Soundblaster Live! 24-bit USB External Setup

**Sonnie** · **01-22-07, 02:32 PM**

If you don't get an answer in this thread... you might want to start a fresh thread...

**MakeFlat** · **03-31-07, 09:01 PM**

Quote:

Ciscokid wrote:

Please help, I have been tring to get REW calibrated with no success. First off let me try and explain what I have done so far. I have started off with the Room EQ index getting started. I have a radio shack meter, Soundblaster live 24 card (external). I purchased all the necessary cables needed to hook it up.I have an Outlaw 990 reciever.I hooked the line in (not mic in) of the SB live to my sound meter with the Y cable .I hooked my Aux in of my reciever to the SB live front speaker plug with Y cable on the right side as stated. I read the thread on how to set up the sound card that JohnM posted. Now when I try and SET INPUT VOLUME I get a message saying (Input volume control is at its maximum) and it will not calibrate.I have tried changing the CHOSE INPUT to Microphone and what U hear and this makes no difference.I have played with the volume level starting it at zero when I click the SET INPUT VOLUME and I still get the same message. I know I probably didn't explain myself very well but hope someone can help me figure this out.
Thanks for any information you can provide me.

On the Y cable plugged into the FRONT jack of USB LIVE 24, check for signal on the other RCA plug. Thus if you found this type of error message while connected to the red RCA plug, move the connection to the white RCA plug. (In case one is not doing loop back calibration, always turn down the receiver or amplifier volume level before changing plugs.)

**koiman** · **04-09-07, 11:42 AM**

Sonnie,
I have a few questions about the hookup of the Sound Blaster Live 24? they don't have the RCA inputs and outputs as the Sound Blaster MP3 had, so can you explain the exact wire and connectors that I will need to connect the CM 140 to the soundblaster and then to the Pre Amp, in my case a Stereo system. The output on the CM 140 say's it has a 1/8 in output. Do I use a 1/8 in stereo plug or mono plug to the sound card from the CM 140. From the output of the sound card do I use a 1/8 in. stereo plug to with RCA's to the pre amp? Sorry for all the questions I am just a little confused.
Thanks,
Leon:holycow:

**brucek** · **04-09-07, 12:25 PM**

Quote:

so can you explain the exact wire and connectors that I will need to connect the CM 140 to the soundblaster and then to the Pre Amp, in my case a Stereo system. The output on the CM 140 say's it has a 1/8 in output. Do I use a 1/8 in stereo plug or mono plug to the sound card from the CM 140. From the output of the sound card do I use a 1/8 in. stereo plug to with RCA's to the pre amp?

The CM-140 uses a standard 3.5mm (1/8") mono plug.

The SoundBlaster 24bit external uses standard 3.5mm (1/8") stereo jacks that must be broken out with a stereo Y adapter to two mono like this:

SB LIVE 24bit EX.jpg

brucek

**koiman** · **04-09-07, 01:12 PM**

brucek,
If I understand you right I would purchase a wire with a 3.5mm mono plug on each end for the output of the CM 140 to the line in on the sound blaster, and a 3.5mm stereo plug that plugs into the line out of the sound blaster with RCA plugs on the other end to attach to the Right and left aux input on my pre amp Correct..
Thanks for all the time and trouble.
Leon

**brucek** · **04-09-07, 01:42 PM**

You need two 'stereo to mono' adapters like this:

stereo male to two mono female.jpg

To plug into both the LINE-OUT and LINE-IN stereo jacks as shown with the red arrows in this picture:

SB0LIVE24bitEX.jpg

Now you have 'broken out' the right channel of the soundcard.

Then you need a mono to mono 3.5mm (1/8") male to male cable to go from the Galaxy to the red mono right channel LINE-IN.

Then you need a mono 3.5mm (1/8") male to RCA male cable to go from the red right channel LINE-OUT to your receiver AUX input...

brucek

**koiman** · **04-09-07, 02:16 PM**

brucek,
Thank you so very much, I got it now..
Leon

**koiman** · **04-09-07, 05:01 PM**

brucek,
Would it be possible for you to give me the RadioShack numbers for the cables that I need.
Thanks,
Leon

**1984911Porsche** · **05-08-07, 09:53 PM**

I am at the point trying to calibrate my sound card, and keep getting this message.

The highest level in the measurement is just -36.8 dbfs. I am not sure what I have set wrong, any ideas.

The following are my notes from the measurement.

Sample rate: 48000Hz
-3dB points: 4.0Hz, 21.798kHz
Input device: SB Live! 24-bit External
Input: MICROPHONE (Line-In/Mic-In)
Channel: Right
Input volume: 1.000
Input RMS target: -40.0dB
Actual RMS at 1kHz: -40.0dB
Output device: SB Live! 24-bit External
Output: SPEAKER
Sweep level: -40.0dB
20Hz .. 20kHz flatness: +0.3, -1.3dB
1kHz 2nd harmonic: 0.012%
1kHz 3rd harmonic: <0.001%

Any ideas if I have a problem?

**JohnM** · **05-09-07, 03:41 AM**

Set the Sweep Level to -12dB, -40dB is a very low level at which to perform the test.

**Testpattern** · **06-13-07, 09:20 AM**

Okay, this is so basic I'm actually embarrassed to ask.... but what is the exact model of the "Soundblaster Live! 24-bit USB External" sound card system which everyone is using and the REW leverages?

I went to buy one and have ran into several versions. I would like to do this only once and not create another layer of difficulty is starting down this path.

Thanks....

**JimP** · **06-13-07, 01:42 PM**

Here you go.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...E=WEBLET03SHIP

I'm just now going through setting up a new Vista laptop with this external sound card. Be sure that you log onto the Creative site to download the most current drivers.

Update: The driver update (January 2007) for the Creative external sound card doesn't have some of the settings that are shown on this thread and in the Help file of 4.0. Is anyone familiar with this new driver and can comment on how the differences effect REW?

**bigguy** · **06-22-07, 11:20 PM**

Next set of Trials.... Anyone do this with a MAC?

Macbook PRO sporting OS-X

Live! external 24bit...

33-2055...

Could use some guidance here...

Thanks
Dan

**raylock** · **07-22-07, 05:56 PM**

I have been trying to calibrate this sound card for a couple of days. I am obviously doing something (or a lot of somethings) wrong. I have attempted to set up the sound card like it was explained earlier in this thread. I have made sure that "Enable Monitoring" is not checked. I am not sure that the mic in/line in setting is correct but I have tried it both ways. The legend beside the line is always mic-in/line-in. The caption "What U Hear" only appears in the information bubble and I am not sure if seeing that in the bubble means that it is selected or is available for selection. The calibration graph is shown below.

The red line in the card calibration. It dosn't look anything like examples given in other threads. Any ideas where I am going wrong?

Thanks
Ray

**brucek** · **07-22-07, 06:28 PM**

Quote:

The red line in the card calibration. It dosn't look anything like examples given in other threads. Any ideas where I am going wrong

Yep, notice that your calibration file for the soundcard is the mirror image of the meter calibration file? It means you have an internal loopback turned on in the card itself and so you're simply reflecting the opposite of the meter file.

You have to find where you have the 'monitor mode' turned on and get it off.

Check the Windows mixer playback mode and see if Line-in is selected. If so, it must be off in playback, but on in record...

brucek

**raylock** · **07-23-07, 08:15 AM**

Thanks. I think the main problem is that I am not reading the help file directions completely and carefully.

Ray

**brianscook** · **09-23-07, 03:54 PM**

PLEASE, I am looking for anyone that can help me enable the "Enable Monitoring" feature in Vista OS with the 24-Bit SB Live system. The feature that was available in XP and earlier is no longer there and I can't figure it out.

Thanks

**JimP** · **09-30-07, 05:16 AM**

Attention Vista Users

There are new Soundblaster Live 24-bit USB external sound card drivers dated August 23, 2007 for computers using the Vista operating system available here

http://us.creative.com/support/downl...pe=0&x=28&y=14

Special attention should be paid to the instructions about uninstalling your previous driver.

What does it fix?
This resolves button functionality issues for Sound Blaster Audigy 2 NX, Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit External, Sound Blaster Surround 5.1 and Sound Blaster Digital Music SX
Removes distortion found in the recorded file when selecting Wave, MIDI or CD as your recording source

**Joe L.** · **02-06-08, 01:07 PM**

Quote:

JimP wrote:

Attention Vista Users

There are new Soundblaster Live 24-bit USB external sound card drivers dated August 23, 2007 for computers using the Vista operating system available here

http://us.creative.com/support/downl...pe=0&x=28&y=14

Special attention should be paid to the instructions about uninstalling your previous driver.

What does it fix?
This resolves button functionality issues for Sound Blaster Audigy 2 NX, Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit External, Sound Blaster Surround 5.1 and Sound Blaster Digital Music SX
Removes distortion found in the recorded file when selecting Wave, MIDI or CD as your recording source

It has been quite a few months since you described that new drivers were available dated Aug, 23, 2007.
Did these drivers fix the issues with REW use under Vista? (I will probably be purchasing this sound-card, since it seems to be well supported with REW, and my newest laptop runs Vista.)

Did the newest driver resolve the issues with the differences in controls available that you described in the post you made back on 6/13/2007.

Joe L.

**thewire** · **03-11-08, 04:23 PM**

Can I use my optical out into the receiver instead of my line out? When I use the line out I get a 58dB loud crackling and whining noise where as if I use the optical connection it is dead silence. I don't see not much difference in my test results and there is not much difference for volume level but I don't have to listen to the noise. I have left output and input looped for reference and I loaded the mic calibration file. I checked the scope and it looks good still. Is that an acceptable connection?

**brucek** · **03-11-08, 07:37 PM**

Quote:

I have left output and input looped for reference and I loaded the mic calibration file. I checked the scope and it looks good still. Is that an acceptable connection?

Generally we don't recommend using the digital output of the soundcard, since you aren't able to accurately create and use a soundcard calibration file. Using the new alternate method of the left channel calibrate cable isn't a good idea either, since it will compensate for the soundcards analog driver section that you aren't using.

It would be better in my opinion to use no left channel calibrate and no soundcard calibration file. It won't be as accurate as using the analog output and input, but if it's a decent card and you assume the digital response is good, then go ahead.

I would try and get the analog working. No reason it shouldn't be fine....

brucek

**thewire** · **03-11-08, 09:15 PM**

It looks more like what I was used to seeing and is at reference level again since getting the new card.

I will use the analog. Looks like this right now with my ceiling partially open while I am trying to figure out what to put in it etc.

Thank you

**lalakersfan34** · **04-11-08, 07:15 PM**

Hi,

I'm trying to use the SoundBlaster Live 24bit USB card with REW, but it doesn't seem to be working. Whenever I select it in REW's settings under "input device and input", I get the following error message:

Unable to access the selected device
javax.sound.sampled.LineUnavailableException: Line-In/Mic-In (Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit External) does not have any lines supporting PCM_SIGNED 48000.0 Hz, 16 bit, stereo, 4 bytes/frame, little-endian

Same thing if I leave it to "default device". Does anyone have any clue as to what is going on? I purchased this sound card specifically because the REW Help claimed that it works. I've tried it on my Macbook (running 10.4 Tiger) and on my Vista PC and I get the same issue with both computers. Thanks.

**brucek** · **04-11-08, 07:57 PM**

Quote:

I purchased this sound card specifically because the REW Help claimed that it works.

I believe that the Help files are fairly specific that it doesn't work with VISTA, where it says:

Note that the Creative software does not function properly under Windows Vista, the card can still be used but only by loading the Vista-compatible drivers from Creative's website and using the Windows mixer, do not install the Creative software under Vista..

With respect to the Mac, I believe that Leopard OS has proved to work better with this card.

brucek

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