SBLive! vs. SBLive! Platinum

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Aaron

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Hey, I'm looking into buying a new computer (one that actually can do something).  I wanna get a SoundBlaster Live! sound card so I can mess with soundfonts, but I found there's two kinds...SoundBlaster Live!
SoundBlaster Live! Platinum

Anyone know what the difference is (besides about $120?)

P.S. [url="<a]http://www.pricewatch.com[/url]" TARGET=_blank>www.pricewatch.com  has awesome cheap prices for computer parts.
 
The difference between SBLive!s is always the number of input/output ports. If you don't plan to use it for much else than playing games and listening to music I suggest getting the even cheaper SBLive! value (or is it XGamer now?)Anyway, I have a Platinum. The difference is that it comes with a tray to put in the front of your computer, with lots and lots of audio connectors...saves you the trouble of crawling behind the computer each time you want to plug in something.

Have a look at Creative's site... [url="<a]http://www.soundblaster.com[/url]" TARGET=_blank>www.soundblaster.com
 
Another difference is software packages. IIRC, there's three different SBLive!s. XGamer, MP3+, and Platinum (current versions are 5.1). XGamer and MP3+ are designed for the user on a budget. XGamer has a few games, and MP3+ has some various sound software packages. Platinum has most of the software of the other two, plus some extras, and, like Dagsverre said, a tray that goes on the front of your PC. The tray has all kinds of ports, you can even hook up an instrument to it (i.e. a keyboard).
 
However, one thing to bear in mind is that they're all essentially the same card. Meaning? If you're not averse (like me ^_^) to taking a soldering iron and screwdriver to your equipment you can add in all those connectors again.No, I haven't done this to my SB Live. (Don't want to risk it, nor do I need the extra connectors ... at the moment). Yes, I have done similar things to other things I own.
 
True, the electronics is quite simple. I built a totally risk-free volume control for my SBLive! once, then figured out that reaching for the volume knob on my speakers was easier anyway...but, it was at least fun to do. Simply connect some pins on the card...when 1 and 2 is connected volume goes up and when 2 and 3 is connected volume goes down (or something similar to that, the system is obvious). I once found a page full of SBLive! tweaks once, Soldering things with SBLive isn't all that risky as most things you will touch is only audio signal wires anyway...question is how much you want to do for an optical in/out contact, last time I checked you need to take the digital SP/DIF signal and run it through a bit-swapper chip and stuff before connecting it to the diode. Still simple if you want to invest the time, instructions (like chip required) at [url="<a]http://www.minidisc.org[/url]" TARGET=_blank>www.minidisc.org  if I remember correctly.

And Fice is right, it is the same card so go for the cheapest one if you don't need optical in/out or MIDI DIN (nice to have it in front if you want to connect a synth to it).
 
Get the SB Live X-Gamer 5.1 It comes with 4 full version games, and outputs EAX games in 5.1 surround(analog, not AC-3).
 
Man, thanks for all the replies, I think I'll get a Platinum when I get the money for my comp (months yet), cause the tray sounds cool and buying it and getting all that software with it is probably cheaper than buying the software by itself (I believe I've seen a SBLive!Plat 1024 voice card for $120).Which reminds me...
What does this wave-table voice thing mean?  I've seen ones that say "1024 wave-table voices" or something, some with like 256, and some with as low as 64 I think.  What is that?  Is it like the number of things that can go through the wave "channel?"
 
I have the Platinum and the value and they have the same chip on em and sound exactly the same only difference being the software package and the drive thingy.
 
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