Go Pro, or not to go pro, that is the question
Written: Aug 15 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: loaded with features, good drivers, easy to install
Cons: comes with too much garbage demos on the install cd
The Bottom Line: Need I say more, save a trip to the specialty digital audio gear shop, and go to your nearest Future Shop of equiv, and save a couple hundred
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| mcmiral's Full Review: Creative Sound Blaster Live! Platinum |
The Sound Blaster Live Platinum 5.1, a card not designed for the casual gamer, or the one that listens only to MP3s wishing they could actually record, master, and then play back themselves. Sure there is another card in the line for that......the gamers will be pleasantly blown away by the x-gamer card, and the mp3+ would be suited mainly to the ones who listen to MP3s a lot.
There is one thing in the whole line of sound blaster live cards that hasn't changed a bit, the card itself. If you had the bucks to buy one of each, you will notice one commonality within each and all of the packages, by golly, all the cards are the SAME :)
The major difference is in the additional hardware and the software package, each software package is designed to exploit the reconfigurable EMU 10K1 synthesis processor. What this means, the brain child, the processor can be reprogrammed to each certain task given to the card. This not only reduces production cost for the manufacturer, but also reduces the cost to us, the consumer.
In my eyes, the sound blaster live platinum 5.1 is a very good card designed for the beginner recording artist. I am saying this because it sure doesn't beat the RME Hammerfall I have in my other machine, but the sound is still hella good.
The breakout box is very handy, and very functional as well. The livedrive IR, as it is coined, comes with 1/4" headphone jack, 1/4" mic jack (switched aux input), Lightpipe digital ins, mini-din midi ins and outs (comes with adaptors for standard din) RCA ins, and last but not least, RCA Digital ins and outs (SPDIF). One can also control this with the optional Remote Control, so that you can play your favorite music, or video disc from a distance.
For professional applications, you might want to go with your favorite editing software, I have used cakewalk, cubase VST24, sound forge without a hitch, and it works perfect with ASIO drivers, found with a steinberg products.
If you are looking to use your own software, which many choose to go with, when you install the software, do yourself a favor and install the drivers only. Most of the software on the installation cd will be quite redundant.
Setup of this baby was a breeze, I just plugged it all together (make sure you plug the ribbon cable into the livedrive and get some power to it, or else it will not work) Install the software and your ready to blow your house away. :)
Before you buy this card, just make sure you know what the main purpose of you having it would be, because of the nature of the EMU 10K1 processor, each different card is task oriented, so just make sure you get the right card for the main purpose, if it is only going to see general use, I would recommend the live value, games, get the x-gamer 5.1, mp3s and playing music, mp3+ 5.1, digital recording, platinum 5.1
Hope this helps :)
Cheers
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 250
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Epinions.com ID:
mcmiral
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Reviews written: 21
Trusted by: 1 member
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