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More => Old Versions => Media Center 11 (Development Ended) => Topic started by: dingoBaby on October 21, 2003, 06:53:27 pm

Title: Can this be done with the zones feature?
Post by: dingoBaby on October 21, 2003, 06:53:27 pm

I have a SB Audigy game and a set of Altec Lansing ADA475 (4 speakers plus a sub that drives them).  I would like to keep a pair of speakers on my desk and put a pair in the next room (a short run as I have a SMALL apartment)

I thought I could set up one zone for the desk and one for the other room (using the left and right rear selection in Direct Sound settings).  That way only the speakers in the occupied room would be on.  Is there a way to make this work?

Thanks in advance for any assistance offered and please let me know if any other info is required.

Title: Re:Can this be done with the zones feature?
Post by: LisaRCT on October 21, 2003, 07:39:31 pm

You can set one soundcard as Zone 1 and the other soundcard as Zone 2.
Simply go to the top toolbar and click the 'Player' menu:
Player --> Playback Options -->> Playback Zone -->> Zone Manager
Open the zone manager, choose Add Zone and proceed to define your soundcard and playback settings.
Presto!
Each zone can be independently controlled and can even be run simultaneously.

Enjoy!  :D

Title: Re:Can this be done with the zones feature?
Post by: dingoBaby on October 22, 2003, 08:47:05 am

Thanks for the reply Lisa.  The only problem is that I only have one soundcard.  All I want to do is control the four speaker set I have, as two indepentent pairs.  Similar to the fade control on a car stereo.

Title: Re:Can this be done with the zones feature?
Post by: kiwi on October 22, 2003, 09:11:12 am

probably only if they are addressable separately by MC.  do the SB's have ASIO driver options?

Title: Re:Can this be done with the zones feature?
Post by: dingoBaby on October 22, 2003, 10:25:09 am

I believe the audigey cards support aiso drivers.  I am not up to speed on aiso though.

Title: Re:Can this be done with the zones feature?
Post by: LisaRCT on October 22, 2003, 12:41:24 pm

If you just want outputs to be zones playing the same input signals on all zones that would only require you setting your soundcard software mixer to direct the appropriate volume to each set of outputs (Channel 1/Channel 2, or Front / Rear) I have my Front channel in my Living Room and the rear directed into my bedroom.

However if you want seperate actual 'Zones' as used in MC, you will need to be able to address each channel (set of R+L, or 4.1/5.1 outputs) on the soundcard as a seperate playback device.  Some soundcards (particularly pro recording and multi-tracking soundcards i.e. www.Terratec.com) support ths. If your soundcard cannot be setup this way it will not work without an additional soundcard for your other zone.  I have a second soundcard for my office as a seperate Zone so it can play different music at the same time.

Hope this helps.

Title: Re:Can this be done with the zones feature?
Post by: dingoBaby on October 22, 2003, 05:27:05 pm

Thanks for the help Lisa and kiwi!!  I got my setup working.  The Audigy supports aiso.  So now I have a zone in the kitchen (i said bedroom before but its the kitchen) and a zone in my office.  Its working like a charm and I learned something new.  Thanks again.

Title: Re:Can this be done with the zones feature?
Post by: kiwi on October 22, 2003, 06:32:08 pm

Not a prob... glad my guesses at what to do helped.

kiwi

Title: Re:Can this be done with the zones feature?
Post by: LisaRCT on October 22, 2003, 07:13:01 pm

You're welcome!

nice cat  :)

Title: Re:Can this be done with the zones feature?
Post by: dingoBaby on October 22, 2003, 08:46:13 pm

Quote from: LisaRCT on October 22, 2003, 07:13:01 pm

You're welcome!

nice cat  :)

Thanks. Thats Buster the cat.