A7N8X-E deluxe problem

[CR0M]

Lo

My Audigy player has lost the subwoofer channel since installing on my new A7N8X mobo. 5 satellite speakers only, even though it's set on 5.1. Thing is, I'm getting full 5.1 with CDs and DVDs, so I know it isn't my sound system.

I put this down to my old Audigy being too outdated and tried the onboard nforce sound instead.
Exactly the same problem, no subwoofer output.

My Audigy is connected by analogue to my Sony 5.1 home theatre decoder/amp.

Tried all the obvious stuff like latest drivers, checking cables etc. but nada.
Out of desperation even bought a hercules digifire 7.1 to try an optical digital connection to my decoder in case it was analogue causing the problems but that card was so so SO bad (equalizer settings revert to default when playing games) I am returning it at the weekend.

So why is my sound suddenly subwooferless on this board when it was fine on my Asus A7V-333 board? Any help is welcome.

 

[lePobz]

A7N8X-E Deluxe has soundstorm, right? So Install the propper nForce2 drivers (which should also install soundstorm audio control panel) - then in that control panel, go into Speaker Setup, and tick the 'create LFE chanel' box.

Problem solved.

 

[CR0M]

A7N8X-E Deluxe has soundstorm, right? So Install the propper nForce2 drivers (which should also install soundstorm audio control panel) - then in that control panel, go into Speaker Setup, and tick the 'create LFE chanel' box.

Problem solved.

not quite. I tried all that as I said in my first post, and still got 5 speaker output with no SW...

in retrospect, pobz - That solution may work using the digital S/PDIF output, but I can only use analogue or optical with my Sony so unfortunately it isn't an option for me.

 

[lePobz]

Are you checking the outputs on the nForce Soundstorm control panel?

pic here

^ look at that pic - the output of subwoofer is shown if you tick the 'create LFE channel' box in the speaker setup (the tab at the top)

That will give you subwoofer output regardless of what speakers and how they are configured - I had that working on a 3-plug analogue before I got my z680s w/digital co-ax.

 

[Element Alpha]

Sounds like a very annoying problem to me. I'd start by checking the plugs, cables, etc for anomalies. You wouldn't believe how many times almost invisible cuts do things like that. I wish I could help software-wise, but alas, I don't know the audigy's software.
Good luck anyway(and check the damn cables, from boxes to plug)

 

[CR0M]

Are you checking the outputs on the nForce Soundstorm control panel?

That will give you subwoofer output regardless of what speakers and how they are configured - I had that working on a 3-plug analogue before I got my z680s w/digital co-ax.

Yup, all set up right. The weird thing is, as with the Audigy, I get full 5.1 with the test tone but as soon as I start up a game or try and play anything with 3D sound it reverts to 5 with no sub.

Playing DVDs and CDs (even the creative play centre demo) all work great, just not games that use 3D audio.

Mobo bios version playing silly buggers perhaps?

 

[lePobz]

If your motherboard has nVidia Soundstorm why are you messing around withan Audigy card? The soundstorm even beats the Audigy2 in a hands down fight.

Soundstorm is the ultimate audio processor - throw that audigy crap away.
Can you guarantee to me that you have the LFE channel box ticked when running soundstorm?

as shown here

 

[CR0M]

Good suggestion for a workaround pobz, but i'm sure you know that LFE (including crossover which can't be reduced to zero) just distributes the bass response to the satellite speakers instead of using the sub as a dedicated low frequency speaker. Although you do get a certain amount of bass throughout the entire setup, this is a cop out as it doesn't produce true 5.1 sound. Kind of like splitting mono sound through two speakers and calling it stereo. Fine if I wanted a compromise, but I don't - I want my dedicated sub channel working like it did before I fitted this damn motherboard...

Any other suggestions?

btw - The soundstorm test tone runs perfectly when LFE is switched off, and is muffled and crappy when on.

 

[lePobz]

no other ideas, sorry

 

[CR0M]

no worries - thanx for the help pobz.

Anyone else? I want my system running 100% before HL2 ships...

 

[CR0M]

OK, update - just bought an Audigy 2 to see if that cures the problem - but it doesn't.

It's obvious that this is a mobo issue as it all started when I installed the a7n8x.

Results with my new Audigy 2:
THX sound demo works great.
DTS-ES works great.
Dolby Digital works great.
Creative sound tone speaker setup and equalizer all works great...

EAX demo - no sub woofer.
As a game example, Call of Duty:
In-game sound settings will not set to EAX, EAX2, or EAX3 - they revert to 2D standard stereo.

Creative and Asus help staff have been useless. PLEASE SOMEBODY HELP ME OUT HERE, I AM GOING NUTS :O

 

[Asus]

It isn't a motherboard issue.
It is a setup/driver issue.

Go to Control Pannel and Sound and Audio Devices.
Go to advanced and see what you are set to.

I would start over if you think the sub should be playing with your current settings.
Just uninstall soundstorm/audigy/audigy2 drivers and install the 1 set of drivers you are going to use. If you use soundstorm...get the nForce2 updates from Nvidia.

Don't know what to tell you.

 

[CR0M]

Asus, I've tried every setup option available. Also:
I've formatted and re-installed xp with only soundstorm drivers.
I've formatted and re-installed xp with only creative drivers.
I've tried LFE and centre channel options in every configuration known to man.

The nearest I can get to a working solution is to use the onboard chip and set sound to 6 channel, lose the centre speaker and have the centre channel directing through the sub in a weird-ass version of 4.1.

I've spoken to other people with the same problem (and there are quite a few) but nobody at Creativelabs or Asus is admitting that there is a problem with nforce and soundblaster 5.1 compatibility.

The thing is, not many people would notice if their sound setup wasn't quite right - it's far too easy to merge the sub channel with all the others using LFE crossover and assume everything is ok, a solution which is kind of like directing mono sound through 2 speakers and calling it stereo - something the average, everyday peasant would think was the same thing.

This sucks. I have a cutting edge top end motherboard, a cutting edge top end soundcard, and I can't get 5.1 out of either. What are these manufacturers playing at? Instead of worrying about who's offering the biggest FSB or who's got the coolest collection of X's after their name, maybe they should be concentrating on getting shit to work with other shit.