Why is there a delay on my optical signal from 360 in Soundblaster?

alexjholland · 30 Jan 2009 at 14:20

Hey,

I have my 360 running into the optical input on my pc's soundblaster audigy 2 Zs platinum (then into my speakers).

Aside from crackling problems I'm having (apparently I just lower the in-game volume), I have realised there is a delay in the sound.

I took for granted the sound of bullets coming a split-second later for a while, but now that I've tested it with my standard 3.5mm cable and there is definitely a half-second gap, I can't tolerate it!

Why is this? Is it my 360, or my PC? Can anything be done?

Although it's a shame to lose my shiny-ness of optical, I will be back onto standard audio cables unless this is resolved!

mcwildcard · 30 Jan 2009 at 14:28

If I recall from the moanings of my sound producery mates, the SB cards aren't too good for music production due to their poor latency, it sounds like that's what you're suffering with.
I've no idea if there's a work around.

orderoftheflame · 30 Jan 2009 at 14:34

I never managed to get it to work with my old Audigy 2 ZS.

I used it as an excuse to get a proper surround set.

alexjholland · 30 Jan 2009 at 15:18

Oh I know they're rubbish for sound production, that's why I've used my dyslexia to get a free Macbook from my university's disability assist.

I don't see why I shouldn't be able to expect my optical in to work with no latency though? I have a 5.1 kit in my bedroom at home, but for university this would have meant a perfect little setup - I run both my PC and 360 into the same widescreen LCD you see.

I tried turning the digital output onto 'stereo' mode, but that just made the sound disappear for some reason?

At least my audio is in sync now, shame it isn't the purity of optical though..

james.miller · 30 Jan 2009 at 15:20

optical in > decode > mixer > analogue out. it WILL add latency, how much depends on the sound card.

Streeteh · 30 Jan 2009 at 15:23

It's because soundblaster cards are typically crap from my experience.

Not the most helpful post i know, but when it came to messing with digital in/out etc i actually ended up chucking my xtreme music in the bin and relying on my onboard sound of all things. The drivers just suck.

alexjholland · 30 Jan 2009 at 17:42

That's a shame, you would have thought it would be a nice, neat job. Oh well, plugging into the line-in on the back of my soundcard is still neat cabling and sounds decent enough - having my audio in sync is much better.