Going through the multimedia Directx interface their are a few ways to access the soundcards (programming). It's that darn "What U hear" Circuitry.
If you notice all the way to the right of the SB mixer is the recording slider & right-clicking on that also selects what input/port to set for recording on. Also there should be a small check-box above that slider that says "Monitor while recording". Doesn't matter what you check it at (if you have that option) because the software constantly changes it depending on the programmers. Ulead usually works very well with the SB cards so I'm sure they know what the problem is. After all MF4 does work so they must be accessing the card or setting the ports differently in MF5.
Actually the Soundblaster 16 & Live have some of the best & cleaner sounds. The later audigy cards say they can do 24 bit but their lacency is so poor audio recording apps choke waiting for the card to respond.
Playing back audio with the audigy line of cards 16 or 24 bit sound is OK. No problem, not a real problem at 16 bit sound either.
No comparision to the M-Audio line of audio equipment.
I'm rusty at the windows mapper. There are settings such as "Do not map through this device" etc in the multi-media page. Also, the wave-mapper can be chosen or chose to access the card directly. So I suspect it's windows wave-mapper routing the audio to the card and doing it's thing.
Most of my audio apps let me access what soundcard to record on and I don't have to set that up in the windows audio setup. The audio programs access the soundcards directly and you use their mixer, not windows.
If anyone wants to try a simple usb fairly good & not expensive sound device the "Creative Labs External USB 16 bit" plays back nice 16 bit audio, not 24 bit. I like to use it on the laptop and sometimes on the other machines for various reasons. Maybe for monitor the output while recording audio on the better soundcard M-Audio line.
I like it because you can throw the disk away that comes with it. Simply plug in into a usb port and go. I think it's only a 12mbs device and doesn't use much usb bandwidth. A handy device.
I wouldn't recommend the 24 bit SB usb unit. I wouldn't use that disk either. It's not as plug & play do you would need to load their drivers for the buttons to work, more drivers more problems, and try to stop from loading all their programs
. The cheaper 16 bit usb audio device is "Model# SB-0270". Great for on the road laptops and general playing, no drivers, plug in and use it. Very low in price.
I have had much less problems with the older SB equipment compared to their new line of products like the audigy line.
MD
