sigh..headaches/ line2 livedrive

rmb0826

ok..where to start

1. ive checked the forums and searched all over the net,but i am not getting any output from mic2 on my front panel [not through speakers or recording]

2. ive made sure on the kx ins and outs page that the line2 is unmuted and up and also on the recording page.

3. i even tried to re-route my dsp prolog to get some sort of mic2 sound..

need some helps...thx in advance.

Maddogg6

If that isnt working - ?? Im lost - I too have a LD2 - and Line / Mic 2 works fine for me and has since KX version 3538H- but I wonder if its a problem in older versions of KX ??


additionally - make sure the connector between the LD2 and the card is correct and the power is connected - and that in the KX help/about - indicates the LD2 is installed..??
Sorry - thats all I got for ya.

Edit:
Other than - making sure you are using a 'DYNAMIC' mic and the mic type is selected properly on the LD2 board (jumper) - As most 'pro' condensers wont get enough power from the LD2 for '+48V phantom' power - for that you need additional hardware (a mixer w/ phantom power, or a mic preamp, or even a dedicated phantom power supply)

rmb0826

oh sorry mad dog,forgot to state my LD is workin...

gettin the redlight from the optical out and i my headphones on the front panel is working also

i am using the regular computer mic...connected by a 1/4 " jack. that is possible right?

if so.. would i need to change jumpers on the LD board?

mrvomit

i got the same problem when i installed audigy2 1 month ago, porting from live 5.1.
mic2 did'nt work,i thought it was faulty HArdware,as the rest was working Ok.

it was installation issue.

i had to reinstall 2 times ,cleaning carefully Previous Kx drivers(and DISABLING system restore To avoid windows reinstalling them)

I booted in safe mode , cleaned ,installed Kx,
then booted normally -> installed kx devices as requested ,then it was ok.
then again i putted system restore.
Try like that.

Even if Kx is Great ,sometime the installation is tricky

rmb0826

alright,cool...i was using 3537 drivers, so right now i am gettin the 3538 drivers

then i'm gonna follow your method. thx

rmb0826

ok updated to 3538k drivers.

did the uninstall in safe mode,and then installed devices 3 times, mic2/line2 still does not work.

kinda desperate.

mrvomit

wait wait wait!!!!!!!
....Now i remember correctly!!!

It was the STupid CABle also the problem of mine!!

try to buy a (not expensive one) Cable !!
i mean the cable from Line drive to the PCI

A friend of mine told me he had the same problem (faulty cable of line drive of audigy1).

so i bought a cable ,as The original cables frm creative are the same as commerciaL ones ,just creative CUPPED AWAY some female_pins of the connector .

when i took away old cable and replaced ,ualà it worked.

Try also to pull away_recup the original cable to see if connection is OK

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!TAKE CARE REMOVING THE CABLE FROM PINS,TO DON DAMAGE THE LIVE DRVE PINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ps :last drivers are 3538L

Maddogg6

YES - if its a 'condensor' mic - it needs power - and you would need to set/verify the jumper for it.

Maddogg6

Does the SPDIF or AUX2 on the LD work? - if so - its not the cable
If you have the red light on the optical - its not the power supply to the LD

Im thinking its the mic setting/jumper - and dont forget to adjust the input level - as if its too low - you wont get any sound at all if its clicked to the off position. (or I dont anyway)

Does the mic work as an AC97 one on the back of the card?

Russ

It would also be helpful if you could post a sceenshot of your DSP setup, so that we can verify that it is configured correctly (or at least tell us which pins you are using on prolog, and what it is connected to, etc).

mrvomit

in my case ,everything else worked on live dive except the mic2.and it WAS the cable.
So can happen.
i would trY putting an 1/4 jack cable (the guitar cable to undestand) and verify th signal is present touching the jack in the other side .
to be sure is not Mic's blame.

if You used a Custom sp ,take care th the right one src is "mic2 "(live drive mic connector) ,not "mic"(oci mic connector)

Maddogg6

Sure -its possible - but there are a lot of tests that be made first before assuming a bad cable...

rmb0826

ok..maddogg,i dont really have any equipment to test the AUX2/SPDIF inputs ..dont know why..sigh. can you give me more info on the jumper settings or a tutorial??

mrvomit: the cable im using isnt the one creative sent anyway, one from another comp i had,but i will still switch it and try anyway.// no guitar for to test line2//


Russ: i have tried using the automatically configured kx dsp when first installed and then i created a simple dsp just to test the line2/mic2

2 Src fxbus01 and line2/mic2

src1 - fxbus01 going to first 2 inputs on stereo mixer,and line2/mic2 going to 3 and 4.

k1lt is loaded @ Analog first

and stereo mix loaded to k1lt

see attached picture

http://madtrakz.tripod.com/images/dspsetup.JPG

Russ

Your DSP config looks ok (provided that both sliders are up in the Stereo Mix plugin). The only potential issue I see, is that the ProFX plugins are an older version that had some bugs, that could potentially contribute to your problem (I doubt that is it, but it is possible). For testing purposes I would leave them out. A similair setup, using the default plugins would be like this, with the following kxmixer settings:

Ins and Outs page: Line2/MIC2 slider should be unmuted and set to an appropriate level.
Recording page: Master Recording Level slider should be set to 100, with all other sliders muted.

Maddogg6

Ok - on the LD2 - 'JP1' - when dis connected (shunt OFF) is for condenser mics - and connected (shunt ON) is for dynamic mics.

A 'shunt' is that little square plastic thing with a metal insides that can act like a 'switch' of sorts. Mine are usually blue or black, but I have seen them in other colors too.

Additionally - theres only 1 'jumper' on the LD2 so it shouldnt be too confusing.
Heres a pic - JP1 is labled '1' in this pic
http://fileanchor.com/85644.jpg
P.S> you can get the user manual that shows such things at creatives web site.. goto soundblaster.com > Support > Product Manuals > then choose something thats labled 'platinum' - In my case - the above pic was taken from the Audigy 2 ZS Platinum users manual.


Also - you can test aux2 and SPDIF IN;
edit: make sure the sliders are up and NOT muted as russ pointed out earlier - as the prolog plugin is dependant on those sliders in KX mixer - you'll notice they disappear if prolog is removed from KX DSP < end edit

- test AUX2 - physically connect front (or rear, or center/lfe) analog out from the card - to the AUX2 input on the LD2 with a 3.5mm stereo to RCA cable. Then...
With a cleared KX DSP - add FXBuss and Prolog and epilog
Connect FXBuss 0/1 to front out of epilog through a 'gain' plugin - (as its not a good idea to connect FXBuss to any output directly in KX DSP as a general rule - I used a gain plugin to avoid the problems this can cause)
heres a DSP showing this test:
http://fileanchor.com/85648.jpg

And play something through the FXBuss 01/ like winamp (set to use KXWave 0/1) - and look at the peak meters in the KX DSP. If you see levels it should work, if not - Id say theres a real problem.

To test LD2 SPDIF in - disconnect the cable from above (to avoid THAT interfering with a new test) and connect the digital out from the back of the sound card to the COAX SPDIF in on the LD2 with the same cable - only try this test with each of the 2 RCA connectors. But it *should* work with both depending on your sound card. And play winamp again, and watch the peak meters and look for levels.

Hope that helps.

Mark

Maddogg6

Also - I asked if your mic works plugged into the back of the sound card.. aka - are you certain the mic works - does it have a mute switch on it (I have one with a mute switch) etc etc... ??

rmb0826

ok Russ... i changed the cable,doesnt work...still...

also tried the dsp recommended above,still nothing

Maddogg : ye .. the mic works in the back panel, so its not the mic...im using the live platinum 5.1 with live drive ir...so i got the manual

checked the JP1 and the jumper is off...BUT im confused as the manual says .. Off is the default setting for condenser and you told me on is for condenser..so im thinking if i should try connecting a jumper to JP1 to test...as im using a condenser mic

Maddogg6

your right - my bad - I wrote that backwards... Sorry

rmb0826

im out of options then as i've tried everything.

except the testing of the spdif/aux2 and getting an actual 1/4 " device [different mic or guitar rig i think he said].

i am going to update to the latest drivers but im not sure if that will make a difference. as i am using 3538k...

Maddogg6

Well with out some cables (common ones at that) so you can perform tests, we can only speculate.
If your mic works on the back panel - then I suggest using it there.
p.s. - What good is the LD if you don't have cables to connect other stuff to it with ?? (an expensive mic extension cable??)

if you can get a 3.5 mm stereo to 1/4" stereo cable - you can perform a similar test to what I posted for the Line/Mic 2 (the DSP pic I posted is setup for it) - and you can use it later for connecting a portable devices headphone out into the Line / Mic 2 later. (that would be a great test now btw)

OR use a 3.5 mm stereo cable and use a 3.5mm to 1/4" stereo adapter (many headphones come with such an adapter. )

Oh - I had a thought...
Is your mic 2 or 3 connector type? (does it look like a mono plug or a stereo plug?)

IF it looks like a stereo plug - that might be the problem - as Im thinking the 3rd connection is for +V power - which I'm also thinking isnt connected to with the JP1 - but is for mics that use mono type plug.

Wait - you say its a regular PC mic - but with a 1/4" plug - I never seen such a thing - are you using an adapter? or did you make it your self?
If its an adapter - use a 3.5mm stereo to 1/4" stereo if you have a mic with the stereo type plug on it.

Is the LD2 new or used - maybe you bought one thats defective? If you say the headphones work - then it seems unlikely you have the connector 'off' by 1 or 2 pins which is very easy to do, but as mrvomit posted, maybe try a new cable between LD2 and card.

rmb0826

maddogg: my bad..i meant a regular pc mic,connected to the front panel but a 1/4" jack.

im working on getting the 3.5 mm to 1/4" cable and also the 3.5mm to rca cable.

i wanted to use the front panel so i can use better quality mics. so getting the 3.5mm to 1/4" would that make sense?

i had the live drive for about a year n half,but i only opened the package recently,probably last week. - dont ask why.

guyinco6nito

Hello,

On my LiveDrive (LiveBay2) the 1/4" Line2 input has a knob next to it, and when turned all the way counter-clockwise, it clicks and is in a line-input mode.

When turned clock-wise, it turns up the preamp for the input, you might just need to turn it up since you're using a microphone.


Sorry if this doesn't help, but good luck anyways!
guyinco6nito