Scope as a soundcard?

Kymeia · Post by **Kymeia** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 5:26 am

Still struggling with getting this new system set up. For some reason under XP I can't seem to play any sounds unless Scope is running. Not even to play a CD or for windows sounds. It doesn't seem to have the normal soundcard type functions like giving me the ability to turn volume up and down (without opening a mixer project) and when I open Audio properties in control panel all the audio functions like managing speaker volume etc are greyed out. Recording and Playback are handled by "Creamware play/rec" (which I guess is why I need Scope running) but surely there's a way to set it up to handle these tasks without Scope running like with most other soundcards. How would I play a game for example? Or do I need to install a cheap soundcard or enable the built in audio on my motherboard (would that be safe to do)?

[ This Message was edited by: Kymeia on 2004-12-28 05:27 ]

voidar · Post by **voidar** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 5:40 am

Most pro soundcards have their own interface running. Just look at the Echo or RME line etc. You will not be able to use the standard windows mixer with those.

Creamware is no different, the driver must be loaded for the system to recognize audio IO and for you to hear any sound at all. SFP is that driver.

The simplest SFP configuration would be to hook the wave-driver directly up to your analog outs. Save the project as default (mine is called "Passive Mode") and have SFP run at startup. The icon will be displayed on the tray.

Playing games is no problem.

Kymeia · Post by **Kymeia** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 5:59 am

In that case would it be OK to enable the built in audio on my motherboard for everyday functions or would that cause problems (its a good mobo - an Asus P5AD2 premium - with 24 bit sound built in)

voidar · Post by **voidar** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 6:15 am

It could cause problems.

Like I said, just create a "Passive Mode" project file and save it as default and have scope load at system start-uo. Just have a wave driver coupled directly to your analog outs. It will load fast and you will never need to open the project at all. It is like you would not be running SFP at all.
I mean, is it really that important to see the windows speaker-icon instead of the scope-icon in the system-tray?

Kymeia · Post by **Kymeia** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 6:31 am

Thanks

Done it

[ This Message was edited by: Kymeia on 2004-12-28 06:32 ]

Post by **hubird** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 8:41 am

Kymeia, just to add for a better understanding:
the DSP's need to be programmed, by loading a project containing whatever you need in it

That's the way DSP works, compare it with RAM, you need to startup the 'system' before you can use it.
With a DSP card not only synths or mixers, but also audio In/Out modules have to be loaded, or would you prefer them not being usable as flexible as you can now?

I remember the first time that I realized this myself, hehe:-)
in fact the only difference with 'normal' soundcards is that with Scope it takes a little while before the 'driver' is loaded, compared with non-DSP cards.
But then you have something...

[ This Message was edited by: hubird on 2004-12-28 08:51 ]

wayne · Post by **wayne** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 9:02 am

Some things in the general-use soundcard department may require the direct sound source driver to be loaded instead of wave.

Kymeia · Post by **Kymeia** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 9:46 am

I remember the first time that I realized this myself, hehe:-)
in fact the only difference with 'normal' soundcards is that with Scope it takes a little while before the 'driver' is loaded, compared with non-DSP cards

And that it takes more than a little while before those of us used to SBLive's get used to it

[ This Message was edited by: Kymeia on 2004-12-28 09:46 ]

voidar · Post by **voidar** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 10:36 am

Yeah, forget SBLive, it was all a bad dream. You are in much better hands now

..

Shayne White · Post by **Shayne White** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 12:12 pm

Well, my barebones project contains a mixer so that I can fade down the wave volume if I want to. I also like to look at the meters.

Scope really doesn't take that much juice out of your computer so it's no problem at all to leave it running in the background. I play games like Cyan's URU and Myst4, and it works great.

There's no Direct Sound module anymore in XP -- all of it's handled by the WDM driver.

voidar · Post by **voidar** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 12:27 pm

Mine has a controll-room device loaded. SO I have WDM and a 2 ch. ASIO hooked up to it. I can choose input and output, look at the VU and change gain.

Kymeia · Post by **Kymeia** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 12:41 pm

I just used the simple channel strip - what's the control room for? (not used to all the mixers yet)

voidar · Post by **voidar** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 1:01 pm

On 2004-12-28 12:41, Kymeia wrote:
I just used the simple channel strip - what's the control room for? (not used to all the mixers yet)

The controll-room has 8 stereo inputs/outputs which you can select freely.

In a project I might have the WDM/ASIO driver hooked up to stereopair 1, and the MIX from a STM24 hooked up to stereopair 2. I only use one of the output stereopairs which go to my monitors.

I could then using the controll-room select whatever input I wish to monitor, like i.e. change between the mixer and WaveLab. The controll-room also has some functions for testing your monitors, sinewaves, different noise etc. Never used it yet, but it could be usefull.

[ This Message was edited by: voidar on 2004-12-28 13:03 ]