Mission
Our mission is to allow end-users unfettered access to all hardware features of the kX-compatible* soundcards, to promote the development of supporting applications and to encourage a free exchange of information useful towards furthering software development for all kX-compatible soundcards. Our motto is: "Expanding the Potential Exponentially".
Historical background
The kX Project was born out of a perceived need to expand the possiblities for use by musicians of the kX-compatible soundcards, under new and emerging operating systems which no longer support the old VxD device driver model.
Until now, musicians interested in exploring the detailed operational aspects of their Emu10k1 and 10k2-based soundcards have been limited to either working with the drivers that came with their cards, or installing superior VxD drivers originally intended for the E-mu Systems APS (Audio Production Studio) card, but being unable to upgrade to newer operating systems. In some cases, demanding users have decided to change operating systems altogether, i.e. to linux, or to limit the use of their 10kx soundcards to tasks such as gameplaying and SoundFont playback.
An independent developer set out in the spring of 2001 to write the WDM drivers that would put the power back into the hands of the end-user, and throw open the door to practically unlimited software development for the 10kx cards. This intrepid and unrelentless developer was Eugene Gavrilov, who continues to spearhead the kX Driver programming effort.
A small team of independent testers and developers has now joined Eugene to continue kX Project development. Working together we can and will Expand the Potential and allow end-users unprecedented control over their soundcards and develop tools for musicians by musicians.
- Hanz Petrov, Eugene Gavrilov
December, 2001
Front and Rear issues
These issues pertain to all Creative cards, but not to the E-mu APS and some Audigy2 Platinum Ex cards. Creative audio cards based on the EMU10kX audio DSP require a DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) in order to produce analog output. In general, this task is typically performed by either AC97 Codecs or I2S Codecs.
As a rule, Creative audio cards use the AC97 Codec for Front and Center/Subwoofer outputs, and I2S Codec for Rear output. The AC97 Codec is also used as an ADC (Analog to Digital Converter) and, thus, is responsible for all on-board analog inputs. (Note that LiveDrives and other DaughterBoard cards use different schemes).
The AC97 Codecs used in SBLive! cards are rather noisy devices (when compared to I2S Codecs), and this leads to some quality problems. As a rule, SBLive Rear outputs have much better Signal To Noise Ratio (SNR), Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) and Channel Separation (acs) since they use the I2S Codec. So, if you want to get better sound quality for music playback it is recommended that you plug your speakers into the 'Rear Out' and enable the 'Swap Front and Rear' kX Mixer option (the swap is enabled by default).
The Audigy and Audigy2 cards use both AC97 and I2S Codecs for Front output and this theoretically gives you rather good Front quality. But nevertheless, the AC97 Codec causes some distortion and thus the same procedure is recommended for use with Audigy / Audigy2 cards as well.
Certain Audigy2 Platinum Ex cards lack AC97 codec and thus don't require Front and Rear outputs to be swapped.
Of course, the above should be considered as a recommendation only.
No comments:
Post a Comment