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Description

SPDIF connectors on Soundblaster Live

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Even the SBLive Value has a nice set of (SPDIF) Digital Input Output Interfaces. There are two different pin layouts - one using a 12 pin and one using a 40 pin connector ! Make sure you choose the right pin layout (See bottom of this page)

Digital I/O using the SBLive APS
SBLive Value Location
Digital Inputs: 48 kHz or 44.1 kHz
Spdif in 1 CD (SPDIF) input connector
Spdif in 2 SPDIF EXT connector pin 1
Digital Outputs: 48kHz
Digital Out 1 Pin 1 on SPDIF EXT connector
Digital Out 2 Pin 9 on SPDIF EXT connector
SBLive Full Location
Digital Inputs: 48 kHz or 44.1 kHz
Spdif in 1 CD (SPDIF) input connector
Spdif in 2 I/O card RCA input or pin 15
Digital Outputs: 48kHz
Digital Out 1 (SPDIF) out 0 = pin 17 on I/O card
Digital Out 2 (SPDIF) out 1 = pin 19 on I/O cable

Live Value (full and detail view)

One user in the SBLive Music Newsgroup did find an Article in the Sound-on-Sound magazine which is quite interesting - it describes how to do Digital Copies using the APS bypassing the internal resampling of the Emu10k1:
"One final point for APS owners is that there is apparently a way to achieve bit-for-bit copies. It only works with the ASIO driver and 48kHz signals. First you need to set your DAT recorder (or other digital device) to slave to the fixed 48kHz clock signal from the APS digital output. Then you record using either of the two S/PDIF inputs of the card, but switch off the Econtrol mixer. This should ensure that no sample-rate conversion takes place, and that the file recorded to your hard drive is identical to the original."
Select ASIO rec and NONE as source on the EMU mixer - Enable Inputs 3-4 on Cubase - monitor if you need and Record. You'll notice that rec. gain controls and EMU10K1 DSP are excluded from the path of spdif incoming signal.

Connecting SPDIF
Remember: Digital SPDIF connections are done by connecting Input-Output and GND-GND

Connecting a SBLive "Value" with an APSLive "Value" (12 pin connector)
You can use the digital audio CD cable included.
Or use a standard CD Audio -> Soundcard connector cable
and tear apart some plastic so that it fits our needs.
To connect 2 SBLive cards you have to connect GND to GND and cross connect an Input to another output most likely SPDIF out 00 to the Digital CD in of the other card or to the SPDIF IN on Pin 06.

Connect pins 5 and 6 on the SB card
to pins 1 and 2 on the APS-card.
Pin 5 - Pin 2 (Ground - Ground)
Pin 6 - Pin 1 (Input - Output)
If you did all right you can now playback analogue sounds on the "APS" card (enable line in and digital out on the SBLive powered card and enable Digital in 02 on the APS Mixer Control Strip).


SPDIF on SB Live!
12 pin connector layout 40 pin connector layout
01 - SPDIF00 01 - VCC (+5V power supply)
02 - Ground 02 - VCC (+5V power supply)
03 03 - Ground
04 04 - AC97CLK (24.5MHz clock output)
05 - Ground 05 - Ground
06 - SPDIF IN 06 - SPDIF IN #2
07 07 - Ground
08 08 - Ground
09 - SPDIF01 09 - SPDIF OUT #3
10 - Ground 10 - General Purpose Digital Output #1
11 - SPDIF02 11 - General Purpose Digital Output #2
12 - SPDIF03 12 - Ground
  13 - General Purpose Digital Output #0
  14 - Ground
  15 - SPDIF IN #1
  16 - Ground
  17 - SPDIF OUT #0
  18 - Ground
  19 - SPDIF OUT #1
  20 - Ground
  21 - Ground
  22 - SPDIF OUT #2
  23 - General Purpose Digital Input #0
  24 - General Purpose Digital Input #1
  25 - MIDI Output
  26 - Ground
  27 - MIDI Input
  28 - Ground
  29 - Key
  30 - Key
  31 - I2S Audio data input #2
  32 - Ground
  33 - I2S Audio data input #1
  34 - Ground
  35 - I2S Audio data input #0
  36 - Ground
  37 - I2S serial bit clock
  38 - Ground
  39 - I2S frame sync
  40 Ground