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Below is list of tested sound cards and notes on setting up each sound card. This is not complete list of sound cards that will work with the RoMac 10 Band Equalizer, many other sound cards may work and give excellent results. Most sound card problems that we have seen to date are usually a noisy microphone input. Sometimes checking both the +20 dB and -20 dB in the sound card level dialog box will help solve this problem. This may seem counter intuitive, but the +20 dB controls the hardware on the sound card, where as the -20 dB selection is implemented in the equalizer software.
A dynamic microphone (-55 dbm) has been used for all the tests.
Windows 2000 & XP have an option to use the "Line In" as the audio source when the equalizer is in a transmit mode. This will usually require some kind of microphone preamp in order to drive the sound cards "Line In" with a Microphone. Windows Vista 32 bit, has this capability built as part of the it's operating system.
Sound cards are rated 1 to 5 with an asterisk
As we test more sound cards in the future the results will be posted here.
| Sound Card | Special Settings | Mic Preamp Required | Remarks |
| Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2Z *** | "No Mon" checked. During receive, the Line In on Play side need to be adjusted. Do not use Line out always muted. | No | Good sound. Cards audio is slow to reach full volume going from transmit to receive. Discontinued but readily available on EBay. |
| Turtle Beach Santa Cruz ***** | Use Line out always muted option | No | Excellent sound. Nice quiet microphone input. See FAQ #24 for Vista. Discontinued but readily available on EBay for less than $30.00 |
| M-Audio Delta 44 **** | Windows 2000 & XP
1. Use option for different line in device. 2. Make sure under "Hardware Settings" in the M-Audio control panel "Independent" is selected under Multi Track Devices. 3. Adjust Line In levels with M-Audio control Panel. Windows Vista Run Microphone level wide open and adjust Mic input with preamp. Vista Driver 5.10.0.5069 may not require a microphone preamp with a dynamic microphone. (On the M-Audio control panel, select -10db on the inputs used for the microphone) |
Yes | Excellent sound. |
| Turtle Beach Montego DDL | Not recommended. | See Remarks | Not recommended.
Very noisy Microphone input. May be used for transmit only modes, if "Line In" is used for Microphone with a preamp. Windows 2000 & XP users will have to use the reverse inputs on sound card select dialog box, to utilize the Line In for the Microphone. |
| M-Audio Revolution 5.1 and 7.1 | Not compatible | Not compatible. | |
| Diamond Xtreme Sound 7.1 DDL *** | Windows
Vista 1. May have to check both +20 dB and -20 dB check boxes on sound card levels dialog box to quiet the hiss on the card. 2. Use driver from website, not windows update. Windows 2000 & XP 1. Use +20 dB on microphone 2. Use Line out always muted option. |
No | Good sound. Vista Mic is a bit noisy, but using the +20 dB and -20 dB settings together will quiet it down. With a Mic preamp use the -20 dB setting with the level wide open, and adjust the microphone preamp for proper levels. Microphone seems very quiet under Windows 2000 & XP |