2. A True Audigy 2

Despite its unusual appearance, the Video Editor is equipped with a fully-function Audigy 2 soundcard. To start, the midi-jack 0.14" (3.5 mm) three-speaker analog outputs support up to eight channels for 7.1 sound. But you can limit yourself obviously to the number you wish according to your equipment and desires. Two analogue inputs are available (apart from those on the video side which we'll talk about later), a cinch type line input and a controllable line-level 0.14" (3.5 mm) midi-jack input on the front panel. That's the same number of connections as the other Audigy models. On the other hand, there is a separate line output (Cinch) for loudspeakers. Digital connections haven't been forgotten with optical S/P DIF inputs and outputs on the front panel and a coaxial S/P DIF output at the rear. Regrettably there is no coaxial digital input but few users will be bothered by that.

PC connection is via a USB 2.0 interface. Creative Labs claim compatibility with the USB 1.1 interface but it's important to realize that a PC with USB 2.0 is required to take advantage of all the Audigy 2 functions. The throughput of a USB 1.1 port is insufficient for high resolutions (24 bits/96 kHz and higher). In addition, Creative Labs have had the excellent idea of equipping its Video Editor with a four port USB hub and - clearly - this will be essential if your USB 2.0 PC connections are to be fully utilized.

The four USB ports available (two on the front and two at the rear) can be used to connect a hard disk and a recorder for your video - obviously a "high speed" USB connection will be needed to accommodate these connections.

Naturally, the Video Editor is perfectly capable of fulfilling the role of the traditional Audigy 2, and offers DVD playback and an integration with sophisticated EAX Advanced HD systems.

Video Without Borders

Unlike sound with its universal standards, video involves numerous standards and systems that differ from country to country. However, the Video Editor skirts this potential drawback since it supports all the video signal standards that vary from country to country. If you find yourself in a country that uses NTSC (USA, Japan), PAL (Europe, China) or Secam (France, Africa, the Middle East, Russia), the unit will be guaranteed to work. You will be able, therefore, to record any video (cassettes and TV broadcasts in any country) without encountering problems.

Video connections are very simple as you don't only have one input and output but several sockets corresponding to the various video signals. To start with, you have three possible video inputs: DV (digital), S-Video and composite video. These video connections are accompanied by a Cinch audio connection (for the sound channel). On the rear panel, there is a composite video output, an S-Video output and two Cinch connectors for audio.