Thanks for your replies.

Those Creative cards definitely have some issues, however in my situation there is not really an alternative for something else. Drivers are indeed important, therefore I use the kX Audio Driver. With these drivers I can use WDM driver mode under Windows XP, however under Vista I have to go back to MME. A solution or work-around would be welcome.


From the official KX-driver project website:
The kX Project is an independent development project, focused on providing free WDM Audio Drivers for kX-Compatible sound cards. Read our Mission statement for a quick introduction.

The kX Audio Driver is an independent WDM (Windows Driver Model) driver for all EMU10K1 and EMU10K2-based soundcards manufactured by Creative Technology Ltd. and/or E-mu Systems Inc., including the SoundBlaster Live! series, the E-mu Audio Production Studio (APS) card, and the Audigy / Audigy2 series of cards. (Full List).

The kX Audio Driver package includes driver system files and setup files as well as a powerful audio mixer application (the kX Mixer), which acts as a Graphical User Interface, providing access to many of the driver's internal functions. The following features are either fully supported or partially supported in the latest release of the kX Audio Driver:

So then use the drivers from Creative that work under Windows Vista. You're making this more complicated than it needs to be by using these 3rd party drivers. If you insist on use the MME drivers, you're going to have a lot of latency (delay). 

Yeah you are right. I will install the drivers from Creative. Not straightforward (Creative rather sells new cards) but much more support by other people on the web. Thanks.

On the Creative support site it is listed under Live! 24-bit. Well hidden IMO as it seems to apply to all Live cards.

It seems like Creative releases a new card about every 2 months so I can imagine its confusing. :)

Oh now I remember that KX project. I forgot all about that. The idea was you could access your surround sound outputs and achieve 5 or 6 outputs with your SB card so if so equipped. 
That was another one of my attempts to make the card work. It didn't. 
Those drivers were for XP so that is why it won't work with Vista.