#CD/ROM & Sound Blaster
7 messages in this thread
Having just got on here and not knowing what's been discussed in this
thread, I would guess I have a problem that may sound familiar. I have a
SoundBlaster Pro, and I just bought a raw Toshiba 3301. On the back of the
Toshiba there is a three-pin connector for CD Audio output. On the SBPro
there is a four pin connector for CD Audio In. Neither set of docs explain
what the signals are on these connectors, so I have now idea if I can
connect them together. (I guess at some time down the road I will hit
Jack's problem of not getting the SBPro to play the signal….). Any help
would be appreciated…
Steve Anderson
Stephen…Audio connections are usually done using a signal and a ground
line for each channel. Some manufacturers save by wiring the 2 ground
lines together. This is no problem except under the most finnicky
conditions. So now your only problem is to find out the pinouts of the 2
units. 🙂 Yell if I can be of assistance.
-Larry
Thanks Larry, for the comment regarding hooking up my Toshiba 3301 to my SB
Pro. Fact is I already have kinda figured that the SB Pro had a left and a
right and two grounds, and the CD had a left and a right and only one
ground. Problem is, I don't know of a safe way to figure out which is
which. I don't particularly want to connect any signal line to ground or
vice versa.
Steve
Steve…Sorry, that's the extent of my knowledge.
-Larry
Stephen, the pinout for the CD in connector on the SBP is as follows:
1=Ground; 2=CD Left Channel; 3=Ground; 4=CD Right Channel;
where pin 1 (marked as such on my board) is the left-most pin on the 4-pin
CD audio connector when looking at the board with the back plate to the
right.
I just connected my SBP internally to my NEC CDR-84, which is an internal
drive with a three-pin audio out connector, using the 3-wire cable Creative
Labs sells for audio connections between the SBP and their proprietary
CD-ROM drive. Note that Creative Lab's cable has only 3 wires. The SBP end
plugs onto pins pins 2, 3 and 4 on the board.
The setup works perfectly and has two advantages over cabling from the
audio out mini jack on the front of the drive to the line in jack on the
SBP. You get rid of the cable jutting out from the front of the system. And
the SBP mixer software that comes with the board has seperate controls for
line and CD-ROM audio, so you can independently set the input levels of the
CD-ROM and another source.
Joe
Steve, there is a msg later in this string which deals with the SBPro
pinout attributes…the Toshiba probably is LEFT GROUND RIGHT for its three
pins, much like the Texel I have. Check your Toshiba docs for a schematic.
I've had a devil of a time finding a connection cable for a 3 to 4 pin
setup like the SBPro to Toshiba, but Texel sells one for $17, which would
probably fit your needs. Otherwise, you could find some microplugs at Radio
Shack like I did originally and cobble a cable together yourself from
speaker wire. It works… I figured one ground attachment to the SBPro was
enough, so one pin remains bare, but the left-right and one of the ground
pins are properly connected, at least.
I haven't followed this thread from the beginning, but Creative
Labs also sells the same cables (and a bit cheaper). They sell the cable
between the SB and the Texel for $11 ($6 plus $5 shipping and handling).
Presumably, they sell cables for other CD-ROMs as well.
Paul Green