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How do I use 2 sound cards, one with 5.1? -Asio4all problems

PostPosted: 22 Mar 2010, 23:09
by rytymu
OK, this is a bit complicated. Let's start off with my setup:

-On board sound card (2 channel)
-External Creative X-fi 5.1 USB sound card
-Mixvibes Cross LE DJ software
-Discover DJ
-Logitech z-5500 5.1 surround sound
-Asio4all installed
-Windows 7 64-bit

So I DJ on my PC, and the mixvibes Cross DJ software only allows for one sound card. Obviously you want a dual sound card setup (one for master, one for cue), so I installed Asio4All. In Cross LE, I have the master set to my USB sound card, and the cue set to my on-board sound card (through asio).

The problem is when sound is played through the USB sound card (when asio4all is enabled), it is in stereo. I tried adjusting the settings in Asio4all, but it only allows me to pick 2 channel, or 6 channel. If I select 2 channel, Cross LE will only play in two channels (obviously). If I select 6 channel, Cross LE takes this literally, and only allows the selection of ONE of the channel sets (as in front, center, OR sub - no option for rear). So it will only play on the left/right channels OR center. Not to mention when I select the sub channel my PC bluescreens... In Cross, if I just select my USB sound card as my only card (NOT using Asio), it functions as I want it to (5 speakers playing in stereo, with equalizer), but with no second sound card for cueing.

In Asio4all, I basically want to select my on-board sound card as one card, and my USB sound card as another card. I don't want it to split the USB card into 6 channels (or 3 sets), and I want to just select the card as is. Under normal circumstances, the "Creative Console" (the external sound card's control center) has all of my settings the way I want them. For example, if I'm playing a normal, stereo MP3 song, the Creative Console will set the rear speakers to stereo, AND output mono (I assume) to the center speaker. If a game or movie starts, it switches to true 5.1... I want to bypass Asio4all's settings, and use the Creative settings... Right now, when Asio4all is running, the Creative Console has no effect what-so-ever (except volume) on the sound card.

Overall, I want the ability to run two sound cards at once. I want all 6 channels on my surround sound to just play in stereo when asio is running (as the master). I know other programs like Virtual DJ allow this, but I'm not going to pay $300, or hack the software online. I'm sticking with Cross LE. I also know I can set my Logitech z-5500 to stereo x2, but you lose the center channel (and I believe a crossover since it's not 6 channel direct).

What do I do?

Re: How do I use 2 sound cards, one with 5.1? -Asio4all problems

PostPosted: 22 Mar 2010, 23:45
by daniel clark
:cool: :cool: welcome to mixvibes fourm :mrgreen: one of the protocalls is to registar your software to get assistance on the fourm :mrgreen: partial answer to your question is that i have the demo to Cross and a installed creative sound blaster x-fi platium fatality 7.1 installed. the only way to get cue function to work properly is to use the one multi channel soundcard out puts in pairs and assign a pair to master and a pair to monitor, also use asio 4all, but soundblasters asio also works,, had other indivauls inform that two sound cards can work but i havent proved that yet. my system has the motherboard s c and the S B card installed internaly ,and also use the usb sound doggle supplied with M V home 7 :cool: by the time you get registared ,some one with a little more info should be able to help sort it out for you :cool: :cool:

Re: How do I use 2 sound cards, one with 5.1? -Asio4all problems

PostPosted: 22 Mar 2010, 23:48
by rytymu
OK, my discover DJ is on order, so I don't have the serial yet... Right now I am also using the Cross demo. I assume the soundcard setup is the same though.

Re: How do I use 2 sound cards, one with 5.1? -Asio4all problems

PostPosted: 22 Mar 2010, 23:53
by daniel clark
:cool: :cool: not shure 100 percent but the Cross demo ,i can get asio to work with one multi channel s c and splitting pairs of speaker outputs to enable monitoring :cool: :cool:

:eek: :eek: the only reason to say what is not true is to convinces yourself,not others :eek: :eek: we try to help by using factual info to help you find a solution :lol:

Re: How do I use 2 sound cards, one with 5.1? -Asio4all problems

PostPosted: 22 Mar 2010, 23:56
by rytymu
Right, so can I. The problem is I don't want to split pairs... I would like to just use the internal card for cueing, and the external for mixing in stereo surround (all 5 channels in stereo, not just the fronts). It would work great if I didn't have surround sound, and I only had a 2 channel source to feed, but that 's not the case.

Re: How do I use 2 sound cards, one with 5.1? -Asio4all problems

PostPosted: 23 Mar 2010, 00:06
by daniel clark
:cool: :cool: not sure about that possibility, does you s b card have the mode selection in the volume pannel if it does then you might be able to switch output around in audio creation mode :?: :?: ,in using two different sound cards i found that the sound on the lesser card tends to lag, when using the sound dogle supplied with m v home, two programs , VJ demo and zulu DJ free the sound would lag thru the second sc used for monitoring, has something two do with the difference in sc clocking :?: :?: :?:

Re: How do I use 2 sound cards, one with 5.1? -Asio4all problems

PostPosted: 23 Mar 2010, 00:09
by rytymu
Mode switching is not possible on this particular card, only "entertainment mode".

Re: How do I use 2 sound cards, one with 5.1? -Asio4all problems

PostPosted: 23 Mar 2010, 00:21
by daniel clark
:cool: :cool: gave the best info from my expericences :cool: :cool: also trying to figure which way to go :cool: :cool: also wanted to use surrond sound but getting the program and all the criteria to gell seems to be the hardest part, :cool: :cool: stick around hopefully this fourm might get it sorted out for you :cool: :cool:

Re: How do I use 2 sound cards, one with 5.1? -Asio4all problems

PostPosted: 23 Mar 2010, 03:37
by UncleVibes
find a working card... & register your software to access the support!

Re: How do I use 2 sound cards, one with 5.1? -Asio4all problems

PostPosted: 27 Mar 2010, 06:05
by rytymu
ok, I registered, now who as an answer?