Technical information

A known problem in this case is analog inputs and outputs. Instead of analog interface of SBLive now we have 4 digital 'in's and 4 digital 'out's. First of all, we need to understand (or to try at least) what's happening in our Live card. I've spent couple days collecting the following information. We are dealing with two important devices on this card.. One named AC97 codec (including analog(!!!!) mixer and analog 'in's & 'out's ) implemented on Sigmatel STAC9721 chip (some other chips are also possible, see data sheets below) and another is EMU101k , which I'll also call as AC97 controller or digital mixer or processor or 101k or whatever else... Here is the structure of the codec:

As you can see, the digital signal connection performed through AC-Link .Unfortunally, we do not have any other separate digital outs from codec, in other words there are one DAC and single ADC, passing and receiving signals via ACLink . As pointed in the AC97 codec specification, it's possible to send/receive many stereo channels through AC-Link (denoted as PCM In and PCM Out on the figure above).Actually, on SBLive Value, there are only one stereo input and one stereo output channels, used by AC97 codec. One may ask, where is the second analog out, also known as Rear Analog Output ? Hmm... As you already noticed, the codec does not have rear analog output. It's all right ! The rear chanel sighal passed directly from 101k to the separate DAC (Philips 1330). By the way - this DAC's performance quality a little better than Sigmatel's one, so if you need analog out, use it to record from. Do NOT connect any low resistance load (headphones, passive speakers etc ) to rear out !!! It must be connected to an active speaker system, amplifier or another device with high input resistance.
There is a lot of cofusion in PCM channels naming )) Here , in the text below I'm using "PCM" , meaning EMU chip, i.e. "PCM Out" is "Analog Out 1&2" of EMU and "PCM In" is EMU's "Analog In 1&2". However ,EMU's "PSM In" is connected to corresponding PCM "Out" of the AC97 codec. In CrosStudio Mixer program I used all "out"s and "in"s by relation to the codec, to make things more uniform and clear. Anyway, in the program you may guess, what certain "PCM" is exactly for. For example, "PCM Out" in CrosStudio Mixer has record source selector :-), thus this is a "PCM Out" of codec and "PCM In" of EMU (and "PCM In" on the figure above ) After all, we need an extra software to enable all these connections.

There are few programs, that have regard to the issue.

• Download and install E-Mu APS 1.83 (or later) drivers
  This powerful driver gives huge advantages by more effective using of the 101k processor.
• Recsel(Crosstudio)- (Obsolete !)comes with APSLive 1.83 package.
  It sends Analog Out 1&2 of 101k chip to the "PCM Out" input of ac97codec, and Analog Out 7&8 to "rear speackers output" (back panel of the card ). Also it connects codec's PCM output (it was controlled with LiveWare in Recording Mixer control) to the Analog In 1&2 of 101k. Be careful here - if you've selected Stero mix as a source to be recorded, and also have a Master Out in APS mixer directed to Analog Out 1&2, you will get a deep feedback loop:-) To avoid this just mute one of PCMs - either in or out, or use the rear analog out (Analog Out 7&8) for monitoring. However, sometimes it may be useful to record only one selected source at time.
• Alex Mina's AC97Mixer.
  Gives you full control of the analog inputs, and misc. codec abilities. Has it's own driver. Unfortunally I've got it working only with Recsel or native Live drivers.
• Crosstudio mixer. (Obsolete !) It's my own product. It was included in 1.84 version package and I'm planning to post updates here.

Be carefull with selecting source to be recorded in codec mixer. The signal may be passed to APS mixer through PCM Out and come back from PCM In. So, if you've selected in APS mixer Analog Out 1&2 as master and Stereo Mix as source in codec's mixer you may get the feedback loop.

A solution depends on the task, currently performed.

• 1 ) If You're hearing from "Front speaker out", analog Out 1&2 selected as master in APS, then don't select StereoMix or MonoMix source in codec's mixer. Any other selected source must be muted. Muting a source means it doesn't pass into codec mixer, but it does pass to PCM In .
  or:
• 2) Just select Analog Out 7&8 as master in APS mixer and hear from "Rear speakers out" In this case you'll hear any selected source, so selecting Stereomix is possible now. Don't forghet - you can't connect headphones or speakers directly to Rear Out. Use external amplyfier !

You can also convert other digital outputs with expensive external high quality DACs and inputs with ADCs , but are you really getting the TTT in that case ??