SoundBlaster Live!, how well does it work?

[jot-87]

I've searched the forum & on google and found that a SoundBlaster Live! is the right choice when it comes to sound (except for the 24-bit cards). But how well do the cards work (compared to windows)?
If the card has 5.1, does this work in Linux as well?
And is there anything else to keep in mind when buying a sound card?

[Icarus]

The SB Live! is a great card under Linux (even supported somewhat by Creative) and uses the emu10k1 driver.

5.1 is available, but you need to be using ALSA as OSS does not have the support.

As for how it sounds compared to Windows? Not sure, I haven't booted Windows on that machine in over 4 months :p

[sharth]

i had never noticed any difference with my sb live from windows to linux. It really is just a nice, decent card for linux.

[The Coder]

What do you mean some what supported by creative? Don't they make it?

[Icarus]

I mean Creative supports it under Linux, unlike how Broadcom makes wireless cards that they go out of their way to make NOT work in Linux ;)

http://opensource.creative.com/

[jot-87]

Cool, sounds like a really good choice then...

I don't know if I use ALSA or OSS, but I assume I can switch if I have to.

Thanks for the help!

[Icarus]

Just compile your kernel for ALSA and OSS emulation and the emu10k1 module and you should not have any problems with audio

[MMYoung]

I have a SoundBlaster Live! (pre 5.1 but not the Value) and I use THIS (http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/doc-php/template.php?company=Creative+Labs&card=Sound+Blaster+Live+Value.&chip=emu10k1&module=emu10k1) howto when I compile a new release of the ALSA driver (currently at 1.0.8). The other posters have covered the card pretty well. I will add my "stamp of approval" on most any of the SB cards for Linux usage. ALSA now even supports the "LS" cards as well and I don't figure 24 bit support will be too far behind.

A few notes on the howto linked above:
1. I don't do the ./snddevices thing.
2. I don't run the ./configure and make as root. I run them as a normal user and then su - to run make install.
3. I always get the alsa-lib, alsa-utils, and alsa-oss files and compile/install them according to the howto, with the one caveat in #2.

HTH,
MMYoung

[jot-87]

I'm going for my friends old SoundBlaster Live! Value, since I couldn't find any place that sold a SoundBlaster Live! 5.1 card that wasn't 24-bit. It's only 4.1 though, but so is my speaker system, so that won't matter to me.

Thanks for the link to the HowTo, that will come in hand soon :)

[hard candy]

Do not get the Value version, it does not work in linux.

[MMYoung]

Originally posted by hard candy
Do not get the Value version, it does not work in linux.
Actually, according to ALSA's website, the Value card will work. I didn't think it would either but I double checked to make sure. See the listing HERE (http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/index.php?vendor=vendor-Creative_Labs#matrix).

Later,
MMYoung

[Icarus]

Why wouldn't the value work? It's the same chipset
the only difference between all the SBLive! cards were mostly software packages

http://www.euronet.nl/~mailme/

and everything I find on the Value card is that it also uses the emu10k1 chipset ;)

[sharkzf6]

Originally posted by hard candy
Do not get the Value version, it does not work in linux.

I have an SB live value and it works fine...and I'm a NB...
All I have to do now is figure out how to get KDE to use the thing....argh!!!!

[hard candy]

I apologize, I was thinking of this one, http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=206&product=10315
when I wrote that. This one does not work yet in linux.
The SoundBlaster Live! 24bit.
The Live Value does work.

[Rinias]

Originally posted by hard candy
This one does not work yet in linux.
The SoundBlaster Live! 24bit.


Au contraire mon ami!

It _does_ work in Linux. It is not, however, fully supported. I have not tested it recently, though I know that with the CVS right after alsa 1.0.7 it was giving me some pretty good output with GNOME applications.

The output was not great, however. I think it is just a small matter of time (judging by the alsa-devel mailing list entries) until it is supported at very near 100%.

However, if you want to be safe, get any other SB card (Assuming that it is not 24-bit).

Or just go with a Turtle beach :D

[sharkzf6]

yeah, my old SB live! value works fine with Linux, on the other hand, my new Audigy 2 does not...it's OK though, that one is installed on my WinBlows XP high perfomance gaming rig which is quite solid when it comes to 6 hour Counter Strike sessions....