Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

I've got a second-hand Soundblaster Live! card which came without the drivers but it's no real problem as I downloaded them.

I recently reformatted my machine and moved the card about to make space for my new graphics card.

Since then whenever I play music I can hear static coming through the speakers but when the music stops, the static does too - but it only seems to be music that's affected, other sounds (such as mail notification etc) do not seem to have the problem. I've tried putting the soundcard back in the original slot but that makes no difference.

Any ideas?

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

Maybe try installing different mp3 codecs?

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

Where is the music coming from. Direct from CD or from the HDD?

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

From the HD....

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

What are you using to play it? Winamp? Media Player? Have you tried both? Do they both have the same problem?

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

WMP, I never use any other kind of player. Saying that, before this problem started I'd been using WMP and it was fine then...

edit - the statics comes through on CDs too.

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

Would you try another player even if it's only to narrow down where the problem is?

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

I have a sound blaster live (oem) which i bought from ebuyer a few months back. One problem I have with it is that it will frequently crash any sound application (winamp, other players, fruity loops etc). But with one program (bpm studio - which is a mp3 dj app fyi.) whenever I play a tune in the right deck all I get is static through the right speaker, no music, but the left speaker is fine. The left deck is crystal clear. The sound card is screwed in tight. My system is an amd xp1900/512mb ddr 266mhz/gigabyte gr7vtxe+ mobo.

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

Yeah I'll try another - I'm sure one of my albums comes with it's own player built-in, I'll try that now....

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

Or even winamp, very small download if you get the stripped down version.

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

Just to add my 2p worth.....

I was getting static on my old live card!!!

I tried ALL my pci slots - and reinstalling windows - different speakers....

Anyway to cut a long story short - I ended up ditching it (putting it in my missus' pc - where it still works flawlessly) and getting a digifire card.

Strange stuff.

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

I still get the static with the built-in player from the RHCP's Greatest Hits CD, I'll try Winamp now, but I have a feeling it'll be the same result...

Is the way the soundcard is physically installed a possible cause?

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

Well I did have mine loose as my case is a crap design and you have to almost break the PCI card to get it to screw into the case..so I tightened it and it is still the same. Also when I play Medal of Honour it will crash after so long, either locking my PC, or the sound will get stuck and I can carry on playing.
Not sure if its just apps that are intensive on sound that crash it, but thats what I've been starting to think.

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

I have had some weird stuff if the case isn't earthed properly before (the power cable was damaged in the pc i was looking at)

Just out of interest I see you say you downloaded the drivers. Presumably from creative.

Are you running XP? Have you tried it with the standard XP drivers? Does it do the same thing?

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

I'm running win2k, I've tried using the drivers on the cd and also the latest creative drivers. No difference.

Couldnt tell you about the case and earthing, don't know that stuff :D

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

Just tried Winamp, it's exactly the same.

My case isn't the conventional type, where each card screws in to the back: with this one you slot the card in and there's something like a 5 inch long 'clamp' which screws in to the back of the case an hold all the cards in place, is this likely to be something to do with it?

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

As long as it's a nice firm contact it /shouldn't/ be a problem.

What happens if you play a midi (remember them :)) file?

Also - are you uninstalling the card BEFORE you shut down and trying another slot?

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

Well I'm running with a normal conventional tower case and I am experiencing something kind of like your problem, but a little different. So.....? :confused:

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

I get the same with any sound file - and yes I've uninstalled the card each time :(

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

You don't have an onboard sound card on there do you?

'cos I'm running out of ideas.

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

Yes I have an onboard soundcard but I've not uninstalled it - never had to really, I first put the card in about 2 months ago and the sound has been fine and I didn't uninstall the 'onboard' then.

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

I was just wondering if you may have changed a setting in the bios while you fiddling about putting your new graphics card in.

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

No, I didn't touch anything which would affect the soundcard. Actually I've tried unplugging the speakers from the card and I noticed I get exactly the same static sound when the metal part of the plug touches the metal case....I'm not too hot on earthing and electrics but does that make any sense?

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

I don't mean to be patronising, but are you 100% sure you've got the right drivers? There are a few different version of the Soundblaster Live!, and it's easy to download the wrong one. The best way to do it is to look on the card itself for the product number (it's two letters followed by four numbers, if I recall correctly), and enter that on Creative's support site.

What OS are you using? I had a similar problem with my SBLive on Windows 2000, but it stopped when I went to XP, which didn't make any sense as they used the same driver...

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

Using XP and I downloaded exactly the same driver that I've always used and not had any trouble with....

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

It does make sense - you can try wiping the speaker plugs with a nice soft dry cloth to see if it improves any.

I'm just about out of ideas now - but if I think of anything else I'll post it straight away. :)

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

Speaker plugs all nice and wiped...and still we have static... :(

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

I've just uninstalled my sound blaster and reverted back to on board sound, by my mohaa still crashes. Not sure what thats about.

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

hmm only thing i can think of is opening up the mixer and muting all things not used (also drag bar all the way down as somtimes mute doesnt fully work *shrug*)
Main one being microphone port that causes issues. failing that does kx do drivers for the live, if so might be worth giving them a shot (http://kxproject.lugosoft.com/index.php?skip=1)
not brilliant for games but rather good for general audio
K

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

I've tried all the settings.....nothing.

It's an earthing problem, I'm sure of it, can't for the life of me see where the problem is though :(

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

You've tried the speakers elsewhere? and um tried a different set of speakers (or a pair of headphones) in the socket?

I'm scraping the barrel i know - but I'm still thinking about it.

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

/also clutching at straws

- is there an option to disable the onboard sound in the bios?

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

Not that I can see, but I'm sure this is something to do with the way the soundcard is installed, perhaps there's an earthing problem there...

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

did you try your headphones in the socket? - that could confirm if it was the card or the speakers, that aren't right?

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

I tried the speakers with my onboard soundcard, and the music is crystal clear - it's definately the SB live! :(

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

Here's a thought - is your motherboard chipset a via one? If so have you installed the hyperion (used to be via arena)drivers.

I think you just come up with this stuff to test us :)

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

Certainly is a VIA...shall try hyperion now...

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

...checked the Hyperion site and all I can see are drivers for the current onboard card...which works fine...

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

http://www.viaarena.com/?PageID=403

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

I've had a thought....all this seems to have been happening since I installed my graphics card which has a fan onboard.....could that be causing interference? If so how do I deal with it?

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

I can't say as I've EVER heard of that before - but I'm not saying it's not possible.

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

Also - since it happened since you put your new gfx card in - it could be the power supply isn't quite putting out enough power.

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

I officially give up :cry:

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

Can I give up for the night too? - My brain is hurting now ;)

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

With a fresh head in the morning, does it do this if you...

Take the graphics card out
Try the SB in another machine

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

hi there guys i was just browsing this forum when i came across this post anyway I used to have this prob in my old pc which also has a via chipset and a soundblaster live series card inside it.
After doing a bit of resurch on the good old web i found out the 2 most common reasons why this static happend.

1st reason is what Dilligaf1701 suggested the power supply might be the reason because faulty power supplies can certainly be the cause of this type of sound card noise.

And secondly it could be a motherboard/bios problem and there are 4 things you could do

1. upgrade the motherboard bios to the latest one.
2. change the PCI latency settings to a higher setting (this is the 1 i used and it worked). The defult setting of the bios PCI latency setting is 32 i changed it to 64 and it has worked since, there is also a tool you can use that changes the setting for you but ill have to look around the net for you for that just post back if you need it.
3. Change the sound card for a diffrent 1
4. i dont really recomend this 1 but if you do get p***ed off with the noise just chuck the pc out the window :nono:

If this has already been suggested to you i appolagise.

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

OK I'll try it in another pc...after all, EVERYONE has a spare pc lying around the house, don't they??? ;) :D

Anyone want to lend me one?? :D

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

I always have a test system on the go - but it's probably a bit too far to come just to test a sound card :)

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

So take the gfx card out (yeah i know you'll have to reinstall the on board stuff) and see if it starts working again :)

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

Too far to come? Depends on how much you value your currently 'unbanned' status ;) :D

Only joking - I'll take the gfx card out and see how it goes...

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

Right, it's DEFINATELY the gfx - I took it out and the sound was back to crystal clear.

So what do I do about it??? :(

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

Ok - if it's the power supply (and it's a standard size one) then you can just buy another one.

If it's a VIA issue (and you installed those drivers I linked to last night) I'm not that sure you CAN do anything about it :(

Like I said - in the end I bought a new card (digifire 7.1) because of the issues I was having with my creative one.

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

hah, well mines a via chip too, but i don't know what this hyperion stuff is, but im guessing then that a via chip must have something to do with it?

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

The hyperion drivers (i posted a link in a previous post) are chipset drivers for the VIA chipset.

You can read more about them here.

http://www.viaarena.com/?PageID=300

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

you couldnt locate it for me could you? :angel:

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

I downloaded something called the VIA 4In1 drivers from the gigabyte site which is the maker of my mobo....are these the same files?

-edit:
taken from that page:
"If you are looking for VIA 4in1 drivers, these are the drivers you are looking for. The "Hyperion" name was added to the 4in1 driver set name in December 2002."

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

Yes :)

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

gah your too fast for me :D

Re: Static on Soundblaster Live?
 

Essentially yes - but use the ones from the viaarena site (The ones i linked for Russ) These are the most up to date ones.