🚀 go-pugleaf

"Doc" <docsavage20@yahoo.com> wrote in message 
news:cf6ed3ec-e011-48ee-ad83-90e4d21d5d9d@e10g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>I had a question about my M-Audio Audiophile 2496. It's running under
> XP Media Center. M-Audio replied that they don't support any of their
> hardware with this O/S.

M-Audio isn't alone in this by any means.    The list is more than a few 
lines.

> The card works like a champ as far as I can tell.

If that's the case for you, I would suggest that you might safely invest in 
lottery tickets.

Many people have *no luck at all* installing m-Audio or DigiDesign hardware 
or software, or other audio-recording related devices from other 
manufacturers on MCE; or in the case of actually getting it installed, not 
having it run reliably or usably.

That unreliability is why the manufacturers do not endorse it or support it.

>Their response is
> "this doesn't mean you won't experience full functionality but we
> don't support it".

Yes.   They can't tell if it will work or not, and can't fix MCE.

MCE is different enough to require a full test programe.

They may have gotten into a test cycle and realized that some of the 
services in MCE prevent the hardware and software from functioning properly, 
predictably or reliably.

In this case the only honest thing to do is to say that MCE isn't supported, 
rather than telling customers that it will work with your hardware.

> ??
>
> Do they know whether their card works with this O/S or don't they?

They know that often enough  it doesn't, and whether it does or not is 
beyond their control.    It apparently doesn't work to their satisfaction, 
and if it doesn't, may not be fixable by any means other than a different 
OS.

DigiDesign does the same thing.   The mBox and ProTools aren't supported 
under MCE either.   Same with Presonus.

They know that, for example,  the extra services running in MCE get in the 
way of recording, and there's no point in wasting time trying to make it 
work by trying to cripple the OS.

> Can someone clarify what the rationale behind this is?

Yes, it's simply stated as this:  MCE is unsuitable for this purpose.

Here's the way somebody at Presonus put it:

http://www.presonus.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-131.html

"Like the article says, Media Center edition is not supported, and we have 
certainly encountered users that have irresolvable issues with that OS. 
Other users have had good reports, but as far as in-house testing goes, we 
cannot verify stable functionality with XP Media Center, and therefore do 
not reccommend it."


> Is there
> something fundamentally different about the way XP MCE is designed

Yes.   It's just not suitable for recording digital audio in a multi-track 
context, which is what the m-Audio and DigiDesign and Presonus etc, hardware 
and sofware is for.

> that it's wholly unlike other versions of XP

It's not *wholly* unlike them, but it's different enough to render it 
unsuitable for use with those kinds of hardware and software.

> and just happens to have
> the same look as the other versions?

Pretty much.

> Anyone experience weird problems with XP MCE that other versions don't
> cause?

You bet.   That's why these manufacturers don't support it.

> Everything I've ever run on it runs fine, including older
> versions of things that aren't certified for it such as Soundforge 5
> and Cakewalk Pro Audio 8.

I've seen a number of posts in other groups from people who can NOT get 
either m-Audio or Digidesign hardware or software to work properly in MCE, 
even if they managed to get it installed.    They would up replacing both 
the audio hardware AND the PC.

And, for example,

http://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/ts/detail.php?Index=30163&keyword=30163
=======
"Article # 30163Date: 2006-01-05
Problem:
Windows XP Media Center compatiblity alert (updated 2/12/2007).

Solution:
Windows XP Media Center is a version of Windows specifically designed for 
integration of TV and radio features into the operating system. Microsoft 
gives the following information:


Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, available preinstalled on Media Center 
PCs, allows you to pause and rewind live TV or radio, digitally record an 
entire TV series or program category, watch DVDs and videos, organize and 
play your music collection, and showcase digital photos.
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 makes it easier to access digital 
entertainment wherever you are. Here are some of the top features:

* Multi-tuner support (record two shows at the same time and watch another 
previously recorded show)
* Support for digital and high-definition local TV
* Built-in CD and DVD burning
* Windows Movie Maker 2.1 with DVD burning
* Internet radio
* Enhanced setup wizard for easier installation

(from: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/evaluation/faq.mspx )

You can also read more about it here: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_xp_media_center


Needless to say, these features, while useful for live media purposes, tend 
to significantly interfere with the vast majority of audio applications. 
Here is an (unofficial) list of software and hardware we have found to be 
unsupported in XP Media Center:

. Digidesign Pro Tools (all versions).
. All M-Audio software and hardware.
. All Steinberg software.
. Cakewalk SONAR (all versions).
. The iLok.
. Syncrosoft USB dongles.
. Focusrite interfaces.
. Lexicon Omega/Alpha/Lambda.
. Edirol interfaces.
. Alesis USB and Firewire mixers.
. All MOTU hardware and software.
. All E-MU hardware and software.
. Native Instruments software.
. Waves software.
. Mackie Spike. Tracktion has been known to work, but is not guaranteed.
. Novation X-Station series.
. TC Eletric PowerCore series.
. Universal Audio UAD-1 cards.
. All RME hardware.
. All PreSonus hardware.
. All TASCAM software and hardware.
. Blue Snowball and Samson C01 USB Microphones.
. Line 6 USB hardware and drivers


Keep in mind that this is an unofficial list. These are simply products that 
we have found, through our experience and through manufacturer requirements, 
to not function properly in XP Media Center. However, you may experience 
full functionality with any of the aforementioned products. Sweetwater can 
only provide support for either XP Home or XP Professional. These are the 
versions that we at Sweetwater install on our Creation Station series, and 
the only versions we have found to be fully compatible with everything we 
sell."

http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?navid=54&langid=100&itemid=22905

"Not Supported with any version of Pro Tools:

Windows XP Professional x64 Edition

Windows XP Media Center Edition"

http://www.recordingwebsite.com/forum/index.php?topic=1995.0;wap2

"Anyone Know A Midi Controller that works with windows xp media center 
edition? There are practically NO midis i can find to be compatable. I 
wouldnt have bought this stupid laptop if I would have known, because the 
whole point in buying this laptop was for using midi live!! Has anyone 
successfully used this OS with a midi? If so WHICH , because I will buy 
whatever works"
=======

HTH
-pk