RejZoR’s OpenAL Generic Fixer

RejZoR, the mighty Guru, has provided all of us Creative victims with a handly little tool. The tool solves a number of OpenAL issues that Creative never bothered to address (probably never noticed). Respect most high to the sheep-like one. You might want to add RejZor’s blog to your favourites too…

OpenAL Generic Fixer 1.0 released!

Sunday, 29. June 2008, 14:01:58

Oh and don’t forget to update your audio drivers if you haven’t already!

Situations where this tool might help:
- no sound in games
- sound is skipping or has bad delay
- cannot enable Hardware Acceleration in games
- cannot enable EAX audio effects
- when games crash with error “OpenAL32.dll cannot be found” or something similar

Creative Hound daniel_k Again?

It seems daniel_K may be the victim of another witch hunt. No idea if this is fake or not, but it came from forums@customercare.creative.com. Make of it what you will, but I thought I’d post it before I go back to bed.

daniel_k
Super Contributor
Posts: 434
Registered: 04-04-2007

UPDATE2:

To be honest, I’m a little suspicius about this e-mail, as it was not signed. 

Whether it is real or not, I don’t want to be legally threatened.

Lets wait for an official comment from Creative.

---

Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2008 15:25:44 +0000
From: forums@customercare.creative.com
To: dkbox2000@hotmail.com
Subject: Stop the redistribution of Creative software 

Hi Daniel,

Please stop the redistribution of any Creative software, otherwise we will take legal action against you.

Creative Labs
http://forums.creative.com

---

No “KTHXBAI“? I’m a bit suspicous of that email too. It’s obviously not Creative -duh?

Official Audigy Beta Driver SBAX_PCDRVBETA_US_2_18_0000

6.0.1.1360 dated 05/05/08

This download is a beta driver providing Microsoft® Windows Vista® and Windows® XP support for Creative Sound Blaster® Audigy® series audio devices. For more details, read the rest of this web release note.

Take note of the following:

• THIS IS AN UNSUPPORTED BETA DRIVER. There is no technical support for this driver.
• We recommend that only experienced users install this driver. Do not install this driver on a system used to perform critical tasks.
• Users who are looking for stable drivers should wait for the final release. When this happens, user should install the latest Sound Blaster Audigy series driver available. 

This download supports the following audio devices only:

• Creative Sound Blaster Audigy including Platinum and Platinum eX series
• Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 including Platinum, Platinum eX, and Value series
• Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS including Platinum and Platinum Pro series
• Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 4 Pro and Sound Blaster Audigy 4
• Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook PCMCIA

Added Features:
To find out if your audio device supports the following features in Windows XP, click here.
For systems using Windows Vista

• Dolby® Digital and DTS® driver decode re-established for sound cards that included decoding in their Windows XP drivers.
• DVD-Audio playback re-established for sound cards that included the application in their Windows XP software suite (For Windows Vista 32-bit only).
  Requires the latest Creative MediaSource DVD-Audio Player Beta software. Click here to download.

Fixes:

• Resolves issues of intermittent and random application/system crash when playing games or running applications that use EAX®, DirectSound®, OpenAL and/or ASIO features.
• Resolves issue of system crash when running DTM - Device Path Exerciser test in Windows Vista 64-bit.
• Resolves issue of volume mapping leading to very soft volume level in systems using Windows Vista with Service Pack 1.
• Resolves issue with distortion and noise occuring in systems with 4 GB of RAM or greater.
• Resolves issue with OpenAL playback of multichannel formats.
• Resolves issue of system crash when performing immediate system shutdown after exiting Battlefield 2.
• Optimizations to OpenAL to improve performance in Unreal Tournament 3, DiRT, and other games.

Known Issues:

• Applications from the original Sound Blaster Audigy CD will not work with this download on Windows Vista. 
• Users are advised to use Audio Console included in this download to change speaker configurations.
• Gameport is not supported in Windows Vista and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition.
• 6.1 speaker mode is not supported by Windows Vista.
• No analog audio output in Windows XP due to “Digital Output Only” setting enabled by default.
  To restore analog audio output: Launch Play Control Panel, click the Advanced button, then uncheck Digital Output Only.
• When using 5.1 Speaker configuration, no audio output from the Center/Rear channels.
  To restore audio output in Windows XP: Launch Play Control Panel, click the Speaker Volume button, then click the Restore Defaults button.
  To restore audio output in Windows Vista: Launch Windows Sound Control Panel, select the Playback tab, select Speakers, click the Configure button, complete the setup for 5.1 Surround, then restart your computer.

Requirements:

• Windows Vista 64-bit, Windows Vista 32-bit, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE) 2005 or Window XP MCE 2004
• Creative Sound Blaster Audigy audio devices listed above.

Notes:

• DO NOT install this driver for Sound Blaster Audigy LS, Sound Blaster Audigy SE, or Sound Blaster Audigy Value.
• To install this driver
  1. Download the file onto your local hard disk.
  2. Double-click the downloaded file.
  3. Follow the instructions on the screen.

Download

SBAX_PCDRVBETA_US_2_18_0000 - Mirror 1

Audigy Series Vista Driver - 9th May 2008 (X-Fi Driver Mod)

Ok I said I would deliver the Audigy drivers tonight, but haven’t been able to complete the installer. So what I’ll do for now is; post instructions on how to “force” your Audigy series sound card in to accepting a X-Fi driver. This method is quite simple provided you’ve ever used Vista device manager before.

We do hope to bring an installer soon, but as always -SP1 likes signed drivers too much and Creative like to use system file protection…

Anyway please take a moment to read this article on how to remove previous installations. It’s better to start with a clean slate -especially if you’re the type likely to whine when it doesn’t work…

Anyway, enough of the hostility fuelled by VGA rage. Lets move on to drivers that might crash your Vista, but provide really crisp 24bit Audio by default!

—————————-  
Audigy Series Vista Drivers
Release Notes
Version 2.18.0000
——————————————————————————
Added Features:

For systems using Windows Vista, users will notice improved quality and better decoding features.

    * Dolby® Digital and DTS® driver decode re-established for sound cards that included decoding in their Windows XP drivers (Not applicable for products that included a 3rd party software DVD player license in the package).
    * DVD-Audio playback re-established for sound cards that included the application in their Windows XP software suite (For Windows Vista 32-bit only).
      Requires the latest Creative MediaSource DVD-Audio Player Beta software.

Fixes:

    * Resolves issues of intermittent and random application/system crash when playing games or running applications that use EAX®, DirectSound®, OpenAL and/or ASIO features.
    * Resolves issue of volume mapping leading to very soft volume level in systems using Windows Vista with Service Pack 1.
    * Resolves issue with distortion and noise occuring in systems with 4 GB of RAM or greater.

Known Issues:

    * X-Fi CMSS®-3D feature is not available in Windows Vista 64-bit.

Requirements:

    * Windows Vista 64-bit, Windows Vista 32-bit, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE) 2005 or Window XP MCE 2004
    * Creative Sound Blaster Audigy Series audio devices listed below

This setup file is intended for Windows Vista. The driver should support:

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy including Platinum and Platinum eX series
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 including Platinum, Platinum eX, Value series
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS including Platinum and Platinum Pro series
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 4 Pro and Sound Blaster Audigy 4

Supports only Windows Vista 64-bit or Windows Vista 32-bit
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy audio devices listed above.

Known issues:
——————————————————————————
Applications from the original Sound Blaster Audigy CD will not work with
this download. Nor will various applications such as daniel_k’s Crystalizer.
Users are advised to use Audio Console included in this
download to change speaker configurations.
This driver does not support DirectSound®-based EAX games or 6.1 speaker mode. (Download ALchemy)
SPDIF passthrough is supported on Vista 32-bit only.

How to install

Step 1: Extract the ZIP to your desktop. Run the “Setup.exe” file, drivers will probably still be “2007” afterwards, but it’s needed for Audio Console. To update to Driver Version 6.0.1.1360, Dated 5/9/2008, you now need to manually update through Windows Device manager.

Step 2: Update Driver Through Device Manager

Step 3: “Let Me Pick From A List Of Device Drivers On My Comuter”

Step 4: Select “Have Disk” and navigate to the directory where you have the drivers extracted to, C:\Users\GoatSoup\Desktop\Vista Decoder 2_18_0000\Drivers\wdm\wdma_emu.inf (for example)

Step 5: Select “Creative Technology, Ltd” and “Creative X-Fi Audio Processor (WDM)” and click “Next”.

Step 6: Click “Yes” when Vista warns about driver update.

Step 7: Restart and check your driver dates in device manager!

 

Download:

Vista Decoder 2_18_0000 - Mirror 1

Audigy Series Vista Drivers Coming!

I’ve just obtained a Creative Beta Driver. The driver was obviously intended for X-Fi users, but now we’ve accidently intercepted it. It would be a shame not to make an installer, tweak stuff and serve the Audigy owners!

Version 3 will offer several improved features and even address bug issues!

Added Features:
For systems using Windows Vista

    * Dolby® Digital and DTS® driver decode re-established for sound cards that included decoding in their Windows XP drivers (Not applicable for products that included a 3rd party software DVD player license in the package).
    * DVD-Audio playback re-established for sound cards that included the application in their Windows XP software suite (For Windows Vista 32-bit only).
      Requires the latest Creative MediaSource DVD-Audio Player Beta software. Click here to download.

Fixes:

    * Resolves issues of intermittent and random application/system crash when playing games or running applications that use EAX®, DirectSound®, OpenAL and/or ASIO features.
    * Resolves issue of volume mapping leading to very soft volume level in systems using Windows Vista with Service Pack 1.
    * Resolves issue with distortion and noise occuring in systems with 4 GB of RAM or greater.

Known Issues:

    * X-Fi CMSS®-3D feature is not available in Windows Vista 64-bit.

Expect Links this afternoon sometime…..

Creative X-Fi / Audigy Speakers Resets To 2 Speaker After Restart Fix

I’m still seeing a lot of Vista people still complaining that their speakers reset to 2 channel. This problem is very annoying, because it means setting speakers back to multispeaker after every restart.

Thankfully, this is a really easy problem to fix.

• Visit Control Panel (viewed control panel home, not classic view)
• Under Programs, select “Change Startup Programs”
• When Windows Defender pops up, scroll down to CtHelper Application (CtHelper.exe) and disable any entries regarding it. (by clicking disable button - there may be more than one CtHelper present too!)
• Set your speakers to 5.1 or whatever, then restart to test it.

 I’m very confident this will resolve your issue. CtHelper.exe isn’t even needed in most cases….

 

Good Luck!

X-Fi Crystalizer for SB Audigy Series

Warning: This software is unofficial, not supported by Creative Technology Ltd.

Use it at your own risk. 

 

This utility was written from scratch and does not contain any copyrighted code. Creative’s director of developer relations, George Thorn told me, in a chat session, that is OK to provide mods as patches.

---

 

X-Fi Crystalizer for Creative SB Audigy series 1.2.0.0 - by Daniel Kawakami

---

WARNING: Use this utility at your own risk, without any guaranties.

This small utility will unlock X-Fi Crystalizer on any Audigy card, except the Audigy SE/Value/LS.

 It requires Windows running in Safe Mode.

 

 
How to use:

 1) Install the unofficial “SB Audigy Series Installation Disc for Windows XP/Vista” (new version, unreleased) or “SB Audigy series Vista Support Pack” from Daniel Kawakami (daniel_k).

 Restart Windows to complete the driver installation.

 2) Restart Windows in Safe Mode.

Install the X-Fi Console, then run CrystalizerUnlocker.

Restart Windows in Normal Mode.

 3) Open the X-Fi Console and enjoy!

 IMPORTANT NOTES:

 This is a software (host-based) implementation of Crystalizer

 CMSS in Audio Console/EAX Settings only works with OpenAL/ALchemy

These utilities configure CMSS in hardware mode, that requires OpenAL or ALchemy. Disable CMSS to avoid conflicts with X-Fi CMSS-3D.

 In software mode, used by Windows Vista, use the X-Fi Console to enable X-Fi CMSS-3D.

X-Fi Console

Provides the following audio enhancements:

- EAX effects
- X-Fi CMSS-3D
- X-Fi Crystalizer

These enhancements only work with the Windows Vista audio system, that uses software processing and don’t work with OpenAL and ALchemy.

When using X-Fi CMSS-3D, disable CMSS in Audio Console/EAX Settings to avoid conflicts.

 *** There were some bugs in the previous version.

*** To install this new version, you must remove everything, including the driver, applications, “Creative” folders in “Program Files” and all registry entries.

 The X-Fi Console is just the “X-Fi Audio Console” renamed to co-exist with the Audigy Audio Console and the unnecessary tabs were removed.

Without the CrystalizerUnlocker, it does nothing, so it was not “cracked”.

X-Fi Console and its files are property of Creative Technology Ltd.

Download: Crystalizer Unlocker (19.4 Kb)

                 X-Fi Console 2.50.11 (5.78 Mb)

 

“Beefy Bass Has Returned”

In practice, the Crystalizer is a dedicated, dynamic equalizer (Exciter). Its main function is to enhance the high and low frequencies of the input audio. Other functions include modifying a certain range of frequencies in order to achieve better perceived sound quality on a wider array of equipment such as headphones and speakers, and also to digitally increase the volume by about 3db. The Crystalizer emphasis can be adjusted between 0-100% when enabled, however even at 0% the audio is still processed partially. As a consequence of enabling the Crystalizer, the original signal is altered, and whether the result improves upon the original audio is purely a matter of perception and can depend on the type of audio being played.

Creative ALchemy 1.10.01 Available

This download is an application for Creative Sound Blaster® X-Fi™ and Sound Blaster Audigy® series of audio devices. It restores 3D audio and EAX® effects for certain DirectSound®3D games in Microsoft® Windows Vista®. For more details, read the rest of this web release note.

This download supports the following audio devices only:

* Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Pro
* Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty® Pro
* Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty
* Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty Champion Series
* Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum
* Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer
* Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic
* Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio
* Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Notebook
* Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 4
* Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro
* Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum
* Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook
* Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS
* Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Video Editor
* Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS SE
* Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum EX
* Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum
* Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2
* Creative USB Sound Blaster Audigy 2 NX
* Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Value
* Creative Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum EX
* Creative Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum
* Creative Sound Blaster Audigy
* Creative Sound Blaster Audigy LS

Fixes:

* Enables the DirectSound3D game audio to be processed by your Sound Blaster X-Fi to deliver EAX effects, 3D audio spatialization, sample rate conversion and hardware audio mixing. Without this, most DirectSound3D games will be reduced to stereo output without any EAX effects.
* Resolves issues with some games if Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is installed.

Requirements:

* Microsoft Windows Vista 64-bit or Windows Vista 32-bit
* Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi or Sound Blaster Audigy audio device listed above

Notes:

* Do not install this application if you do not play DirectSound3D games in Windows Vista.
* To find out more about Creative ALchemy or view the list of DirectSound3D games supported, click here.
* To install the application
1. Download the ALMY_PCVTAPP_LB_1_10_01.exe file onto your local hard disk.
2. Close all other Windows applications.
3. Double-click the downloaded file.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen.

Download Link 1

 

Creative “Offer” ALchemy Refunds For Audigy Owners!

I really couldn’t believe this post on the Creative user forums. It looks as if Audigy owners may finally be getting heard. It’s called an “offer”. It’s as close to an apology as we are going to get I’m afraid.

Hello Soundblaster forum users,

I have an update for ALchemy for Audigy users. The same rules Cat mentioned apply, keep the discussion constructive and in the Feedback Thread please.

_______________

Creative has reviewed the discussions concerning ALchemy for Audigy on this forum and others. A new free version of the ALchemy application for Audigy owners will be released in the week of May 19th. Audigy owners that have already purchased ALchemy are being offered a refund of the purchase price of $9.99. To request a refund, please visit here. Complete the email form specifying the email address you used to purchase ALchemy For Audigy. The refund will be made to the credit card that was used for the original purchase. Please allow 30 days for the refund to take place. This offer is valid until 30th June.

The ALchemy application is being provided independent of the drivers, as it is not a driver. The new version of the application works with both X-Fi and Audigy products, and we have added additional updates relating to some popular games that behave differently on the X-Fi chipset as compared to the Audigy chipset. We would suggest you download the latest version from CREATIVE.COM when it becomes available.

Thank You.
The Soundblaster Team.

Forum Moderator
Creative Labs

So there we have it. If you purchased Alchemy from the Creative online store you are entitled to a full refund. You need to do it fast, because the “offer” ends 30th June 2008.

I personally welcome this move. Customers shouldn’t have to buy their features back simply because a new operating system arrives. I refuse to be persuaded in to buying an X-Fi until I see a company worth buying from. I don’t understand why the “offer” can’t last longer either.

I was sold my Audigy cards based on their high end features and luxurious glossy advertisements. Maybe they should have government health style warnings that state “the support is only valid for 90 days and is usually automated”.

Yes, I welcome the move -it’s a step in the right direction.
Shame they can’t “offer” working official drivers yet.

 

“Most people downloaded ALchemy Universal anyway”.

X-Fi Vista Support Pack v2.15.0004 Driver SBXF_VTDRV_LB_2_15_0004A

Quite a few people have contacted me asking about the Sound Blaster X-Fi Vista Support Pack v2.15.0004. The SBXF_VTDRV_LB_2_15_0004A driver seems to have vanished from the internet without trace. I know you X-Fi noobs are eager to get your hands on them, and maybe if I post it - you’ll stop asking.

Big thanks virtualex for the heads up, and daniel_k for the fixes.

< Compiled on Feb 13 2008 by Daniel Kawakami >

Supports both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Vista (including Service Pack 1)

Supports all X-Fi cards with a Hardware CA20K DSP chipset (OEM / Retail models)

Does NOT support the following OEM / Retail models:

- Host / software-based cards including X-Fi Xtreme Audio PCI and PCI-E
- any external X-Fi soundcards

This setup program will install the following items:

- Audigy series driver 2.15.0004.4
- APO Interface Module 1.30.00
- Audio Console 2.50.10
- MediaSource DVD-Audio Player 2.00.76
- SoundFont Bank Manager 3.20.20

Exclusive features in this unofficial driver:

- Dolby/DTS decoder (working on 32-bit/64-bit, requires Windows Vista Service Pack 1)
- DVD Audio (32-bit only)
- Hardware MIDI synthesizer (includes 2Mb, 4Mb and 8Mb SoundFont banks)

Release notes / Known issues:

- Windows Security warning during driver installation
When prompted with “Windows can’t verify the publisher of this driver software”, choose “Install this driver software anyway”.

- WaveRT Pull Mode enabled by default
Does not seem to cause any problems, but if you ever need to disable it, follow these steps:

• run the Registry Editor (Regedit) and open the following registry tree:
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class
• Select Search (or press the F3 key) and type EnableWaveRTPullMode, deleting the value when found.
• Restart the computer. Restart the computer.

For more information on WaveRT, access:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/devi [...] tport.mspx [...] Http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/devi tport.mspx

- MediaSource DVD-Audio Player does not support the 64-bit edition of Windows Vista

- Built-in Decoder (Built-in Decoder (requires Windows Vista Service Pack 1)
To use the built-in decoder, make sure it is enabled in Audio Console.

Select “SPDIF Out (Creative SB Audigy (WDM))” as the output device of Select “SPDIF Out (Creative SB Audigy (WDM))” as the output device of your player and then configure the AC3/DTS filter to send the stream through SPDIF.
When you restart your computer, the Tone settings (Bass and Treble) may not be applied. Just readjust one of the controls one time per boot.

- Windows Vista MIDI Device Configuration Utility
Use this utility to change the MIDI playback device for 32-bit and 64-bit applications.
The driver installer automatically selects the first hardware MIDI synthesizer found.

All files are property of Creative Labs, Inc.

Copyright (c) 2007 Creative Technology Ltd. All rights reserved.

Download
Mirror 1 (Rapidshare) - SBXF_VTDRV_LB_2_15_0004A -38.3 MB (40,230,029 bytes)
Mirror 2 (MediaFire) - SBXF_VTDRV_LB_2_15_0004A -38.3 MB (40,230,029 bytes)