Question on Marvel Sound

[kidspot]

Thanks to everyone's help here, I'm now a Marvel G400 user. It arrived yesterday and I'm having fun setting it up. One thing I came across is the sound. There is no sound on my system (music, .WAV, etc..) when using the BOB unless I first start PC-VCR and enabled line in (the sound in and out were mislabeled, but that was easily fixed.) However sound is fine if I bypass the BOB. Is this usual and do I need to use a Y splitter at the output on my soundcard, start PC-VCR each time I reboot or is there another solution I'm overlooking?

Mahalo in advance for any help.

[This message has been edited by kidspot (edited 28 October 1999).]

[This_Idiot]

Hi,

You don't say what soundcard you are using, but whenever I see the phrase "Y-splitter" I start thinking SBL and sweating

I noticed that PC-VCR doesn't open up the audio-in line in the latest incarnation, although it does record the audio even if you can't hear it. I'm still trying to work that one out....

[kidspot]

Yep, it's a SB Live - only has stereo outputs for analog (I don't have a digital speaker system) - Is that the problem?

[Rick6612]

Hi Kidspot,

I have a G-200 Marvel, and I have found that running the sound through the BOB causes pretty serious degradation of the sound quality. Probably not too noticeable if you only listen to it through little PC speakers, or through a small TV speaker. But very noticeable if you record sound from a good stereo system and then play it back out to a good stereo system.

Because of this (and the pain in the ass way that the BOB cuts the sound off when you don't have PC-VCR remote open), I decided long ago to hook up my system so that I completely bypass the BOB for the audio connections.

Rick

[This_Idiot]

How come this bypass problem only seems to appear with SBL ?

I variously run an SB16, AWE32 and PCI Yamaha DXG without any problems at all. It's almost tempting to install an SBL just so that I can see how the other side have to live (if anyone has an SBL they want to donate to the cause, email me).

Kidspot, what revision of the SBL drivers are you using, I have heard that under the later sets (which you have to pay for) the problem seems to disappear. I'd appreciate input on this

[kidspot]

Currently I'm using the 1.0 driver. I should be receiving the CD with 3.0 drivers soon (I ordered it a few days ago.) It would be nice if this fixes things. I still find it strange that it will output if I bypass the BOB, How exactly is the BOB connected for sound? (I thought it was simply a pass-through) - Sounds like this issue comes up a lot - I'm surprised since I thought this was decent sound card.

[This message has been edited by kidspot (edited 28 October 1999).]

[Rick6612]

Hi This_Idiot,

I am not using an SBL, yet I initially had the problem where the BOB cuts off the audio signals unless you had PC-VCR remote open. It's been so long now, I can't remember exactly now whether it was the audio input or the audio output or both that were cut off...

As I've said before, once I realized how badly the sound quality deteriorated when passing through the BOB, I decided there was no way I could run my audio through the BOB at all. I have been running my audio directly to/from the sound card ever since.

Rick

[A_BIT]

Kidspot,

You need a Y splitter-simple as that. I got this info straight from Matrox support. I've had my marvel g200-tv around 8 months ago & had the same exact problem you described -- needing to open PC/VCR to activate the sound.

1) Plug the Y into your sound card's out
2) Plug one output from the Y into the BOB
3) Plug the other output from the Y into your speaker system, amp, mixer, etc.



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Anthony

• Slot 1 Celeron 400, Asus P2B, 256MB PC-100
• AGP Marvel-TV 8MB
• Turtle Beach Montego PCI sound card (Y connector on audio out per Matrox tech support)
• C: IBM 10.1, 5400, Primary on 1, System, Swap, Software
• D: IBM 13.5, 5400, Primary on 2, Dedicated to video
• E: Memorex 48x CD, Secondary on 1
• F: Yamaha CD-RW 2x2x8, Secondary on 2
• Win98, FAT32 on C: & D:
• MediaStudio Pro 5.2

[kidspot]

Hey Folks - Thanks for all the input. I'm glad it's not just me with this problem. I really love the video capture - doing full screen 30 fps with not one frame lost - I am impressed for such an inexpensive capture card.

Now if I can just get the sound recording - I have not tired bypassing the BOB for recording yet, but when I record a clip the sound meter registers sound, but on playback there is silence (though other sounds will play after the PC-VCR is turned on) I guess this is my next puzzle to figure out. Computers are great - just like a giant jig-saw puzzle.

[gr8ful]

I got a new Marvel G400[TV sitting in the closet. I was sorely dissappointed :-( when I did not see the S/PDIF digital audio output on the BOB that I had read about and have seen in numerous reviews. My interest is film music composition. I have an Sb Live! and will probably get the new Platinum when it appears with Live Drive II or even get a professional music sound card. I know, you're probably thinking me a fool for not installing the Marvel but I want to understand this thing before I commit to it or return it. My questions are how to best maintain sound quality when watching DVD's and when editing? Anybody who can explain the audio path and conectors to me for the best sound I can get would be greatly appreciated. Thanx!

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jt