Looking for a PCI Sound Card with S/PDIF IN and OUT with internal Header for PC Front Panel Audio

[[email protected]]

I'm looking for a PCI sound card for my PC that has coax S/PDIF in and
out, and ALSO has an internal header so that I could hook-up my front
panel audio connections (Headphones, Mic In) that are built into my
case.

This would be for my home PC. I would like to use it to dump digital
audio recorded at our live shows from an outside source (like a dat,
adat, etc.) occasionally, but when I'm not transferring I'd still like
it to function like your standard home PC. Nothing too high-end, dig?

Currently I'm using the on-board audio codec on my ASUS P4P800-VM
mobo.

BTW, I have a small form factor Antec case with 2 - 1/8" front panel
audio jacks pre-installed. There isn't any room for your typical B.S.
"5 1/4" Audigy Front Panel" (or whatever else it's called) because my
CD drive is already taking up the only 5 1/4" slot.

I don't want to spend a fortune, but I don't want crap either; so if
anybody knows of a good sound card that has coax S/PDIF in and out, as
well as an internal audio header that can be used for front panel
audio then please help me out.

Any and all suggestions are welcome.

Thanks in advance.

[Joseph Ashwood]

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> I'm looking for a PCI sound card for my PC that has coax S/PDIF in and
> out, and ALSO has an internal header so that I could hook-up my front
> panel audio connections (Headphones, Mic In) that are built into my
> case.
>
> This would be for my home PC. I would like to use it to dump digital
> audio recorded at our live shows from an outside source (like a dat,
> adat, etc.) occasionally, but when I'm not transferring I'd still like
> it to function like your standard home PC. Nothing too high-end, dig?
>
> Currently I'm using the on-board audio codec on my ASUS P4P800-VM
> mobo.
>
> BTW, I have a small form factor Antec case with 2 - 1/8" front panel
> audio jacks pre-installed. There isn't any room for your typical B.S.
> "5 1/4" Audigy Front Panel" (or whatever else it's called) because my
> CD drive is already taking up the only 5 1/4" slot.
>
> I don't want to spend a fortune, but I don't want crap either; so if
> anybody knows of a good sound card that has coax S/PDIF in and out, as
> well as an internal audio header that can be used for front panel
> audio then please help me out.
>
> Any and all suggestions are welcome.

On my general purpose system I actually have a Soundblaster X-Fi Platinum
http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=209&subcategory=669&product=14065&nav=1
that seems to meet your requirements. But to be honest I've never tried the
requirements you've put forth so I don't even know if they are actually
functional.
Joe

[[email protected]]

On Feb 4, 5:45 am, "Joseph Ashwood" > wrote:
> > wrote in message
>
> oups.com...
>
>
>
> > I'm looking for a PCI sound card for my PC that has coax S/PDIF in and
> > out, and ALSO has an internal header so that I could hook-up my front
> > panel audio connections (Headphones, Mic In) that are built into my
> > case.
>
> > This would be for my home PC. I would like to use it to dump digital
> > audio recorded at our live shows from an outside source (like a dat,
> > adat, etc.) occasionally, but when I'm not transferring I'd still like
> > it to function like your standard home PC. Nothing too high-end, dig?
>
> > Currently I'm using the on-board audio codec on my ASUS P4P800-VM
> > mobo.
>
> > BTW, I have a small form factor Antec case with 2 - 1/8" front panel
> > audio jacks pre-installed. There isn't any room for your typical B.S.
> > "5 1/4" Audigy Front Panel" (or whatever else it's called) because my
> > CD drive is already taking up the only 5 1/4" slot.
>
> > I don't want to spend a fortune, but I don't want crap either; so if
> > anybody knows of a good sound card that has coax S/PDIF in and out, as
> > well as an internal audio header that can be used for front panel
> > audio then please help me out.
>
> > Any and all suggestions are welcome.
>
> On my general purpose system I actually have a Soundblaster X-Fi Platinumhttp://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=209&subcategory...
> that seems to meet your requirements. But to be honest I've never tried the
> requirements you've put forth so I don't even know if they are actually
> functional.
> Joe

Thanks for the response. I've been searching message boards for some
sort of pin assignment for this very sound card and what I've found is
rather disheartening. The "AD_EXT" connection is digital only so the
using the ins or outs for front panel audio would be out of the
question.

The other connector, "the white 10-pin connector" located on top of
said card can be connected in a way that would enable the headphone
audio out... but from what I've gathered, either the mic in is too
quiet, or it doesn't mute the rear panel speaker outs when a mic or
headphones are connected using the front audio jacks, of course.

If anybody has successfully utilized a creative labs sound card using
the white 10 pin connector and a case that's designed for AC '97, then
please let me know.

[[email protected]]

On Feb 4, 8:12 am, wrote:
> On Feb 4, 5:45 am, "Joseph Ashwood" > wrote:
>
>
>
> > > wrote in message
>
> oups.com...
>
> > > I'm looking for a PCI sound card for my PC that has coax S/PDIF in and
> > > out, and ALSO has an internal header so that I could hook-up my front
> > > panel audio connections (Headphones, Mic In) that are built into my
> > > case.
>
> > > This would be for my home PC. I would like to use it to dump digital
> > > audio recorded at our live shows from an outside source (like a dat,
> > > adat, etc.) occasionally, but when I'm not transferring I'd still like
> > > it to function like your standard home PC. Nothing too high-end, dig?
>
> > > Currently I'm using the on-board audio codec on my ASUS P4P800-VM
> > > mobo.
>
> > > BTW, I have a small form factor Antec case with 2 - 1/8" front panel
> > > audio jacks pre-installed. There isn't any room for your typical B.S.
> > > "5 1/4" Audigy Front Panel" (or whatever else it's called) because my
> > > CD drive is already taking up the only 5 1/4" slot.
>
> > > I don't want to spend a fortune, but I don't want crap either; so if
> > > anybody knows of a good sound card that has coax S/PDIF in and out, as
> > > well as an internal audio header that can be used for front panel
> > > audio then please help me out.
>
> > > Any and all suggestions are welcome.
>
> > On my general purpose system I actually have a Soundblaster X-Fi Platinumhttp://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=209&subcategory...
> > that seems to meet your requirements. But to be honest I've never tried the
> > requirements you've put forth so I don't even know if they are actually
> > functional.
> > Joe
>
> Thanks for the response. I've been searching message boards for some
> sort of pin assignment for this very sound card and what I've found is
> rather disheartening. The "AD_EXT" connection is digital only so the
> using the ins or outs for front panel audio would be out of the
> question.
>
> The other connector, "the white 10-pin connector" located on top of
> said card can be connected in a way that would enable the headphone
> audio out... but from what I've gathered, either the mic in is too
> quiet, or it doesn't mute the rear panel speaker outs when a mic or
> headphones are connected using the front audio jacks, of course.
>
> If anybody has successfully utilized a creative labs sound card using
> the white 10 pin connector and a case that's designed for AC '97, then
> please let me know.

I found a pinout here http://img482.imageshack.us/my.php?image=xfifpmodbq5.jpg
, just curious if anyone has tried it out.

[Julian]

On 4 Feb 2007 05:42:05 -0800, wrote:

>> If anybody has successfully utilized a creative labs sound card using
>> the white 10 pin connector and a case that's designed for AC '97, then
>> please let me know.
>
>I found a pinout here http://img482.imageshack.us/my.php?image=xfifpmodbq5.jpg
>, just curious if anyone has tried it out.

Seems like a little more trouble than I'd go through to re-use the
front panel connections. If that's what you want and you find this
sort of project to be interesting, please tell us how it comes out.

Julian

[Bill]

On Feb 4, 3:40 pm, Julian > wrote:
> On 4 Feb 2007 05:42:05 -0800, wrote:
>
> >> If anybody has successfully utilized a creative labs sound card using
> >> the white 10 pin connector and a case that's designed for AC '97, then
> >> please let me know.
>
> >I found a pinout herehttp://img482.imageshack.us/my.php?image=xfifpmodbq5.jpg
> >, just curious if anyone has tried it out.
>
> Seems like a little more trouble than I'd go through to re-use the
> front panel connections. If that's what you want and you find this
> sort of project to be interesting, please tell us how it comes out.
>
> Julian

The "cable" really doesn't seem like too much trouble. I'm quite handy
with a soldering iron; but like I said earlier, this is still my home
computer and I'd like it to function as a home computer, so being able
to use to front audio jacks is one of my main concerns. What's the use
of an upgrade if it disables some of the features that I like about my
case?

....but referring to my original question, does anybody know of a sound
card that has S/PDIF in and out, that also has an internal header for
front panel audio?

The Creative Labs X-Fi was only a suggestion, but there are 2 problems
with that card:
1. Making a cable for the "Creative Labs Proprietary Connection"
header might be a annoying.
2. It will do both optical and digital S/PDIF, but I'd have to use the
"Creative Digital I/O Connector," not really a big deal, but I was
looking for something a little more, um, self-sufficient. Using the I/
O connector means that I'd have to spend another $20.

[Julian]

On 4 Feb 2007 16:47:01 -0800, "Bill" > wrote:

>On Feb 4, 3:40 pm, Julian > wrote:
>> Seems like a little more trouble than I'd go through to re-use the
>> front panel connections. If that's what you want and you find this
>> sort of project to be interesting, please tell us how it comes out.
>>
>> Julian
>
>The "cable" really doesn't seem like too much trouble. I'm quite handy
>with a soldering iron;

But they are crimp on connectors and I find that in general crimp on
connectors work well if you have the right tools to make them with and
if you do them with pliers or such they are a pain.

>but like I said earlier, this is still my home
>computer and I'd like it to function as a home computer, so being able
>to use to front audio jacks is one of my main concerns. What's the use
>of an upgrade if it disables some of the features that I like about my
>case?

What features are those? Just SPDIF jacks?

>...but referring to my original question, does anybody know of a sound
>card that has S/PDIF in and out, that also has an internal header for
>front panel audio?

I think most people here would use the jacks that come with the break
out cable provided and build a jack panel or whatever was needed to
work around those.

Since you are handy with a soldering iron, what's to prevent you to
soldering wires from your front panel to the DB connector on the back
of any sound card that comes that way?

Julian

[Bill]

On Feb 5, 1:40 am, Julian > wrote:
> On 4 Feb 2007 16:47:01 -0800, "Bill" > wrote:
>
> >On Feb 4, 3:40 pm, Julian > wrote:
> >> Seems like a little more trouble than I'd go through to re-use the
> >> front panel connections. If that's what you want and you find this
> >> sort of project to be interesting, please tell us how it comes out.
>
> >> Julian
>
> >The "cable" really doesn't seem like too much trouble. I'm quite handy
> >with a soldering iron;
>
> But they are crimp on connectors and I find that in general crimp on
> connectors work well if you have the right tools to make them with and
> if you do them with pliers or such they are a pain.
>
> >but like I said earlier, this is still my home
> >computer and I'd like it to function as a home computer, so being able
> >to use to front audio jacks is one of my main concerns. What's the use
> >of an upgrade if it disables some of the features that I like about my
> >case?
>
> What features are those? Just SPDIF jacks?
>
> >...but referring to my original question, does anybody know of a sound
> >card that has S/PDIF in and out, that also has an internal header for
> >front panel audio?
>
> I think most people here would use the jacks that come with the break
> out cable provided and build a jack panel or whatever was needed to
> work around those.
>
> Since you are handy with a soldering iron, what's to prevent you to
> soldering wires from your front panel to the DB connector on the back
> of any sound card that comes that way?
>
> Julian

The only thing that's preventing me from doing something as tacky as
that is the overall aesthetic quality of the finished product. I don't
want looping cables coming out of, lets say, an open pci slot and
attaching them into the mic and headphone slot on the back of the
card, ultimately overriding the speaker out jack when installed, when
it could be made to look (and work) a lot better by utilizing the
internal connectors instead and still maintain the overall function of
the front audio jacks.

I'm not really looking for criticism. I'm more interested in knowing
if anybody else has successfully implemented something like this
themselves, let's say with a Sound Blaster X-Fi, for example.

[Laurence Payne]

On 4 Feb 2007 16:47:01 -0800, "Bill" > wrote:

>The "cable" really doesn't seem like too much trouble. I'm quite handy
>with a soldering iron; but like I said earlier, this is still my home
>computer and I'd like it to function as a home computer, so being able
>to use to front audio jacks is one of my main concerns. What's the use
>of an upgrade if it disables some of the features that I like about my
>case?

Well, OK. But as the domestic front-panel connector is ignored by
every quality soundcard I've ever seen, it may be against your
interests to treat it as a priority. Is rear-plugging of cables or a
breakout box THAT incompatible with home use?

[Bill]

On Feb 5, 4:58 am, Laurence Payne <lpayne1NOSPAM@dslDOTpipexDOTcom>
wrote:
> On 4 Feb 2007 16:47:01 -0800, "Bill" > wrote:
>
> >The "cable" really doesn't seem like too much trouble. I'm quite handy
> >with a soldering iron; but like I said earlier, this is still my home
> >computer and I'd like it to function as a home computer, so being able
> >to use to front audio jacks is one of my main concerns. What's the use
> >of an upgrade if it disables some of the features that I like about my
> >case?
>
> Well, OK. But as the domestic front-panel connector is ignored by
> every quality soundcard I've ever seen, it may be against your
> interests to treat it as a priority. Is rear-plugging of cables or a
> breakout box THAT incompatible with home use?

Yes, I would say that rear-plugging cables would be "THAT incomputable
with MY home use," simply because I'm a perfectionist and I feel that
I should be able to utilize everything on my case... including its
front audio connectors. I shouldn't have to reach around to the back
of my PC just to plug in headphones, dig?

I found the following pin-out for Creative Labs and their 10-pin
proprietary Sound Blaster Audigy/X-Fi:

1 - Analog Ground
2 - Analog Headphone Out Left
3 - Audio Backpanel Mute -- short to ground to mute the backpanel
(when headphones are plugged in)
4 - Analog Headphone Out Right
5 - same as #3
6 - Mic input from front panel
7 - key pin (shouldn't be there)
8 - VREF out -- voltage reference for Mic
9 - MIC IN MUTE -- ground when mic isn't plugged in, +12VDC when mic
is plugged in
10 - Audio cable detect -- will be ground when headphones are plugged
in (not normally used)

hmmmm, I believe that an audigy or an x-fi could, at least, be
considered a "quality" sound card.

Has anyone tried this?

[Laurence Payne]

On 5 Feb 2007 02:14:50 -0800, "Bill" > wrote:

>hmmmm, I believe that an audigy or an x-fi could, at least, be
>considered a "quality" sound card.

Well, sort of. It's got a lot of features. But it's generally
considered off the bottom of the scale for serious audio work. But
maybe I'm living in another world :-) If it suits your needs, it
looks like you may have a solution.

[Bill]

On Feb 5, 6:08 am, Laurence Payne <lpayne1NOSPAM@dslDOTpipexDOTcom>
wrote:
> On 5 Feb 2007 02:14:50 -0800, "Bill" > wrote:
>
> >hmmmm, I believe that an audigy or an x-fi could, at least, be
> >considered a "quality" sound card.
>
> Well, sort of. It's got a lot of features. But it's generally
> considered off the bottom of the scale for serious audio work. But
> maybe I'm living in another world :-) If it suits your needs, it
> looks like you may have a solution.

No, we agreed on quality... we didn't say that it had to be anything
phenomenal. LOL!

I also forgot to mention that I'm also a cheapskate, so a card like
this would also suit my financial needs. Remember, I only really want
to to transfer digital audio, and when I'm not transferring digital
audio, my computer should function like any other, dare I say,
multimedia pc. You know: games, mp3s, web browsing, etc. I wont be
mixing down on my machine, but I may need to save the audio to some
sort of removable media or even upload it to an ftp site for file
transfer.

[Bill]

On Feb 5, 6:08 am, Laurence Payne <lpayne1NOSPAM@dslDOTpipexDOTcom>
wrote:
> On 5 Feb 2007 02:14:50 -0800, "Bill" > wrote:
>
> >hmmmm, I believe that an audigy or an x-fi could, at least, be
> >considered a "quality" sound card.
>
> Well, sort of. It's got a lot of features. But it's generally
> considered off the bottom of the scale for serious audio work. But
> maybe I'm living in another world :-) If it suits your needs, it
> looks like you may have a solution.

No, we agreed on quality... we didn't say that it had to be anything
phenomenal. LOL!

I also forgot to mention that I'm also a cheapskate, so a card like
this would also suit my financial needs. Remember, I only really want
to to transfer digital audio, and when I'm not transferring digital
audio, my computer should function like any other, dare I say,
multimedia pc. You know: games, mp3s, web browsing, etc. I wont be
mixing down on my machine, but I may need to save the audio to some
sort of removable media or even upload it to an ftp site for file
transfer.

In general, I don't plan on using it for any sort of "serious audio
work."

[Arny Krueger]

"Bill" > wrote in message
ps.com

> hmmmm, I believe that an audigy or an x-fi could, at
> least, be considered a "quality" sound card.

Usual signs of a audio production grade sound card include balanced intputs,
support for standard audio production signal levels, and ASIO drivers. If
you want to spend money with Creative Labs and get that sort of thing, you
learn how to spell E-Mu, their *pro* card brand.

Aside from the interfacing isues, consumer audio interfaces have improved
quite a bit over the years. Most have sound quality that is at least
acceptable for casual work. If you can get past the interfacing issues, a
$30 SoundBlaster SB Live! 24 bit performs about as well as the M-Audio
Audiophile 2496 at about 3 times the price.

[Bill]

On Feb 5, 7:33 am, "Arny Krueger" > wrote:
> "Bill" > wrote in message
>
> ps.com
>
> > hmmmm, I believe that an audigy or an x-fi could, at
> > least, be considered a "quality" sound card.
>
> Usual signs of a audio production grade sound card include balanced intputs,
> support for standard audio production signal levels, and ASIO drivers. If
> you want to spend money with Creative Labs and get that sort of thing, you
> learn how to spell E-Mu, their *pro* card brand.
>
> Aside from the interfacing isues, consumer audio interfaces have improved
> quite a bit over the years. Most have sound quality that is at least
> acceptable for casual work. If you can get past the interfacing issues, a
> $30 SoundBlaster SB Live! 24 bit performs about as well as the M-Audio
> Audiophile 2496 at about 3 times the price.

I'd love to use an E-Mu, and I'm aware of the differences between a
pro and consumer sound card (thanks for the information anyhow), but I
really can't afford something that expensive... and if I could afford
an E-Mu it would surely be a frivolous purchase made to accomplish
what I'm trying to do. Remember, I still want my home computer to be a
home computer... you know, for the wife and kids, but every now and
then I still want to transfer digital audio from the s/pdif out on
various recording devices to my PC, dig?

[William Sommerwerck]

>> hmmmm, I believe that an audigy or an x-fi could, at
>> least, be considered a "quality" sound card.

> Usual signs of a audio production grade sound card include balanced
> inputs, support for standard audio production signal levels, and ASIO
> drivers. If you want to spend money with Creative Labs and get that sort
> of thing, you learn how to spell E-Mu, their *pro* card brand.

The E-Mu and similar products are designed primarily for producing
recordings, while the X-Fi products are intended primarily for playing
recordings.

[Bill]

On Feb 5, 8:01 am, "William Sommerwerck" >
wrote:
> >> hmmmm, I believe that an audigy or an x-fi could, at
> >> least, be considered a "quality" sound card.
> > Usual signs of a audio production grade sound card include balanced
> > inputs, support for standard audio production signal levels, and ASIO
> > drivers. If you want to spend money with Creative Labs and get that sort
> > of thing, you learn how to spell E-Mu, their *pro* card brand.
>
> The E-Mu and similar products are designed primarily for producing
> recordings, while the X-Fi products are intended primarily for playing
> recordings.

Either way, X-Fi still has S/PDIF In and Out.

[Laurence Payne]

On 5 Feb 2007 03:37:48 -0800, "Bill" > wrote:

>No, we agreed on quality... we didn't say that it had to be anything
>phenomenal. LOL!
>
>I also forgot to mention that I'm also a cheapskate, so a card like
>this would also suit my financial needs.

A M-Audio Audiophile 2496 is cheaper than a top Audigy, and performs
rather better at what it is designed to do - get two channels of
analogue and spdif in and out of your computer. It has no bells and
whistles. No cheap mic preamp or headphone output. It's never heard
of a front panel header. It's the bottom line serious user's card.

[Julian]

On 5 Feb 2007 01:52:06 -0800, "Bill" > wrote:

>On Feb 5, 1:40 am, Julian > wrote:
>> On 4 Feb 2007 16:47:01 -0800, "Bill" > wrote:

>> Since you are handy with a soldering iron, what's to prevent you to
>> soldering wires from your front panel to the DB connector on the back
>> of any sound card that comes that way?
>>
>> Julian
>
>The only thing that's preventing me from doing something as tacky as
>that is the overall aesthetic quality of the finished product. I don't
>want looping cables coming out of, lets say, an open pci slot and
>attaching them into the mic and headphone slot on the back of the
>card, ultimately overriding the speaker out jack when installed, when
>it could be made to look (and work) a lot better by utilizing the
>internal connectors instead and still maintain the overall function of
>the front audio jacks.

No, No, No. You can solder to the connection at the inside of the DB
connector. Or lift the wires that go to the DB connector altogether
and solder directly to them. No messy cables outside the case at
all. Mostly I am suggesting soldering, instead of using crimp on
connectors as the connection will be more solid and no special parts
to order. Also using a higher card quality than the typical consumer
type you are asking about.

>I'm not really looking for criticism.

None intended. There are several cards that I am confident in - Echo
MIA MIDI and the M-Audio 24/96 fit your needs, they just don't have
that typical consumer front panel feature you are looking for or a
header of the type you are looking for.

>I'm more interested in knowing
>if anybody else has successfully implemented something like this
>themselves, let's say with a Sound Blaster X-Fi, for example.

I don't care much for sound blaster cards, which is why I keep trying
to steer you away. To much SCSM funny business. You'll be better off
IMO going with one of the 2 cards I mention above.

I don't want to see you make this custom thing work only to find the
card you bought doesn't do what you want it to do. The cards I
mention don't have any SCSM issues at all. You don't want a card that
imposes SCSM restrictions on you. Often they prevent you from doing
things that are legal.

Julian

[Julian]

On Mon, 05 Feb 2007 14:58:57 +0000, Laurence Payne
<lpayne1NOSPAM@dslDOTpipexDOTcom> wrote:

>On 5 Feb 2007 03:37:48 -0800, "Bill" > wrote:
>
>>No, we agreed on quality... we didn't say that it had to be anything
>>phenomenal. LOL!
>>
>>I also forgot to mention that I'm also a cheapskate, so a card like
>>this would also suit my financial needs.
>
>A M-Audio Audiophile 2496 is cheaper than a top Audigy, and performs
>rather better at what it is designed to do - get two channels of
>analogue and spdif in and out of your computer. It has no bells and
>whistles. No cheap mic preamp or headphone output. It's never heard
>of a front panel header. It's the bottom line serious user's card.

Bill,

I have to agree with Laurence. You say all you want to do is pass
spdif. I've experienced problems with passing SPDIF on Sound Blaster
cards even when the original was something I recorded live to DAT. An
M-Audio 2496 will never impose SCSM restrictions on you and will pass
24 bit 96 kHz spdif if you ever need to and is cost compatible with SB
cards. And you can make solder connections inside your computer case
to satisfy your perfectionism.

Julian

[Julian]

On 5 Feb 2007 05:04:39 -0800, "Bill" > wrote:

>On Feb 5, 8:01 am, "William Sommerwerck" >
>wrote:
>> >> hmmmm, I believe that an audigy or an x-fi could, at
>> >> least, be considered a "quality" sound card.
>> > Usual signs of a audio production grade sound card include balanced
>> > inputs, support for standard audio production signal levels, and ASIO
>> > drivers. If you want to spend money with Creative Labs and get that sort
>> > of thing, you learn how to spell E-Mu, their *pro* card brand.
>>
>> The E-Mu and similar products are designed primarily for producing
>> recordings, while the X-Fi products are intended primarily for playing
>> recordings.
>
>Either way, X-Fi still has S/PDIF In and Out.

Yeah but if SCSM blocks you from using it, who cares?

Julian

[Bill]

On Feb 5, 2:49 pm, Julian > wrote:
> On 5 Feb 2007 05:04:39 -0800, "Bill" > wrote:
>
> >On Feb 5, 8:01 am, "William Sommerwerck" >
> >wrote:
> >> >> hmmmm, I believe that an audigy or an x-fi could, at
> >> >> least, be considered a "quality" sound card.
> >> > Usual signs of a audio production grade sound card include balanced
> >> > inputs, support for standard audio production signal levels, and ASIO
> >> > drivers. If you want to spend money with Creative Labs and get that sort
> >> > of thing, you learn how to spell E-Mu, their *pro* card brand.
>
> >> The E-Mu and similar products are designed primarily for producing
> >> recordings, while the X-Fi products are intended primarily for playing
> >> recordings.
>
> >Either way, X-Fi still has S/PDIF In and Out.
>
> Yeah but if SCSM blocks you from using it, who cares?
>
> Julian

Thanks everybody, but I think I'm just going to use some sort of fire-
wire or usb interface. Something like that would probably fit my needs
perfectly.

[Julian]

On 6 Feb 2007 01:47:08 -0800, "Bill" > wrote:

>Thanks everybody, but I think I'm just going to use some sort of fire-
>wire or usb interface. Something like that would probably fit my needs
>perfectly.

Good choice. Many out there, like the Edirol products are very
inexpensive, have no SCSM "features" and are a fine solution for
passing spdif. I can think of no reason you shouldn't be happy this
way. I'd rather see you do that than a Sound Blaster.

Julian