Surround Sound Sound Card?

rssfed23 · 05-08-2005

Hi there,

Ive just brought a 5.1 surround sound system from novatech, and a PCI 6 ch sound card (now found out its based on the CMI-8738),

My problem is i cant seem to get surround sond from it, i connect the 3 wires up to the sound card (one for front, rear and centre/bass), and none of them work apart from the normal stereo sound.

Can anyone else help with this, it was a OEm box that just came with a driver disk (and some apps), but no proper manual that can help me with this,

Ive also noticed there are 2 different kind of jumpers on the card itself, but im not gonna fiddle with these unless im supposed to,

This is really annoying me because there is no bass because i cant get the port to work,

Many thanks in advance,
Rob

*Gurm* · 05-08-2005

Well, you are aware that most surround sound cards only put out surround-sound in games, right? Or when watching a movie in DTS? Have you tried those?

If you have, my apologies. Just covering the bases.

SOME sound cards let you do things like clone the output to the rear speakers or do pseudo-surround in normal operation, but not all. It all depends on the driver set.

rssfed23 · 05-08-2005

Yeah, i hve tried playing movies in WMP and nero media player, ive tried the 5.1 tracks and the DTS tracks,

Ive also changed the windows sound speaker setting to 5.1, but still no differencem

It also dosent work when doing the Audio demo that came with the cd

Dismembered Ninja · 05-08-2005

Make sure that you have the sound output set to the right setting, analogue probably but could be digital.

*harley2ride* · 05-08-2005

Also, if you have an onboard (motherboard chipset sound), make sure you disable it in the bios.

rssfed23 · 05-08-2005

I can get the standerd stereo sound through the front speakers, just no optput for the others because by system will not output any bass without the output provided to it through the centre/bass channel,

My motherboard is quite old, but still suports PCI version 2.1 (i think) and i have no other troubles with any other PCI devices,

I dont have any other sound controller on my system apart from this one and as far as im aware it is analog output,

If you want me to i can post a photo of the inputs/outputs of the surround sound system and the sound card

*debro* · 06-08-2005

Picture of the sound card would be good

We can see the actual model no# from the labels / prints on the card

rssfed23 · 06-08-2005

Ok, il do that in the mourning as im currently installing xp again, but ive just found the PDF manual on the cd (which dosent mean much to me but might to you), and it has somthing about the jumper settings, and a very bad quality curcit diagram which is included in the pdf

rssfed23 · 25-08-2005

Ok, im sorry about the delay.
Ive just come out of hospital, but ive managed to get the photos (sorry about the poor quality):

Pic 1

Pic 2

Pic 3

I do hope that somone can help me out here,

Many thanks in advance (and thanks for the help already),
Rob

*debro* · 26-08-2005

Start->(settings->)Control Panel->Sounds & Audio Devices.

In speaker settings (at the bottom) -> Advanced

Speaker setup is to be "Surround" or "5.1 Surround speakers"
depending on whether you have a subwoofer (5.1 surround) or not (surround).

This will tell windows to use all 5/6 speakers.

In the "Environmental Sound Settings" software bundle that came with the card you will also need to set the cards ports up as 5.1 sound. I can't tell you how to do this, all software is different.

rssfed23 · 26-08-2005

I have done both of these, but it has no effect (even the 5.1 sound testing demo software that came with my sound card dosent give me 5.1!!!)

RoscoeMcGurk · 27-08-2005

Probably won't make any difference, but maybe you should try a different PCI slot. You said the PC was kinda old, who knows maybe you have a bad connection, or a partially working PCI slot. Uninstall the drivers, move the card to another slot, then reload the drivers and see what happens. See if you can find newer version drivers from the manufacturer site or maybe driverguide.com or something. You've probably checked already, but double and triple check your speaker connections and also the way you have it all hooked up.

Maybe if you can, try both the speakers and the sound card in another PC to make sure it all works, play a little 5.1 then you know at least if it's the card/speakers, or your PC. Process of elimination will get you the answer. Good luck man

*_chef_* · 27-08-2005

5.1 has nothing really to do with "surround sound".
Surround sound can be easily done even using stereo equipment...

On some 5.1 systems you have to switch manually betweeen 5.1 and stereo output.

rssfed23 · 27-08-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoscoeMcGurk

Probably won't make any difference, but maybe you should try a different PCI slot. You said the PC was kinda old, who knows maybe you have a bad connection, or a partially working PCI slot. Uninstall the drivers, move the card to another slot, then reload the drivers and see what happens. See if you can find newer version drivers from the manufacturer site or maybe driverguide.com or something. You've probably checked already, but double and triple check your speaker connections and also the way you have it all hooked up.

Maybe if you can, try both the speakers and the sound card in another PC to make sure it all works, play a little 5.1 then you know at least if it's the card/speakers, or your PC. Process of elimination will get you the answer. Good luck man

I have tried all of these, but none worked (even on a newer computer: same problem)

I just dont know what to do

Thanks,
Rob

art-666 · 27-08-2005

Hi did you have a sound card installed before this one.
as you may still have your old drivers installed.
also did you install the software first then the card.
as you must install card then software.

Art

rssfed23 · 27-08-2005

I had an onboard sound chip, (soundmax), but that has been disabled in device manager (and i have selected the right sound card in the sound settings)

I installed the card first, then the software (no problems there)

*phil_* · 27-08-2005

are the speakers configured to 5.1 at the "sounds and audio devices" in control panel? also goto start>>run>>sndvol32 and check if for mutes
try windvd http://www.intervideo.com/jsp/WinDVD_Download.jsp
in options configure the speakers right , anyway it might be helpful if youll say what speakers exactly are they

rssfed23 · 06-09-2005

I have tried all of these, but still no luck,

I am using the speaker set that i brought from novatech HERE
And according to those reviews they can all get surround sound

sku4525 · 20-01-2006

I have had the same problem.

THe only difference i have had is that all is working except the centre speaker. I achieved this by changing the pin jumpers on the actual card.

Can any one help me gain full 5.1 (it is a bit useless watching movies - no centre speaker)

05-08-2005	#1
rssfed23 Banned Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Southampton, UK, World Posts: 40	Surround Sound Sound Card? Hi there, Ive just brought a 5.1 surround sound system from novatech, and a PCI 6 ch sound card (now found out its based on the CMI-8738), My problem is i cant seem to get surround sond from it, i connect the 3 wires up to the sound card (one for front, rear and centre/bass), and none of them work apart from the normal stereo sound. Can anyone else help with this, it was a OEm box that just came with a driver disk (and some apps), but no proper manual that can help me with this, Ive also noticed there are 2 different kind of jumpers on the card itself, but im not gonna fiddle with these unless im supposed to, This is really annoying me because there is no bass because i cant get the port to work, Many thanks in advance, Rob

05-08-2005	#2
Gurm CDFreaks Resident Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 1,940	Re: Surround Sound Sound Card? Well, you are aware that most surround sound cards only put out surround-sound in games, right? Or when watching a movie in DTS? Have you tried those? If you have, my apologies. Just covering the bases. SOME sound cards let you do things like clone the output to the rear speakers or do pseudo-surround in normal operation, but not all. It all depends on the driver set.

05-08-2005	#3
rssfed23 Banned Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Southampton, UK, World Posts: 40	Re: Surround Sound Sound Card? Yeah, i hve tried playing movies in WMP and nero media player, ive tried the 5.1 tracks and the DTS tracks, Ive also changed the windows sound speaker setting to 5.1, but still no differencem It also dosent work when doing the Audio demo that came with the cd

05-08-2005	#4
Dismembered Ninja CD Freaks Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Dundee Posts: 392	Re: Surround Sound Sound Card? Make sure that you have the sound output set to the right setting, analogue probably but could be digital. __________________ disc-info.com Plextor PX-760a Review LG GSA-2166D review Sony DW-G120a Review WolfClaw Gaming Keyboard Review Pioneer DVR-111d Review Infiniti 16x DVD-R Electric Blue review

05-08-2005	#5
harley2ride Video editing software expert Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 4,088	Re: Surround Sound Sound Card? Also, if you have an onboard (motherboard chipset sound), make sure you disable it in the bios. __________________ Rob IN WIN Dragon Rider case, Asrock z68 extreme4, core I7 2600k @4.0, cm hyper 212 plus, 8gb Gskill 1600mhz cl8 memory, xfx 6870 & xfx 6850 (crossfire), Samsung pinpoint f3 1tb 7200 rpm hdd, Crucial M4 128gb SSD, wd 600gb velociraptor, 4tb NAS, win 7 pro 64bit, Samsung S203N DVD burner,LG bluray burner, LG 23" IPS236V, Klipsch Pro-Media 5.1 C2D E6550,3gb DDR2-800mhz,150gb 10000rpm raptor (R.I.P.) - replaced with 180GB Intel 330 SSD ,1TB sataII hdd,g eforce 8800 gt, Vista Ultimate, Hanspree 25" LCD ,Samsung bluray DVD reader\dvd\rw16x, Samsung S203N, ADS Pyro A/V Link,Klipsch Pro-Media 5.1 SS

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05-08-2005	#6
rssfed23 Banned Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Southampton, UK, World Posts: 40	Re: Surround Sound Sound Card? I can get the standerd stereo sound through the front speakers, just no optput for the others because by system will not output any bass without the output provided to it through the centre/bass channel, My motherboard is quite old, but still suports PCI version 2.1 (i think) and i have no other troubles with any other PCI devices, I dont have any other sound controller on my system apart from this one and as far as im aware it is analog output, If you want me to i can post a photo of the inputs/outputs of the surround sound system and the sound card

06-08-2005	#7
debro Blown to smitherines Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: Between the CDFreaks Orange and Blue Portals Posts: 13,334	Re: Surround Sound Sound Card? Picture of the sound card would be good We can see the actual model no# from the labels / prints on the card __________________ / ----- I remember when all this will happen again -----/ You will be baked ... and there will be cake ... you monster. Click here to still be alive! Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. --Terry Pratchett Primary PC: 1.4Ghz Quad Core Cortex A9, 2048MB Ram, Mali 400 video, 32GB Primary, 64Gb Secondary, 802.11N 2.4/5Ghz, 1280x800@10.1" with one years supply of Jelly Beans Secondary PC: i7-Q720@1.6Ghz, 4GB, 500GB Hybrid HDD, Win7 x64 BusPre, Ati HD5470M-1GB, backlit keyboard. Tertiary PC: Amd Phenom II 945, 4GB DDR2, 120GB Vertex 2, AMD HD7850(OC) 2GB , Win8 Pro, 24" 1920x1200, cordless keyboard + mouse + gaming mouse.

25-08-2005	#9
rssfed23 Banned Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Southampton, UK, World Posts: 40	Re: Surround Sound Sound Card? Ok, im sorry about the delay. Ive just come out of hospital, but ive managed to get the photos (sorry about the poor quality): Pic 1 Pic 2 Pic 3 I do hope that somone can help me out here, Many thanks in advance (and thanks for the help already), Rob

26-08-2005	#10
debro Blown to smitherines Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: Between the CDFreaks Orange and Blue Portals Posts: 13,334	Re: Surround Sound Sound Card? Start->(settings->)Control Panel->Sounds & Audio Devices. In speaker settings (at the bottom) -> Advanced Speaker setup is to be "Surround" or "5.1 Surround speakers" depending on whether you have a subwoofer (5.1 surround) or not (surround). This will tell windows to use all 5/6 speakers. In the "Environmental Sound Settings" software bundle that came with the card you will also need to set the cards ports up as 5.1 sound. I can't tell you how to do this, all software is different. __________________ / ----- I remember when all this will happen again -----/ You will be baked ... and there will be cake ... you monster. Click here to still be alive! Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. --Terry Pratchett Primary PC: 1.4Ghz Quad Core Cortex A9, 2048MB Ram, Mali 400 video, 32GB Primary, 64Gb Secondary, 802.11N 2.4/5Ghz, 1280x800@10.1" with one years supply of Jelly Beans Secondary PC: i7-Q720@1.6Ghz, 4GB, 500GB Hybrid HDD, Win7 x64 BusPre, Ati HD5470M-1GB, backlit keyboard. Tertiary PC: Amd Phenom II 945, 4GB DDR2, 120GB Vertex 2, AMD HD7850(OC) 2GB , Win8 Pro, 24" 1920x1200, cordless keyboard + mouse + gaming mouse.

26-08-2005	#11
rssfed23 Banned Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Southampton, UK, World Posts: 40	Re: Surround Sound Sound Card? I have done both of these, but it has no effect (even the 5.1 sound testing demo software that came with my sound card dosent give me 5.1!!!)

27-08-2005	#12
RoscoeMcGurk CD Freaks Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 282	Re: Surround Sound Sound Card? Probably won't make any difference, but maybe you should try a different PCI slot. You said the PC was kinda old, who knows maybe you have a bad connection, or a partially working PCI slot. Uninstall the drivers, move the card to another slot, then reload the drivers and see what happens. See if you can find newer version drivers from the manufacturer site or maybe driverguide.com or something. You've probably checked already, but double and triple check your speaker connections and also the way you have it all hooked up. Maybe if you can, try both the speakers and the sound card in another PC to make sure it all works, play a little 5.1 then you know at least if it's the card/speakers, or your PC. Process of elimination will get you the answer. Good luck man

27-08-2005	#13
_chef_ MyCE Resident Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: @FX labs .de ...playing LLAMATRON :-] Posts: 30,613	Re: Surround Sound Sound Card? 5.1 has nothing really to do with "surround sound". Surround sound can be easily done even using stereo equipment... On some 5.1 systems you have to switch manually betweeen 5.1 and stereo output. __________________ Enable DMA with micrAp$0ft Enable DMA free at your will busTRACE => Upper/Lower Filters Util DevCon *HOW TO ... Delete the Upper & Lower Filters!* If you expect help then please use the powerful SEARCH. Try ThreatFire I am looking for DVD-R for Authoring & HD DVD media. Please PM me if you can help me. Vamos Tribbles! V-a-m-o-s!!

27-08-2005	#15
art-666 New on Forum Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 2	Re: Surround Sound Sound Card? Hi did you have a sound card installed before this one. as you may still have your old drivers installed. also did you install the software first then the card. as you must install card then software. Art

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27-08-2005	#17
phil_ CDFreaks Resident Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 988	Re: Surround Sound Sound Card? are the speakers configured to 5.1 at the "sounds and audio devices" in control panel? also goto start>>run>>sndvol32 and check if for mutes try windvd http://www.intervideo.com/jsp/WinDVD_Download.jsp in options configure the speakers right , anyway it might be helpful if youll say what speakers exactly are they

06-09-2005	#18
rssfed23 Banned Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Southampton, UK, World Posts: 40	Re: Surround Sound Sound Card? I have tried all of these, but still no luck, I am using the speaker set that i brought from novatech HERE And according to those reviews they can all get surround sound

20-01-2006	#19
sku4525 New on Forum Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 12	Re: Surround Sound Sound Card? I have had the same problem. THe only difference i have had is that all is working except the centre speaker. I achieved this by changing the pin jumpers on the actual card. Can any one help me gain full 5.1 (it is a bit useless watching movies - no centre speaker)