Advice needed on installing a new Audio Interface

[Newysurfer]

Hi guys

yeah, I'll recieve a new M-Audio Fast Track Ultra Audio interface next week. I currently have a Soundblaster X-Fi Xtreme Music soundcard.

I've done a pre-look at the install instructions for the Ultra and it says zilch about my query ...so

Question - before I install the Fast Track Ultra program should I uninstall the Soundblaster software ....or

do you just install the new Ultra program and not touch the existing Soundblaster one and have 2 soundcard programs loaded on the PC ???

[String7th]

I would suggest uninstall for sure, you will never use it as long as the interface is there and it will just take up CPU and HD space.
I'd physically take it out of it's PCI slot too, may as well.

[Metaltyme]

I personally opted to keep my Creative Sound Audigy PCI sound card when moving up to a 'real' audio interface for recording. The reason is that a lot of those sound-blaster/audigy gamer cards come with their own General MIDI synth(s) to play back MIDI files without having to employ soft-synths within your DAW application.

I work a lot with MIDI composition and love having the option to play a MIDI file on the spot by just double clicking on it, rather than having to load it up into my DAW application each time I want to take a listen. Most audio interfaces (designed for recording and such) do not come with their own MIDI synth, built-in. The gamer cards do. You can select which card/interface is used for any given situation within your operating system via the sound/audio control panels.

So...in essence, they can work together to accomplish goals neither one can do (or typically do) on their own. Of course, when I'm working with a recording project within my DAW application, I exclusively use my audio interface (designed for recording) for all the audio playback.

The choice is basically up to you, depending on whether you can use a benefit of one that's not included in the other.

[garww]

Ya, for me the soundfonts and synth are a plus. The Creative software might be disposed of. I use the SB for playback and recording( no multi-track) and the Tascam to record certain things. The Tascam drivers are buggy in Vista, but actually do the recording and playback very well.

[Newysurfer]

Ok - thanks - I see the advantage of keeping the Soundblaster for midi synths and I do need to playback midi files occasionally so I'll keep it for that & have both available on the PC. Plus there's the PC's general sound effects as well.

Now from what I understand the playback quality of all file types will be better thru the new M-Audio compared to my existing Soundblaster. If that's the case can I set it up so that

1) the M-Audio plays back all mp3, wave files & audio files in general playback mode. Then is used exclusively for all files types when I open Sonar 8.

2) Soundblaster plays only midi files when Sonar 8 is not open plus the sound effects from the Windows 7 operating system I've just installed

[Metaltyme]

Now from what I understand the playback quality of all file types will be better thru the new M-Audio compared to my existing Soundblaster.

No. The playback quality would be the same if all other variables are equal. The quality is not determined by what's doing the playing in this situation. It's actually determined by the source (the quality of the audio file you're trying to play back). However, your new interface is capable of recording source material at a much higher quality than your sound blaster at its maximum sample rate and bit-depth.

If that's the case can I set it up so that

1) the M-Audio plays back all mp3, wave files & audio files in general playback mode. Then is used exclusively for all files types when I open Sonar 8.

Yes. You can do this exactly.

2) Soundblaster plays only midi files when Sonar 8 is not open plus the sound effects from the Windows 7 operating system I've just installed

Partially yes...if the sound effects are MIDI-based, this would be accurate. If they are wav files however, then your m-audio fast track would play them. (All this is true if you have both cards/interfaces engaged (or "on").

The way I have mine currently setup is like this:
If my interface (edirol fa-101) is on, it plays ALL audio through my reference monitors...this means it won't play anything MIDI. If I switch the fa-101 off, my creative sound audigy card takes ALL duties by automatic default, including MIDI, through a separate pair of regular old computer speakers. I keep my recording interface connected to my monitors and my gamer sound card connected to the regular computer speakers.

[brandondrury]

I would suggest uninstall for sure, you will never use it as long as the interface is there and it will just take up CPU and HD space.
I'd physically take it out of it's PCI slot too, may as well.

The biggie is avoiding driver conflicts and that sort of jive. Anything you don't use should be taken out in my opinion.

Brandon

[Metaltyme]

The biggie is avoiding driver conflicts and that sort of jive.

That's definitely a good point. I, thankfully, have not had any driver issues (where the two cards conflict) for over two years. But, it could definitely be a major issue for others. If there aren't any issues that arise from employing both though, it's pretty convenient.

[Newysurfer]

Originally Posted by Metaltyme

No. The playback quality would be the same if all other variables are equal. The quality is not determined by what's doing the playing in this situation. It's actually determined by the source (the quality of the audio file you're trying to play back). However, your new interface is capable of recording source material at a much higher quality than your sound blaster at its maximum sample rate and bit-depth.



Yes. You can do this exactly.



Partially yes...if the sound effects are MIDI-based, this would be accurate. If they are wav files however, then your m-audio fast track would play them. (All this is true if you have both cards/interfaces engaged (or "on").

The way I have mine currently setup is like this:
If my interface (edirol fa-101) is on, it plays ALL audio through my reference monitors...this means it won't play anything MIDI. If I switch the fa-101 off, my creative sound audigy card takes ALL duties by automatic default, including MIDI, through a separate pair of regular old computer speakers. I keep my recording interface connected to my monitors and my gamer sound card connected to the regular computer speakers.

Metal - what I've bolded there at the end is my preferred setup for when I get the M-Audio Fast Track ultra next week ... but now can someone please explain the following.

When I installed Win 7, Sonar 8 & the old Soundblaster software 2 days ago.....Sonar 8 would not recognise any ASIO drivers even though it had done no prob's before under my previous XP operating system. So I went to the Soundblaster website and found what they listed as updated Windows 7 drivers for my soundcard and I downloaded that exe file to my desktop. I already had the Soundblaster software loaded. But after I ran the new drivers exe file I got zero sound. Nothing would play on Windows Media player or anything else. The Diagnostics test only said it failed on the Wave out -SB X-Fi Audio driver.

So I then uninstalled the whole Soundblaster software and then re-ran the updated Windows 7 drivers exe file without the software loaded. Bingo - everything works now. Windows Media Player 9 sounds the same, it plays midi files and Sonar 8 now recognises the ASIO drivers & EZDrummer works. Issue appears to be solved but I've got no Soundblaster software loaded other than the new Windows 7 drivers. Haven't touched the soundcard hardware at all & haven't openned up any files in Sonar to see if they'll play but EZDrummer does.

I don't understand this - can someone please explain how this works. What's running the soundcard without software. Is the new Windows 7 driver exe file doing all the work now. And do I need the software at all

Also, does Windows Media Player 9 have it's own midi synth player

PS - my monitors/playback setup is from the soundcard out to an NAD C315BEE Hi-Fi amp > 2 Bose speakers. Also has a headphone out on the amp.

[garww]

It so happens, I was looking for new x-fi drivers around lunch time. Not much, except for W7 updates for my card. There may be drivers and software releases for your card.

I personally, don't use the software that much, but the soundfont loader/explorer. I'm guessing the un-install didn't touch the new version drivers you had installed. Creative really has install/un-install problems : )