All user reviews for the Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro

I bought this product on sale and it's been a while that I wanted.
I took it for the quality of sound reproduction really incomparable (24-bit 192kHz)
with an integrated sound card, asio driver, the management of 7.1, the outer casing,
Following logiciel.Je used with a keyboard Yamaha CVP303.
I use it mainly for listening to music with little or no compressed
but also of computer music as an amateur.
My setup is an AMD X4 955 with motherboard
Asus 990FX with 8gb of ram 3 hard drives for a total of 3Tos
and a 24 "screen.

UTILIZATION

The drivers are stables.Il there were some problems out of Vista
It came from the builder who was reluctant to put their drivers updated for the sake
to sell new cards but the problem was eventually solved.
I myself am in seven 64-bit and the card works very well.
There is only the MIDI does not work but most
instruments now in usb work.

GETTING STARTED

Installation is no problem
provided to make the right versions
software after the operating system.
Easy handling.
Instructions on the CD but little used.
Inconsistencies are appeared at the outlet
Vista and have since been resolved.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 6 years.
I already had a soundblaster
I love the quality of sound reproduction.
The price was good value for
solde.Je bought this choice would do without hesitation.

I needed a card with external enclosure offering both analog input / output and numrique and a MIDI interface. The Platinum Pro offers 2 between strro format jack, a pair of RCA format and of course input optic / coaxial SPDIF and while 24/96. I Racords my PC (Xeon 3Ghz / 160 HDD / 1GB Ram XP Pro). With a table mix numrique Roland VM 3100 Just a simple optic cable connecting the console and the map to taste the joy of the "all digital".

UTILIZATION

Nickel Installation on Windows XP, the drivers offer many options with rglages same few "gadget" kind of a 3D sound environment of symulateur .. to taste the joys of 5.1 on a single pair of speakers and a tool for automatic calibration of a HP egualiseur etc ... and of course the famous ASIO drivers. I turned with Cubase VST and I am below 5ms latency .. a real happy. on the other hand depending on softs computer music utiliss it will configure the ASIO drivers in different ways. For example Cubase VST .. ASIO SPECIFICATIONS dedicates the card can record that from the two first entry. on the other hand if you chose the ASIO drivers of gnrique crative (unlike the ASIO Audigy 2ZS platinum pro) is the all entries available. Installation is very easy, no problem.

GETTING STARTED

The drivers are stable and the site of crative prpose of updates and fixes patch (I have not had personal needs)
I repeat again I have a lower latency of 5ms a record in between numrique stro .. I did not ssay mutipiste from the analog inputs.

OVERALL OPINION

It's been one month that I use and I following trs happy especially given the relative quality price. DVD fans will be delighted to bnficier outputs 7.1 and other gadgets to audiophiles. A little more .. the tlcommande (for use in music creation is useless but hey .. ca little use) .. in short, a good map, I board and I would do without this choice problem.

I chose this card in addition to my sound card for many ADAT I / O numriques, both MIDI and Firewire ports, but especially the two processors embedded Emu 10 k1. These are two hardware samplers with no latency.
The sound is excellent, especially torque to 7.1 speaker Creative Inspire T7700.
The tlcommande do me any usefulness.
This card has only one output line on the map, you can not plug anything in analog output, there is not on the Casing.

UTILIZATION

The installation options are not clear, we are left with a dozen more or less useful programs in his computer. No problem with installation otherwise.

GETTING STARTED

I forwarded an exchange with the Creative Service explaining my opinion.

Letter 1
Hello,
I have a problem: the SPDIF output of FWCenter (pro card) on the branch between the Audigy SPDIF
goes well, the Soundfonts too, but the audio tracks of the SB can not be synchronized with those of the FWCenter (spitting, stuttering.
Test diffrent config: do nothing. Is it a problem of latency of SB would generate an audio dcalage? How to reduce this latency in Cakewalk / Sonar 2.2?

Rponse Creative 1
Hello
Our support can unfortunately not provide troubleshooting
problem with use of hardware and software other than Creative.

Letter 2
Hello
What I meant, and you should send to dpartement product design is my user dception professional.
Despite its name, the SB Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Professional is professional.
1 - I use other sound card professional s'intgrent no problem in the string numrique of my studio.
2 - On the other hand, benefitted from a professional hardware support vritable really matter to people who know the studio environment.
I understand that you Tiez Exceeds a problem really sharp suggr by the professional sound that I am. I will spread this info and my apprciate mitigates this product with
of the many musicians I IOTC.

Creative Rponse 2
Hello
This is exactly abolument, SB Audigy cards are not cards and are desintine amateur to music publishing, optimizing audio in games and audio for home theater PC. These cards are not comparable, nor their price has professional equipment.

OVERALL OPINION

I pay dearly for a sound card that works only with itself. Impossible will integrate with other peripherals numriques.
Otherwise, use with HP T7700, it is perfect for mixing in surround 5.1 or 7.1.

My message is not lance my setup but that of a friend who has the problem and asked me to correct!

Looking for a sound card for general public use cubase sx modest this card seemed to him by many trs appropriate connectors.
on the case is compatible Specifies cubase ...

UTILIZATION

The installation is done well and we're happy!
or the gate is the opening of a cubase SX
there are a host of driver DIFFERENT twelve o'clock without knowing exactly what they correspond
asio and three different: we quickly realized that a single function to get the monitoring software and benefit from the effects in real time
Now playing: you put a top reverb compressor does the sound is very well
or more of its progress is by launching the recording sound cracks, undergoes distortion and is sometimes found saccades: what is strange is that it differs from the other readback

GETTING STARTED

So for now not record correctly: recording works with the other but the asio direct monitoring and this is not the goal n'tait!!

OVERALL OPINION

APRS balance 1demi time-negotiation to determine the bottom line at creative in IRELAND (long live the hotline) they have no solution
I note that the problem can not come from the machine, since it records perfectly with the driver in direct monitoring and the sound was smooth without launching the acquisition of HD
BUT WHAT DOES SOUND BLASTER
A brief ACAHT THAT if J does not recommend to the computer music!

Card with I / O interface while a
3 line inputs with analog asymtriques a mic / line in jack and RCA
midi interface
I / O and optical SPDIF cinch
tlcommande

UTILIZATION

The installation fairly simple and well explained
the PC does all alone with xp
sometimes contradictory with the manual online about a connection to an amplifier cinma home.

GETTING STARTED

Drivers unstable ds that are key to SETTING THE latency
used with a PC athlon 2400xp 512 ram and cubasse sx2, 20 ms latency with vst instruments. many clicks numriques appear below.
Many tracks lissibles at the same time effortlessly, at least thirty.

OVERALL OPINION

It's been three months that I use.
processing of sound is of good quality.
a very large default, the micro prampli is shameful. it produces a standard breath.
This card is a good solution for a trs pc multimedia (DVD GAMES ...) because it does everything but it has a professional's name.

6 / 10 for the home studio
9 / 10 for the multimedia

I work in the computer music for about 2 years with the software Cubase.Jusqu 'while I was working on an athlon 2500xp barton and 512 of ram and a sound card in the card intgre mere.Je consists gnralement all my tracks composed in midi format (which unfortunately makes a guitar sound completely inaudible). Practicing also the guitar parts I intended to record the guitar midi audio format for a more raliste.Cette card has two input es jack6 (for example you can connect a guitar and a microphone vocals). It is this which CHARACTERISTICS largely motivated my use achat.Aprs I am perfectly satisfied drsultat but that s 'hear well ... This card is in fact the business name, let us not forget that a card has less than 250 euros and this price has your exact recording audio will not be comparable to high-end cards professionnelles.Je would therefore like to say that the report is qualitprix trs satisfactory.
This card has also an entrance and exit noon (for example connect a synth or a piano numrique). Paramtrable Latency is and can be lowered to 2ms if I remember correctly this that is his lot in impeccable.Le direct.Tout a bunch of other entries litter this card but I have not had the useful at the moment.
Another smaller but has also motivated my choice: esthtisme and ergonomics. The external rack looks pretty pro and it is less restrictive and less fragile than a lot of cable so that direct the map (see phase 26 TerraTec)

UTILIZATION

At the installation, no problem everything is intuitive and fonctionnel.Nanmoins past few days my computer reboots ds I try to take a look at the EAX console .... I do not know not at all or it may come, but must say that my computer does not format for over a year.
Think nanmoins adsactiver sound cards prcdement installsa from the bios of your PC.
When in doubt I put an average score.

GETTING STARTED

The drivers are stable trs, no problem of the cot, I work with Cubase as I said above, I consists of 16 tracks diffrent up and it does train pas.Comme said above the Latency is paramtrable to your envies.Pour I put my hand is at least 2ms.
All this dpend especially your bcane.C is on that if you install it on a computer for four years, even if the card is good it's going to row!

OVERALL OPINION

In closing I just want to say to people who buy this card has hsiteraient not trust the bad langues.Cette card is not professional! If you want business cards, it is not with you 250 euros you procurerez.Le report quality price of this card is trs INTERESTED, a lightweight breath during the recording (not very sgnant) and some problems of driver (can be) the rest are adplorer.Pour that price it's all bon.L offer software is not that great anyway but no matter

Buy pr first experience computer music and without any knowledge of this practice, so something not too expensive.

UTILIZATION

Config: Barton XP2600 (L2 = 512) slightly overclocked, 1 gigabyte of memory motherboard Asrock low-end, XP PRO, ATI 9600 pro 128
No installation worries, no conflict. I notice that often do not know musicos optimize pc which can cause a lot of pb, pc notament with Bell or other such crap! I mounted a number of PC per year and IT is my job, so I know a little bit ...
As for the bundled software, no interest for me.

GETTING STARTED

Drivers with no worries, used with Nuendo2 (Cubase SX2 early)
Latency = 4 ms
For now, a maximum of 16 half track stereo, with many reverb, compressor, equalizer.
Never had any problems with the track number, or by reading or recording.
I work in 48/16 bit. Craquements.Aucun no slowdowns. Used with a mixer ALESIS Multimix 6FX, so I do not use the mic. ROLAND PC180 master keyboard and guitar interface
TONELAB.

OVERALL OPINION

Used for 1 year and this is my first sound card. No worries me so happy! Need I say more?
Now, all moving very quickly there must be as well and even better, like E-mu.
I do not regret my choice.

I use this sound card for over 2 years, I only used to connect the microphone, having just purchased at the time because I liked the principle of external sound card (my limited knowledge and good advice Product advised by friends) and there was a microphone jack Integrated ...

UTILIZATION

No installation problems, at least no major problems, easy to implement, I know I probably uses not all the capabilities ... on the other hand I did not understand that readers do not respond to Integrated screensaver when you watch a movie to get up every 10 minutes to move the mouse c not great, but cest not my goal with AC, AT THE TIME plates had been connected by a INTERMEDIATE mixer, we had a little trouble for the output and input of its own but it was a laborious installation ....

GETTING STARTED

I use it for audio recording with Logic, everything works as intended, the sound is not very clear but given the material I have I was thinking that that is really a sound card (check) c by that I plug in my hi-fi system and either there is no problem

OVERALL OPINION

I am satisfied, for 2 years of use, it is a very practical way to store, maybe the sound is not very clear but it is enough for a decent result, c ' is my first sound card so I no opinion comparison, just what I think of this one, but given the price of professional equipment I think it's a good buy, as a proper right price, with the 'experience j'referai j'dispose this choice if the same budget, prefer to invest the best choice but the sound is a graaaaand investment ....

I bought this card to record my guitar via in.Je decision to use it with XP.

UTILIZATION

The installation is not very easy, but it is negligible. The general configuration was a bit dubious in my cas.Windows keeps harping that he has detected a sound card when it is installed for a long time.

GETTING STARTED

Good, we go into the problems, at least I have problems with this carte.En done since I bought it I had more problems than anything else. A time playing a video game, the sound of a sudden turns into the carton flap, due I reinstall the whole map from the service (great council) ...
In addition, it is true that when you plug a headset it saturates quickly, and I do not understand ... When you configure the software and that is creative in "headphones", height of fill is as good as when you put a headphone like configuration with "2.1 speaker"! J'halucine it's foutage Geul.
Another problem, although the noise level is higher, the sound saturates quickly (compared with no map) when playing mp3 ...
Yet another problem: while quietly listening to the fruit of my work on Reason, a bug blew up part of my song while playing! And it happens (fortunately this is rare) whereas before it would never happen with a single chipset built into the motherboard ... It is doubtful any ca.Et finally recording electric guitar through Vox VST disappointed me! Total lack of punch.
In his games against the video (when it works) and DVD is impeccable!

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a few months, I like connectivity for its price rather affordable. What I like the least I have already mentioned above.
I never tried the other models before.

I do not have that choice would do because in fact this card is not suitable for computer music ... it remains for me to sell it. However it is a card that fits well with gamers and DVD enthusiasts etc ...

My choice s'tait port on this card for its versatility. computer music and use multi MDIA
I use Cubase SX3 mainly 24/48khz PC CPU Athlon 3000 + barton + 2GB SD memory SATA and IDE

For shipments in the card, I use a 01V For For returns, I use the SPDIF connection

UTILIZATION

Installation very simple and Asio 2 drivers, the day set config is simple to install a config 5.1, just Defines the outputs (left, right, front, rear, etc.) So simple)

GETTING STARTED

Drivers rev up stable and days until the XFi, but no diffrence except the price

I get a latency of 5ms veuc if I push, but as a general rule, I let the 7ms. Cel allows me to have a max of audio tracks + Vsti. short, inaudible behind. I have more present essay QLQ cards and so-called computer music Dedis They are ramasss

OVERALL OPINION

This is not an audio computer music "Dfine as such" but will see the home ct Emu connotation that "multimedia" This card is excellent

Cooker mao in 6 years ago, my advice is this card great for beginners public. Despite the criticisms that I have read rgulieres here or there, saying that it is not suited for Mao, I must say that I am fully satisfied with, it is very stable, functional and has great sound for a card of this type.
I use it to record demos. The external rack is connected to the output amplifier and stereo speakers for monitoring and input to a mixer which I plug in guitar, bass and microphone. For MIDI I use a master keyboard connected to the rack for the synths and the orders of plug-ins.
I use it on a PC that is not dedicated exclusively to the mao (except Internet) with an AMD Athlon 64 3800 X2, 2GB RAM, 2 internal dd 80 (windows) to 160 (Mao) and a dd External 160 (safeguards)

UTILIZATION

Implementation very simple, it operates on the base with the asio master map "direct x full duplex but with a latency of 45 ms. Then I use asio4 which reduces latency up to 2 ms without problem with my setup. For recording tracks and choose the audio input or noon, he must go through the window surround mix "very easy to use. Recording in 44 or 48 kHz, 16 bit or 24 without a problem, I have never been able to use the 96 kHz (but why bother?)

GETTING STARTED

The card is very stable. Cot sequencer it works very well with Nuendo. Latency level, no problem with asio4. Of course with this card you can not record multiple tracks conjuction but for the creation of a model home that is not essential ...

OVERALL OPINION

In conclusion good little versatile card (with much more multimedia-oriented gadget without much interest) in computer music but if you did not need a "gas plant" and if you record each instrument, it is quite correct for making models of good quality.