X-fi Mod not cake...

[GSG-9]

I just tried to do a mod to connect my front panel to my xfi.(I dont have the full front panel for my card) The point of the mod is to be able to plug your headphones into the front panel and it will automatically mute your speakers.

Heres the image I worked from.
http://img482.imageshack.us/my.php?image=xfifpmodbq5.jpg
http://img482.imageshack.us/my.php?image=xfifpmodbq5.jpg

I did that. Exactly. But instead of the xfi connector i had individual pin connectors.

When I tried to boot my computer it would not post. On undoing the mod my computer started right up. Im a little dumbfounded. It should have worked.

[btarunr]

Browse through our clubhouse, Tigger69 did something in this field. It's likely that you made a misconnection somewhere.

Append:

The reason I see you PC not booting is that you shorted a signal wire to ground, the same what happens when you make a misconnection of the front-panel USB pin, where the PC won't boot.

[GSG-9]

I may have fliped the pin layout on the creative side (putting pin 2 into pin 8 and pin 4 into 6.) but that should make it a microphone..

Edit:
Ok, after some scotch tape and connecting them to the sodder points on the top of the card instead of the socket it 'works'. Here is my current issue.
The sound quality is not so great. Also, the sound does not cut out on my speakers when I plug my headphones in, which was the whole point.
Any help is greatly appreciated,

[GSG-9]

It cant be this bad for everyone with this mod. I can barley hear the music over the static. I have good connections. This is so not satisfactory..

[MadCow]

Did you select the option to automatically mute speakers in the control panel? Are your wires shielded?

[GSG-9]

Did you select the option to automatically mute speakers in the control panel? Are your wires shielded?

I do have the option selected,

I do not know if the wires are shielded... I took some old wires for the Power + - settings and wired them to the xfi and ac97 header. I would assume they are? :confused:

[MadCow]

Hold on, did you tape the wires to the solder points?

Look at the wire, does it have some sort of mesh or something metal between the conductor and outside? From the middle outwards it should go: conductor, rubber, shielding, rubber. The shielding need to be attacked to a ground too.

[GSG-9]

Hold on, did you tape the wires to the solder points?

Look at the wire, does it have some sort of mesh or something metal between the conductor and outside? From the middle outwards it should go: conductor, rubber, shielding, rubber. The shielding need to be attacked to a ground too.

I will give that a shot, right now I just have the wires (each wire has its own black connector,) and the connectors contact point is taped to the solder point (top of card opposite the 10 pin socket). I will try electrical tape, it may be a better insulator.

[Wile E]

You get crap sound because using tape (of any kind) to hold a connection to a solder point results in a shitty connection. You need to connect them some other way.

[GSG-9]

You get crap sound because using tape (of any kind) to hold a connection to a solder point results in a shitty connection. You need to connect them some other way.

Is that specific to audio? It does not have negative effects with power cables.

[Wile E]

Is that specific to audio? It does not have negative effects with power cables.
Audio would be more sensitive to it, yes, but it most certainly has negative effects on any electrical connection. A solid connection is always more reliable, and will provide a cleaner signal.

[GSG-9]

Audio would be more sensitive to it, yes, but it most certainly has negative effects on any electrical connection. A solid connection is always more reliable, and will provide a cleaner signal.

I never said my connections were not solid.

http://www.logicsupply.com/images/photos/cables/FrontAudio_big.jpg
I have them attached via the individual connectors shown in this image.
Its a solid connection @ 90 degrees, the tape is to keep the plastic from pulling out the wire

[Wile E]

Got a pic? I think I'm misunderstanding how you actually connected these.

[GSG-9]

I dont have a camera right now but im photoshoping something together now

[imperialreign]

more than likely, the big reason you're audio quality through headphones ain't up to par is due to 1) not having all 10 wires connected with an HD headphone jack, 2) (if applies) not having the microphone jack from your headset plugged in - certain headsets that have a seperate microphone plug, it does make an noticeable difference if it's plugged in or not, and 3) you don't have your speaker configuration in the Audio Console set to 'headphones' (big difference in output)

Anyhow, as to connecting all 10 wires to the card, it depends on the model of card, and on the pinout header. You list an Elite Pro in your specs, so I take it you have the 10-pin proprietary sideways connector right beside the X-Fi LEDs? If so:

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showpost.php?p=470700&postcount=1 - check out the last section of that post; I've listed how each wire from a Azalia/AC97 harness will attach to the Creative connector.

The only issue I've noticed with this, is that the Audio Console will not change your speaker configuration from 2.1/4.1/5.1/etc to headphones when you plug in, but it will mute speaker output at the rear. i think you need the Creative 5.25" I/O drive for headphone detection to work 100%.

[GSG-9]

more than likely, the big reason you're audio quality through headphones ain't up to par is due to 1) not having all 10 wires connected with an HD headphone jack, 2) (if applies) not having the microphone jack from your headset plugged in - certain headsets that have a seperate microphone plug, it does make an noticeable difference if it's plugged in or not, and 3) you don't have your speaker configuration in the Audio Console set to 'headphones' (big difference in output)

Anyhow, as to connecting all 10 wires to the card, it depends on the model of card, and on the pinout header. You list an Elite Pro in your specs, so I take it you have the 10-pin proprietary sideways connector right beside the X-Fi LEDs? If so:

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showpost.php?p=470700&postcount=1 - check out the last section of that post; I've listed how each wire from a Azalia/AC97 harness will attach to the Creative connector.

The only issue I've noticed with this, is that the Audio Console will not change your speaker configuration from 2.1/4.1/5.1/etc to headphones when you plug in, but it will mute speaker output at the rear. i think you need the Creative 5.25" I/O drive for headphone detection to work 100%.
Fixing specs now (I had the external console hooked up but it was not mine, I have a fatality series )
Here is the image:
http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/4598/xfifk2.png
I tried 2.1 and Headphones, the quality between the rear jack and one I hooked up are not comparable at all. You cannot hear voices in the front jack.

I could not get it to mute my speakers even though I have the box checked :(

[Cold Storm]

more than likely, the big reason you're audio quality through headphones ain't up to par is due to 1) not having all 10 wires connected with an HD headphone jack, 2) (if applies) not having the microphone jack from your headset plugged in - certain headsets that have a seperate microphone plug, it does make an noticeable difference if it's plugged in or not, and 3) you don't have your speaker configuration in the Audio Console set to 'headphones' (big difference in output)

Anyhow, as to connecting all 10 wires to the card, it depends on the model of card, and on the pinout header. You list an Elite Pro in your specs, so I take it you have the 10-pin proprietary sideways connector right beside the X-Fi LEDs? If so:

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showpost.php?p=470700&postcount=1 - check out the last section of that post; I've listed how each wire from a Azalia/AC97 harness will attach to the Creative connector.

The only issue I've noticed with this, is that the Audio Console will not change your speaker configuration from 2.1/4.1/5.1/etc to headphones when you plug in, but it will mute speaker output at the rear. i think you need the Creative 5.25" I/O drive for headphone detection to work 100%.


Dang that, and I broke the Music xtreme because of trying the hard mod! lol... That would work 100 times easier then that!

[imperialreign]

Dang that, and I broke the Music xtreme because of trying the hard mod! lol... That would work 100 times easier then that!

don't follow . . . :confused:


Fixing specs now (I had the external console hooked up but it was not mine, I have a fatality series )
Here is the image:

I tried 2.1 and Headphones, the quality between the rear jack and one I hooked up are not comparable at all. You cannot hear voices in the front jack.

I could not get it to mute my speakers even though I have the box checked :(


how many wires do you have hooked up to the card? To have full functionality you need all 10 (well, 9 . . . one of the pins doesn't have a wire).

[GSG-9]

I only wanted my headphone jack so I just did pins 2 and 4. (+I only had the 2 wires)

don't follow . . . :confused:





how many wires do you have hooked up to the card? To have full functionality you need all 10 (well, 9 . . . one of the pins doesn't have a wire).

[imperialreign]

I only wanted my headphone jack so I just did pins 2 and 4. (+I only had the 2 wires)

I see now - you need more than the two wires for proper connectivity. For HD output, there are a total of 4 output lines - 2 for the headphone, 2 for the microphone. With mose newer cases that have an Azalia HD/AC97 connection, you need all 4 of those wire hooked up for proper playback.

Ther are another 2 wires that are used for "sense" - in that they detect when a jack has been plugged in, so the card can kill rear output.

[GSG-9]

I see now - you need more than the two wires for proper connectivity. For HD output, there are a total of 4 output lines - 2 for the headphone, 2 for the microphone. With mose newer cases that have an Azalia HD/AC97 connection, you need all 4 of those wire hooked up for proper playback.

Ther are another 2 wires that are used for "sense" - in that they detect when a jack has been plugged in, so the card can kill rear output.

Ok, I did not realize I had to plug them all in if im only using the headphone jack. Well. I will be needing more cables, and I dont really want to buy in bulk from digikey, I only need one cable, not 8..hmm