Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live! 24 bit External

The Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live! is a 24 Bit External USB audio interface. It' pretty much the simplest kind of audio interface that you can have, really just an external sound card with a few more options. It doesn't have any microphone preamplifiers. As far as connections go, it's got 1/8" mini plug jacks for microphone in and headphone out in the front as well as an optical output. On the top of it it has volume sliders to set the level of your headphones and your microphone. In the back it has a USB port and 1/8" jacks for your speakers (three of them), and a line input. It also has a SPDIF output and a DIN connection.

UTILIZATION

There isn't all that much to know about using the Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live! audio interface/sound card. This is meant to be a very simple audio interface, so it doesn't have too much features, but on the bright side this makes it very easy to use. Experienced users won't need a manual, but if you're an absolute beginner who is getting their first audio interface, it might be a good idea to have it around just in case.

GETTING STARTED

Setting up the Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live! interface is really simple. Once you've made your basic connections, you're pretty much good to go. I think that everything is self explanatory, but again if you're new to audio interfaces you might want to have the manual handy.

OVERALL OPINION

While I don't think that I'd recommend the Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live!, it's still not a bad external sound card. It does the job fine, but it's limited in what it can do. If something like this is all you need and you don't want to spend much, it's fine to go with, but if you want something to build a home recording rig around, you're going to need something with more features and flexibility.

Used with a Macbook 1.83 GHz Dual Core, 1GB of RAM.

Basic USB external card, intended for home cinema with its output Front, Back, Left and Right ...

UTILIZATION

Plug and Play hardware on the Mac, immediately added as an audio controller in the system preferences. No idea on Windows.

GETTING STARTED

It can be used for such use Garage Band, but then quickly ... Otherwise, it's a good way to improve the sound that comes out generally rotten audio notebook.

OVERALL OPINION

Frankly, I paid 10 euros all round it, I will not complain. But hey, it's a plastic gadget, what ...

Connectivity of the external sound card:
_ Sound Card external usb2
_ One Mic (minijack)
_ A headphone output (minijack)
_ A volume control knob
_ A button control microphone volume
_ Obtique A digital output (MD player or decoder)
_ / Off switch CMSS (for mixing in surround 5.1)
_ IR receiver (for remote external)
_ 3 output (minijack) for home theater receiver (Sub, Front and Rear)
_ SPDIF output (decoder, DAT, MD ect)
_ DIN output (to connect directly to an amp 5.1)
_ His (be called) high-resolution 24-bit 96 kHz in 5.1 surround

Package Contents:
_ USB Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit External (Fortunately)
_ USB2 cable (still)
_ No Creative Infrared remote control (RM-1500) (Damn!)
_ Quick Start Guide (haha)
_ Installation CD (Drivers for Windows XP (SP1) or 2000 (SP4), Creative Suite software applications, User Guide)
_ 3 RCA / Jack Golden (that's class)
_ An optical digital cable (but practical to connect to what?)
_ A software améliration sound: bass amplification / Effects / Custom Equalizer ect ...
_ A recording software (voice / vynil ect)
_ 1 games Bagnols Games EAX 3.0 (what is this lad'dans cares?)

Config requirements:
_ Intel Pentium III
_ AMD
_ Windows 2000
_ 128MB RAM
_ 340Mo of available
_ Port usb1
_ Cd / dvd

Used with:
A _ Acer Travelmate 2000 (laptop)
_ 256 MB RAM
_ Intel Celeron 2.6 GHz
Ati Radeon 9000 IGP _
_ 30GB SD
_ Reader / writer cd / dvd

She looked simple and attractive, the cables provided a 60ainte euros, usb ... In short fnac assured me it was a good product ...

Some regrets, however, or is this remote?
What is a set of car?
Poueqoi obtique to a cable and not SPDIF cable?

Haaa ... The logic of engineering is often not in agreement with the customer ...

UTILIZATION

Installation is no problem, the computer does not ram, so good ...

Flashback ...

Having a holy horror of PC. But having to do with when we make music, I wanted to get a basic but reliable sound card to sample the sounds from my PC in my MPC. Grossomerdo an old sample of Louis Armstrong remastered, downloaded in MP3, I start playing in my computer and I record with my MPC (Music Production Center). It's not complicated.

The seller Fnac Poitiers (ha thin I say the name) assured me that there was no problem, take me away this card that damned noise PC (Pitzzzzzzzzzz). In addition, a miracle, I could even record my vinyl records or my voice, remastered and sampler ... Anyway ... Happiness in USB.

1st Test: Old School SpritNoirr as is, I plug the output jack / RCA on my mixer and I'm gonna cum ...
HAAAAAAAA
PITTTTTTZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ A GIANT!! And back in very small sound. My sound card was not doing much before.

I do not demotivating!

2nd test, after buying a SPIF cable (not supplied grrrrrr !!!!) I plug the OUT to the card and the In the MPC (I am not con either). Haaaa I listen the sound is good.
I record nickel. I replay in my MPC and there ... The sound is slowing as we read in 45tours 33tours.

I try to understand to reinstall, uninstall capture, read, look on the internet ... Nothing ... I'm cursed.

Returning to the fnac of course this is not the fault of the product but mine. Haaa the customer is king when he bought ... Not after.

So I put 2 / 20 because ... It was installed on my PC without problem ...

GETTING STARTED

But then why do I need it?
Nothing.

Since it does not work, the effects / equalizer and all that stuff is ugly and fat zero.
As the reader of the sounds are difficult to handle and the interface is not clear.
Since the updates are useless.
Because when I record there is noise.
Because when I hear there is Fuzzz.
Because when I sample the signal is so bad that it slows down.

In short she told me happily busy ...

_ Given that there is a car game provides.

Without laughing was just to sample at the base. Do the math, the card 60 euros, 8 euros the SPDIF cable, 2x 4euros parking for the city center near fnac paid 76euros for this white shit!

I had to buy a battery and CDRW sampler with ease.
A Thumbs Ladies Gentlemen!

OVERALL OPINION

Since June2007 I hate her.
I hate it as an official of the Post Home, incompetent, which is useless, which pronnent waiting to efficiency and is doing everything except what is asked.

In short it is zero and the only good thing to tell people not to buy it.
PS: By the way ... Since June 2007 I never returned to the Fnac de Poitiers ...


Musically ...
SpritNoirr.

I was motivated by this card for its price seemed attractive, and the various connectors available (S / PDIF / Optical / Sound 5.1/entrée line / mic / Sun).

My config:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600@3.00GHz
Corsair XMS2 2x1GB
Motherboard Asus P5K
Hard Drives: 80GB SATA SATA/250GO / External 500GB USB

UTILIZATION

The installation was made without problem (known as plug-and-play with windows, drivers update soon).

No incompatibilities noticed, the card is 100% compatible Mac OS X (tested under Leopard).

on the other hand, once (probably due to a trojan), EAX Console no longer starts. I had to format to successfully repair the drivers.

GETTING STARTED

At first, for absolutely no professional recording, I had no worries. But when I started voice recording (with good equipment behind in preamp and voice processing), I noticed that I could-40dB of ambient noise. I researched before I realize that it came from the sound card, and the line input acting more or less like a microphone (a small voltage, and it can be seen when the sound is brought into contact the end of the cable connected to a conductive material).

Since I bought an E-MU 0404, and I am satisfied with-70dB of noise completely inaudible, despite a few professional audio system (the power supplies are missing cable jack). I use my Live! 24-bit external to the normal listening on my PC. Everything else (recording, etc.). Are made on my E-MU 0404.

In addition, I also noticed a big shift for all business applications of the type Adobe After Effects or Adobe Audition. Even being well versed with the listening that provided the sound card, though there is what we hear at the end we arrive with a delay of up to 500ms in 3 minutes. Such, in a RAM preview on After Effects, the sound is offset from the image (or if you hold so well for PREVIEW RAM, it will be shifted to the final rendering). Since also, I use my E-MU 0404 for preview on After Effects.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for several years now ... What is good with this card is that it moves quickly, but more suited to the Multimedia PC with a remote control and connection. The most regrettable and the offset and the noise of the input line. I have not tried other models before.

I do not that choice would do. If she becomes the ghost, I turned to an external sound card always (since I often use a standard headset and cable ...) but this time more professional.