What is the current status of Multizoning audio?

by **scottw** on Mon Oct 30, 2006 2:20 pm

rbziggy wrote:Last year, I posted various messages on this thread about using a multiple output stacker plugin in Winamp to route one winamp instance to several soundcards. (e.g. creating an 'All Downstairs' zone in winamp that would toute to not one but three soundcard outputs.)

This all worked very well for me with no syncing/drift issues and I've been using it since.

However there was one flaw that made it less desirable for many. When you started xl/winamp, each of the outputs in that instance of winamp ended pointing to the same soundcard. So you had to go into the winamp instance and reset the outputs to the individual soundcard. Bit of a pain!

Well, I've just upgraded to winamp 5.31 this morning (it has support for FLAC formats now) and... The problem outlined above has disappeared. Somehow, they have changed something in the config of Winamp that means your config for each output is not lost.

So, I think this is a really good solution now for the multi-zone issue. Though I'd share this good news!

OMG, this is great!!!!!

I have just revisited multizone audio since I bought one of the 6 channel amps in this forum. I spent 2 days trying to find where those registry or INI file entries could be changed. I figured maybe something could be written to set the right outputs on startup of XL.

So you just upgraded Winamp and used the same stacker plugin right, I am going to try right now.

THANKS!!!!!!

by **scottw** on Mon Oct 30, 2006 3:12 pm

I DL'd Winamp Full 5.31 and the settings do not stick for me. I am using 2 different sound cards and whichever one is set in the last out_ds.dll is the one that will be set for both.

Any ideas's

EDIT: Maybe I spoke to soon. Did a fresh install and it does seem to work, sorry.

by **scottw** on Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:12 pm

One problem I am noticing is a get sync problems when it goes to another song in a playlist. If I switch songs manually eveything is fine, if I wait till the song ends and then it automatically switches to the next song in the playlist the 2 sound cards are not synced. After I have sync issues and I manually switch to the next song all is fine.

I am wondering if this is because I am using 2 different sound cards? I wonder if this would not happen using a SB live with the KX drivers? I thought I remembered reading on a thread about the Stacker that 2 different sound cards may have different buffer settings.

Any ideas??

by **Marbles_00** on Tue Oct 31, 2006 3:46 pm

If that is the case, couldn't you go into the output settings of the soundcards and "Tweak" the buffer settings? I know that both the Direct sound output and Wave output have settings for the buffer (both default to 2000ms I think).

Tedious, yes, but it may help you in your case.

Hope this helps.

by **P3rv3rt B3ar** on Tue Oct 31, 2006 5:28 pm

Marbles_00 wrote:If that is the case, couldn't you go into the output settings of the soundcards and "Tweak" the buffer settings? I know that both the Direct sound output and Wave output have settings for the buffer (both default to 2000ms I think).

Tedious, yes, but it may help you in your case.

Hope this helps.

Hey marbles since u r kX expert here on the xlobby.com. is this something u can do somehow neatly with kx-based card? Im currently using "theDelay" plugin in kX DSP... but that only gives u 500ms and i need more, so i have to connect them in serial and thats bit ugly i think...

by **redondo_se** on Tue Oct 31, 2006 5:39 pm

Marbles_00 wrote:If that is the case, couldn't you go into the output settings of the soundcards and "Tweak" the buffer settings? I know that both the Direct sound output and Wave output have settings for the buffer (both default to 2000ms I think).

Tedious, yes, but it may help you in your case.

Hope this helps.

That might not work. I was trying to do stuff like that in the past. The buffer has to build up each time a new track starts, so you will get out of sync at each track change.

by **Marbles_00** on Tue Oct 31, 2006 5:45 pm

Woe now P3rvdude

, remember my post in the Tips forum where I state the following:

I’m not claiming to be an expert with the KX drivers by any means...

I personally don't do any of this as for my zone syncing is down from using the KX outputs 0/1. I've never even mucked around with the output buffer settings, but I know they are there. But according to redondo, it may not work anyways.

by **scottw** on Tue Oct 31, 2006 6:25 pm

Which card do you guys recommend for use with the KX drivers? I am going to get one off Ebay and want to know which one to get, or is there a place to get one cheap online??

Don't want to spend alot.

Thanks,

by **Marbles_00** on Tue Oct 31, 2006 7:41 pm

The KXdriver website has a pretty updated list of cards that are compatible here.

Hope that helps.

by **P3rv3rt B3ar** on Tue Oct 31, 2006 8:19 pm

Depending on your purpose, consider getting premium model with front panel or external unit for extra connectivity. well u dont need it, if zoning is all u set out to do, but if your purposes are more varied, it might come necessity.

by **scottw** on Wed Nov 01, 2006 12:49 pm

Thanks guys!!!

by **scottw** on Wed Nov 01, 2006 6:07 pm

Sorry to sound a little dumb here but what does the 4.0, 5.1 and 7.1 mean as far as how many speakers you can get out of a card. I am looking on ebay at a card and the KX site says 4.0. Now I know (well pretty sure) you can use 3 seperate outputs with a 5.1 card and possibly 4 with a 7.1 card but what about 4.0???

Thanks,
Scott

by **P3rv3rt B3ar** on Wed Nov 01, 2006 6:33 pm

scottw wrote:Sorry to sound a little dumb here but what does the 4.0, 5.1 and 7.1 mean as far as how many speakers you can get out of a card.

Basic idea is that u get as many zones (stereo pairs) out of card as it has channels divided by 2 (count 0.1 as whole channel). But it isnt always necessarily so, for example i get 4 stereo pairs out of my live 5.1 platinium. That is because headphones jack on "live drive" (frot panel unit) serves as discreet stereo pair.

So u wont be disapointed if u make careful asumption that 4.0 provides only two stereo pairs... only surprises can then be positive

but mayby somebody else can provide specific knowledge about that particular card...

by **scottw** on Wed Nov 01, 2006 6:38 pm

P3rv3rt B3ar wrote:
scottw wrote:Sorry to sound a little dumb here but what does the 4.0, 5.1 and 7.1 mean as far as how many speakers you can get out of a card.

Basic idea is that u get as many zones (stereo pairs) out of card as it has channels divided by 2 (count 0.1 as whole channel). But it isnt always necessarily so, for example i get 4 stereo pairs out of my live 5.1 platinium. That is because headphones jack on "live drive" (frot panel unit) serves as discreet stereo pair.

How can you do that, I thought there were only 3 physical output connectors on the back of the cards???

EDIT: sorry read your edit!!

by **P3rv3rt B3ar** on Wed Nov 01, 2006 6:48 pm

scottw wrote:
How can you do that, I thought there were only 3 physical output connectors on the back of the cards???

EDIT: sorry read your edit!!

yeah i lost the train of thought first time around

, so no probs...

anyway i didnt expect it work either first... but surprisingly it did, i just route different material to that output on kX DSP and suddenly get one xtra out... awesome card, awesome drivers! anyways thats one the reasons i would like to recommended get platinium unit... and ofcourse would make sense to get audigy rather than live!