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[syndromeofadown]

I just finished building a server and re-organizing my library.
Just when everything was finally finished and running smoothly my girlfriend asked if i can hook up the radio.
I'm not sure if i can.

I use a usb dac connected straight to my amp. No preamp and i don't want one.

I have about 5 sound cards that i don't use.

Can i use line-in playback to connect an analog FM tuner then setup a zone to play it?
Would a digital tuner be better?

My tuner is pretty nice but from 1985. I'm open to buying a digital tuner.
Satellite radio is another option that I'm open to.

Is this even possible?
Is anyone currently doing this?

Note that i don't have internet and likely never will, so internet radio isn't an option.

Thanks for any help.

[Matt]

Can i use line-in playback to connect an analog FM tuner then setup a zone to play it?

Yes.  Line-in is under File > Open Live...

You'll need a device that does ASIO input, and you'll need to use a different device for input than output.

[syndromeofadown]

Thanks.
I just wanted to check before i started rummaging through old boxes.
When I get things figured out ill share my setup for anyone interested.

[syndromeofadown]

I am successfully running my AM/FM tuner through Media Center.
Still no preamp.

Here is my tuner added to my system.



Here are the adapters i used to convert RCA to mini.



Its quite a simple process if you have a dedicated sound card.
Just plug the tuner into the sound card, then in MC choose File > Open Live.

I don't have a dedicated sound card.
Out of the pile I have lying around only 3 have ASIO.
Out of those 3 only 1 has analog input and i am currently using it in my 2nd zone.

I'v found that can use the same card for input as output.
This is possible because I'm outputting 6 channels and the card is capable of 8.

Here's how.

Here is my sound card. Creative titanium fatal blah blah blah



The intended output/inputs are as follows
Blue – line in
Green – FL/FR
Grey – Side L/R
Yellow – FC/Sub
Black – RL/RR

The tuner is plugged into blue.
By default creative mutes the input.
Here is what the control panel looks like now.



I have nothing plugged into green.
Since line-in is receiving FL/FR the card will output FL/FR.
No way to stop this aside from not plugging anything in.

I have the wire that’s supposed to plugged into the green now plugged into the grey.
Yellow and black are normal.

To accommodate my wire switching i setup the creative control panel like so.
Note I'm in audio creation mode.



I can now listen to the radio in any zone including the sound card that the receiver is connected to.
Radio is not output anywhere until I choose  File > Open Live.
I can play the radio in multiple zones at the same time.

The one thing i can't do is play something other than the radio on the creative card while another zone is getting radio from the card.
ie. can't watch a movie with the creative card while my Asus DAC gets radio from the creative card.

The creative audio control panel works very well for this. (strange to say something positive about creative software)
I'm curious if the same control is possible with the high end Asus cards. Please share if you know.