[PD] emu cards and multichannel audio (like sb-live, sb-audigy....)

[Christian Klippel]

hi all,

after all the recent mails about multichannel on emu cards, a few words :

these cards use the emu chip, which is "just" a custom dsp chip. it allows you 
to upload patches, and also to upload assembled dsp-programs.
through these patches and programs you can access serveral input and output 
line (tram). of course, you can also specify the routing of all that.
by default, you have 4 inputs, 2 (left/right) from the line/mic, and another 2 
"feeding back" the actual dsp output (thus, you can record what the soundcard 
plays).

in means of the dsp, you have _much_ more .....

4 analouge outputs (2 x stereo on the mini jacks), plus digital output, thus 
giving at least 6 usable channels.

plus digital input and the line output, makes 4 channels.

now, setup just a "virtual" record channel (i.e. the "output" of the card), 
and you have 6 in + 6 out, even number on each.

but, you need to make a small little dsp-assembly program to set-up your card 
for that. with the emu10k1 tools from the sourceforge site, this can be done 
easy (a more-or-less direct example is included there).

important is that you load the drivers up to the point where you can upload 
that patch or program to the card, and after that loading the remaining 
sounddrivers with the actual ( == now available ) in/out channels.

sorry that i have no "ready to use" example at hand, but i just tried once out 
of curiosity, and it worked (tough i didnt needed it, so i dont remember....)

in general, some [emu10k] object would be nice, to control all that.
maybe such simple patches can be made with the host's patcher ?

greets,

chris