More zones from kX-compatible card with ASIO output plugin?

[P3rv3rt B3ar]

As u might have noticed in kX-DSPs epilog there is digital outputs beyond regular analog ones, for me it appears they are discreet (except one which is shared with headphones) meaning that putting out different signal to them should be just matter of kX-routing. So if these can be utilized it should raise number of zones (stereopairs) out of audigy 2 card from 5 to 7... meaning u could actually output 14! mono zones if u would choose so. For live! family corresponding numbers would be from 4 zones to 6 (allthough in case of live! the solution would be slightly more complex cause card itself lacks separate physical digital out, meaning that more expensive model with digital din output module for creative speakers, or some creative cabling would be needed)

Well output was never a problem... but how would u input 14 channels into kX-DSP?? That is where ASIO comes into play. WinMME limits inputs to kX-DSP for those familiar 5 pairs for audigy (0/1, 4/5, 6/7, 8/9, and HQ)... but with ASIO u should be able to insert atleast those 16 channels u see in FXBus and therefore make use of all analog and digital zones. Right?

I tested my idea for short while, but unfortunately i couldnt make Winamp ASIO output plugin to work for me. So i thought mayby other kX-users with more demand for extra zones would like to know about it and possibly try it out...

[Marbles_00]

I've tried the ASIO plugins for winamp too, and I couldn't get them to work...I just tagged it off that I don't fully understand ASIO and right now, I'm too busy to learn how it works. But I agree with you, technically speaking, one should be able to utilize the ASIO inputs but maybe winamp isn't the application for this, or it's a combination of problems from the intentions of the kx drivers, cards and software.

[P3rv3rt B3ar]

Got the winamp plugin working. And it is so sweet, changing channel offset u can route stereopair from winamp to any input in FXBus.

What this mean is: two audigy 2 cards are all u need to fill small mansion with zones as long as stereopair is enough per room.

The thing to get it to work is that u need to resample output within the plugin for the correct samplerate. How this effect to sound quality and processing consumption, i dont know yet... im just reporting this discovery right away

[P3rv3rt B3ar]

I noticed though that plugin breaks winamp volume control, and therefore xl volume control. That is not big problem though since kXd is working and since this strategy makes use kX DSP anyway so using kXd to control volume of zones is just natural.

Bigger problem though is, how to make this strategy co-exist with Scalt type source->zone architecture, which heavily uses VAC, because if i remember correctly VAC only supports directsound, WinMME and kernel streaming but not ASIO

[P3rv3rt B3ar]

BTW i also noticed that i can only use range 0-15 in FXBus, not 16-31 in FXBus or 32-63 in FXBus2. If somebody finds a way to utilize 16 trough 63 lines in buses, speak out please.

[P3rv3rt B3ar]

Had time to actually listen audio...

...and it seems my right chanel has audible pops which renders this method unsuitable for use. my gut feeling is that there is bug in asio output plugin, but ofcourse it can also be in kX drivers. Anyway im interested to know if somebody else made it work without flaws in audio.

[Marbles_00]

Have you tried to adjust the latency compensation? And/Or play around with the buffers? From what I have read doing a quick google search is that those are some of the problems when using ASIO.

Thought it may help.