After what seems like a decade, Creative finally release the DDL pack for Audigy series. What’s more interesting, they claim it will work in 64bit applications. This seems laughable to me. I’ve already discovered the ASIO isn’t working properly with 2.18.0010 drivers -so how is this possible?
You can download the files from here.
EDIT: The DDL pack does indeed work on Windows 7 x64. It takes a little extra effort, and bugs out -but it works! (Check the comments for install method).
EDIT 2: cineq has found the reason why Audigy 4 users cannot install. Audigy 4 users –check out this thread to find out how to install your DDL pack without errors.
EDIT 3: DDL pack works only with drivers 2.18.0010 (Yes that includes the daniel_k versions too)
Now specially designed for SB Audigy owners, you can experience high-quality surround sound from your PC through your home theater with Dolby Digital Live. It encodes your PC’s multi-channel audio into a Dolby Digital bitstream and outputs it from your soundcard’s digital out (S/PDIF), via a single digital cable into your Dolby Digital-equipped home theater system.
Price: US $4.72
File Size: 9.39 MB
Product description:
Dolby Digital Live enables you to enjoy audio from your PC or game console through your home theater. It encodes (in real-time) the PC’s multi-channel audio into a Dolby Digital bitstream and outputs it from the soundcard’s digital out (S/PDIF), via a single digital cable into home theater receiver system. Stereo content (MP3, WMA, CD audio or games) that is transformed into 5.1 surround sound using Creative CMSS-3D can also benefit from this encoding scheme that will further enhance the entertainment value of your Sound Blaster Audigy. With Dolby Digital Live, the confusion of multiple cables will be eliminated and the integrity of the audio signal will be kept pristine.
The real-time interactive capability of Dolby Digital Live is ideally suited to PCs and video game consoles because it reproduces audio cues and effects that follow the on-screen action, transforming gameplay into an exciting and realistic entertainment experience.
Systems using Dolby Digital Live technology can provide Dolby Digital (5.1-channel surround sound) during gameplay, immersing players in high-quality surround sound that puts them at the center of the action. Gamers hear every window shatter, feel every explosion, and experience every wipeout.
Product language
Brazilian-Portuguese, Chinese-Simplified, Chinese-Traditional, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish
Requirements:
-
- Minimum System Requirements:
- Microsoft® Windows Vista® with Service Pack 1 (32-bit or 64-bit) or Windows® XP Service Pack 2 (32-bit or 64-bit).
- Intel® Pentium® 4, AMD Athlon™ 64 or equivalent processor, 1.6 GHz or faster
- One of the following Sound Blaster Audigy audio devices (equipped with Digital out):
- Sound Blaster Audigy including Platinum and Platinum eX series.
- Sound Blaster Audigy 2 including Platinum, Platinum eX and Value series.
- Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS including Platinum and Platinum Pro series.
- Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook PCMCIA.
- Sound Blaster Audigy 4 and Audigy 4 Pro.
- Dolby Digital-equipped home theater system.
- Software
- Creative Sound Blaster Audigy series Driver 2.18.0010 or later versions.
- Choose your product and download its driver and software application according to the instructions on http://us.creative.com/support/downloads/
- Internet Connection
- for software purchase and activation.
- Minimum System Requirements:
NOTE:- There are known compatibility issues with XFX 790i Ultra Motherboard (Nvidia nForce 790i Ultra SLI chipset) with NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GX2 or GTX 280 graphic cards in SLI mode where you may experience audio distortion when using Dolby Digital Live. There is no distortion when SLI mode is disabled. Asus Rampage 2 Extreme (Intel X58 Express chipset) with NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GX2 or GTX 280 graphic cards in SLI mode, or ATI 4870 X2 CrossFire mode was tested to be working fine when using Dolby Digital Live.
No More Goat Soup 
What I’d like to know if whether Creative DDL pack is a software or hardware solution. If everything encoded onboard then i’ll go for that.
If it’s software though i may aswell stick with redocneXk…
However i’m assuming that with Creative’s solution gubbins like CMSS works over spdif?
The other thing I can’t figure out is what’s actually being outputed via digital?
From what I can tell it’s 48/16 and not 96/24, which is a bit anouying.
The little 96/24 icon isn’t appearing on my recievers display…
On top of that with this encoder installed i can’t seam to output true DTS at all any more! It’s being re-encoded to AC3.
This DDL pack seams to control everything and appears unwilling to allow a pure DTS stream past it, and downsamples everything in the process aswell.
Isn’t that what the DTS Conect Pack is for?
The Audigys are limited to the DDL pack, no DTS for us.
As for the DTS Connect for X-Fi’s under Vista – apparently that’s limited to 48/24.
Is there any chance to bypass DTS files being encoded into DD other than turning DDLive option off in Audio Console? Everything else seams ok (tried few games and didn’t find any problems)
I’ve already discovered the ASIO isn’t working properly with 2.18.0010 drivers -so how is this possible?
so what’cha thinking bout it… I am wanting to pull the trigger and purchase it, but before I do (ya, it’s only $4.72!) I wanna see what yr opinion is.
fnord0
To be honest, despite the bugs i’ve listed here ( https://nomoregoatsoup.wordpress.com/2009/03/24/creative-sound-blaster-audigy-series-driver-02180010-released/#comments ) and the fact AC3 has a 48Khz/16bit roof, it’s well worth $5 – roughly £2 over here in Blighty… a pint costs more.
I’m a bit bummed that these drivers seamed to have screwed the analogue output because I have a some 96Khz/24bit music which due to AC3’s 48/16 roof will only play at full resolution over the analogue outs, but that’s not important really – 99.5% of the time DDL’s fine.
Since the audio signal is remaining digital until it’s right out my PC all background hum/fuzz caused by emi is removed. It really is crystal clear.
I would have preferred a DTS Connect 96/24 pack, that would have been gravy, but this DDL jobby is v.nice imo.
Certainly worth it unless you regularly play back HD audio.
Here’s hoping for some new drivers that fix the analogue issues, sooner rather than later preferable.
Oh – and i don’t think this DDL pack’s using AISO in anyway.
Surely that would mean this encoder is a sofware solution.
I think this is being done by the hardware then sent straight out the spdif.
I’ve installed it.
The “Enable Dolby Digital Live” just isn’t working. I tick the box, sound stays in 2 channel.
Also if I close the Creative Audio Console (Cac -lol) the box gets unchecked.
So it’s failed for me, but I’m using W7 so maybe that’s why.
Could be – Win 7’s not specified as a supported OS…
Also, did you download the lastest drivers (2.18.0010) aswell?
Yeah I have 2.18.0010 installed.
As for Windows 7, I’ve tried running EVERYTHING Creative in compatibility mode too.
I don’t think it’s certain that Windows 7 is the issue. I know of others who are using DDL packs in Windows 7 without problems.
…then a handy search of Creative Forums shows many people on Windows 7 can’t get it to work.
Aah welll I’ll play about. 😀
awesome…
Allright! Finally got Dolby Digital Live for Audigy working in Windows 7.
ok here’s all I had to do..
Uninstall drivers. They hadn’t installed properly.
Extract the driver installer (not the dolby live application) using winzip.
Change every exe in the (Creative 2.18.0010 installer) to Vista compatibility SP2 mode. Also tick run as administrator.
Now on the DDL installer I had to right click the installer, properties. I now had to click a button to “Unblock it” (because it was downloaded from the internet). Install that again and -bing!
Since installing them this way, music and games offer dolby digital instead of PCM.
It actually sounds good too -lol!
Damn right it sounds good, it sounds awesome.
I wanna know why though there’s such a big difference though.
I’m guessing it’s because my THX ceretified recievers DACS are doing the converting…?
Are the DACS and Opamps on the Audigy 2 being used at all now?
No, I think you’ll find it’s all being processed by the DAC in your receiver now. When in analogue mode (5.1 multi channel in) the Audigy’s inferior DACS are doing the conversion. ROBSCIX over at Guru3D explained it in great depth to me when I first started “going digital”. He was very helpful, and clearly knows his stuff.
Mine sounds well better, so really chuffed. (except for the crackle/cut-out bug)
i made the plunge, and bought the DDL pack – I like it alot, but with Vista x64 I am noticing the signal having to retrain (hick-up’ing) every so often… it’s not alot, but its like the signal just stops, and re-starts again…. I think it must be the driver, but other then that I am happy with the “upgrade” =)
thanks nomoregoatsoup, I love this site!
May want to take a look at this:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhqtwbq8_380hd9gcjdp
All this started when I e-mailed CL support asking about getting my analogue output working (which hasn’t since installing these new drivers and the DDL pack).
Things rapidly went from bad to worse after I followed their suggestions and attempted uninstalling and reinstalling said drivers.
fnord0:
Yeah it’s really starting to annoy me now. From what I can tell, it drops the DDL signal and becomes PCM. I agree it’s probably the driver too. 2.18.0010 is one of the best they’ve made so far. It’s better on my Windows 7 rig, it has to be said. Glad you like NMGS, we’re happy to have you.
Tom:
That has to be one of the concise and well formulated emails I’ve ever seen. It’s pretty to look at too! They may actually take notice, but any good done will be to the X-Fi customers. I really doubt they’ll be any more Audigy drivers released. It’s sad but I can’t see it happening. Maybe next year’s will be the last….
will you release a ddlunlocker for the audigy DDL pack too?!
hsali:
I will not release a DDL unlocker. I never released anything with “added ingredients” only “repaired”. I’ll leave it to daniel_k to release the unlicensed and risky features. I’m not saying I can’t do it -I’m saying I can’t “release” it.
The DDL costs around the price of 10 cigarettes in the UK. I’m sorry but I’m not going to prison for a theft like that. 😉
then do it only for me!! 🙂
It’s seriously not worth breaking the Creative Dolby Digital Live Licensing Services.
Just buy it and stop being cheap! :p
(either that or keep an eye on torrent sites)
i would buy it if the creative site would offer me paypal payment!
you could send me a email with instruction on how to do it!
or give me a hint :-)!
is it done the same way as with the xfi unlocker?!
lol – if you transfer the money over to my paypal account i’ll buy it for you.
The e-mail associated to my PayPal account is tomdbird@gmail.com – is that all you need?
Surely you must have someone close to you who can buy it for you?
@Tom:
will contact you tomorrow!
im trying to get it without buying before!
and no, noone around me has credit card! we here in germany dont use credit cards that much!
Considering it requires online verification I can’t see that happening any time soon.
in the creative forums someone wrote that you can let someone else buy it for you!
have you bought the DDL pack yet?!
how does the verification work?!
You add to basket, checkout.
They provide a link location and a serial number.
You download, install. It won’t work yet though.
You click the “Activate DDL” icon on the desktop.
It takes you to a web page and asks for your serial.
It creates an encrypted license on your machine, only for your serial.
It randomly checks it too, which may be the source of the cut-out bug.
so will it work if you buy it for me or not?!
theres an update for the DDL pack on http://www.creative.com/cmsredirect.asp?action=4&pack=ddl
Sure in theory it would work if you “paid” someone (who bought it with credit card).
They’d have to give you the download URL and your serial, of course. Easily done by just forwarding the email…
Edit: Thanks for the heads up on the update. 🙂
could you do it for me?! do you have paypal?!
doesnt matter! ill wait for Tom! maybe he can buy it for me!
Just make sure whoever gets it for you doesn’t rob your serial. :p
or maybe you can ask your friend to buy it for me?!
He’s at work abroad, sorry.
@Tom:
can you pls buy it for me?! pls answer to my email! (benjii999)
this is the answer from micromouse on the creative forum:
“Yes, it is possible. The person who bought DDLive will be given an activation code to activate DDLive. You just need to get the activation code from the person who bought DDLive on your behalf.”
Perhaps finally I will be able to get DDL working properly on my Creative card now? Maybe my decoder will get passed a properly encoded signal? It almost seems worth trying. If I want DTS then I must buy new card? Well it sure as heck won’t be a Creative one this time!
NerdGNU:
I use my optical connection, on my onboard Realtek for DTS. The Audigy is quite incapable of decoding anything DTS while DDL is enabled.
I just set my media player to the onboard, and Windows’ default sound provider to the Audigy. It kind of defeats the point, having 2 audio leads, but it does the job.
You get two cables, and have to switch the receiver but both sources remain digital. One for Dolby, the other for dts.
@Tom if you visit the blog:
pls reply to my email!
I havent been able to extract the DDL archive, even after i purchased it, everyone i talked to cant extract it either, they get a crc error check at the end of the archive
Umm… extract the DDL archive? You only need to (unblock it in Windows 7) run the installer exe.
the archive from the website is no good http://www.creative.com/cmsredirect.asp?action=4&pack=ddl
is there anywhere else i can download the dolby digital live pack. It seems that creative are arrogant and retarded, im soo tired of dealing with them. I have a code and everything, i just need the damn installer
http://www.creative.com/cmsredirect.asp?action=4&pack=ddl
Works for me everytime I try it, no errors or anything.
http://rapidshare.com/files/216691492/DDL_PCAPP_LB_3_00_01a.exe.html
MD5: D28A72ADC0D799DD77B6AFB6813EA2DC
The link and the rapidshare executable are giving me CRC errors !
Same here, tried with 2 PCs, both failed crc on extracting either the file from Creative directly or the rapidshare one.
One PC is vista, one is XP.
That’s strange, they worked fine for me when I installed them.
Hi,
i’ve got an audigy 4 bulk, i connect it to che home theatre via a coaxial cable and a minikack/rca adaptor. do you think the ddl pack will work on my config? I’ve asked to the customer care, they says no, but i don’t trust very mutch theyr opinions.
Bear: Yes it should be fine. All the cable needs to transmit is single channel digital signal. There’s no difference between your method and my 3.5mm Jack > RCA phono lead.
Audigy 4 have install issues, so make sure you grab the DDL_PCAPP_LB_3_00_01a.exe version, not DDL_PCAPP_LB_3_00-01.exe
nomoregoatsoup: can you calculate an MD5 sum on your local copy of DDL_PCAPP_LB_3_00_01a.exe. And what OS were you running when you extracted it? I’ve downloaded it several times and had the same CRC error each and every time, on 3 different PCs running XP Home, XP Pro, and XP 64 Pro respectively. And if you can have pity on us frustrated Creative users (soon to be ex- if this keeps up) maybe you can zip up the extracted files and post it to rapidshare, or mediafire, or megaupload, etc. This is getting old.
Oops, just noticed that you did provide an MD5 sum for the file you uploaded to rapidshare (which is now defunct). This is the MD5 sum from the file I downloaded: aca594529fb87225adff6e8bb96f4ebb. Not the same at all.
Tried the download again. This time the installer executed with no error. Did an MD5 sum on it and it has a completely different value from nomoregoatsoup’s and my download from yesterday: a509dbbbdd244143946be2607962796f
It’d be interesting to compare the contents of nomoregoatsoup’s DDL installer and the one I just downloaded. Can’t imagine how many frustrating man-hours have been spent on getting a WORKING version of the DDL.
The hex value of mine is a509dbbbdd244143946be2607962796f
Works like a charm.
nomoregoatsoup: Yes, but that wasn’t the MD5 sum for the file I downloaded earlier. They apparently “updated” it when I downloaded it the next day, and now it matches what you have (and runs with no error). With that many people complaining, I’m pretty that the file that’s at the aforementioned URL is not the same file people were getting CRC errors on.
There seems to be a new issue though, at least for Audigy SE owners:
http://forums.creative.com/creativelabs/board/message?board.id=soundblaster&thread.id=139122&view=by_date_ascending&page=3
I never had any CRC issues. Glad you fixed it anyway. 🙂
…now that “DDL cut-out problem” is my next mission. That’s really begining to “upset me”.
To clarify, the working DDL download can be found here.
I downloaded this on my dad’s PC (XP with Audigy 4) and I also got the CRC error. I tried downloading with three different browsers and I always got the same CRC error. Later on I downloaded it at my house and I didn’t get the CRC error, so I transferred the file to my dad’s PC and it ran the install without any issues. Something’s up with Creative’s site.
Got a new issue. I installed DDL along with the latest drivers for an ATI 3850 and Audigy 2 ZS on my homegrown PC (8GB RAM and Q6600 with power-sippin’ OC goodness at 3GHz, 1.15v core). Tried it first on XP Pro 64. Something weird happened after I did the driver installs – system started feeling “laggy”. The mouse wouldn’t keep up and keyboard kept dropping characters (had to type really S-L-O-W to enter a password or whatever). Chalking it off to XP, I rebooted and switched to Vista 64. After updating to the latest ATI and Creative drivers and installing DDL, the same thing happened. So I experimented. Turned off DDL. System was back to normal. Turned it on, and molasses set in. CPU was marginal throughout – takes a lot to raise any sort of sweat on this box so I’m guessing it’s something related to interrupts. Except I thought that that kind of issue went away with PCI/PCI-E.
i’m wondering if it’s just me or is anyone else seeing this with Creative’s DDL driver.
Mine messes up whenever I play audio through onboard. 😦
If I have a 5.1 game minimized, and play audio with with onboard it freaks out.
If I disable DDL on the Audigy it plays normally.
I like Audigy for system sounds/games and WMP/MPC through my Realtek. Let’s hope the fix this “laggy/stutter/pausing” issue soon.
I’ve also seen the “molasses” effect here, although it was just for a few seconds while changing options in the Creative console, and only while using my bluetooth Logitech mouse. FYI I have a Q6600, GeForce 8800 GT in SLI, 4Gb RAM, Audigy 2 ZS, Vista x64.
Here’s what DDL did for me: I use my box for games with quad analog speakers in one room, and output SPDIF coax (and DVI) to another room for watching movies. I used to use AC3 passthru and I could only get AC3 sound in my stereo, and couldn’t get surround in games at the same time. Now with DDL I can get any sound all the time, but I have to set my sound to quad if I want to be able to hear all sounds on my analog as well as my stereo, foregoing the center channel. If I set my sound to 5.1, I can get 5.1 channel DD on my stereo, but my analog is missing the center channel so I’m missing some important sounds in games. I’m probably just going to stick to quad, this way at least I get “surround” both on the analog and digital without having to change anything. The center channel is not that noticeable.
If I was made of money I would just buy that Logitech Z-5500 system and split my coax so that I get the same digital 5.1 in both rooms.
I just bought and installed the dolby digital and DTS pack, activated but everytime i try to enable it says ‘the audio device is busy now please stop playback and try again’.
There’s no other apps open so i dont know what the problem is. So I’ve emailed Creative. It’s beena day already and no reply.I’ve checked that I have the required software versions.
Anyone come across this problem?
I think you’ll find it’s related to driver leftovers.
In cases like this, I’d uninstall all Creative software, restart, run Guru3D Driver sweeper beta. Restart and install drivers/software again (with driver signature enforcement disabled). This willl fix 80% of install issues.
Failing that, check DirectX diagnostic utility and possibly update your DirectX.
Hope it helps!
hi, just activated the ddl pack for my audigy 4. I don’t see any change in the control panel of the card, is it normal? I tried to reinstall the drivers but it only reinstall the ddl pack. weird.
Bear:
You should see “Encoder” in Creative Audio Console. If it isn’t there, it’s not installed properly. Sometimes it’s there, but ticking the box doesn’t function. It’s very common.
Creative software is notoriously difficult to remove. Simply uninstalling doesn’t help usually.
If you’re using on Vista, or Windows 7, I’d suggest you take a few extra steps to install.
Uninstall drivers. They haven’t installed properly. Run the latest version of Guru3D driversweeper (must be latest beta version). Reinstall after rebooting and pressing F8 to manually disable “digital driver enforcement”. This way no driver content will be blocked.
Reinstall driver software and reboot, again with “digital driver enforcement” disabled. Now install the DDL pack.
Windows 7 DDL installer might take further effort. This may apply to Vista now too.
Extract the driver installer (not the dolby live application) using winzip/WinRar.
This will create a 2.18.0010 folder made from 2.18.0010.exe
Change every file ending “.exe” in the (Creative 2.18.0010 folder) to Vista compatibility SP2 mode. Also tick run as administrator.
I had to right click the DDL installer. I had to adjust the program’s properties. I clicked a button to “Unblock it” (because it was downloaded from the internet).
For more information on removing Creative software, please see the following link
Good Luck!
hi, thank you very mutch for your detailed info, but i’m using xp, the steps are the same?
Hi, problem solved, I formatted … some times it takes less time 🙂
I don’t think XP has driver signature enforcement. I might be wrong, I haven’t used it since SP2 and I have a bad memory at the best of times.
Glad you got it sorted though. Perhaps you can tell us if it “cuts out” sometimes in XP too?
I think I’ve found a way to trigger this bug.. looks like an EAX/ALchemy issue. 😦
So far I haven’t tested very mutch the system, the only “issue” I found are as follows:
In a game I heard soetimes some “click” I dunno if it’s a problem of the game itself or it’s the DDL pack/audigy drivers.
In windows, enabling DDL at 96 khz sampling rate, I see a sort of lag while playing mp3 using windows media player.
I have a core2 E4300@3 ghz, 2 gb ram, HD4870, surely that’s not a problem of hw requests.
I just purchased the DDL pack but I’m unable to get a DDL signal from my Audigy 2 ZS through the s/pdif using a 3.5mm adapter on a coax cable to my receiver. I get a stereo signal from the s/pdif just fine but no DDL even after checking the box in the Encoder tab in Creative Audio Console.
I’ve tried several different 5.1 audio sources including AC3 and DTS content as well as a legitimate DVD playing from my DVD-ROM. I’ve tried MPC, VLC and WMP.
I’m using Vista SP1 64-bit. Could anyone offer detailed instructions for getting a DDL signal including what media player you use on Vista?
Nevermind my previous post. It turns out my receiver wasn’t set up properly to receive a digital signal. It’s working now.
Hi
I just bought DDL and I’m trying to make it work with Win XP sp3.
I have the encoder tab, but I can start encoder.
When I check to enable encoder nothing is happening.
Aslo after restart of Audio Console, the encoder checkbox is always unchecked…
I reinstalled drivers and DDL pack – didn’t helped.
Anyone have any suggestion?
Best regards
pucek, The drivers haven’t installed fully.
Follow nomoregoatsoup’s advanced install (see comment on 27th April)
Signature enforcement needs to be disabled, and files need to be unblocked sometimes.
Way to go Creative!
I don’t think XP has signature enforcement.
It’s still a driver issue though.
So I uninstalled driver, then use Driver Sweep, and after reinstallation of Audigy drivers and DDL still the same… 😦
Is there any way to debug what’s going on?
Or just windows reinstallation?
It sucks.
Bear (scroll up) had the “missing tab” problem and fixed it with a reformat.
I’d run Crap Cleaner and disk cleanup before a drastic reformat, though.
I just reinstalled Windows, and nothing has changed
ehh
I have now fresh Win XP SP3 with Nvidia gpu and Creative Audigy drivers only.
DDL is installed and activated. And I can’t still turn on DDL encoder.
Only stereo digital PCM signal is going to my amplifier (beside ac3 passthru, which is working fine of course)..
Is there any way to debug it a little more? Some logs, etc.? I don’t have idea what is going on…
I don’t know of any logs, sorry. I’d bet it’s related to Creative Audio Console somehow. You’re using the latest drivers?
yep. latest drivers, latest DDL… It looks like I just have to live with that and finally upgrade my computer 🙂 But this time without Creative card ;]
I have had no luck with my setup so far either. System is P4 2.8 GHz, SB Audigy 2 Platinum EX, Windows 7 RC. I tried with the latest 2.18.0011 drivers first. Installation of the driver and the DDL pack was without problems, but when I enabled the DDL checkbox it gave me a “parameter incorrect” error message. The selection menu on the ddl encoder tab is suspiciously empty.
I tried installation a couple of times. Removing the installed applications first, then removing the drivers, then removing the remains with driversweeper. Then reinstall; first setting compatibility mode for all unpacked executables, disable signature inforcement with every reboot.
With the 2.18.0010 drivers there is a difference that on the encoder page the selection menu indicates the spdif device, which looks ok, and enabling the checkbox doesn not give an error message, but nothing happens. When I close and reopen the encoder settings, ddl is not enabled.
More suggestions, anyone?
Ostar:
I’m getting the same issues with 2.18.0011 and DDL pack. I think it’s the Dolby certificates. I’m pretty sure a DDL update will fix this issue.
Not even the silly Creative Update thingy detects my card, so why should the Live Pack?
Anyway, here’s what I do to the Creative driver installer and DDL installer to achieve success:
I hold down F8 at Windows boot, and disable driver signature enforcement.
Make sure both the uninstallers have been “unblocked”. Windows 7 tends to block exe and even jpeg files!
Right Click > Properties > Compatibility > Unblock
Run the DLL pack as Windows Vista compatibility.
I usually extract the drivers using WinRar. I then trawl through all the Setup.exe files inside, and make them Vista compatibile and ran with administrative rights.
If I do it this way, it will install just fine.
Oh and sometimes the box doesn’t say ticked but it still works.
Thanks for the response. Oddly enough there is no “unblock” option in my compatibility tab. But I can pick a compatibility mode and administrator privileges anyway.
I decided to give up on the official Creative drivers and give Daniel K’s support pack (v2) a try. After deinstalling the old stuff I installed the support pack without any compatibility settings whatsoever and guess what – it works the first time.
By the way: during this install I disabled AVG. Now I am not sure whether this did the trick or it was Daniel’s good workmanship?
Oh well. Next issue: when DDL is enabled, the sound has slight hiccups… there’s always something left to be desired.
The hiccups are very normal sadly. I was hoping the newer drivers would fix this… but as we all now know they break the DDL further!
I’ve installed DDL and Audigy drivers countless times, and never had a problem with AVG. I’m guessing it’s Daniel K’s uber-leet skills!
Glad you got it working though, because it’s a cool feature. 🙂
Hi guys, Thanks nomoregoatsoup, this is an awesome site. I stumbled across here because I just recently built a HTPC and had heavy issues with the VIA VT1708B onboard sound chip, so swapped my SB Audigy 2 ZS into it and while I had problems with that, I at least have SPDIF out working. I don’t get passthrough of AC3 sound (only massive crackling) but I think I have to check my sampling freq through FFDShow (my receiver is limited to 48 khz).
Anyway, this site brought the DDL pack to my attention and I bought it and now can’t wait to get home and install it! To have true Dolby Digital for all my media will be awesome…more than I expected when I built the HTPC!
I have Win 7 OS so will diligently uninstall and reinstall the latest Audigy drivers (I think they didn’t install right as CVolume Control fails on start up and could be contributing to the passthrough problem?), reboot and then try the DDL pack from Safe mode (F8) is that correct, to nullify the digital signature enforcement?
Will let you know I go.
Specs P4 3.2ghz on Asus P5KPL-1600 with 4 gb Ram and the lovely Silverstone Lascala LC17-B case.
Thanks again all for the hard work and info…if we didn’t have sites like this we would all be in the dark and being fed bullshit by the corporations like…mushrooms;)
Hi Brad.
I’d try playing about with FFDShow. It’s quite complex at the best of times. If in doubt, uninstall and try with AC3Filter.
I solve my problems by hooking my Windows Media Player up to the receiver through onboard optical. I then use the Audigy for Dolby Digital Live in games, and other PC things. Music or videos get played through the onboard! It means 2 inputs on the Yamaha being used up, but it saves changing settings everytime you want to play DTS content!
By pressing F8 at windows boot, you can access the boot options menu. On windows Vista and 7 you will find “Disable Driver Signature Enforcement” which should be just as good as safe mode. I like to extract the setup.exe to a folder and then run all programs with admin rights and compatibilty properties too.
The DDL pack is well worth the money, but it’s far from perfect.
I never install Creative applications (such as Volume Control). I find them to be dreadfully buggy. I only install the drivers (containing Audio Console) and then the Dolby Digital Live Pack. Drivers 2.18.0010 are the best to date for this use.
I’d still use the VIA VT1708B for movies and music though. Nobody likes sounds missing during their favourite album or movie. The VIA part doesn’t matter either, as your receiver will be decoding the signals anyway. No quality lost there then!
Hope this helps.
Btw on an unrelated note…
Can I fit a 3870×2 in the Silverstone Lascala LC17-B case?
EDIT: nvm… it’s not deep enough. Bummer 😦
I’ve just tried installing the latest drivers + DDL, set everything to compat mode and admin rights etc.
Even after all that with the 2.18.0011 drivers the encoder tab drop down menu remains empty and if I just click the enabe DDL box regardless I get an error about parameters being incorrect!
D’oh.
Do you install the DDL pack first, then the 2.18.0010 drivers?
I’m using Win 7 RC v7100 x64 and an Audigy 2.
Hi NMGS, I am still not getting passthrough of AC3 from DVD rom to receiver, just massive crackling, I tried the AC3Filter but no change, I can use standard speaker settings but then the sound is PCM encoded by the receiver to Dolby Prologic. I think I have to surmount this problem before I get going with the DDL pack, which by the way the activation failed. I have the valid key they sent me through email, typed it in and they said…this is not a vlaid key blah blah blah. Do you have to download it on the same machine you activate it …surely not, I dloaded it on my lappy and then when I got home I tried to install it.
That wouldn’t be a problem would it>?
Thanks for any advice on the above 2 issues.
Cheers
Hi guys, I have corrected the SPDIF passthrough, works now, got info from Creative and successfully activated the DDL pack but when I enable the DDL check box I get a “parameter incoreect” error, should I reinstall, everything else sems fine, although I can’t get WMC to recognize that I have 5.1 surround thru SPDIF, I get the static (signal not being decoded) like I had before with DVD’s.
Any ideas?
Thanks again for all your great work and help for us poor PC_Audiophiles.
Cheers Brad
Hi guys, Sorry to bombard you with questions but The activation worked and I now can see the Encoder tab in the audio console, but when I click on the Dolby Digital Live check box I get an error message “CTAudCP The parameter is incorrect”
Can you advise how to fix this so I get Dolby Digital Live working, there are no ouput details in the box if that helps.
Also, further to the previous question, when I do get DDL working will WMC be able to use it? If not, I have sort of defeated myself because I set up the HTPC to run from a remote and go straight into WMC so I can listen to music, watch TV and movies etc but without DDL I’m sort of missing out. Does anyone use NERO 8 and if so, is it worth putting on and running my Media from that.
Thanks again for all your help and knowledge.
Thanks and regards, Brad
I just got this from CLs:
Dear Tom,
Thank you for reaching us at Creative Technical Support. I am very glad
to have the opportunity to assist you.
Driver update for Windows 7 does not include DDL (Dolby Digital Live)
component. Customer will need to revert back his Windows to continue
using DDL.
If you still require assistance, please reply to this email with any
previous correspondence to ensure the quickest and most accurate
service.
Best Regards,
Shu Fang
Creative Customer Support Services
Creative Labs Europe
I’ve got DDL working in Win 7 RC using the 2.18.0010 drivers.
Use Dan K’s pack in other words: http://forums.creative.com/creativelabs/board/message?board.id=soundblaster&thread.id=139702
Hey guys,
I have an Audigy 2 ZS Notebook and Vista x64. I’m trying to get the DDL pack working. With the newest (2.xxx.11) official drivers, I had Brad’s exact problem. Apparently that’s caused by the new drivers. I tried a few things, including Daniel_K’s April 2008 drivers, then finally followed the guide here to totally uninstall and installed the recommended .10 drivers. Digital outputs appeared in the list under the Encoder tab, and I could check DDL with no error, but when I closed and reopened the Console it was unchecked. Unfortunately I’m not home so can’t check whether it could be working yet, but I bet it isn’t.
So I cleanly un and re-installed the .10 drivers again (running as admin, etc) and it didn’t help. Any suggestions?
One thing I note is I see no way to actually uninstall the DDL plugin, only the activation software. Every time I reinstall the driver I need to reinstall DDL (or it doesn’t show it) and it always says the same version was detected, it will uninstall and reinstall.
Think my luck with these or any other alternate drivers would be better? http://forums.creative.com/creativelabs/board/message?board.id=soundblaster&thread.id=139702
Any help would be appreciated! I’m not even worried about passthrough really.
Also, I had no option to unblock any of these EXE files (maybe because downloaded with Firefox or it’s a 7 thing). It’s supposed to work with Vista so I didn’t bother with compatibility mode. I have UAC off but still (usually) right-clicked and ran as admin, using an admin account.
LOL I wonder why mine are always blocked?
haha I don’t know, do you use IE?
Well I came home and tried it.. now the checkmark stays on for some reason, and DDL works.. if my laptop is plugged in! Otherwise my receiver switches every second between DD and PCM. Strange…
I’ll deal with that for my but might still try those daniel_k drivers.
Any advice would be appreciated 🙂
LOL The blocking feature is part of Asquared-Free virus scanner. I can be a real noob sometimes…
The latest daniel_k support pack are 2.18.0010. The support pack is just the applications and installer fixes. These are probably the best drivers to use with DDL.
I get the PCM/DD flashing too (when the PC boots or shuts down)
I’ve also seen a lot of people complaining new X-Fi drivers prevent shutdown and sleep with DDL…
Let’s hope they update that now. I won’t hold my breath though…
Well, I got DD passthrough working yesterday but now it’s gone, only the loud static of an unencoded signal. I don’t know where I went wrong, I have tried all combinations and reinstalled software and now tried DK’s support pack which didn’t seem to install right but then I ran the drivers setup and got the console and eax etc but now the encoder tab has disappeared:(
I am about to give up, when I test the output of the SPDIF with DD and DTS they both work, on my speakers and blue code flashing on my amp so I know it’s possible but I think I will just hook up the analog mini jacks to 5.1 rca’s on my amp and be done with trying a single cable. I’ll just let the soundcard do the encoding.
It pisses me off though, why is everything have to be so complicated, the VIA onboard sound program will not install and I got the mobo for the optical spdif out!!!
Now Creative have DD Live but it sure as hell ain’t plug’n’play.
I am not to inexperienced with PC’s I have sourced and built this HTPC my second rig, but the lengths you have to go to ensure you get the experience the marketer’s trump….arrrrrgh.
Anyway thanks for all the info, I gave it my best
Cheers Brad
Hi guys, Back again, I just can’t settle for 5.1 rca, I have to try again!
Tom, I now have the same problem you have, I installes Daniel K’s support pack and initially I didn’t have the encoder tab, but I do now, however, there is nothing in the output section and when I click the DDL checkbox I get parameter incorrect “CTAudCP missing”. I think it’s related to the CDF file that I couldn’t delete before I installed DK’s support pack, I used driver sweeper for almost everything but was getting driver sweeper.exe errors trying to clean everything creative related.
Can anyone help me with deleting the cdf file, I tried command prompts but couldn’t get the takeown to work.
All help would be appreciated, I just can’t let it go until I know I have done everything possible to get this working!
Thanks again,
Brad
Okay, started again to clean and install and followed NMGS advice, got rid of the CDF file, cleaned the temp folders, ran crap cleaner, driver sweeper and Sys Mecanic Pro reg cleaner numerous times after numerous reboots and still got the message “A newer driver has been detected on your system…blah, blah and finally found after all the cleaning you have to go into device manager and uninstall the creative game port and wdm drivers again…even though they aren’t really there!
So DK’s pack is installing cleanly now and hopefully I will have DDL pack in and working soon.
Thanks all for the hard work!
Okay a weird thing has happened. DDL pack seemed to install and activate successfully, but no encoder tab:(
So messing around with AC3 filter and I have 3/2/SW output checked , SPDIF passthrough checked on CAC and AC3 filter and detect SPDIF stream in PCM data checked…and then I get DD on ALL the TV shows I have downloaded or recorded myself from free to air channels!
When I try to play DVD’s I get the loud static, and same when I try to setup my speakers in WMC, but when I play TV shows through WMC…DD is being output and it’s really good!
Do all these standard 350 MB downloads have a latent DD stream encoded in them?
Strange thing though is the few MKV files I have register as DD but only seem to be stereo. And my music is all PCM output..but I don’t really mind I just use the Dolby ProLogic processing in my amp to handle that.
I am pretty confused, but since I don’t watch many DVD’s anymore, I can use the 5.1 rca’s for that and main reason for the HTPC setup is the TV shows and movies I download so I am well happy, just scared to go and mess with anything again.
Anyone have any thoughts about what I have done?
First, I have no idea why I put my full name.. I was rushing and Firefox remembered it.
Brad, if I were you (and I plan to do this myself… eventually), I would totally cleanly uninstall the drivers as follows with the Guru3D Driver Sweeper and any others you prefer: https://nomoregoatsoup.wordpress.com/2007/09/12/how-to-fully-uninstall-creative-vista-drivers-solve-install-problems/
Then reboot and repeat.
Then finally install eithe rthe official .10 drivers (NOT the newest, Google for the filename) OR the new DK ones that I linked to (but haven’t tested yet).
Reboot, reinstall DDL pack. Hopefully then things will work.
But if you’re happy with what you have now.. leave it.
Name sorted!
Nate, Yeah I did that used Driver Sweeper 2 Beta and went through the all the steps to completely remove the Creative drivers, took about 6 reboots, then DK’s pack installed properly, no (newer drivers error) so that went well.
I am quite happy, the sound for movies and TV shows does pick up the embedded DD signal so quite chuffed. I will proceed to rip all my DVD’s to avi’s and store them on the HDD and worry about the full functionality when I reformat with official WIN 7 sometime next year.
Cheers
Hi, I have Audigy 2 ZS and got problems running DDL under Windows 7. I tried nomoregoatsoup’s method with newest drivers (xx.1a for DDL and xx.0011 for drivers) but unsuccessfully. But I got it working eventually. I simply used Audigy Support Pack from Daniel_K, mentioned earlier by Nathan: http://forums.creative.com/creativelabs/board/message?board.id=soundblaster&thread.id=139702 . Now DDL works like a charm 🙂 Thank You, Daniel_K!
Hi, I modded the files a little… Now they do also work with Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium – Fatal1ty Professional Series.
Hi, Just a further update, I have now conquered the problem of the DVD. It seems that MS have their own Mpeg 2 audio decoder inbuilt in MC so it takes over and delivers unencoded audio to my receiver which goes ” dk…dk…dk…dk…dk…dk”.
Doing some online research and messing around with the configurations of FFDshow audio decoder and AC3filter, got me close and sometimes I would get a DD stream but only for a short period.
In the end it was renaming the MP3MOD.DLL file that helped me. I was going by the advice of WIN 7 Hack MC website to get audio control handed over to AC3 and renamed this file to .bak (backup file).
Well, suddenly I had DD music playing as AC3 was doing the decoding! I was stoked, but checked my other files and found I had lost the audio decoder for all avi files in MC!
So renamed the file back to it’s original and then found that going into the registry and finding the key for HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Centre\Decoder\Preferred MPEG 2 Audio Decoder and deleting it did the trick for my DVD’s.
So I am very close, just need to find a similair key for MP3\WMA to hand control over to AC3 and then I have all DD.
Hope this info helps anybody with similair problems.
Cheers
hey there, i’ve installed the creative drivers for my audigy 2 value card version:
2.18.0011 on Windows 7 X64 RTM
then i installed the DDL live pack (didn’t but it) but it doesn’t seems to work.
i’ve installed the pack but i don’t have an activation code, in the installation it says “click cancel to activate later” that’s what i did and restarted.
should it work if i didn’t activated it? does it install any software or have a GUI?
and another thing, i can’t play DD or DTS movies, the receiver doesn’t get the signal. (using MPC HC and AC3 Filter).
i’m in need for some help please!
Shayx, No 1, you do need the activation code which you should have got when you bought the pack from Creative. This usually brings up a DDL activation icon on your desktop and you click that and then enter your activation code.
No 2, most people have had better luck using the 10 series SB drivers, such as Daniel K’s pack (quoted earlier), I am not too sure about X64, but the software is there it just needs to be activated.
Finally, go through and make sure your audio filters are working all in concert, this tripped me up, you have to make sure the right audio filter has the right controls to send the DD signal through to your amp, and as far as I know, Creative do not support DTS passthrough.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
thanks for the reply.
sorry for the miss type, i meant to say that i didn’t buy the DDL pack.
i just downloaded it from a link here and installed but i don’t have an activation code.
i figured i could use it as sort of a “Demo” and if it works then buy the full version.
so does it have to be activated in order to work properly?
can you post the link again? too many posts here I’m not sure what link exactly you are referring.
i didn’t quite understand what you mean about the filters.
i had a previous driver which was modified and had the eax console, i setup SPDIF passtrought and it worked perfect for DTS and DD.
with this new driver, only the driver was installed with no other software like HQ, EAX or Speaker Settings
Dolby Digital Live is the only way to get 5.1 surround sound from 1 cable.
If it’s enabled, it must be registered to use. It will not work until you buy and activate. You can buy from Creative, but they only link to the old version…
It will kill the DD/DTS decoding functions of the card. This isn’t a bug, it’s intentional.
On your soundcard you will find little pokey up things called DAC.
These “Digital to Analogue Converters” transform digital PCM signal into sounds you can play from the analogue ports on your soundcard.
However, dolby digital live, transmitits 5.1 over a single 2 core SPDIF output to home cinema receiver. Clearly if you have that, it will probably have better set of DAC than a soundcard has. For this reason, DD and DTS will not be encoded by the SB Audigy. Your receiver will do all the encoding.
If you don’t use a home cinema receiver you don’t need the Dolby Digital Live Pack.
You can buy the DDL license from Creative here.
You can download the latest version from here.
Hope this helps.
thank you, but i already knew all that.
i have a pioneer 5.1 reciever and 5 speakers connected via coaxial cable.
so what you are saying i could only get dolby digital with this pack? what about DTS how can i play that like i used to?
and another Q, if i don’t install this pack, i still can’t get DD or DTS from my card?
if i just installed the 0011 driver…
what if i install a modified driver with EAX console, i can change it there,
will DDL pack still work with that driver?
something that should’ve been so simple and easy is way to complicated. shame on creative, they totally blew it this time. asking money for a built in feature in the card is pretty lame. but i want DDL and i won’t buy any new card soon.
The Dolby Digital and DTS should work fine on movies without the DDL pack. They are usually encoded on to DVD, MKV, AVI etc and your Pioneer should auto detect this as soon as the content is played. If not download AC3Filter, and set to SPDIF! K-Lite codec pack is what I use, for selecting which content “passes through”.
I link my media player to my onboard (optical) Realtek. Using AC3Filter I configure for 5.1 dts direct output and DD direct output. Stereo sources can be upmixed here too.
I link my “PC” to Creative SPDIF (coaxial) for games. This avoids any dts/DDL issues. You do have to switch your receiver over on to another input for music and movies though.
However, if you want 5.1 in games (using a single SPDIF cable) – then you really need the DDL pack. This will convert any sounds being played through the PC in to 5.1 realtime encoding.
I downloaded the daniel_k support pack (which I believe is 2.18.0011) and I got DDL working. It bugs out evey now and then for a second, but the quailty is clearly better. The links in my above post contain everything.
I understand your frustrations. Most people were led to believe the card did 5.1 digital in realtime from day one…
Good luck!
…
Oh Shayx
I should mention not all Audigy are dts compliant.
Check here to see
my audigy 2 is DTS compliant because i play HD movies with DTS audio
streams for the past two years.
now with the driver i installed i can’t get DD or DTS at all.
i need to configure it probably trough the EAX console but that wasn’t included.
maybe i’ll download the Daniel_k pack.
anyway i can use my ALC885 onboard for DTS or DD and it sounds great because it’s just a digital signal so the receiver does all the work.
any problems with installing the DDL pack on Windows 7 RTM X64?
ok just a quick update.
i just now purchased the DDL pack from creative, installed, activated and restarted.
i have a folder in all programs called “creative” and inside there is only a link
to the activation, should there be anything else?
i believe i have a problem with the driver i installed because it doesn’t even output DTS/DD on normal mode like HD movies.
so i’m about to uninstall it with Driver Sweeper and install the Daniel_k pack 0011.6 that is linked in this site.
should i uninstall the DDL pack too? does it have a limited number of installations?
well another update, this time it’s a happy update.
got the Dolby Digital working in games, set me ALC885 digital output for DD and DTS in movies.
I’m very pleases, everything works fantastic 🙂
thanks to anyone that replied to me and helped.
if you need any help about it ask and I’ll answer.
what it installed:
Daniel_k drivers from here: https://nomoregoatsoup.wordpress.com/audigy-drivers/
extracted it and put only SETUP.EXE on vista SP1 compatibility mode.
installed latest DDL PACK from creative website. (same vista SP1 compatibility mode here)
went to audio console, defined decoder to SPDIF output and Encoder to use Dolby Digital Live.
now a funny thing was that there was two choices in the Dolby Digital Live “device to use” option, there was Audigy 2 and my Realtek onboard card.
i chooses Audigy 2 of course but it kept coming back to Realtek because it was first in line.
so what i did, went to Playback options, Disabled the Realtek device, went to audio console and choose Audigy 2, then re enabled Realtek device.
Worked like a charm.
Again thanks to everyone who helped me get DDL on my card.
a few days ago i almost bought a 80$ XtremeGamer card just for this.
then i googled “AUDIGY 2 DOLBY DIGITAL LIVE” thinking i would not find anything, but the rest is history 🙂
Have a nice day folks.
Glad you got it sorted shayx. It’s clearly much better quality from my receiver. I doubt there’s many receivers available with worse DAC than the A2. Digital FTW!
Hey nomoregoatsoup (or shall I say – goat 😉 ) You wrote earlier, that sometimes DD signal is lost for a sec? I got this from time to time too and it’s quite annoying. Have you tried to do something about it?
I tried to use DDL DTS switcher ( http://forums.creative.com/t5/Sound-Blaster/DDL-lt-gt-DTS-Encoder-Switcher-for-Audigy-Series-1-0-05-14-2009/m-p/527168 )but with no success. Still got desync.
Oooh that looks nice Ponton. I’m going to play with that! 😀
Update: I installed on to a fresh HDD, and I wasn’t able to get DTS illuminated on my receiver. I’ll check the Dolby reliability now.
Got DTS working at least. There was a problem – when enabled DTS, Encoder tab disappeared. I run encoder switcher when encoder tab was wisible (in DDL mode) then ticked few times enable DDL, restart, few mode switches DDL -> DTS, ticking few times enable DDL in CAC and it works 🙂 I’ll see if it’s stable.
Damn, it’s unstable for me 😦 During 15 minutes of mp3 play I got 3 desyncs. I’ll try new support pack.
Far as I know the DDL DTS switcher only works with Dan’s 2.0 pack.
Use the new Audigy Support Pack 3.1 (DanielK) and DDL will run with Windows 7!
http://depositfiles.com/de/files/9e2x9gmz9
Greetings!
Did you ever resolve the DDL cut-out problem?
After spending £15 on a quality coax cable with no improvement I’m beginning to get quite annoyed with it.
Here’s a different solution: Get a graphics card with HDMI out, and use this as a multichannel audio / video connection with your surround set.
The DDL cut-out issue has to be a driver-side issue. I don’t think the X-Fi series do it. Sadly DDL compatible Audigy drivers are limited to newer versions. Unless Creative do something to resolve the issue in the driver, there’s nothing anybody can do… legally.
I doubt they’ll be many more official Audigy drivers, if any. I’ve said that before though and more were released..
A question about DDL and DTS Connect. I have DDL and DTSC installed on my XP Home System with the latest official driver for X-FI Xtrememusic. I upgraded so maybe DTS Connect isn’t truly installed as you can’t ask creative without their spiel about you being out of their support window.
In the control panel it only says to enable Dolby Digital Live (check box) and it sends only a PCM signal to my receiver. Does the DTS connect send a DTS signal to the receiver? or PCM?
Happy Holidays – Markus
Mark:
The DTS should display as DTS on your receiver – like a DVD would. The problem resides with your operating system. On the Creative site, it says in the requirements:
Though I do recall rumours of a way to get it working. I’ll have a dig about tonight to see if I can find the URL.
That would be fantastic if you would do that for me.
Best Wishes
Mark
By the way the first release of DDL turns on Dolby Digital on the receiver and the second release with DTS Connect tho disabled on XP turns on PCM.
Just a bit interesting I wonder why the difference.
Here you go. Sorry it took so long, but better late than never! I’m not 100% sure, but I think the newer dts/DDL installer (included in the Audigy Support Pack)will work on your X-Fi too. Sadly, I don’t have any X-Fi Xtrememusic to test it on, so I can’t say for sure.
If that’s not working, perhaps try with the daniel_k drivers found here.
Finger’s crossed, I hope it works for you!
Hi guys, just to let you know, I quit using my Audigy card for audio. Driver instability gave me garbled audio sometimes, even in plain stereo. I now use the onboard audio for the speakers on my desk. For the audio at the home theater, I use the HDMI audio device. It does give me DTS or AC3 passthrough, but no 5.1 multichannel. If I want that I could switch to the ASUS XONAR HDAV1.3 Slim which can merge all types of HDMI audio with the HDMI video signal.
I still have the Audigy card installed because I need the Firewire port! (c:
heh notice how the onboard drivers NEVER mess up or fail to uninstall?
I’ve said it before, if Realtek made quality 5.1 soundcards -I’d buy one tomorrow! Oh wait a minute…. let’s not forget MSI’s new motherboard, The Trinergy. I so want one of those, MSI dudes…
The Quantum Wave add-in audio has EAX 5.0, is THX certified and has a THX enhancer with TruStudio upmix. I hear it can use Creative’s Audio Console too and is most likely very capable of DDL and DTS Connect too…
Hey why i cant able to use ddl installing the ultimate release from daniel pack in windows 7?
Its just me?
I have Dolby digital decoded in my receiver but no sound when playing music or a game!!!
Whats happening?
this installation went smooth for me, save for one item:
after installing both creative sound driver and dolby digital live pack the ‘output selection’ of the ‘encoder’ tab was empty
solution was to enable the spdif device in windows audio manger, and try again
now all is encoded in ac3, 5.1
now if it only could encode in truehd….
Hi Guys…
Super Noob here…ive got Creative Inspire 5700 digital 5.1 speakers…which creative sound cards are avalible to get the best out of my speakers….i got win 7 ultimate running???
please shed me some light
cheers
Can you help me to uninstall DDL that comes from daniel’s 3.6 pack. I want to install official Ddl version 3.00.01a but it says “there is a newer version of ddl…” and it cancels the installation. Driver sweeper removes the creative drivers but it can’t remove ddl.
I have Audigy 2 zs and Win 7 x64. I want to try nomoregoatsoup’s way to use ddl in win7 but I can’t.
I’ll have a root around and see if I can try and locate the registry keys that are installed. Once I’ve done that, I’ll ask Mr Driver Sweeper (aka Phyxion at Guru3d) very kindly to add any new entries.
In the meantime, have you checked to see if any process can be ended in Windows Task Manager?
Perhaps something like “Creative Dolby Digital Live Pack Licensing service” is running in “Services”? It might be worth killing anything Creative related in there. MSCONFIG.exe might be a handy work around to disable anything pesky from ruining your new DDL installs.
Hope this helps, I’ll post anything new as and when I find it. 🙂
Hi,
I recently installed windows 7. I’m running Daniel_K 3.6 support pack, but in my case that drivers are useless: they cause very annoing random distorsions issues…
The latest official audigy drivers work fine, but I can’t manage to install correctly the DDL pack.: in the encoder tab, the selection menu is empy.
Is there a way to install correctly the audigy DDL pack under windows 7 using the latest official creative drivers?
thanks for the help
Hey Bear,
I believe the “empty selection bug” is usually caused by the Creative drivers not installing correctly. I see this bug whenever I install a daniel_k pack in normal mode.
The best way to fix I can find, is to press F8 at Windows boot and disable driver signature enforcement. Once Windows has booted, have a go at installing them again.
You’ll probably find they’ll install better without the signed driver checks.
Hope it works! 🙂
thanks for the info, but sadly it didn’t work…
I’m thinking that the only way to solve this problem is to create a dual boot 7/vista.. or to buy another audio card (something that has nothing to do with creative this time :))
I’m using Windows 7 x64 Ultimate on this PC with the DDL and dts packs. I’m pretty sure it’s still a driver issue, possibly even a Creative Audio Console bug.
I’ve had it here several times, and re-installing always fixed the “empty selection bug” for me. Allthough we are looking at Dolby Digital pack at the moment. It seems previous versions are leaving entries that can’t be removed!
Perhaps it would be worth trying to install with Windows compatibility installer. I hear that works for some people too.
Right click the Setup.exe, troubleshoot compatibilty, try recommended settings.
thanks for the info but nothing, i tried but there’s no fuc*ing way… it won’t work.
anyway, thanks again for your tips. waiting (probably invain asd ) for some good news, i’m now using the integrated audio on the motherboard and i’m happy with it. no more trouble with drivers. 🙂
Some tips for Win 7 people:
I was having trouble getting DDL/DTS to work. These might be common sense to everyone else, but here’s where I got suck:
1) I incorrectly assumed I needed to set my default device to “SPDIF Out”. I changed it to the normal “Speakers” device and everything is working.
2) In creative audio console, I assumed that Decode > Use Built-In decoder needed to be selected. That’s wrong — it should stay at Passthrough if you have DDL/DTS encoder enabled.
Hope that helps someone!
k. SO I basically re-installed windows 7 ( x86, Ultimate) and I’m using an Audigy ZS2 Notebook card…Activated DDL/DTS connect pack and when i tried to enable it through console, I STILL Get the damn “Parameter Incorrect” Error. I installed the NEW OFFICIAL creative drivers and i can totally enable the Dolby encoding, without any errors…but using Daniel K’s support pack, NO LUCK 😦
Hi Goat,
Gotta say “Thanks” for the great advise you give. I have an Audigy 1 SB0090 card running the 2.18.0017 official Creative driver and the DDL for Audigy 3.00.06 pack in Windows 7 Ultimate x86 (32-bit), and have the same cut-out issue you mentioned above. This only happens randomly, but is annoying. Have you figured out anything on this issue?
I believe daniel_k has improved the encoding software’s CPU usage on XP systems. From what I’ve heard, they don’t seem to cut-out quite as much. Sadly it’s still very much a problem on Vista and W7.
I upgraded my home rig to a really cheap X-Fi, and I haven’t seen the issue since.
Sorry I can’t be more help.
Hi Goat,
I ordered a Turtle Beach Montego DDL with the C-Media CMI 8768+ chip for $48 last night to replace the Audigy in my Media Center PC, after reading quite a few favorable reviews online about it. And TB has a full Windows 7 32/64 driver package out for it.
Thought it was too good for $5 to get DDL through the Audigy problem free. Thanks for the help. I’ll keep an eye on this thread in case a solution does come up for this issue.
i got the ddl to work in game flawlessly but is there a way to get dts to work in game? when i select dts my reciever just keeps flashing the dts image. no sound. but i did just buy the ddl pack. creative support says dts doesnt work for audigy 2 zs. but i thought with th dk drivers it did
win7
dk 3.8 drivers
audigy 2 zs
I have the same issue with DDL/DTS encoder with latest Support Pack 3.8
DDL encoder randoomly cut-out and DTS signal is not recognized by Z-5500 receiver at all. (Sometime its just flashing)
I will try tommorow revert back to 3.6, then to 3.7 and let you know. (Not sure now what version I used before because I deleted setup file after downloading 3.8
(with previous version DDL and DTS encoders worked without any problems even with Foobar2000 with 5.1 up-mixed output trough Asio 96/24)
ohhh… W7(x64) Home Prem. – Audigy4Pro. PS: with previous suport pack version everything worked trough both encoders. I was even surprised its not affecting game performance. It is a great tool overall.
Sorry last post/question.
Will worth to try F8/disable driver signature and Vista SP2 compatibility workaround with DTS Setup file? (DND_PCApp_2_00_00)
Or it was directed for different issue and cut-out problems are connected to latest 2.18.0017 creative driver included in 3.8 support pack?
With 3.7 same issue. With 3.6 it’s all right again. Too bad there is no edit button. I’m a hell of a big spammer now
The cut-out issue is only present in the Audigy dts/ddl packs. I guess there’s a Creative agenda going on with that fault. It works great on the X-Fi without the slightest hiccup.
I know who frustrating it is too. It’s a total concentration break. daniel_k has done much work to improve this in his support packs. The CPU usage doesn’t go crazy so much with his installer. It’s better, but it still cuts out eventually.
Creative must be fully aware of this fault already. Perhaps it’s a nice motivation to buy an X-Fi. 😦
Oh and feel free to spam, it doesn’t cost anything! 😀
I have a xtremegamer and everything works fine, but, just like Hanzales, the sound will randomly cut out (only playing through center speaker){for like a half-second} and then cut back in (surround).
Plz help
Jordan
will the ddl pack give me simaltanious analogue and ddl output? so i can use open headphones as well as sound from my dolby receiver?
I have a weird problem… I dont know if its the DDL-pack or my receiver but anywho:
I have a X-Fi ExtremeMusic and a Harman/Kardon AVR2000. When i hook it all up everything plays as it should, but only for a few days (not nonstop :)). At random intervals the sound just stops. And whatever input i choose on the receiver I get no sound. Not even from an analogue source or radio. I then have to leave if unplugged for a couple of days before it works again. Reseting the receivers firmware doesnt help.
I have tried taken the lid of and vacumed the dust away, and even sent it to a repair shop but they couldnt recreate the problem.
Today it finally recovered after staying silent for 3 days, and i tried disabling the DDL pack and just played stereo through the digital output. Then i tried re-enabling DDL and there was a loud static noise and then no sound again 😦
Has anyone had a similar problem or is it my receiver thats f….. up?
No, it’s quite normal for the encoded signal to vanish. The DTS Connect pack seems to break more often too. You’ll often find that …”The Creative Audio Service Is Not Running”… which leads to no DDL licences being loaded etc.
As you mentioned, disabling, and re-enabling fixes it. If not, disable->restart->enable. Sometimes it will re-engage CMSS too. I hate this bug. I hate CMSS.
I’d guess your Harmon Kardon is fine/lovely, and the Creative software is at fault.
Hope this helps. 🙂
hey.
nice to write in here again.
I’ve re downloaded the all pack after completely removed it in the first time because i got pissed about the hiccups.
with Daniel_K pack ver 3.8 i must say it look like its a lot better.
in playing songs i get almost no hiccups. been playing music for about 10 hours.
in games i still get the hiccups occasionally but i guess this is it and we’ll just have to live with it.
now to another issue: if i enable the DDL in audio console, i can’t play DTS/DD movies trough the Coax cable. its just not possible as i understand so what i do is just get into the Audio console and disable DDL when i want to play a movie (which is find because it happens twice a week.
is there a way to create a shortcut for this action? like a CMD window or a hotkey instead of “Start>all programs>creative>audio console>encoder” and untick the DDL…
it’s a little annoyance, but still…
Thanks for any reply.
Put Audio Console shortcut to quicklaunch ;o)
http://imageshack.us/f/832/desktopgz.png/
If you want to save the $5, a simple google search for the filename “DND_PCApp_2_00_00.exe” yielded the file hosted on creative.com: http://ccftp.creative.com/Applications/AVP/11268/0xE2CDC509/
Yes but that doesn’t include the licence or provide a serial number. You can download the install files from here, daniel_k support packs. If you don’t have the licence – IT WILL NOT WORK!!!!! NOOB
great stuff !
The program comes with full warranty 60 days money back, so everyone
can actually try this muscle building system for a few weeks and see the results without any risk at all.
The 62 page Somanabolic Weight Training program that details the specific workouts you need to do depending on your somatotype (body type) in
order to pack on lean muscle mass. At duration for just a very limited time time
period, it’ll be incorporated a unique plan that will produce complete ”mirror magic” for your entire body within seven days.
New project started to be available today, chneck it out
http://bellathornegf.allproblog.com/?madalynn
videosex porn india real porn name of nancy pelosi porn video goth porn free florida laws regarding internet porn