[WriteLog] USB -Audio

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

Tom, 

Most of the inexpensive USB sound devices - the headset or 
surround sound/5.1 devices - will not support SO2R audio.  In 
particular, they do not echo the microphone to the output 
(headphone) which is necessary if you want the ability to 
change/record DVK files in real time. 

I know of two USB sound cards that support full SO2R (7f): 

The first, if you can find it is a Creative SoundBlaster MP3+. 
The MP3+ has been discontinued for several years but I have 
been able to find them occasionally on Creative's eBay store. 

The second is the UA-580 from ByteRunner.
   www.byterunner.com/byterunner/product_name=UA580 
The UA-580 is a generic device - I have seen it with other 
model numbers from other vendors but do not have a list. 

The Turtle Beach Audio Advantage Roadie is also usable - 
although it is not fully 7f.  The Roadie has been replaced 
by the SRM but I have not heard any reports on the SRM. 

Both the MP3+ and UA-580 have separate mic and line inputs. 
They are capable of recording the contest as well as handling 
the mic for DVK.  Performance (noise floor and dynamic range) 
is OK for a low price device.  They will do a reasonable job 
with RTTY/PSK31 if the "line" output of you rig is not too 
low. 

73, 

   ... Joe, W4TV 
 
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: writelog-bounces at contesting.com 
> [mailto:writelog-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Georgens, Tom
> Sent: Friday, August 01, 2008 1:26 AM
> To: writelog at contesting.com
> Subject: [WriteLog] USB -Audio
> 
> 
> I recently acquired a new T61 Lenovo laptop and have run into 
> a problem with the sound functionality.  In Writelog, in SO2R 
> mode, the mic will be routed to the left channel but not to 
> the right.  Every other laptop I have ever tried (4) has 
> worked fine.  All the settings and audio displays look 
> correct.  The recorded messages correctly play on both the 
> right and left channels, but not the mic.  
>  
> I do not believe that this is a Writelog problem since I can 
> see the same symptom in standalone mode.  If I speak into the 
> microphone and slide the master volume control all the way to 
> the left, I get audio in my  left ear only.  As I slide to 
> the right, I get a gradual mix of audio in both ears until 
> the right ear dominates.  This works until I reach the right 
> limit and then there is no audio in either ear.  I loaded a 
> newer version of the audio driver but it did not work either.
>  
> On top of that, this is the first laptop that cannot transmit 
> audio while recording messages. (6F on the sound board check)
>  
> I never expected a new computer to have both a major bug and 
> a regression in functionality.
>  
> I see that there are USB to Audio adapters that are very 
> cheap.  Before I start a trial and error process, has anybody 
> out there had good experiences with any of these, and do they 
> support full SO2R functionality.
>  
> Thanks
>  
> Tom W2SC
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