X-Fi and bit-matched playback but volume adjusts

[werdwerdus]

I have the X-fi platinum and I'm using an Entech Number Cruncher 205.2 with an optical cable. I turned on bit-matched playback in audio creation mode, and I'm using Kernel Streaming in foobar2000. But moving the volume knob in the Creative software or in the windows volume control adjusts the volume. I was under the impression that bit-perfect means that you shouldn't be able to adjust the volume using the sound card. Is there something that I'm missing or misinterpreting? Thanks.

 

[werdwerdus]

Okay I did a little searching after I posted

It seems like as long as the WAVE slider doesn't affect the volume then it's okay and still bypassing Kmixer. The main volume slider will still affect the volume though. Is that correct?

Going from that, it seems like I should have the volume set at 100% to get true bitperfect output. But I think at 100% on the X-Fi the volume would be overbearing on the analog outputs of my DAC. As it is now (about 50%) I can barely turn up the volume at all on my PA2v2 without becoming uncomfortable with the volume. Any ideas?

 

[jiiteepee]

Some rules of thumb for bit-perfect -

(Source - http://www.htpcnews.com/forums/index...howtopic=24684)

jiitee

 

[infinitesymphony]

"When Bit Accurate mode is applied to the playback, adjusting the volume control or applying EAX effects will not have any effect on the digital output signals."

So, does that imply that he doesn't have Bit Accurate mode enabled?

Something tells me bit-perfect playback doesn't just apply to WAVs.

 

[maarek99]

You must update your x-fi drivers for it to work properly.

 

[jiiteepee]

'bout Bit-Accurate (Bit-Matched) technolgy used in SB cards (explained by Creative).

jiitee

 

[maarek99]

Bitperfect works for everything, not just wavs. That's pretty ludicrous.

 

[werdwerdus]

Yeah I just installed the new X-Fi drivers and it works now. Constant volume no matter what I adjust.

D-oh!

 

[ogewo]

I just noticed that in foobar2k v0.9.3.1 the volume slider does change the volume of output using ASIO, even with a "Send" inserted in the Emu drivers. In .8.3 the volume control was just another DSP that could be deactivated. This is no longer the case.

I have the foobar volume slider on max, but does anyone think this is affecting my output in any way?

 

[werdwerdus]

I don't have the volume slider at all in my foobar2000 v0.9.4

 

[ogewo]

in Preferences under Playback, you have no volume slider?

 

[werdwerdus]

Oh, yeah it's there. I though you meant in the main window.

 

[knalb]

I updated my drivers, driver date 8/17/2006 driver version 5.12.6.1187 and I can still adjust my main volume using fooobar 9.4.3 ASIO and KS...Strange, are you using the same driver version as me?

 

[werdwerdus]

I don't ever use Foobar to adjust the volume. Neither the windows volume control or the X-Fi Console will adjust the volume during bit-matched playback. Sorry, I'm out of town so I can try it on my main computer until Monday.

 

[Eagle_Driver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jiiteepee Some rules of thumb for bit-perfect - (Source - http://www.htpcnews.com/forums/index...howtopic=24684) jiitee

By that token, anything which is input through the analogue line-in jack or output through the analogue outs will get resampled unless the recording sampling rate matches the X-Fi chip's native sampling rate(s). Thus, enabling Bit Matched mode will have no effect on analogue recording/playback other than having certain DSP effects disabled.