Possible? 2 sound cards, 1 for output, both used for inputs.

[lowfat]

OK.What I would like to do is run have 1 PC that is going to be used only for HDDVD/Bluray and audio output. I need this PC to have two optical/SPDIF inputs as well as decode DTS/DD, which the Prelude cannot currently do AFAIK. So is it possible to get a cheaper soundcard (that can decode DD/DTS) and have it output sound on another soundcard (Prelude).

Here is a drawing to make it more understandable.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/Untitled.jpg

if this can work what would you suggest for a cheap 2nd soundcard that can decode DTS/DD.

Thanks.

[STEvil]

Check out the Hercules GameTheater XP... its old but might handle all that by itself.

Yamaha makes some USB cards that might be good to look at as well. There's another company that makes firewire ones but I forget who they were now.

[BrokenWall]

You can get a front panel for the prelude from creative

It gives you all the extra inputs that the platinum series has

[lowfat]

Check out the Hercules GameTheater XP... its old but might handle all that by itself.

Yamaha makes some USB cards that might be good to look at as well. There's another company that makes firewire ones but I forget who they were now.
Having a hard time trying to find a GameTheater at an affordable rate is difficult from what I have found so far.

You can get a front panel for the prelude from creative

It gives you all the extra inputs that the platinum series has

AFAIK the prelude still cannot decode DTS/DD over the SPDIF input.

I have found that the Creative ( :down: ) X-Fi Xtreme Audio PCIe can decode Dolby Digital no problem.

Now my only question is, can I run both the X-Fi Xtreme Audio and the Prelude at the same time without any driver conflicts.

EDIT: Looks like the X-Fi isn't all that good at decoding DD/DTS. Heard stories of clipping/distortion when the source volume is too high.

[BrokenWall]

you would be better off just spending the extra cash on an E-Mu with a breakout box if your trying to do all that. Multiple sounds cards doesn't work like multiple video cards.

[Stanley Pain]

Having a hard time trying to find a GameTheater at an affordable rate is difficult from what I have found so far.



AFAIK the prelude still cannot decode DTS/DD over the SPDIF input.


EDIT: Looks like the X-Fi isn't all that good at decoding DD/DTS. Heard stories of clipping/distortion when the source volume is too high.

Where the heck did you hear this? :shrug:

My prelude decodes DD/DTS no problem, and encodes to DDL no problem.

[ROBSCIX]

Where the heck did you hear this? :shrug:

My prelude decodes DD/DTS no problem, and encodes to DDL no problem.

..on the digital input?

@lowfat, the trouble would be latency, you could get it to work but it would be tricky but I doubt it would be very good for your application. There would be significant latency I would think.
Also, the Creative drive bays are NOT compatible with the Prelude.

[Stanley Pain]

..on the digital input?

@lowfat, the trouble would be latency, you could get it to work but it would be tricky but I doubt it would be very good for your application. There would be significant latency I would think.
Also, the Creative drive bays are NOT compatible with the Prelude.


I've passed DTS/DD streams from one source through the Prelude.


Would you need to decode the DD/DTS stream though? Couldn't you just pass it through?

[lowfat]

..on the digital input?

@lowfat, the trouble would be latency, you could get it to work but it would be tricky but I doubt it would be very good for your application. There would be significant latency I would think.
Also, the Creative drive bays are NOT compatible with the Prelude.

Even if there was no latency I haven't found a whole lot of cards that can decode a DTS/DD stream over digital input. So likely I won't be doing this.
I've passed DTS/DD streams from one source through the Prelude.


Would you need to decode the DD/DTS stream though? Couldn't you just pass it through?

I know the Prelude cannot decode DTS/DD over digital input. I tried both last night.

Why would I want to pass it through, if that was the case I'd go straight to the receiver.