1, 7.1 etc.

4. I've tried front AND back holes, believe me!

Anyway....... I had a wild idea I would install the soundcard and
software into ANOTHER PC - a really rubbishy old one I don't intend to
keep. Just to try and narrow things down, right? Well I changed the
BIOS, did the installation, then tried every hole.

With the (new) PC, there was not a sound from ANY hole. However, with
this one, green was still silent BUT it played the test music (albeit
very very quietly) when I tried the blue hole!!!!

From what I've described, does this scenario suggest anything to
anyone about the state of the soundcard or PC??? I'm crossing my
fingers that it proves "something"!

Thanks again.

Max

  #7  
Old August 19th 13, 06:24 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware,microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
Ben Myers[_8_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 89
Default No sound from Soundblaster Live 24-bit card

wrote in message ...
Not sure where's best to ask this, but basically, I've taken my
soundcard from my old PC and installed it in my new one. My Windows XP
recognises it, recognises the drivers, and mentions it in several
places (Control Panel/Sounds etc.)
But no sound comes out, whether it be playing a midi, an mp3, a CD,
whatever. Checked volumes and speakers etc. a dozen times.
There wasn't a soundcard as such before. There was something called
Realtek(?) - I dont really know what that's all about, but anyway,
before I installed the Soundblaster card, I went into the BIOS
settings and turned the "onboard sound" off. (That did as intended
because I checked afterwards.)
It may be a silly question, but I don't have to attach any cables from
the new soundcard to the motherboard do I? Or to the CD drive? I got
the impression it wasn't necessary, but could be wrong!
Thanks for any suggestions!
Max.


Go to "Control Panel", "Sounds and Audio Devices", in the "Device Volume" box, click on the "Advanced"
tab and make sure nothing relevant is muted. Also, click on "Options", "Properties", make sure the
"Mixer Device" shows the correct hardware and that all the necessary volume controls have check marks.
If none of this helps, see if this applies to you.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...name=c01427349

Ben
  #8  
Old August 19th 13, 07:32 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware,microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
dadiOH[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,020
Default No sound from Soundblaster Live 24-bit card

wrote in message

Thanks all for your responses. I've made a discovery, but
to answer points raised:-

1. I do a lot of MIDI work and all the instruments sound
much better with a soundcard than onboard sound, hence my
persevering.

2. I've always just used the minimum with Soundblaster
cards, i.e. basic drivers, not all the "Creative" extras
that come with it. That was always enough for me.

3. Not sure about 4 speakers. I only have an option for 2
on a desktop. All the other options are laptops, 5.1, 7.1
etc.

4. I've tried front AND back holes, believe me!

Anyway....... I had a wild idea I would install the
soundcard and software into ANOTHER PC - a really
rubbishy old one I don't intend to keep. Just to try and
narrow things down, right? Well I changed the BIOS, did
the installation, then tried every hole.

With the (new) PC, there was not a sound from ANY hole.
However, with this one, green was still silent BUT it
played the test music (albeit very very quietly) when I
tried the blue hole!!!!

From what I've described, does this scenario suggest
anything to anyone about the state of the soundcard or
PC??? I'm crossing my fingers that it proves "something"!


Open the mixer (or Windows Sound Control) and make sure the appropriate
channels are selected. IIRC, with a Soundblaster, it is "What-U-Hear".

If Windows Sound Control isn't available, install the Creative mixer, then
it will be.



--

dadiOH
____________________________

Winters getting colder? Tired of the rat race?
Taxes out of hand? Maybe just ready for a change?
Check it out... http://www.floridaloghouse.net


  #9  
Old August 19th 13, 10:36 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware,microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
Paul
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 18,275
Default No sound from Soundblaster Live 24-bit card

wrote:
Thanks all for your responses. I've made a discovery, but to answer
points raised:-

1. I do a lot of MIDI work and all the instruments sound much better
with a soundcard than onboard sound, hence my persevering.

2. I've always just used the minimum with Soundblaster cards, i.e.
basic drivers, not all the "Creative" extras that come with it. That
was always enough for me.

3. Not sure about 4 speakers. I only have an option for 2 on a
desktop. All the other options are laptops, 5.1, 7.1 etc.

4. I've tried front AND back holes, believe me!

Anyway....... I had a wild idea I would install the soundcard and
software into ANOTHER PC - a really rubbishy old one I don't intend to
keep. Just to try and narrow things down, right? Well I changed the
BIOS, did the installation, then tried every hole.

With the (new) PC, there was not a sound from ANY hole. However, with
this one, green was still silent BUT it played the test music (albeit
very very quietly) when I tried the blue hole!!!!

From what I've described, does this scenario suggest anything to
anyone about the state of the soundcard or PC??? I'm crossing my
fingers that it proves "something"!

Thanks again.

Max


What could be happening, is you're attempting to drive un-amplified
speakers, with a sound card.

All that a sound card guarantees, is a signal into a high impedance
load. Such as 600 ohms or 10K ohms. The latter value is a "light load"
presented by a home stereo, or by computer store amplified speakers.
(From the sound card's perspective "higher is better". Higher values
on a succeeding input port, represent a lighter loading in ohms.)

If you try to drive a 4 ohm or 8 ohm speaker directly, that "crushes"
the sound card output. The amplitude will be small, the power delivered,
just milliwatts.

At one time, some computer sound subsystems had a 2W amplifier. But they
don't do that any more, and so the sound is a lot weaker. With a 2W amp,
lower impedance loads could be driven. Now, the sound is unamplified and
at line level.

Some will drive 32 ohm headphones. But if you really want sound,
you should *test* with amplified speakers.

Other possibilities include sound control panel sliders not at "max".

If you have a male to male 1/8" stereo cable, you can use a multimeter
on AC volts. Using the free Audacity, send a 0 dB sine wave to Line Out.
If all is well, the unloaded (feeding multimeter only) voltage should
be 1V RMS or slightly higher. The meter would read 1.000V on 2V full scale
AC volts range.

Some Creative cards, use four contact 1/8" plugs. The unit may have
come with its own adapter cables of some sort. This was done to reduce
the number of jacks on the faceplate. But you'd probably still get
some signals, by testing with a regular 1/8" plug and cable.

HTH,
Paul
 




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