This is the information I received from Creative regarding the older single-channel soundcards (SoundBlaster PCI128, AWE64, etc.). Is it any help? I don't know, but now you know what I know.------------------------------------------Dear SirHere is some details and explanations on the query you have.Multiple Sounds at once in Windows 95, 98 etc.. with PCI128 type cardsIs it possible to play more than one sound file at a time? Yes, given the right set of conditions:Scenario 1: Multi Channel/Port soundcards like the Live! and Audigy range can support Multiple sounds in nearly all situations, using VXD orWDM drivers.Scenario 2: "Single" Channel Soundcards, such as the Soundblaster 4.1 Digital, PCI128 and older cards etc. In this case things are a bit moretricky:You will need WDM drivers for the soundcard first of all. (one exceptionto this rule -below)The Standard Windows Drivers on the Windows CDs are WDM drivers, they will support Multiple sounds, BUT may not support other advanced features. Ideally you should use newer WDM drivers released by Creative.Next, you need to download and install DirectX 7.0 (or greater) from theMS web site. http://www.microsoft.com/directx/This is critical as it includes a newer version of DirectSound that takes advantage of (WDM). It basically provides a "mixer" that allows severalsounds to be played at the same time. With these conditions met, and suitable applications, even to most basicSoundcard can playback multiple sounds at once. Generally, you find that Windows Me, 2000 and XP works better with our soundcards for multiple sound playback. This is due to the fact that WDMwas implemented much better in these OSes and therefore our drivers in these cases are primarily WDM. In Windows 98 and 95 our soundcards drivers are typically VXD drivers.The one exception to this rule is people using WinAMP (and similar programs). Even if you have a VXD driven Single Channel soundcard, the program WinAMP has the ability to playback multiple sounds because it has a specific DirectX Output plugin, which essentially does the job a true WDM driver would have. It is this fact that confuses some customers ("if WinAMP can do it, why cant everything?").Please retain all the previous correspondence when replying to this email.Best RegardsPauline KealyTechnical SupportCreative Labs EuropeOriginal Message Follows:-------------------------Good day to you.What can be done about cards that do not have simultaneous wav playback (more than one application playing wavs simultaneously).Some of our users have SB PCI 128 or other non-Live!-type card that cannot get our program to produce sound while Flight Sim is running. We need both to produce sound simultaneously.Is there any way to set simultaneous wav playback on these cards?Cheers,--Scott ------------------------------------------

Scott,Thank you very much for trying to solve the sound problems. So I went to the Creative site and searched for WDM. It appears that all the search results talk about drivers for graphics cards or the 3DB Personal Cinema.My conclusion is to buy an other sound card and hope that will do.Norbert

But Norbert,have you downloaded and installed the latest soundcard drivers?On my 1-year old HP Pavilion 7960 there is such a soundcard, SB PCI128 (WDM).I installed the latest drivers (10/26/2001) and the wave files are played quite OK!Haraldh Fhttp://jdtllc.com/images/RCsupporter.jpg

Yes, I did. A long time ago. I have a SB PCI64V and the latest drivers mentioned by Creative (nothing to be found about WDM) date from May 17, 1999. So I am afraid that does not help in any way.Unless you could point me in the direction of drivers with a date, comparable with yours.Else I will buy a new card that is capable of 256 channels at the same time. That must be enough.Norbert

Hi Norbert!Yes, you are right!I went to www.creative.com and that driver 10/26/2001 seems to be only for the PCI 128 card!On the www.driverguide.com there are some newer drivers for that card, but they seem to be OK for Win98 (found on the CD!) Maybe some of them might work even with ME?Haraldh

I looked at the driver guide and decided that I did not want to dig in that huge amount if drivers to find something that maybe could work, or not. But thanks for that info nevertheless.I made up my mind. I am going to buy a new card. Nothing fancy. Not meant for 13 satelites and 5 subwoofers. Gives good quality sound on a simple stereo system but is capable of 256 simultaneous voices. So must no be a problem.Norbert

Norbert,256 simultaneous voices is a MIDI thing. Most SB cards only have 32 simultaneous channels, which is what you want.I recommend the SB Live! Value card, or the SB Live! 5.1.

Hello Scott,I do not know all the technical terms because I am not really interested in the sound bombardment that seems most important to many. So I think I used the wrong things to tell here.But the card I have chosen if fully comparable with the SB's you recommend, but here that card is cheaper and recently had a good review in a dutch computer magazine, comparing it with the current cards.Thanks anyway for your advice. But I must say that it is quite unpleasant having no problem with FS, FDC en RCv2.2 together and then suddenly RCv3 does not work as expected. I keep thinking that the problem lies elsewere and not necessarily with the card.Again, thanks for your concern.Norbert

So, I bought a Philips Rhythmic Edge for about

Norbert,See if there's a environment setting on the card drivers or mixer. This is sometimes a separate program somewhere. It should be in the manual.I'm glad to read you can hear everything now, and I wish you many happy flights.