Stereo Microphone Sound Cards

[LesHammer]

LabVIEW has a set of SI-Config/Read/etc VI's that take data from the computer's microphone input. A configuration option is Mono-versus-Stereo. Does anybody have a list (or even one example) of Stereo sound input cards that work with these LabVIEW SI VIs? (Including information such as: Microphone or Line level)

Thanks,

Les.Hammer@CompleteTest.com

[Robert M]

Hello Les,

Try the �Sound Card Simple Spectrum Analyzer.vi� example. Search under �sound� in the NI Example Finder, and it should show up.

If you�ve already looked there, or none of these examples help, please let me know, and I�ll be happy to look further into it.

Have a nice day!

Robert M
Applications Engineer
National Instruments

[LesHammer]

> Try the �Sound Card Simple Spectrum Analyzer.vi� example.
> Search under �sound� in the NI Example Finder, and it should show up.

I don't see a vi by that title, but I'm not sure a vi example would answer the question. I have an example vi already. The problem is that my PC doesn't appear to have a stereo microphone input. The sound card boxes I see in stores brag about how many SPEAKER channels they can output, but none mention how many MICROPHONE channels that they accept. And even if they did, I have no guaranty that they play by the rules that the LabVIEW vi needs. So my question is "What 2-channel input sound card hardware model/manufacturer do I get that works well with LabVIEW? What hardware are you using that works, and is it microp
hone input or line input?"

Thank you,
Les.Hammer@CompleteTest.com

[Robert M]

Les,

I apologize for any confusion. What version of LabVIEW are you using? I know 7.0 has the example, but I�m not sure what other versions have it. I�ll attach it in case you still want it, but it looks like you have more of a hardware issue/question.

The sound VI�s make dll function calls to C:\Program Files\National Instruments\LabVIEW 7.0\resource\lvsound.dll. Any mic or line in input should be configurable through this dll. It can handle both mono and stereo, 8-bit or 16-bit. These parameters are returned from the dll call from �SI Read.vi,� and can be viewed directly but putting indicators on the outputs from the dll call inside �SI Read.vi.�

Most any newer sound card should be compatible with this dll. I�m surprised y
ou are having problems. What model/manufacturer sound card are you using? Most cards are now configurable for both input and output. I have an integrated sound card on my home computer. I was able to configure the three lines (line in, line out, and mic) for 6-channel output, 2 channels per line. I�m pretty sure I could configure them all to be inputs as well, but it just depends on the manufacturer.

I just tested the attached VI here at work. I�m on a Dell gx150 with their standard integrated sound card with a line in, line out, and mic. I was able to pick out a sound signal by plugging my speakers into the mic input and tapping them a bit. The line in didn�t work the same, but that may be because I wasn�t using an amplified mic (simply using my speakers).

Let me know if anything here helps, and if not, I�ll be happy to keep digging. Thanks, and have a great day!

Robert M
Applications Engineer
National Instruments

[LesHammer]

Hi Robert,

> What version of LabVIEW are you using?
7.0

> but it looks like you have more of a hardware issue/question.

Exactly. I'm looking for hardware recommendations for stereo microphone input card hardware that works with the LabVIEW SI vi. I have it working with my mono card, but I want to upgrade to stereo. Before I buy the hardware I'd like to know what has been sucessfully used.

Thank you,

Les

[Robert M]

Les,

Any of the sound cards that are compatible with Windows will work with LabVIEW. Some of the top brands are: Aopen, Chaintech Inc., Creative Labs, Gainward/Card Expert, Guillemot/ Hercules, M-Audio, Turtle Beach/Voyetra, and Zalman Tech Co. Any of the cards from these companies with stereo microphone inputs should work for you. The particulars are up to you.

If you are looking to do really high-end stuff with a lot of flexibility, you could look into purchasing one of our DAQ boards. Any one line on these boards competes with the best of the sound cards, but provides more lines and much more flexibility and functionality.

Hope this helps, and have a great day!


Robert M
Applications Engineer
National Instruments

[LesHammer]

OK, Thanks. If anyone listening has one of these cards and likes it or hates it, please let me know.

Thanks again.

Les