LG GSA-4120B DVD drives and sound card

[ukdave]

Hi all

I have 2 of these LG drives GSA-4120B (2 of them because of my interest in music making on the PC for copying directly from one drive to the other for DVDs). Reading LG's manual I have a question regarding their connection to the sound card I intend using which is the Creative Audigy 2ZS Platinum Pro.

The LG instruction manual comments that "if the computer is using a sound card, the drive is connected to the sound card with an audio cable. The supplied analog audio cable fits most sound cards or one can be purchased at a local computer store".

Now on the last point regarding the cable. Is that all I would ask for - just an 4 pin audio cable please? Because the 2 drives I have purchased are OEM and all I received were the drives and instruction manuals. Nothing else. But something has just occurred to me as I write!! I have not opened the sound card box yet so I am not sure on this; would the Creative sound card include say 2 cables do you think?

Would I need to purchase any special software to get the drive to do all it should do with regard to its operations. I currently have Ahead's Nero CD burning software. Is there a requirement for any particular drivers I should consider looking for or does the BIOS automatically know how to work with CD-ROMs or DVD-ROMs?

Secondly where I have to fit the drive to the audio card with this cable. I have 2 drives - but would there be 2 connections on the soundcard for this? If not what should I do on this point please?

The operating system that I propose using is Windows XP Professional (SP1).

Many thanks.
David

[rjfvillarosa]

I have the sound blaster 5.1 live and it only has one audio in connection, it,s about a month since I fitted an audigy and I cant remember if it has two inputs or not, so check the sound card. The sound cards generaly don't come with a any cables, I am using a DVD rom and a DVD/RW and I am using an audio Y cable to connect both drives to my sound card, which I suppose is ok as long as you dont try and use audio on both devices at the same time. (which would be a little strange thing to do anyway). I will have a look and see where I bought the cable and let you know in case it can help you out.

[Hi Ho]

You really don't need the audio cable. I never use them and I have never had a problem. I'm not really sure why they exist. I think they were needed more in older PC's.

[rjfvillarosa]

Audio via the IDE cables is primarily for onboard sound, even some new boards with onboard sound are now fitted with a direct audio connection. The audio cable is supposed to give you better sound quality by removing any interference created by the other systems in your machine. Quite honestly unless you were talking about concert hall performance, which you are not going to get from what most hi fi people would consider low quality equipment ie your cd/dvd player then direct connection via the IDE will be ok. I have 5.1 speakers and my sound is awsome using the 5.1 live card and the Y splitter cable, but then I am either in my workshop or den in the house not an auditorium.

[ukdave]

Hi Guys

Once again to this "Forum's Help" - well done and many thanks for your time.
Took both comments on board. Much appreciated.
David

[ukdave]

Originally Posted by rjfvillarosa I will have a look and see where I bought the cable and let you know in case it can help you out.

Thanks for the kind offer rjvillarosa. Thought I'd let you know took your advice and went and purchased one of these y-audio cables like you did. Purchased it today (Friday) at Maplins in Grimsby UK.

Thanks for advice.
David

[rjfvillarosa]

I bought mine at www.censuspc.com just after I moved out here to the States. I looked at most of the UK sites I know and couldn't find one so I asked my son to look for you and ask his friends. Glad you found one mate.