Creative SB0410 Sound Blaster Live! 24-Bit PCI Sound Card

Even though this is a more 'cost efficient' card compared to the Audigy series, the 'Live!' is still a great card, outputting great sound. It's a solid addition to my system (where other sound solutions have caused system crashing).The software included is good as well. I'm not very interested in the extra media programs (which are nice) as I am with 'tweaking' the actual card. And the driver/configuration program that is provided does this very well!

I noticed a lack of positive reviews for this product, based on its rather exclusive compatibility: it only works for Windows. And that doesn't help much, but if you are a Windows user (including XP; that was apparently a problem with older SB Live! cards) who uses the common Intel chipset and would like better sound without spending a lot of money, I would recommend this.Even basic sounds like the click you hear when you click your mouse with Windows sound better. I noticed much better stereo separation, for example. A faster sampling rate, up to 96 KHz, also helps a lot. Various 3D effects are available, including reverb, EQ, sound cleanup and other enhancements, are also available. Surround Sound is supported, up to 7.1.I've read other reviews on SoundBlaster products saying the tech support is bad. I haven't had to call them yet (I found installation was pretty easy, but I'm fairly experienced with installing hardware and software), so hopefully you won't have any problems.Also, if you plan on using MIDI - and being a songwriter/composer, I do this a lot - I recommend shopping around for a better soundfont. The four-megabyte soundfont file doesn't cut it for me, though it does sound a little better than the GM.DLS used by DirectMusic, and it supports the Roland GS extensions to General MIDI. If you use a very large soundfont (they can run up to 128 MB and possibly even more), you will need a lot of memory: 256 MB RAM at the very least, and a fast microprocessor is a must as well, especially if you use a MIDI controller to your computer, in case you want to make your PC double as a synthesizer.This product isn't perfect, and doesn't have all the features of Audigy or other higher-end soundcards, but it delivers what it promises.

I had this in my computer for a month, with a satellite radio on the audio-in and speakers on the line out. It started crackling and the audio was distorted after a few weeks. I took the SB out and went back to the motherboard onboard audio and it worked fine.Conclusion = Sound Blaster sucks

The SB Live 24bit is a Windows only sound card. It relies too much on the operating system. Linux users must deal with a lot of tweaks to get it work at 50% because no input is supported.

2004 model got new unopened, outdated and does not work correctly with windows 10, windows 8 or 8.1 and windows 7...software has some features that make it crash or stop working...ok for windows xp maybe. Do research for compatibility first.

My son installed this into my daughters pc. It did take a bit of moving around a bit to get it to fit correctly. Once installed no issues whatsoever and it had been running strong for several months

Dated relative to drivers available for newer operating systems, check before you buy (Win XP and W7 are supported). Very well suited sound card for recording YouTube music videos with simple analog microphone and guitar amplifier play-through.

Works as described and in windows 7 oper system