Can't take measurements with SB External USB

**RyanD** · **05-11-06, 10:15 PM**

I bought a Sound Blaster 24-bit External USB to use with my laptop. The measurements that REW take don't reflect what the SPL is reading.

I selected "Speaker" for the output. For the input, the only choices I have are "Microphone" and "What U Hear". The "What U Hear" option is the only one that works. When I calibrate the input volume, it sets the volume to 1.00 and says it was unable to reach -18.00db. It looks like it reaches around -20.00db.

When I calibrate the soundcard, it gives me a perfectly flat line. I suspect I have the soundcard input configured incorrectly. Anybody have similar issues?

**Sonnie** · **05-12-06, 12:05 AM**

Hey Ryan and welcome to the Shack!

Hmmmm... I'm thinkin' this is the same problem as in this thread.

I thought I remember JohnM saying that this sound card would work but maybe I'm wrong and he's out of pocket for a while... not sure when he be available, but hopefully he will chime in soon and may can resolve this for you and sid. Unless maybe someone else can come up with something before then.

I use the MP3+ with no problems but it's a little different.

**RyanD** · **05-12-06, 06:54 AM**

I tried again, and it seemed to work. I went to the soundcard menu and unmuted the "microphone/line-in" input and changed the recording input to "microphone/line-in". Default was "What U Hear". Then I changed the input in REW to "Microphone". At least I was able to take measurements that correlated with the SPL meter.

**Sonnie** · **05-12-06, 10:12 AM**

Cool... glad you got that worked out. We might need a detailed write up on that to include in our Sticky Tips for REW.

Where's the graphs?

**RollsRoyce** · **05-12-06, 12:46 PM**

That "What U Hear" mixer setting is the bane of all us Sound Blaster users when trying to use REW. I've gone so far as to uninstall the Creative drivers for my MP3+ USB card and use the generic USB Audio drivers shipped with Windows XP. No worries then!

**RyanD** · **05-12-06, 01:23 PM**

I need to work on it more before posting graphs. The response seems worse than I remember it being when I originally setup the BFD. One nice thing about REW is that you can change the location of the sub and quickly take a new measurement.

I have Win2k on my laptop, and it didn't have a default driver. In fact, it took over an hour for me to convince Windows to use the drivers on the CD. The laptop is pretty much fighting me every step of the way.

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