Eclipse SLI sound card - unable to record

[ypsylon]

OK, it is my main (yes even ignoring rubbish NB heatsink) concern regarding Eclipse SLI MB - enclosed sound card. When I put MSI/Creative audio everything working well except recording. [I switched card between PCI-Ex x1 & x4]

I can't record sound from it. Even basic Windows (7) sound recorder doesn't work. Whenever I try to record something I get message like (depending on software): "Unable to create device at x0030a". One thing straight - it is not exact message just to give you general idea. I installed both software from CD and from Creative. No difference. When my old PCI audio is in, I have "What U Hear" device under recording tab, but when using MSI Audio I have only Microphone and SPDIF. I understand that for most it is not a big deal, but I recording a looooot of live radio every week and it is big deal for me.

For the moment I using my old audio - SB X-fi Gamer on PCI and this one working perfectly well. But I want to create SLI system in the near future and I would like to remove PCI card to put there extra cooler to remove hot air from space between 2 VGAs.

I'm really disappointed with this MSI audio. Really, really  One of the reasons why I bought this MB was good external sound card based on PCI-Ex. I bet most of users is sick and tired of built-in AC'97 garbage. You just wonder why MB manufacturers put such rubbish on high-end MoBos? 99% of users disabling them right away from the start.

I can't guarantee to put all suggestions into use straight away. I don't have much time to toy with hardware during the week.

Basic specs: i7 920 (no OC), Eclipse SLI, 3*2GB 1333 Kingston (no OC), EVGA 8800 GTS640 (no OC), Win7 64-b.

[NovJoe]

Have you tried the driver from MSI website yet?

[Jack t.N.]

I'm really disappointed with this MSI audio. Really, really

Okay, first of all, this is a Creative Audio card, that has all the features (and limitations) of the OEM Version of the X-Fi Extreme Audio.  

Secondly, please have a look here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_Blaster_X-Fi#X-Fi_Xtreme_Audio

On top of the Xtreme Audio's rear sound problem in games, the PCI Express version of the X-Fi Xtreme Audio suffers from the inability to record from a Microphone while simultaneously recording "What U Hear", which is possible in all other cards. The reason for this is unknown, but the issue is that the Windows audio Playback Control panel doesn't allow you to view the Mic channel when looking at your Playback Control sliders (activated by double-clicking the Windows Volume Control button). In the Windows audio Playback Control panel, the Mic can only be viewed in Recording Control, and there is no Mute/Unmute checkbox associated with it. The Creative Mixer shares the problem in a different way: you can unmute the Mic, but it becomes muted again once you switch to "What U Hear" as your recording source. Thus, on the PCI Express version of the Xtreme Audio (only) it is impossible to record your Mic and "What U Hear" at the same time, because you cannot get the Mic to output to the speakers while "What U Hear" is enabled.

... can you make the "What you hear" thing visible in Windows 7 when you do something similar to this?

http://www.driverheaven.net/audio-general-technical-discussion/130879-windows-vista-recoding-what-you-hear-how.html

[ypsylon]

Okay, first of all, this is a Creative Audio card.  

I know, and please don't take it as a attack on MSI. I was simply stating the fact, that this card is sold under MSI brand which is not like Creative which ignoring requests from users to fix bugs in theirs soft/hardware. I still have my old MSI 7800 AGP VGA which working beautifully after all these years in my small PC. Good stuff

... can you make the "What you hear" thing visible in Windows 7 when you do something similar to this?

http://www.driverheaven.net/audio-general-technical-discussion/130879-windows-vista-recoding-what-you-hear-how.html

Hmm... I read that Wiki article and it explained quite a lot, but honestly when buying this I did not expected that there was such article! It only proves my point from above that - yet again - Creative released half-finished hardware and for 3 years refused to do anything about it.

Unfortunately answer to your question is negative. I don't have "WUH" under Recording tab. I have Show Disabled/Disconnected Devices turned on, so I see everything what system installed. I Disabled Microphone (I never used Mic as long as I have PC), still no "WUH". But thanks guys for the input. Now at least I know 'I don't see things' because it is "normal" behaviour for this sound card. When I have some more time on my hands I will try to crack this thing. For now I will stick to my old and trusted PCI X-Fi Gamer. Too much hassle with this X-Fi Extreme Audio. Looks like "they" (IT boofins) predicted death of good old PCI architecture far to soon. Long live PCI! 

[HU16E]

Just for testing purposes, I installed the OEM Creative X-Fi card supplied with the E. Plus. It should be the same as yours. I tried every conceavable way to enable WUH feature, & it is 'not' even offered as an option with the OEM card. Maybe, & it's a big maybe, Creative will supply MSI with a driver or software to enable such features.

Long live PCI!

Agree! I won't buy a board without at least one PCI slot. The Creative X-Fi Elite Pro is just too good a card to be without.

[Mike]

Hmm, my XFi OEM card comes with the ability to choose what u hear.  Of course, I have an older version of the card.

[HU16E]

My OEM is a CA0110 Audio Chip. Same?

Added: The supplied Console Panel is 'no way' even close to the one you are showing. It has Mic & Mic FP 'only'. My Pro Console Panel however, has all the stuff yours is showing plus some.

[Jack t.N.]

Hmm, my XFi OEM card comes with the ability to choose what u hear.  Of course, I have an older version of the card.

Ah, I never tried that.  And this actually works on my MS-4132 as well.  ypsylon, did you try that as well?

[ypsylon]

Ah, I never tried that.  And this actually works on my MS-4132 as well.  ypsylon, did you try that as well?

I never tried this, because I installed only drivers. I'm not interested in installing software which I never ever even try. I'm allergic to Creative soft since SB Live. In the future I will try to install whole bundle, but it is not normal. To install xxx MB of software only to activate (probably) some minor function which should have been active from the start in the first place.

Anyway, I remember I read article on one of many IT sites. Can't recall the location now, but conclusion was simple. Microsoft greatly reduced ability to record sound via WUH-kind of device under Vista (and also W7 because same drivers are in use). RIAA "influenced" M$ and most of sound card manufacturers to remove WUH/Stereo Mix part from drivers. With many sound cards WUH is impossible to run - to reduce piracy. It could be even worst in the near future with next gen sound cards.

[Jack t.N.]

I'm not interested in installing software which I never ever even try.

Well, as the software (which is actually part of the driver package) will obviously solve your problem, the cause of the problem is now no longer the driver or the card, but your decision not to install the software provided by the manufacturer to be able to access all its functions. 

[Problem is not "unable to record" but "how to record without the supplied software"...]

[HU16E]

software (which is actually part of the driver package) will obviously solve your problem

It's not part of the driver package that came with the E. Plus's that I bought, retail version or the 'refurb'.  Creative restored this feature with some retail units with their latest driver, but not for the OEM. This can be confirmed at their website support page.

[ypsylon]

Look, Jack. X-Fi Gamer PCI working perfectly well with only standard drivers and I won't be pushed to install tons of garbage because X-Fi Extreme Audio is another half-finished product on the market (and there is no guarantee that installing everything will solve the problem). Why I don't need manufacturer software with X-Fi Gamer? Why MSI/Creative give me choice to download/install drivers alone when it comes to X-Fi Ex Audio? Why installed drivers supporting everything except recording via WUH? You've got part of the answer in my previous post. It is RIAA doing. Just type 'RIAA What U Hear recording' and enjoy reading. There are people which can't activate WUH with my X-Fi Gamer for example. Also Dell removed WUH/Stereo Mix from every sound driver on theirs laptops.

Sorry but your reasoning is deeply flawed. It is a bit like saying that you should install Unix/Linux just in case Windows stop responding. And then for 5 years never actually running it even if Windows was reinstalled 10 times in the meantime. BTW: X-Fi Ex Audio recording working perfectly well under Linux with standard drivers in my distribution, unfortunately system is not designed for multimedia (low performance), but I tried this.

Have fun everybody.

[NovJoe]

ypsylon,

I hope that you understand that Jack, Mike, Hu16E are all trying to help you with the problem. 

To sum it all up, it still boils down to software and drivers of creative which has to be installed for your needs. If one choose not to install, we can't force the person's will. The end results will be a probable running issue on certain functions.

An analogy likewise will be a man bought a theater system with a subwoofer provided, but does not want to install the subwoofer as it took out another floorspace, and in the end complains about the bass quality produced from the theater system during movies. 

Maybe, you should try out installing everything provided for once and see how it goes. It may or may not work. 

[HU16E]

there is no guarantee that installing everything will solve the problem

It won't solve it. Tried both cards with both sets of install discs, & neither have WUH function. Not MSI's fault. Since I don't plan on using them, no big deal. Chalk it up as our bad luck, as Mike's does work. Welcome to the world of SecuROM, DRM, Starforce, & whatever else is out there.

Maybe, you should try out installing everything provided for once and see how it goes. It may or may not work.

Added: NovJoe is right. All we really want to do is help if we can. I can't get WUH to work with either OEM, but yours might. If it doesn't, you can always do an uninstall.