The Sound Blaster Live! Book

The Sound Blaster Live! Book is the only complete reference to the world's most popular sound card.

Written by Lars Ahlzen of Live!center and Clarence Song (the editor of ALive!), and published by No Starch Press, the book demystifies much of the complexity behind the Sound Blaster Live!

It aims to answer most of your nagging questions, like:

• How to get surround sound in DVDs to a surround system.
• How to hook up the sound card to various forms of analog and digital speakers and sound systems, and of course, to use the correct speaker modes.
• How to managing the mixer and take advantage of the differences between digital and analog mixer sources.
• How to use the Live! to record audio with good quality.
• How to create and manage a MP3 library.
• How to unleash the music-making potential of the Live!, including SoundFonts and MIDI sequencing.

Topics Covered

• Concepts of Digital Audio - including tips and techniques for optimum quality for playback and recording.
• The Sound Blaster Live! Hardware - covers all Sound Blaster Live! models.
• Accessories - digital I/O add-ons, front panels like the Live!Drive, MIDI accessories and much more.
• Connecting Devices - best methods, cables and connectors and tips and tricks when connecting to speaker systems, hifi equipment, DVD players, MIDI equipment etc.
• Speakers - everything from terms and concepts and choosing a suitable type to connecting and setting up.
• The Mixer - settings to get the desired result and optimal audio quality.
• Drivers and Other Tweaks - stay up to date and get the most out of your Live!.
• EAX and Games - where the Live! really shows its power.
• Watching Movies - setup suggestions and tips for getting the ultimate movie experience.
• Recording Audio - get the best results for music, video-editing, teleconferencing and other situations.
• Understanding and Using MIDI - comprehensive coverage of MIDI and how it is implemented on the Live!, including tips, reference tables and tutorials.
• Creating Music with the Sound Blaster Live! - how to use the MIDI features of the Live! with a music sequencer.
• Using and Creating SoundFonts - everything from how to use SoundFonts in your sequencer to mastering the art of SoundFont creation with Vienna.
• ...and much more. Nearly 600 pages in total!

The book is filled with illustrations and photographs of the hardware and software, and also includes a CD-ROM consisting of audio software and sample audio files from the chapters.

Take a Look!

View the Table of Contents.

Read excerpts of Chapter 3: The Sound Blaster Live Hardware (184k PDF; requires Acrobat Reader).

Where to Buy?

Direct from the offical web site at No Starch Press
Amazon.com (worldwide shipping; or click the "International" button for localized stores)
Barnes & Noble (worldwide shipping)

Also available at your friendly neighborhood bookstore!

More Information

Official Page at No Starch Press. Other pages: Table of Contents, Reviews, Updates
Press Release (Acrobat/PDF)