X-Fi Support Syndicate & Owner's Clubhouse

[kenkickr]

go with a forte, thats what I really wanted. but thanks for thetrade. im still happy with the titanium.

I think I'm just going to get a XtremeGamer since I can't find any Win 7 support from Azuentech or Asus and that X-fi Titanium Pro worked great on Win 7 w/ the beta drivers. I really thought the card sounded great and can really notice the ugliness of my onboard sound now:cry:

[Mussels]

the post above just got this thread to 1000 posts!

congrats guys.


[leaves thread again]

[FreedomEclipse]

the post above just got this thread to 1000 posts!

congrats guys.


[leaves thread again]

It was 1000 & '1' posts actually.....

[Craigleberry]

Basically i just connect the proper azalia pins from 1 to 10 to get the front panel audio working ?

I guess it depends on which way you are looking @ the plug as well! Talk about confusing :laugh: Finally searching through Creative Website I found this: Hope it helps someone out as well... I am going to have a closer look at this later and if it all looks well I'll plug it in and see if it works.
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd145/Craigleberry/x-fi.jpg

[EarlZ]

Oh crap i thought i had Azalia connectors on my Lianli PCP80, it would have made it easier since the pins all separated.

[imperialreign]

damn - the email alert system here at TPU hasn't been sending me any messages of new posts to this thread . . . :ohwell:

well... win them all. the only reason why I moved to vista was:

#1 - to get with the times, more & more friends had issues with new systems running vista & at the time i wouldnt touch Vista as far as i could through the disc (which is quite far as I came 2nd/3rd for my schools shotput/discus throwing on sports day)

#2 the sexy black 'Aero' layout which stole my heart..... which is the main reason. I dont care too much about DX-10 for games as none of the games i play make use of it.

vista is a headache in itself but im am quite happy with it.

yeah - but, I'm 50-50 on Vista, ATM.

it's not too bad to use once you get used to where the put everything . . . but I swear, audio in-game sounds DRASTICALLY different than with XP, even with ALchemy enabled, OpenAL up-to-date and all that good mess . . . also can't figure out why the audio volume levels are about 15% louder in Vista than in XP . . . perhaps it's something with the drivers . . .


Got a question for you guys.... I have a thermaltake m9 case sitting next to me that has a xfi xtreme music pci-e in it. The front panel audio has Hd and ac97 plug combined can i plug the hd in and have audio on the front jacks without frizzling the X-fi????

if you can follow the instructions in post #1, it shoudl work just fine . . . unless, you happen to have one of the uber-rare XM cards that actually have the AC97 header on it - then just plug the case's front panel connector right in.

AC97 and Azalia are interchangeable . . . Intel was fiarly smart when designing this standard - both use the same grounds, and (+) and (-) feeds, so there's no need to worry about shorting something out . . . unless you have to do the mod, and potentially cross the wrong wires (of note: every case manufacturer uses different colored wires for their connectors, which means I can't give a set standard - you'll need your case's owners manual to verify what wire is for what function) . . . even if you do cross a wire, you'd end up shorting the headphone or mic jack, not the card itself (99% of the time).

the pin-out diagram is available on the front page of the thread, for both the AC97/Azalia pinouts, adn the X-Fi 10-pin proprietary pinout.


hmmm Ive never hear of a short just shorting out the onboard sound. but your lucky i suppose.

it can happen, but to the best of my knowledge, 99% of the time you'd short the output jacks on the case . . . even still, they shoudl function correctly once you change the wires again . . . it takes A LOT more voltage than what the card's header puts out to actually damage the jack.


Basically i just connect the proper azalia pins from 1 to 10 to get the front panel audio working ?

basically - make sure to follow your case owner's manual closely as to what wire is for what function . . . not all manufacturer's label the wires the same way, nor use the same colors (but, the AC97/Azalia pinouts are universal - meaning that if you have the Intel pinout diagram, you know for sure which wire is what).

the post above just got this thread to 1000 posts!

congrats guys.


[leaves thread again]

thanks, man!

and still we have this thread has the second highest number of views amoungst the other TPU club threads . . . I hope this thread has definitely proven beneficial and helpful to others out there! :toast:


I guess it depends on which way you are looking @ the plug as well! Talk about confusing :laugh: Finally searching through Creative Website I found this: Hope it helps someone out as well... I am going to have a closer look at this later and if it all looks well I'll plug it in and see if it works.
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd145/Craigleberry/x-fi.jpg


it's not too confusing, even if you're looking at the connector from a different angle - use the "key" slot for reference (pin-7 . . . no wire).

[imperialreign]

I think I'm just going to get a XtremeGamer since I can't find any Win 7 support from Azuentech or Asus and that X-fi Titanium Pro worked great on Win 7 w/ the beta drivers. I really thought the card sounded great and can really notice the ugliness of my onboard sound now:cry:

didn't see this post :p

TBH, I very much doubt Auzen will offer any WIN 7 X-Fi beta drivers, not until Creative's X-Fi WIN 7 beta drivers are more solid. Auzen uses Creative's drivers as the foundation for theirs, and without the initial support . . . y'know?

But, if it's any consolation - at least Creative have been very DILIGENT about releasing new WIN 7 beta drivers for ALL X-Fi cards, since WIN 7's first beta release . . . TBH, it's a good omen, with any luck, Creative's official WIN 7 drivers will be ready and 100% solid when WIN 7 is officially released to store shelves . . . something that wasn't the case with Vista's release.

[department76]

*crosses fingers for a driver as stable as the current x-fi prelude vista driver for win7*

lol w/e though, i have about a year before i plan on going to win7 anywho :-p

[imperialreign]

*crosses fingers for a driver as stable as the current x-fi prelude vista driver for win7*

lol w/e though, i have about a year before i plan on going to win7 anywho :-p

same here - although, I do intend to make the leap soon as it's available . . .

and I'm hoping for re-implimentation of DirectSound . . . but I doubt that's going to happen :(

[imperialreign]

and still we have this thread has the second highest number of views amoungst the other TPU club threads . . . I hope this thread has definitely proven beneficial and helpful to others out there! :toast:


I take this statement back - after double-checking for myself . . . the XSS has overtaken as the most viewed TPU club thread! :rockout:

Much thanks to everyone who has helped contribute as they can, and to all those who've come here looking for help and advice . . . I'm sincerely appreciative of how far this thread has been able to come without any real Creative bashing or X-Fi bashing, a fine example of the attitude that abounds on the TPU forums! :toast:

[EarlZ]

I have installed a huge heatsink on the X-Fi chip today, is there any synthetic / looping benchmarks i can run to put the card at max heat output ?

[imperialreign]

I have installed a huge heatsink on the X-Fi chip today, is there any synthetic / looping benchmarks i can run to put the card at max heat output ?



not exactly - audio strees benchmarks don't exactly exist . . .

the closest would be: RightMark 3D Sound (http://audio.rightmark.org/products/rm3ds.shtml) . . . you can use the CPU utilization test to stress the audio sub-system . . .

but, the only best means of stressing the APU that I know of - would be to fire up an EAX 4.0/5.0 compliant game . . .

check this site here for a full list of EAX compliant games: http://www.soundblaster.com/technology/

click on the EAX icon on the bottom bar of the flash display, when it loads up the EAX window, click on "EAX Games List" on the top bar - look specifically for games that support EAX HD (which is either 4.0 or 5.0) . . . these will make use of the majority of the features the APU can handle.

[Mussels]

now that i have a working REALTEK X-fi chip, can i make a home here?

http://img.techpowerup.org/090425/Daniel_K wins.jpg

I caved in and bought a key for it, so that i could enjoy its leetness

[imperialreign]

now that i have a working REALTEK X-fi chip, can i make a home here?

. . .

I caved in and bought a key for it, so that i could enjoy its leetness



by all means, welcome aboard! :toast:


that reminds me, too - I'll need to update the OP sometime this week with a reference to the RealTek "X-Fi" setup . . .

[imperialreign]

I'm echoing this post - Creative have release a new WIN7 beta driver for all X-Fi models, except: X-Fi Titanium series; X-Fi Xtreme Audio series.



Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Series Beta Driver 2.18.0013
Release date : 24 Apr 09

Release Notes:
This download is a beta driver providing Microsoft® Windows® 7 Beta support for Creative Sound Blaster® X-Fi™ series of 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 X-Fi series driver available.



This download supports the following audio devices only:

* Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic
* Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty® Professional Series
* Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer
* Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty Champion Series
* Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum
* Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty
* Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Pro
* Sound Blaster X-Fi


Added Features and Enhancements:

* Enables Dolby® Digital Live and DTS® Connect features.


Requirements:

* Microsoft Windows 7 Beta
* Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi series audio devices listed above




Available for download here: http://support.creative.com/downloads/?h=7



Also of note, Creative have also released a WIN7, WIN Vista x64/x86 SP1, WIN XP x64/x86 SP3 beta driver for USB X-Fi, Live!, Audigy and various other external models:

Release Notes:

This download is a beta driver providing Microsoft® Windows® 7 Beta, Windows Vista® and Windows XP support for Creative Sound Blaster® 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 driver available.


This download supports the following audio devices only:

For Windows 7 Beta, Windows Vista and Windows XP

•Sound Blaster X-Fi™ Go!
•Sound Blaster X-Fi Notebook
•Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1
•USB Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Karaoke


For Windows 7 Beta and Windows Vista only

•Sound Blaster Audigy® 2 ZS Video Editor
•Sound Blaster Live!® 24-bit External
•Sound Blaster Digital Music SX
•Sound Blaster Digital Music PX
•Sound Blaster Digital Music
•Sound Blaster Surround 5.1
•Sound Blaster Connect
•Sound Blaster MP3+
•USB Sound Blaster Audigy 2 NX
•USB Sound Blaster Digital Music LX


Fixes:

•Resolves issue of Volume Panel becoming unresponsive after unplugging and plugging in audio device while system is on.


For Sound Blaster X-Fi Notebook only

•Restores the missing Speaker icon in Entertainment Mode console.


For USB Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Karaoke only

•Resolves issue of Wireless Music Control button appearing in Volume Panel.


Requirements:

•Microsoft Windows 7 Beta, Windows Vista 64-bit with Service Pack 1 (SP1), Windows Vista 32-bit with SP1, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition or Windows XP Service Pack 3.
•Creative Sound Blaster audio devices listed above

available here: http://support.creative.com/downloads/?h=7




over the last month, Creative have also released updates for the following applications/utilities:


SoundFont Bank Manager - 3.21.00

[FreedomEclipse]

I dont even use 80% of the crap they bundle on the CD. It keeps my system free from uneeded process's

[silkstone]

Hi guys, i don;t suppose there is any way to do connector re-tasking on my card? I want to be able to use sepakers and headphones at the same time without going to the back of my pc every time i want to switch. thanks.

Edit - I might be going back to onboard after buying this card :( No front panel support, and the sound quality has gone down in comparison to on-board for some reason :confused:

[imperialreign]

I dont even use 80% of the crap they bundle on the CD. It keeps my system free from uneeded process's

True, there's a lot of crap that's bundled with the CD's . . . although, there's a few apps that aren't available for seperate download from their site, such as the taskbar volume control panel . . .

But, the majority of the apps aren't necessary - it's ultimately up to the end user to decide what's needed and not . . .


Hi guys, i don;t suppose there is any way to do connector re-tasking on my card? I want to be able to use sepakers and headphones at the same time without going to the back of my pc every time i want to switch. thanks.

Edit - I might be going back to onboard after buying this card :( No front panel support, and the sound quality has gone down in comparison to on-board for some reason :confused:


Well . .. yes and no . . . the X-Fi mode applications can switch between headphone and stereo use . . . but only if you have the X-Fi front panel drive. Otherwise, the card's don't recognize when headphones are plugged into the front panel connector.

Although, you can manually go into the console launcher and switch between speakers and headphones, and then only have to unplug the headset from the front panel connection.

BW, which card did you purchase? It's rather unusual for the audio quality to be better with onboard than with a stand-alone sound card.

[imperialreign]

Creative have recently released a new WIN 7 beta driver for the Titanium series, version 2.17.0007, available here: http://support.creative.com/downloads/?h=7


Release notes:

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 X-Fi Titanium series driver available.


This download supports the following audio devices only:

•Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty® Champion Series
•Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series
•Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Professional Audio
•Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium


Added Features and Enhancements:

•Enables Dolby® Digital Live and DTS® Connect features.
•Implements new workaround to improve compatibility issues with NVIDIA® graphics cards running in dual SLI™ configuration.


Requirements:

•Microsoft Windows 7 Beta
•Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium series audio devices listed above

[Wile E]

Ok guys, I'm tossing up between 2 cards. X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro, or Auzen X-Fi Forte. Leaning towards the Forte, unless there is something I'm missing concerning possible missing features or shortcomings.

[Mussels]

Ok guys, I'm tossing up between 2 cards. X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro, or Auzen X-Fi Forte. Leaning towards the Forte, unless there is something I'm missing concerning possible missing features or shortcomings.

god, go the forte. dont let anyone tell you otherwise. avoid creative and its shoddy drivers forever and ever.

[Wile E]

god, go the forte. dont let anyone tell you otherwise. avoid creative and its shoddy drivers forever and ever.

Well, the Auzen drivers are based on Creative, iirc. Unless that changed, of course.

[Mussels]

Well, the Auzen drivers are based on Creative, iirc. Unless that changed, of course.

but at least they get updated, and they dont suffer as many crippling bugs.

[eidairaman1]

I believe the Auzentech Driver support is better than CL anymore these days.

[imperialreign]

but at least they get updated, and they dont suffer as many crippling bugs.

Creative have been a lot more vigilant about updating their drivers and applications the last 6 months - just reviewing the latter half of this thread will show that. There have been more updates in the last 6 months, then there have been in the last 2 years . . . it seems Creative are actually trying to turn themselves around . . . hell, there's even been constant WIN 7 beta drivers released for all the cards, ensuring solid drivers for when WIN 7 hits retail shelves.

As well, I haven't seen as many driver issues pop up from users, either - even with the Vista drivers and the WIN 7 beta drivers . . .



That being sai, I'd still go the Forte - it has slightly better audio output quality, on top of the native PCI-E X-Fi APU (which, from my testing with the Titanium, reduces CPU usage down to 0%-0.5%, even with intensive EAX/DirectSound 3D/OpenAL calls).

Auzen get the basis for their drivers from Creative, and do their own tweaks and such. Although, if you do have issues, Auzen's tech support is still better than Creative's ATM.

[kenkickr]

I've been interested in the Forte but I can't find any Win 7 x64 support from them. When I had my X-fi Titanium Pro the beta Win 7 driver worked really well.

[silkstone]

BW, which card did you purchase? It's rather unusual for the audio quality to be better with onboard than with a stand-alone sound card.

I have an audigy value running with X-Fi Xtreme drivers. I know it's low end, but i still expected an improvement.

[imperialreign]

I've been interested in the Forte but I can't find any Win 7 x64 support from them. When I had my X-fi Titanium Pro the beta Win 7 driver worked really well.

yeah - the beta WIN 7 drivers don't specify x64 or x86 support . . .

then again - seeing as how most of the official OS driver releases aren't specific to x64 or x86 (meaning, the driver package includes support for both), you could always attempt to install one of the WIN 7 beta drivers and see if it works . . .


I have an audigy value running with X-Fi Xtreme drivers. I know it's low end, but i still expected an improvement.

TBH, it doesn't surprise me too much . . . the Audigy Value uses a Creative chipset - not one of the EMU processors like the rest of the Audigy series. Literally, the DSP on the Value is about on-par with 90% of modern onboard chipsets.

The card is simply showing it's age is all . . .

[freaksavior]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9180414&st=rocketfish&lp=8&type=product&cp=1&id=1218047305021

hmmm

[imperialreign]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9180414&st=rocketfish&lp=8&type=product&cp=1&id=1218047305021

hmmm

WTF, Batman?! :wtf:

[freaksavior]

http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/9180/9180414_sb.jpg
http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/9180/9180414_ra.jpg

yeah.. i wonder if its any good

[Wile E]

http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/9180/9180414_sb.jpg
http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/9180/9180414_ra.jpg

yeah.. i wonder if its any good

It's just software based X-Fi, I'm willing to bet. Only goes up to EAX4.

[kenkickr]

Looks alot like a X-Fi Xtreme Audio...CRAP!!

I'd go for this, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102028. It's OEM but much better for the price.

[freaksavior]

Looks alot like a X-Fi Xtreme Audio...CRAP!!

I'd go for this, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102028. It's OEM but much better for the price.

i'd go with

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132005&Tpk=xonar%20d2x

that what i have now, if the rocketfish was anygood i was going to get it for my htpc

[Wile E]

Honestly, the SonarD2 was another option I was considering. It's a tough choice between it and the Forte.

[freaksavior]

xonar you mean? or you mean a creative card?

[Wile E]

xonar you mean? or you mean a creative card?

Meant XonarD2X vs Forte. Tough choice. Forte is a little cheaper, and from a brand known to be audiophile quality, tho the Xonar has already proven it's worth.

[imperialreign]

Meant XonarD2X vs Forte. Tough choice. Forte is a little cheaper, and from a brand known to be audiophile quality, tho the Xonar has already proven it's worth.

Hmmm . . .


well, TBH, considering how close the actual audio specs of those two cards are . . . if you do even a decent amount of gaming, or are more inclined to "max-audio-quality" entertainment playback (such as 5.1/7.1 DVD/BR/HD-DVD), the firepower of the Forte's CA20K2 APU is a pure beast . . .

it's native PCI-E, and from my testing of a Titanium, CPU load - even when running maximum voices in EAX/DirectSound 3D/OpenAL - are between 0%-0.5% . . . add in the amount of native bandwidth the card can use as well, compared to the PCI-E translated Xonar chipsets. It can easily handle excessive amounts of audio processing without breaking a sweat, or putting any stress on the BUS (which the PCI CA20K1 APU were notorious for doing) - PCI-E audio cards which use a translator chip increase the overall audio propcessing latency . . . which, it's not normally an issue, unless you're stressing the card by forcing it to process it's maximum number of hardware voices, plus upsampling the output stream, plus doing any positional audio algorithms, plus forcing a higher output sample rate, etc.

[_jM]

Can I join in with you ladies? Lookie at what I gotz today.... mmmm so sexy
http://img.techpowerup.org/090511/1545.jpg

[FreedomEclipse]

Can I join in with you ladies? Lookie at what I gotz today.... mmmm so sexy
http://img.techpowerup.org/090511/1545.jpg

thats the exact same card i have. welcome to the club!!

[imperialreign]

Can I join in with you ladies? Lookie at what I gotz today.... mmmm so sexy
. . .


sure thing, welcome aboard! :toast:

[DaveK]

Can I join in with you ladies? Lookie at what I gotz today.... mmmm so sexy
http://img.techpowerup.org/090511/1545.jpg

Man, I love that one, I like it cos it has the sexy box cover and isn't just a plain card lol. I'll get a boxy one some day :p

[FreedomEclipse]

Man, I love that one, I like it cos it has the sexy box cover and isn't just a plain card lol. I'll get a boxy one some day :p

well.....If you got the cash...I maybe willing to sell mine if the price is right. I think i still got the box around. I want to get rid of it in favour of a Xonar D2X (sorry imperial :P)

[Craigleberry]

I am upgrading the old x-fi xtreme audio next week to a fatality are thos anygood? lol

[kenkickr]

If it's the Xtreme Gamer Fatality PCI then no, I'm going off my experience. I had random issues were it would just change the channel output from 5.1 to 2.1. I tried to get creative to help me with it but that was a lost cause. This could have been an issue caused by Vista but I couldn't take it anymore and I prefered my onboard sound since it didn't change channels on me. I bought the card shortly after it came out and used it for about 4 months so possible a driver corrected this issue.

If it's the Titanium Pro Fatality PCI-E then hell yes, again going off my experience. I loved this card even though I traded for a 4850 I never used. Never had issues with it and couldn't get over how well this card worked in Win 7 with beta drivers. I've highly debated getting another one but that Azuntech X-fi Forte is only 10 bucks more right now on the egg(US) so I've really been eyeing that one.

[Craigleberry]

It is this one http://au.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=872&product=15854&listby=

[kenkickr]

That would be the one I didn't like. I would recommend the Asus D1 or D2 if you only have PCI available. If you have PCI-E available the Titanium Fatality Pro, Azuntech X-fi Forte, and Asus DX and D2X are very nice options, depending on how much you want to spend.

[pabloc74]

can i join?...

old & new..

http://www.techpowerup.com/gallery/1760/__4.jpg

http://www.techpowerup.com/gallery/1760/__10.jpg

[btarunr]

Sure, you're in.

[Craigleberry]

can i join?...

old & new..

http://www.techpowerup.com/gallery/1760/__4.jpg

http://www.techpowerup.com/gallery/1760/__10.jpg

Nice So do use yer Pc more for Games or music?

[FreedomEclipse]

Nice So do use yer Pc more for Games or music?

Some how i dont think that GTX there is just there to look pretty.......

[Craigleberry]

Some how i dont think that GTX there is just there to look pretty.......

If I didnt notice that I would not have asked him the question :wtf:
I have some goodies in my case too but I spend more time on tpu than i do gaming lol

[pabloc74]

Nice So do use yer Pc more for Games or music?

games 100%!!!:):):)

[FreedomEclipse]

If I didnt notice that I would not have asked him the question :wtf:
I have some goodies in my case too but I spend more time on tpu than i do gaming lol

that said - he could just be one of those people who would morgage his house for a pc with enough power to fold 50 F@H units in the blink of an eye & bench it a few times, then do something insanely pedestrian with it & use it to only check email.


P.S

Im not delibrately taking a stab at those kind of people, I just dont understand their way of thinking.

[Wile E]

that said - he could just be one of those people who would morgage his house for a pc with enough power to fold 50 F@H units in the blink of an eye & bench it a few times, then do something insanely pedestrian with it & use it to only check email.


P.S

Im not delibrately taking a stab at those kind of people, I just dont understand their way of thinking.

I'm one of those people. I don't game much, really.

It's like owning a really high horsepower/very fast car. You aren't going to be driving it flat-out everywhere you go, but it's there when you want or need it.

[ShiBDiB]

just put the card listed in my specs in about a month ago. nice upgrade over onboard

[FreedomEclipse]

I'm one of those people. I don't game much, really.

It's like owning a really high horsepower/very fast car. You aren't going to be driving it flat-out everywhere you go, but it's there when you want or need it.

Depends where you live - There are such places in the world where there are no speed limits on the roads so owning a stupidly fast car there might actually seem normal. the power might be there when you want it - but seriously, how long is it before you either sell/giveaway/demote it to backup machine before you actually able to use even 80% of its potential?? Because if you got money, your gonna hop on the next big thing that comes up no mattar what & it just goes to waste.

but obviously if you have a ton of money then you wont have to worry about 2moro,

[Wile E]

Depends where you live - There are such places in the world where there are no speed limits on the roads so owning a stupidly fast car there might actually seem normal. the power might be there when you want it - but seriously, how long is it before you either sell/giveaway/demote it to backup machine before you actually able to use even 80% of its potential?? Because if you got money, your gonna hop on the next big thing that comes up no mattar what & it just goes to waste.

but obviously if you have a ton of money then you wont have to worry about 2moro,

I don't really have a ton of money either. I just save up for these things. I'd already have a 965XE i7 if I was rich. It's not about money, or practicality. It's about the pure desire of owning it. I like having a fast machine, even if it goes under utilized 95% of the time, it's there for the 5% I need the speed.

I used to be the same with my cars as well, but I found the computer to be a little more manageable from a money perspective. If I made enough money, I'd have a 1000+HP daily driver for a car as well. Again, practicality be damned, it's a passion for speed and or power.

[imperialreign]

Creative have recently released a new WIN 7 beta driver for the Xtreme Audio PCIseries, version 1.04.0090

Release Notes:

This download is a beta driver providing Microsoft® Windows® 7 Beta support for Creative Sound Blaster® X-Fi™ Xtreme Audio. 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 X-Fi Xtreme Audio driver available.


This download supports the following audio devices only:


Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio



Added Features or Enhancements:


Improves compatibility of the driver and bundled applications with Windows 7 Beta.



Requirements:


Microsoft Windows 7 Beta

[imperialreign]

I don't really have a ton of money either. I just save up for these things. I'd already have a 965XE i7 if I was rich. It's not about money, or practicality. It's about the pure desire of owning it. I like having a fast machine, even if it goes under utilized 95% of the time, it's there for the 5% I need the speed.

I used to be the same with my cars as well, but I found the computer to be a little more manageable from a money perspective. If I made enough money, I'd have a 1000+HP daily driver for a car as well. Again, practicality be damned, it's a passion for speed and or power.



I agree, I'm about the same in both aspects - the full extent of my rig's power is rarely used . . . but, when I need it, it's nice to have that processing power there for any aspect - be it CPU intensive, GPU intensive, APU intensive, etc.

Same goes for my cars . . . although, I must say as well that if I did have something more powerful, I'd probably be in trouble a lot more than I already am :p

[Craigleberry]

I have been busy lately missed out on all of them interesting post's above this one.

I have been realy busy "checking my email" on my gaming computer :p

[FreedomEclipse]

Ive lost my Creative DDL license key & I cant find it anywhere. does anyone know if its possible to back the key up or if theres a way to see the key in the license profiles or something?? I dred having to contact Creative CC about it. but when i get the money Im definitely gonna get a different sound card

[imperialreign]

Ive lost my Creative DDL license key & I cant find it anywhere. does anyone know if its possible to back the key up or if theres a way to see the key in the license profiles or something?? I dred having to contact Creative CC about it. but when i get the money Im definitely gonna get a different sound card


I'm honestly not sure, man . . . :confused:

[FreedomEclipse]

XFi http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/files/2007/doomed.jpg

[Craigleberry]

I got me a xtreme gamer now yay

[imperialreign]

Creative have released a new driver for the PCI X-Fi lineup (which excludes the Titanium series and the Xtreme Audio series) for Win XP x86/x64, Vista x86/x64, WIN 7 x86/x64. New driver version 2.18.0013.

NOTE: This driver version is the first non-beta (read: official) WIN 7 supported driver release - as well as support for all current MS OSes, both 32-bit and 64-bit. Creative's support download page can be found here: http://support.creative.com/Products/Products.aspx?catid=1


Release notes:
This download supports the following audio devices only:

•Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty® Professional Series
•Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty Champion Series
•Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic
•Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer
•Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum
•Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty
•Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Pro
•Sound Blaster X-Fi


Added Features or Enhancements:
For systems using Windows 7 or Windows Vista

•What U Hear feature is enabled.
To find out the Product ID of your audio device and if it supports the following feature in Windows XP, click here.

•Dolby® Digital and DTS® 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).


Requirements:

•Microsoft Windows 7 64-bit, Windows 7 32-bit, Windows Vista 64-bit with Service Pack 1 (SP1), Windows Vista 32-bit with SP1, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE) 2005 or Windows XP MCE 2004
•Sound Blaster X-Fi audio devices listed above






Also of note . . . the OpenAL API has been updated to version 2.0.7.0 for both x86 and x64 installations. The download is available here: http://connect.creativelabs.com/openal/Downloads/oalinst.zip


Release Notes:
The OpenAL Installer for Windows will install the OpenAL 1.1 libraries, enabling support for core OpenAL operations as well as extensions such as EAX and EFX. The installer supports both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows.


DLL Version numbers:

* OpenAL32.dll version 6.14.357.24
* wrap_oal.dll version 2.2.0.5


Changes and Bugfixes

* Fixed bugs and improved performance of the Capture extension
* "Generic Hardware" device returns more accurate 'Buffers Processed' count
* Various performance improvements in "Generic Hardware" and "Generic Software" devices
* Miscellanous bug fixes

Make sure you update . . . especially Vista users!!

[FreedomEclipse]

Creative have released a new driver for the PCI X-Fi lineup (which excludes the Titanium series and the Xtreme Audio series) for Win XP x86/x64, Vista x86/x64, WIN 7 x86/x64. New driver version 2.18.0013.

NOTE: This driver version is the first non-beta (read: official) WIN 7 supported driver release - as well as support for all current MS OSes, both 32-bit and 64-bit. Creative's support download page can be found here: http://support.creative.com/Products/Products.aspx?catid=1


Release notes:







Also of note . . . the OpenAL API has been updated to version 2.0.7.0 for both x86 and x64 installations. The download is available here: http://connect.creativelabs.com/openal/Downloads/oalinst.zip


Release Notes:


Make sure you update . . . especially Vista users!!

all i can see are the Beta drivers so far, nothing about the 1.18.0013's

::EDIT::

Dont worry, i ran over to Guru3D to get it

::EDIT 2::

& I forgot to read that it 'Excludes' support for the titanium series... no wonder..... no love for me then i guess....

[Ketxxx]

I have to ask.. does "X-Fi support syndicate" actually translate to: Support for Creative X-Fi users that are/being driven mentally insane by crap official support and drivers :p

[btarunr]

I have to ask.. does "X-Fi support syndicate" actually translate to: Support for Creative X-Fi users that are/being driven mentally insane by crap official support and drivers :p

No.

There would be no TechPowerUp forums if everything you buy works perfectly or you know how to use everything perfectly.

Don't get into Creative bashing here.

[Ketxxx]

Theres no Creative bashing, just common knowledge Creative support sucks, so in a comical way to make things more light hearted I asked what I did, in the way I did. Now go take that stick out your butt :p

[btarunr]

Theres no Creative bashing, just common knowledge Creative support sucks, so in a comical way to make things more light hearted I asked what I did, in the way I did. Now go take that stick out your butt :p

Which is what I asked you not to post on. This thread is not about bitching at Creative. If you have the urge to bitch, find the nearest woman. Preferably over 50 years of age.

[Ketxxx]

You have a sense of humor bypass or something? Nevermind.

[imperialreign]

Ket, TBH, sarcasm doesn't really translate too well on the i-nets . . . and we know you've been overly vocal in your stance against Creative in the past - I can't blame bta for interpreting your post as the first step towards open bashing . . .

but, in all seriousness, I had started this thread (and mentioned numerous times in it) to offer support for issues because of how poor Creative's tech and customer support was. Occasionally I'll fire a question at their tech support just to see what their answer will be, and I'm usually given a long response that begins a process of running in circles . . . and their forums are full of creative bashers, so legitimate problems become overlooked.

Biggest reason why Creative bashing goes untolerated here . . . this thread is meant to offer help to users who have legitimate issues and are trying to resolve them.

[Ketxxx]

Like I said, just figured I would try to bring a smile to some poor sods otherwise probably dismal day fighting a Creative problem. We all know how it sucks troubleshooting something theres seemingly no answer for.

[purezerg]

If it's the Xtreme Gamer Fatality PCI then no, I'm going off my experience. I had random issues were it would just change the channel output from 5.1 to 2.1. I tried to get creative to help me with it but that was a lost cause. This could have been an issue caused by Vista but I couldn't take it anymore and I prefered my onboard sound since it didn't change channels on me. I bought the card shortly after it came out and used it for about 4 months so possible a driver corrected this issue.

If it's the Titanium Pro Fatality PCI-E then hell yes, again going off my experience. I loved this card even though I traded for a 4850 I never used. Never had issues with it and couldn't get over how well this card worked in Win 7 with beta drivers. I've highly debated getting another one but that Azuntech X-fi Forte is only 10 bucks more right now on the egg(US) so I've really been eyeing that one.

yeah I'm also very pissed with mine from 5.1 to 2.1 not exactly 2.1. vista still says 5.1 but it's either centre sound will go the right side or rear would completely disappear or front left/right would go to centre. had to reboot just to temp fix the sound. but after installing danielK's support pack 2.0 it seems that it has gone away.. still need a few more days to confirm that.

connection to speakers are analog. I tried optical. same problems. optical as in "encoder DTS connect" rather than set SPDIF as default.

but i did realized that I had that problem when I am using CMSS. when i disabled everything. it doesnt occur cuz the rear and centre isnt used for music.

the channel shift is during music and video.

[imperialreign]

yeah I'm also very pissed with mine from 5.1 to 2.1 not exactly 2.1. vista still says 5.1 but it's either centre sound will go the right side or rear would completely disappear or front left/right would go to centre. had to reboot just to temp fix the sound. but after installing danielK's support pack 2.0 it seems that it has gone away.. still need a few more days to confirm that.

connection to speakers are analog. I tried optical. same problems. optical as in "encoder DTS connect" rather than set SPDIF as default.

but i did realized that I had that problem when I am using CMSS. when i disabled everything. it doesnt occur cuz the rear and centre isnt used for music.

the channel shift is during music and video.

This is actually a problem with Vista itself, not the drivers. daniel_k's driver packs only fix this issue about 50% of the time, but I have seen some instances where other problems have cropped up . . . as well, the problem isn't pinned down to simply Creative's hardware, but ASUS, Auzen and HT Omega have had the same issues with certain applications . . .

What happens - the audio processing in Vista is moved outside of the OS kernel, so the audio calls from the software are done at the application level . . . not the hardware level. Which means that Vista technically "interprets" the calls for the hardware and then passes the call onto the driver, which can result in strange behaviour (intermediate loss of channels, changing from 5.1 to 2.1, etc.) - unlike in XP where applications had direct access to the audio system.

Strangely enough, applications that are integral to the OS once installed (i.e. Windows Media Player or Media Center) don't have these issues as often, it's actually very rare . . . and if you're using onboard audio instead of a card, the problem seems to never occur . . .


My best advice - make sure you keep Vista as updated as possible. As well, make sure you've updated the OpenAL drivers. If you can, try to research and use only multimedia software that supports OpenAL (you'll have much fewer issues), instead of having to rely on Vista's 3 primary audio APIs.


If you'd like to read some more of the nitty-gritty as to what Vista APIs do what, check out these links:

Vista Audio API overview (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb945061.aspx)

Windows Audio Session API (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms679162(VS.85).aspx)
MultiMedia Device APU (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms679147(VS.85).aspx)
Endpoint Volume API (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms678715(VS.85).aspx)
Device Topology API (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms678714(VS.85).aspx)


More info is available on Vista's audiostack on msdn - just browse around.


As of now, my best advice would be to patiently wait and see how the daniel_k drivers hold up . . . but if trouble starts brewing again, you might want to attempt to start experimenting with different official driver packs . . . some seem to work better than others :ohwell:



Like I said, just figured I would try to bring a smile to some poor sods otherwise probably dismal day fighting a Creative problem. We all know how it sucks troubleshooting something theres seemingly no answer for.


Well - we have answers here! :toast:

[purezerg]

when you say "If you can, try to research and use only multimedia software that supports OpenAL (you'll have much fewer issues), instead of having to rely on Vista's 3 primary audio APIs."


what do you suggest? I'm like using WMP and MCE almost exclusively. I gave up trying to get it to save as 5.1 i just reinstalled my whole vista and now it's working fine. now it stays as 5.1.

[purezerg]

I agree, I'm about the same in both aspects - the full extent of my rig's power is rarely used . . . but, when I need it, it's nice to have that processing power there for any aspect - be it CPU intensive, GPU intensive, APU intensive, etc.

Same goes for my cars . . . although, I must say as well that if I did have something more powerful, I'd probably be in trouble a lot more than I already am :p


well I must admit my system is more powerful than my daily emails needs. but when i need it, i really need it. I'm a photographer and i do stuff like batching 500+ raw files to TIF16.

I've got Q6600@3.6Ghz and GTX295 with areca 2Gb cache raid5 8x500Gb and Prelude/z5500. but i must say that CS4 does seems to speed things up when there's a fast GPU.

[imperialreign]

what do you suggest? I'm like using WMP and MCE almost exclusively. I gave up trying to get it to save as 5.1 i just reinstalled my whole vista and now it's working fine. now it stays as 5.1.

And sadly, those apps seem to be the most prone to the channel-changing problem . . . even as handy as they are (I use them as well).

Hmmm . . . I'm sure you've gone into Vista's audio control panel and manually set the speaker output there at 5.1, correct (there were some issues in XP between the WIN audio panel and the X-Fi audio panel not cooperating and working together)? Also, any other audio capable devices are fully disabled (best to do so in Device Manager) . . . even if the hardware drivers are not installed, and the hardware is not set as the primary output device, it can still cause some headaches with Vista - again, some of the APIs don't "realize" the hardware is not in use, and try to use them anyhow.

[Mussels]

i've never had these problems, ever. (non creative user, vista since it was RTM)

As long as you set 5.1 in the control panel and in the audio software, and you disable CMSS... you should have no issues.

[purezerg]

i've never had these problems, ever. (non creative user, vista since it was RTM)

As long as you set 5.1 in the control panel and in the audio software, and you disable CMSS... you should have no issues.

yeah, that's the issue. it's CMSS causing the 5.1 to pseudo 2.1. as i said the speakers are still set @ 5.1 but the channels are screwed. and it changes only in the midst of the music/video. have to restart WMP/MCE to resolve it. that works most of the time. with some cases where only a reboot will fix it.

[purezerg]

sigh. it just happened again.. i heard a channel change during WMP radio streaming, suddenly the woofer got a bass boost and centre became very loud. I then disabled CMSS-3D and now only sound coming out from centre and woofer. FL,FR,RL,RR no sound. enabled back CMSS all 5.1 came back but the RL and RR is louder than FR and FL.
restarted WMP and now is all hunky dory.

sound card prelude 7.1 stock opamps to z5500 via analog. X-fi in entertainment mode. it stays in entertainment mode even during games. i only play World in Conflict.

[imperialreign]

and you do have Vista's sound panel set to 5.1 as well, right?


IIRC, someone else had this problem reported in this thread a long while back - can't remember if there was a fix or not . . .

Try running in Game Mode - that allows for full hardware functionality and upto 60k software voices . . . it could be that CMSS-3D is trying to surpass the max number of software voices Entertainment mode is capable of, and it's down-mixing the number of channels to compensate . . .

Just an idea for now - I'll see if I can dig anything else up.

[purezerg]

yap. i have ensured that both are set to 5.1. actually when i set vista's sound panel to 5.1, the creative app also changes to 5.1.

i'll try game mode.

i dont see why CMSS has got to do with the voices. but i'll take your word for it. will try game mode for the time being.

[Mussels]

CMSS is taking stereo and mixing to 5.1, its simply screwing up when doing so. im sure you can imagine what it would do to a working 5.1 stream, if it started throwing the front stereo channels into other speakers.

[purezerg]

actually no you are wrong. I tried a DTS and DBDL surround check vob file. all channels work fine when CMSS was screwed with 2 channels.

[Mussels]

actually no you are wrong. I tried a DTS and DBDL surround check vob file. all channels work fine when CMSS was screwed with 2 channels.

i'm not saying it is. i was giving an example of a situation where it could go wrong.

[purezerg]

yeah i know what you mean hence i purposely waiting till CMSS screwed the channels then i played a 5.1 sound check. BUT i missed out a catch. i didnt play the 5.1 surrond check with WMP, i played with classic media player 6.4.

I'm looking into winamp for the time being.
first i'll try game mode. if it still creates problems, then i'll try winamp in entertainment mode.
IF it still has problems, i'll try mplayerc.exe in game mode. if that still fails, both my hands will be in the air.

[imperialreign]

i dont see why CMSS has got to do with the voices. but i'll take your word for it. will try game mode for the time being.

well, what happens is that there's only 128 hardware voices available (literally 128 hardware processes) - these are worked directly at the audio processor or DSP itself, on the hardware level . . . software voices are more-or-less "extra" audio streams that can be worked at the same time, but they're processed at the software/driver level . . . the number of software voices is entirelly dependant on the processing hardware available . . . what CMSS-3D does, to create the effect of sounds originating from positions where speakers don't physically exist (by spliting a processing stream between multuiple channels), it must make use of software voices (literally processing everything at the software level, not hardware).

That's where I was thinking that if CMSS-3D is trying to surpass the number of software voices it has available in Entertainment mode, the drivers might be defaulting the hardware back to 2.1 channel output to open up more software voices for the application . . .

[joey_sfb]

Hi, like to seek guy's opinions on the PCI Express X-Fi Titanium. I am tempted to this over the Fatal1ty Pro due to the $$ saving. My main use for the card is to play games with my 5.1 setup at home. Will I miss out on the X-RAM features and compromise on my overall gaming experience.

Thanks.

[FreedomEclipse]

the Fatality Pro is possibly one of the best XFi's to enter the market to date, I have one myself. however the usual thing stands in the cards way...

- Its made by creative - so expect little to non existant support & in some cases really really bad bugged out drivers.

It still has all the usual features. but now Creative have thrown in DDL which makes it a little worth while. its a great card but its really let down by Creatives support.

[joey_sfb]

Creative has a bad rep on support. I have email them before and they do respond to email inquiry. I asking them for the remote replacement part for my fps2000 speakers. As expected they don't have the part. Those fps2000 are old but good sounding and usable after i open up the remote to clean the contact.

My audigy 1 is giving me intermittent crushes and distorted sound. Which become better after i disable and re-enable the audigy driver from Window Device Manager. Still work, but i am thinking of replacing them to either X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional or the non Fatal1ty version which is cheaper...

Thanks for your reply.

the Fatality Pro is possibly one of the best XFi's to enter the market to date, I have one myself. however the usual thing stands in the cards way...

- Its made by creative - so expect little to non existant support & in some cases really really bad bugged out drivers.

It still has all the usual features. but now Creative have thrown in DDL which makes it a little worth while. its a great card but its really let down by Creatives support.

[FreedomEclipse]

If u want my opinion id say go with a Xonar D2X. Creative hardware just has too many 'anomalies' with Vista - one sec volume is quiet, next its really loud, Or it will randomly distort for no reason at all even though the audio Im listening to has been normalised/produced/mixed properly & I havent got the speakers cranked up even half way.

I cant explain why this happens, Creative cant explain why it happens. no one can.

thats why if i could afford it, id go with a Asus Xonar D2x. It might cost a little more then the XFi Titanium Fatality Pro but its a lot less stress in the long run & Ive heard no complaints about the card or Asus's support for it to date.

definitely highly recommended

[joey_sfb]

Does your speakers system has any volume dial? Creative low end speaker or most budget speakers use very low quality potential meter that degrade over time. The common symptom will be varying from low to high, high to low output volume without you touching the volume dial.

Spray some contact spray over the potential meter expose knot could help it.

If u want my opinion id say go with a Xonar D2X. Creative hardware just has too many 'anomalies' with Vista - one sec volume is quiet, next its really loud, Or it will randomly distort for no reason at all even though the audio Im listening to has been normalised/produced/mixed properly & I havent got the speakers cranked up even half way.

I cant explain why this happens, Creative cant explain why it happens. no one can.

thats why if i could afford it, id go with a Asus Xonar D2x. It might cost a little more then the XFi Titanium Fatality Pro but its a lot less stress in the long run & Ive heard no complaints about the card or Asus's support for it to date.

definitely highly recommended

[Beebee]

I have an Xfe extreme audio sound card Boston Acoustics BA7500G sound system Win XP SP3 & I can't get the rear speakers to work .

They were working fine on the audigy 1 card. The stereo setup sounds great windows is setup for 5.1 & so are the creative drivers but all I get from the rear speakers is background hiss.
The speakers themselves are fine. I've got a green led at the interface of the back of the sub but no sound at all. any ideas would be greatfully received Beebee

[FreedomEclipse]

Does your speakers system has any volume dial? Creative low end speaker or most budget speakers use very low quality potential meter that degrade over time. The common symptom will be varying from low to high, high to low output volume without you touching the volume dial.

Spray some contact spray over the potential meter expose knot could help it.

haha Its a set of Logitech Z5500's which i paid almost £220 so i hope its not low quality.

----

trust me its the soundcard. you read up or ask ANYONE else here or have owned a Creative XFi & 8.5 out of 10 people would have had exactly the same problem reguardless of what speaker(s) kit they have, - its not just 1 or 2 unrelated incidents. its more of a daily/regular occurance among some of us XFi owners & thats why people such as Daniel K surfaced, to provide some support that Creative never offerd & therefore was so quick to stamp it out.

Unfortunately - thats just the way it is.

[FreedomEclipse]

I have an Xfe extreme audio sound card Boston Acoustics BA7500G sound system Win XP SP3 & I can't get the rear speakers to work .

They were working fine on the audigy 1 card. The stereo setup sounds great windows is setup for 5.1 & so are the creative drivers but all I get from the rear speakers is background hiss.
The speakers themselves are fine. I've got a green led at the interface of the back of the sub but no sound at all. any ideas would be greatfully received Beebee

have you tried setting up the channels as 5.1 in the windows audio console?

[imperialreign]

If u want my opinion id say go with a Xonar D2X. Creative hardware just has too many 'anomalies' with Vista - one sec volume is quiet, next its really loud, Or it will randomly distort for no reason at all even though the audio Im listening to has been normalised/produced/mixed properly & I havent got the speakers cranked up even half way.

I cant explain why this happens, Creative cant explain why it happens. no one can.

thats why if i could afford it, id go with a Asus Xonar D2x. It might cost a little more then the XFi Titanium Fatality Pro but its a lot less stress in the long run & Ive heard no complaints about the card or Asus's support for it to date.

definitely highly recommended

TBH, it's not just Creative's hardware that has issues with Vista . . .

But, sadly, it's not really the problem of the hardware in-so-much as it's a problem with the OS. :banghead:

Thing is, as many people as there are that report problems with Creative's hardware, there's just as many that report everything works fine (myself included) . . . honestly, I've come to the conclusion a long while back that it's not so much an issue with the drivers or hardware, as the majority of the time it's an issue of users who don't know any better - really, Creative's hardware are really the only audio cards available everywhere, from Wal-Mart to Best Buy, and to online retailers . . . at these kinds of stores, you don't see any kind of audio card more "top tier" than Creative . . . which means the vast majority of Creative owners fall into the same rung of people you see using the majority of OEM systems . . . that is, the vast majority of people using their computer don't know much other than where the power switch is . . .

When it comes to the ASUS and Auzen regulars, the majority of owners have at least a minimal amount of tech-awareness, and know that your onboard sound needs to be disabled - that you should remove all other manufacturer's drivers and software, that things need to stay updated, etc . . .

Look specifically at Auzen owners and their hardware, for comparision, to Creative owners and hardware . . . you'll find it rather strange that X-Fi equipped Auzen cards (which the base drivers for are written by Creative for Auzen) tend to not have the same repeat problems and issues as Creative's cards do . . . even though the base drivers and software are 95% the same . . .

. . . it's just a drastically different customer base.


Creative has a bad rep on support. I have email them before and they do respond to email inquiry. I asking them for the remote replacement part for my fps2000 speakers. As expected they don't have the part. Those fps2000 are old but good sounding and usable after i open up the remote to clean the contact.

My audigy 1 is giving me intermittent crushes and distorted sound. Which become better after i disable and re-enable the audigy driver from Window Device Manager. Still work, but i am thinking of replacing them to either X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional or the non Fatal1ty version which is cheaper...

Thanks for your reply.


Honestly . . . regarding the Titanium lineup . . . I'd opt for the Fatal1ty - it's a little beefier on the hardware side, and also sports a fully-functional EMI shield (which can make a big difference if you have some high-end GPUs or CPU, or if you use WiFi).

I have an Xfe extreme audio sound card Boston Acoustics BA7500G sound system Win XP SP3 & I can't get the rear speakers to work .

They were working fine on the audigy 1 card. The stereo setup sounds great windows is setup for 5.1 & so are the creative drivers but all I get from the rear speakers is background hiss.
The speakers themselves are fine. I've got a green led at the interface of the back of the sub but no sound at all. any ideas would be greatfully received Beebee

double check WIN audio control panel - make sure WIN is set to 5.1 - as well as the Console Launcher . . .

CP has a nasty habit of not cooperating with Creative's software . . . even if you have the box "synch with control panel" checked, XP doesn't always update your speaker configuration, volume settings, hardware mode, or other stuff.


haha Its a set of Logitech Z5500's which i paid almost £220 so i hope its not low quality.

----

trust me its the soundcard. you read up or ask ANYONE else here or have owned a Creative XFi & 8.5 out of 10 people would have had exactly the same problem reguardless of what speaker(s) kit they have, - its not just 1 or 2 unrelated incidents. its more of a daily/regular occurance among some of us XFi owners & thats why people such as Daniel K surfaced, to provide some support that Creative never offerd & therefore was so quick to stamp it out.

Unfortunately - thats just the way it is.



Like I mentioned just above, 90% of the time with XP specifically, the channel loss is due to the XP audio control panel not updating to whatever changes are made in Creative's console launcher . . .

and, sadly, X-Fi driver releases haven't been able to address it - the most recent drivers helped some, but only when changing from headphone to 2.1 - all other speaker configs still have the same issue of XP not following the updated settings . . .

not really sure if it's an OS issue, or a driver issue, as daniel_k's drivers never fixed this problem, either . . .

[joey_sfb]

Another thing to check is the interrupt channel sharing that could be view by Device Manager->view under I/O resources. They will list what's device is using which interrupt. My audigy 1 used to have some clicks...pops..., i found out that its sharing interrupt 16 with one of the usb hub... and since i don't use it that usb hub, i disable it than uninstall the audigy 1 driver and reinstall it. The clicks and pops disappeared.

If your sound card is sharing with a device that you need to use move your sound card or that device to other i/o slot. This normally solve my clicks..pops problem.
The reason is quite simple, audio continuous data stream can't be interrupt unlike other data stream. Dedicated interrupt is still the best for them.

X-Fi PCI-Express version claim to resolve that problem but i am not betting on it as this is not the first claim.

haha Its a set of Logitech Z5500's which i paid almost £220 so i hope its not low quality.

----

trust me its the soundcard. you read up or ask ANYONE else here or have owned a Creative XFi & 8.5 out of 10 people would have had exactly the same problem reguardless of what speaker(s) kit they have, - its not just 1 or 2 unrelated incidents. its more of a daily/regular occurance among some of us XFi owners & thats why people such as Daniel K surfaced, to provide some support that Creative never offerd & therefore was so quick to stamp it out.

Unfortunately - thats just the way it is.

[joey_sfb]

Honestly . . . regarding the Titanium lineup . . . I'd opt for the Fatal1ty - it's a little beefier on the hardware side, and also sports a fully-functional EMI shield (which can make a big difference if you have some high-end GPUs or CPU, or if you use WiFi).

At SG, creative's home country their Titanium is $142 while their Fatal1ty is $229, quite a lot of different in price for a boost in x-ram from 16mb to 64mb and the EMI shield.

To you know whether there is a DAC upgrade for the Fatal1ty version?

[imperialreign]

At SG, creative's home country their Titanium is $142 while their Fatal1ty is $229, quite a lot of different in price for a boost in x-ram from 16mb to 64mb and the EMI shield.

To you know whether there is a DAC upgrade for the Fatal1ty version?

that's an insane price difference . . . but, I'm not sure how it compares to the US . . .

Anyhow, there's no difference in the DAC. Honestly, except for the Xtreme Gamer and the Elite Pro - all Creative X-Fi cards use the same DAC, ADC, OPAMPs, MOSFETs, capacitors, V regulators, etc.

[Beebee]

have you tried setting up the channels as 5.1 in the windows audio console?

Yes its setup as 5.1 in both. As is usual with Creative Drivers it might tell you that its setting things in Windows but you allways have to open up the volume control advanced settings & tick the digital output only box before you get any sound at all. Then advanced audio Properties/ speaker setup/ 5.1 surround speakers. I've also set it up as 5.1 in the creative Audio Console as well

I've been looking at the rather limited manual that came with this card and there is no mention of support for 5.1 audio anywhere in it. I thought the Bostons would work through the Digital I/O link but so far no luck.

I was thinking about the gamer version of the card but I supect the I might have the same problems with it. The use of a minijack to connect the soundcard to 5.1 speaker systems was I think, a Creative standard, all the way back to the Live 5.1.
The first version of the live card needed a breakout card for digital out, but sense then all Creative cards have more or less worked with 5.1 straight out of the box, sometimes with a little fiddling.

The drivers that came with my Audigy 1 card used to produce an allmighty roar from the speakers until I could update the drivers.

I still have a folder full of Sound blaster & Audigy drivers that I collected from various parts of the world, but this is the first time iv'e been utterly defeated by a Creative product.

The real bugger is that the sound that Iv'e got from the 2 speaker setup is so good. The chips themselves are so good, it's a pity that ther software is so crap Beebee

[FreedomEclipse]

are you using 1 digital cable plugged in or the standard 3 analogue cables??

[Mussels]

he did mention digital.

Digital signals are only 2.0 sounds, without a card capable of real time encoding.

[FreedomEclipse]

he did mention digital.

Digital signals are only 2.0 sounds, without a card capable of real time encoding.

how bout if his speakers have a built in encoder?

[Mussels]

how bout if his speakers have a built in encoder?

... what?


software -> soundcard -> digital cable -> decoder -> speakers


by that point, you're already getting 2.0 sounds... so you cant have an encoder in a speaker. You can have an upmixer, which gives you 3x 2.0 sound - but no matter how you look at it, it aint 5.1

[Beebee]

are you using 1 digital cable plugged in or the standard 3 analogue cables??
Just the one plugged into the Digital I/O Blue Miniplug

[Mussels]

Just the one plugged into the Digital I/O Blue Miniplug

what soundcard do you have again, and does it support Dolby digital live, or DTS connect?

[Beebee]

he did mention digital.

Digital signals are only 2.0 sounds, without a card capable of real time encoding.
The speakers do have a built in Dac Beebee

[Mussels]

The speakers do have a built in Dac Beebee

thats a digital to analogue converter. All digital speakers have that, and its unrelated to the question i asked.

[Beebee]

[QUOTE=Mussels;1478720]... what?


software -> soundcard -> digital cable -> decoder -> speakers


by that point, you're already getting 2.0 sounds... so you cant have an encoder in a speaker. You can have an upmixer, which gives you 3x 2.0 sound - but no matter how you look at it, it aint 5.1[/QUO

As a Dolby Digital 5.1 System.
The first thing to consider is that the system is physically a 4.1 system, with a “virtualized” center channel. I was quite impressed with the performance of this, especially in the AC3 sound test where the center channel sounded quite distinctly to be right in front of me.
The BA7500’s truly excel as a DD audio system, with astounding 5.1 audio performance.
Sound effects were seamlessly transited from one speaker to another, seeming to go straight through or across myself. All the sound effects were audible with a crisp, clear sound of bullets firing, or footsteps on the floor, and the voices were crystal clear. The surround volume and balance adjustor on the control panel are particularly useful if you don’t happen to be able to get into a position where you are all exactly the same distance away from each satellite.

http://www.gamesurge.com/pc/hardware/reviews/BA7500.shtml

These speakers have Dolby Digital 5.1 audio decoder in the Sub. I've been using them for a few years first with a live 5.1 then an Audigy 1 and now Xfi. They have been working as a competent 5.1 speaker system. In fact I haven't heard anything that costs less than $600.00AU that sounds better then them & thats as 2 ways. This is the first time I've had this problem. They have been working for a few years as a 5.1 system.Beebee
PS Ok I know there's no centre speaker but it does a fairly good impresson of one in a small space

[Mussels]

yes, they have a decoder. that is not a DAC. They are different things.

Those speakers support dolby digital decoding. That REQUIRES a dolby digital signal from your soundcard, to your speakers.

Movies that come with this may give you 5.1, but i can guarantee you that without a soundcard capable of encoding dolby digital in real time - you have not been getting 5.1 audio.

In fact i can kinda guarnatee you havent had 5.1 audio, cause thats a 4.1 speaker set anyway.

[tigger]

My pci-e x-fi extreme audio is hooked up to my denon av amp via a optical digital cable,and i'm sure its only a 2.1 output.Which sound card would i need that can output a 5.1 signal to the amp?

I am using the amp to upmix it with 5,1 stereo mode atm.

Thanks.

[Mussels]

anything with dolby digital live - thats the name they give to real time DD encoding.

The latest X-fi cards do it, auzentech and asus xonar do it.

[tigger]

Whats the cheapest xonar that does it?

Does this do it?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SC-002-AS&groupid=701&catid=11&subcat=

Thanks mussels

tigger

[Mussels]

Whats the cheapest xonar that does it?

Does this does it?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SC-002-AS&groupid=701&catid=11&subcat=

Thanks mussels

tigger

"Real-time DDL and DTS Connect encoders for amazing gaming and surround sounds over your Home Theater System"

[Beebee]

yes, they have a decoder. that is not a DAC. They are different things.

Those speakers support dolby digital decoding. That REQUIRES a dolby digital signal from your soundcard, to your speakers.

Movies that come with this may give you 5.1, but i can guarantee you that without a soundcard capable of encoding dolby digital in real time - you have not been getting 5.1 audio.

In fact i can kinda guarnatee you havent had 5.1 audio, cause thats a 4.1 speaker set anyway. yes I know it's only 4 speakers, but with both my earlier sound cars I was getting imput to my rear speakers & both the Live 5.1, & the audigy said they were outputing A 5.1 Digital stream, & it certainly sounded like they were in games like doom Beebee

[Mussels]

live 5.1 and audigy cards do not support encoding, so they definately werent outputting your games in 5.1.

Your card has (and always has been) outputting a stereo signal over a digital connection - your speakers must have a feature such as what tigger mentioned a few posts above, an upmixing mode thats making the rear speakers clone the front speakers.

[tigger]

I'm using my amp to upmix,i am going to buy one of these xonar dx card now i think.

[FreedomEclipse]

I'm using my amp to upmix,i am going to buy one of these xonar dx card now i think.

Tigger - you sexy beast. care to donate that Xonar to me??? In return you can have my PCI-E Titanium Fatality Pro :cool::cool::cool::cool:

[tigger]

Thanks but i'll give the xonar a try first.I need the ddl output for my sexy denon amp.

[FreedomEclipse]

my X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro has DDL

[Mussels]

my X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro has DDL

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showpost.php?p=1478770&postcount=1114

Yup, some of the latest X-fi cards do.

[FreedomEclipse]

I know. I was asking if youd like to swap :D :D :D :D

[Mussels]

I know. I was asking if youd like to swap :D :D :D :D

me? nooooooo.


I get EAX 4.0 out of this thing thanks to alchemy universal, DDL and... well, it sounds good.

[FreedomEclipse]

I was asking Tigger to swap for his Xonar.

[Mussels]

I was asking Tigger to swap for his Xonar.

now we're just confusing each other.

Lets all sit back, relax, and be glad we arent on creative cards. Oh yeah, right, sorry :toast:


I'll drop out of this thread again - i only popped in to help clarify the digital issue.

[Wile E]

If you dig up the Daniel K drivers, I do believe that most any Creative card will do 5.1 sound thru optical.

[Beebee]

Ok Iv'e realized that the X-Fi Xtreme Audio isn't even an X_Fi, & is probably a step down from my much older Audigy EUX HD no SPDIF in or out so I was lucky to get it work even in 2 channel config. The more i read about SPDIF the more confused I get.

If I use an SPDIF pass thru from the CD player to the Soundcard & then an SPDIF out to a Sub with a built in Dolby Decoder where is the data being processed ? on the soundcard, well I know something is hapening there because if I play with the room settings I hear the changes in the speakers. I dont like any of them so don't use them, i'd guess some processing is happening there, then the data still in a digital stream, is then being passed on to the sub. what I'm trying to understand is what part the each play. Then we come to other sound Sources, Sound files stored on your computer in various formats, & directional sound in games.
It seems I was deluding myself about hearing any at all, well probably a little bit cause the Sterio Data was there but anything I thought I was hearing from behind me was a delusion, As none of the soundcards I have owned to date are capable of this level of decoding.

Are there any reasonably priced Soundcards out there capable of decoding The dolby data? Beebee
PS One more question is the any advantage in enabling EUX in game (Stalker) on a setup like this

[tigger]

Freedom,i'll let ya know on the swap,i just wanna actually try the xonar first :) I dont get it till mon/tues.

Will it be ok if i put the sound card into the bottom x16(x4) slot on my board? its too long to go into the top x1 slot.

[FreedomEclipse]

Freedom,i'll let ya know on the swap,i just wanna actually try the xonar first :) I dont get it till mon/tues.

Will it be ok if i put the sound card into the bottom x16(x4) slot on my board? its too long to go into the top x1 slot.

haha take your time bud, no rush. I cant find the manual for my card (if it ever came with one) but i got the drivers disk & the box still so its just good as new, found my DDL activation key finally so its all there,

[Mussels]

1x card will be fine in x4 slot.

[imperialreign]

Ok Iv'e realized that the X-Fi Xtreme Audio isn't even an X_Fi, & is probably a step down from my much older Audigy EUX HD no SPDIF in or out so I was lucky to get it work even in 2 channel config. The more i read about SPDIF the more confused I get.

audio connections in general can become quite confusing - as well, manufacturers of cables and other hardware don't help, in the fact that there's no "set" standard for testing, so manufacturer's specs are somewhat bisased at times . . .

Check out the guide I have linked in my sig, I've tried to break down the various specs, connections and other hardware in terms that easier for most people to understand :toast:


If I use an SPDIF pass thru from the CD player to the Soundcard & then an SPDIF out to a Sub with a built in Dolby Decoder where is the data being processed ? on the soundcard, well I know something is hapening there because if I play with the room settings I hear the changes in the speakers. I dont like any of them so don't use them, i'd guess some processing is happening there, then the data still in a digital stream, is then being passed on to the sub. what I'm trying to understand is what part the each play. Then we come to other sound Sources, Sound files stored on your computer in various formats, & directional sound in games.
It seems I was deluding myself about hearing any at all, well probably a little bit cause the Sterio Data was there but anything I thought I was hearing from behind me was a delusion, As none of the soundcards I have owned to date are capable of this level of decoding.

well, technically - the soundcard only in the above example only acts as a pass-through device . . . meaning that it's not actively processing the audio stream . . .

the reason you hear EAX changes, though, is that the input-output stream looks like this:

input => ADC => DAC => output

the inptu to the card is sent to the ADC, from there it's routed straight back to the DAC (which is where the EAX effects are applied), then sent to the output channels

The APU itself isn't getting involved with any processing effects, channel upmixing or down mixing . . . which, on cards that are capable, the DSP or APU typically handles the encoding.


Are there any reasonably priced Soundcards out there capable of decoding The dolby data? Beebee
PS One more question is the any advantage in enabling EUX in game (Stalker) on a setup like this

ALmost all audio cards are capable of Dolby decoding . . . it's the encoding that you need.

90% of all upper-end audiophile cards have the capability (Auzen, ASUS) . . . in regards to Creative, only the Titanium series have encoding capability for free . . . the for all other cards, I believe you can download the drivers for a small fee.

[Beebee]

Yes Iv'e got there by now & have been looking at the Auzen cards. The only problem is that if I go for one of the highend Auzen's, or a higher Spec X-Fi, I'd then need to look at upgrading my speakers as well, so for the moment I think I'll just stay with Stereo sound Thanks Beebee

[FreedomEclipse]

Yes Iv'e got there by now & have been looking at the Auzen cards. The only problem is that if I go for one of the highend Auzen's, or a higher Spec X-Fi, I'd then need to look at upgrading my speakers as well, so for the moment I think I'll just stay with Stereo sound Thanks Beebee

you dont 'need' to upgrade your speakers just because you splashed out on a £100 soundcard. you can still use them except you wont be getting the best out of the soundcard. but then again it also depends what speakers you have not all stereo or 2.1 speakers are bad.

It just gives me something to aim for. for a long time I ran a £35 set of 5.1 set of creative speakers through a Creative Audigy 2 ZS & later on a XFi Xtreme Music - but the new 5.1 speakers came at least 2years after i bought the XFi card, thats when i found out the I/O 'Flexijack' on my Xtreme Music was broken so I had no optical output. thats when I sold the Xtreme Music & bought a Titanium Fatality Pro.

[Bjorn_Of_Iceland]

Greetings fellow X-Fi users,

Im having problems lately with my Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Ed. After using the card for a while in Media player or playing games, somehow, it does not "release" the audio usage from the previous application.

When playing an audio or running a game, there is no audio and some apps (like media player and Hawx) reports that the audio device is currently being used by another application (in which it is not since there are no other apps in the process which uses sound).

However, other sounds seem to be working like windows "ding" and shutdown sounds..

My current specs are:

E6850 @ 3.9Ghz
Striker II Formula with latest 2102 bios
GTX 260 216 (185.85)
Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Ed (Driver Date 2/19/2009 ver. 6.0.1.1346)
Windows XP SP3

Does anyone else experience this?

[FreedomEclipse]

try updating your volume control panel to the lastest version if you havent done it already. If that doesnt solve it then i dont know anything else. I use to have teh same problem with Fallout3. Id play a game but when i finish & try to switch to entertainment mode - it wont do it & the only way to get functionality back is to restart the pc.

[magicius]

hello guys...

can someone help me solve my problem?

when i connect Front Panel to XFI Titanium Pcie only microphone works :(

front panel works when i connect it to MB... anyone knows how to solve this problem?

heard something about pins but cant manage to fix it

Thanks in advance

[imperialreign]

Yes Iv'e got there by now & have been looking at the Auzen cards. The only problem is that if I go for one of the highend Auzen's, or a higher Spec X-Fi, I'd then need to look at upgrading my speakers as well, so for the moment I think I'll just stay with Stereo sound Thanks Beebee

Well, like Freedom pointed out, just cause you upgrade your audio card doesn't mean you "need" to upgrade your speakers . . .

As well, I've heard quite a few X-Fis (and other audio cards) sound pretty good with a quality 2.1 setup.

What really helps, though, is the "virtual speaker" capabilities of modern audio cards - it can create the impression of sounds coming from speakers where none are actually placed (it "emulates" full multi-channel surround). TBH, trying to describe it is rather pointless, it needs to just be heard :p

Creative still have the best speaker virtualization capability, with CMSS-3D . . . it's built off a lot of the tech that Aureal developed back in '96-'98, and has only been expanded upon since then.



Greetings fellow X-Fi users,

Im having problems lately with my Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Ed. After using the card for a while in Media player or playing games, somehow, it does not "release" the audio usage from the previous application.

When playing an audio or running a game, there is no audio and some apps (like media player and Hawx) reports that the audio device is currently being used by another application (in which it is not since there are no other apps in the process which uses sound).

However, other sounds seem to be working like windows "ding" and shutdown sounds..

My current specs are:

E6850 @ 3.9Ghz
Striker II Formula with latest 2102 bios
GTX 260 216 (185.85)
Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Ed (Driver Date 2/19/2009 ver. 6.0.1.1346)
Windows XP SP3

Does anyone else experience this?

Odd - it's been a long time since I've seen this kind of issue . . .

I'd recommend as well to make sure your drivers and audio software applications are up-to-date . . . as well, make sure OpenAL is up-to-date, and your DirectX drivers.

You might need to open Task Manager and make sure that when you exit a program, that the corresponding .exe closes out with it . . . if for some reason the application is not properly closing, it might not be giving up access to the hardware.


hello guys...

can someone help me solve my problem?

when i connect Front Panel to XFI Titanium Pcie only microphone works :(

front panel works when i connect it to MB... anyone knows how to solve this problem?

heard something about pins but cant manage to fix it

Thanks in advance


Have you made sure to select the "headphone" option in Creative Console Launcher?

The X-Fi cards will immediately associate any line-in with the line-in channel (whether it's the line-in at the back of the card, the front panel connection). Outputs, though, are a little picky.

When you connect your headset, do your rear channel outputs actually mute?

[magicius]

no they doesnt mute... sound comes from X540 speakers :(

[Bjorn_Of_Iceland]

try updating your volume control panel to the lastest version if you havent done it already. If that doesnt solve it then i dont know anything else. I use to have teh same problem with Fallout3. Id play a game but when i finish & try to switch to entertainment mode - it wont do it & the only way to get functionality back is to restart the pc.

Ok, I'll try this one later.



Odd - it's been a long time since I've seen this kind of issue . . .

I'd recommend as well to make sure your drivers and audio software applications are up-to-date . . . as well, make sure OpenAL is up-to-date, and your DirectX drivers.

You might need to open Task Manager and make sure that when you exit a program, that the corresponding .exe closes out with it . . . if for some reason the application is not properly closing, it might not be giving up access to the hardware.

Nope, no other notbale exes running on the process.. (ive very few processes on my xp to the point that there is no scrollbar when I open task manager. therefore I know which process are alien on the task manager). Ive also got latest device drivers and even uninstalled, driver cleaned, and reinstalled the driver, but still the issue perpetuates. This wasnt happening before, and a lot of stuff was installed recently, so i wasnt able to keep track what was the last crap that was injected on the rig hehe. In anycase, its not such a nuisance, all I do is just restart the PC... and when win7 arives, itll be a complete reformat for me. ;)

[yogi62]

Hi guys,

I have an X-Fi Fatality Pro card installed in my system and due to the recording software I use I need to be able to turn of source monitoring. I've opened the 'Entertainment' console, gone to the mixer screen and clicked on the '?' for the help notes. Under the heading 'Monitoring Audio Source' the help file reads as follows:

Quote:

Click the Mixer button.
The mixer settings are displayed.

Select the appropriate audio source checkbox.
OR
i. Click the Record drop-down arrow , and then select any audio source except What U Hear or Wave.
ii. Select the Monitor check box.

However I cannot see any Monitor box to check/uncheck? anyone have any ideas?

[imperialreign]

no they doesnt mute... sound comes from X540 speakers :(

what about when you set the speaker configuration in Console launcher to headphones . . . and set the speaker config in WIN to headphones?


Nope, no other notbale exes running on the process.. (ive very few processes on my xp to the point that there is no scrollbar when I open task manager. therefore I know which process are alien on the task manager). Ive also got latest device drivers and even uninstalled, driver cleaned, and reinstalled the driver, but still the issue perpetuates. This wasnt happening before, and a lot of stuff was installed recently, so i wasnt able to keep track what was the last crap that was injected on the rig hehe. In anycase, its not such a nuisance, all I do is just restart the PC... and when win7 arives, itll be a complete reformat for me. ;)

quite an odd issue, man . . . I've never really run across this kind of issue - my next recommendation you already covered (uninstalling drivers and using Driver Sweeper) . . .

How about - go into Control Panel>System>Device Manager . . . how many other audio devices does WIN see?

Try disabling all except for Creative devices.

Hi guys,

I have an X-Fi Fatality Pro card installed in my system and due to the recording software I use I need to be able to turn of source monitoring. I've opened the 'Entertainment' console, gone to the mixer screen and clicked on the '?' for the help notes. Under the heading 'Monitoring Audio Source' the help file reads as follows:

Quote:

Click the Mixer button.
The mixer settings are displayed.

Select the appropriate audio source checkbox.
OR
i. Click the Record drop-down arrow , and then select any audio source except What U Hear or Wave.
ii. Select the Monitor check box.

However I cannot see any Monitor box to check/uncheck? anyone have any ideas?


The monitoring box to select/unselect are the small boxes with a speaker emblem, directly underneath the sliders (highlted in red in this pic):

http://img.techpowerup.org/090721/EM.jpg


To select the record source, click on the arrow right next to the red 'REC' (highlighted in green in the pic).

:toast:

[yogi62]

Thanks for the prompt feedback.

I have already made the 'mute' selection - I didn't realise they were the monitor boxes as there was a second reference after the check monitor box which said change the mute settings to suit which suggested that monitoring and mute were two seperate actions.

The problem is that I am trying to record a guitar and hear the effects using Guitar Rig 3 (software version) but the card appears to be bypassing the software hence why I want to turn off monitoring. Under 'Creation Mode' I can turn off monitoring but that doesn't seem to work. I have a second computer running an Audigy 2 Platinum and which I dont get the problem with but the the sample rate is fixed at 48Hz and not the 44.1Hz that I want.

[tigger]

I got the asus xonar today,its very small.It has small relays on it that click too.I've not tried it with the digital out yet as i cant get my amp to see detect the signal.I'm having to us an old crappy optial cable though(which i think could be knackered) coz my good one is too short.It also needs power from a floppy connector,i read on the asus site though that this is so the card gets a cleaner power supply directly from the psu,whether or not that makes a differance,i dont know.

[imperialreign]

Thanks for the prompt feedback.

I have already made the 'mute' selection - I didn't realise they were the monitor boxes as there was a second reference after the check monitor box which said change the mute settings to suit which suggested that monitoring and mute were two seperate actions.

The problem is that I am trying to record a guitar and hear the effects using Guitar Rig 3 (software version) but the card appears to be bypassing the software hence why I want to turn off monitoring. Under 'Creation Mode' I can turn off monitoring but that doesn't seem to work. I have a second computer running an Audigy 2 Platinum and which I dont get the problem with but the the sample rate is fixed at 48Hz and not the 44.1Hz that I want.

Go into WIN control panel, and make sure you've selected the recording device you want to use there, too.

For some reason, WIN's control panel doesn't update the changes from the console launcher . . .

[yogi62]

Thanks,

To be honest I think I am wastinmg my time using teh X-Fi Pro for what I want to do. I should have bought the version with the breakout box from the start. I've decided to ditch my Audigy 2 from my other computer and install a M-Audio Delta 192 instead. It's a pity because I really wanted to stay with my prime computer and the X-Fi but I can't see any way to route the signal with teh X-Fi

thanks guys.

[FreedomEclipse]

I think, if you live in the U.S (or anywhere else so long as its NOT Europe EL-O-EL) you should be able to order the break out box from creative which should be compatible with your pro.

as always they block additional accessories/addons from being sold in the UK.

[yogi62]

Nope - The card I have is the X-Fi Titanium Fatality Pro and that's the problem. There are no connectors on the rear of the card as there is with the 'Platinum' version.

Sure I can attach the Audio Break out box that comes with the 'Champion' (Which is available here in the UK through the online stores) the trouble is there are no line in's or midi I/O on the box!!

Whilst I have the Audigy 2Z with breakout, the card only records at a sample rate of 48kHhz and not the industry standard 44.1kHz (the X-Fi does)

So basically I'm up the creek...! Hence the change to a different card.

It's my own fault, I should have checked the specs more closely before buying the card.

[imperialreign]

Well, if your planning on getting into serious recording, I'd recommend an E-Mu over a Creative . . .

SO, the "break out" box that you have, is it the 5.25" bay drive that is installed into your rig, or the stand-alone console that attaches to the back of the card with a D-Sub connector?

[magicius]

When i select in Creative console to headphones i hear Left Channel and Right Channel from my X540 L and R speaker :( and if i select Headphone in Win i dont hear anything on that channel

[eduardov]

Hey guys, I'm not sure if has been answered yet in the thread. I have a Creative X-fi titanium pci-e card. And when i plug my HD audio cable from the frontpanel into the card, when i use my mic in the frontpanel then I get a huge looping of sound when i use my mic. But when i plug my mic into the soundcard in the back the problem is solved. What can be causing this?

[yogi62]

At the moment I have the Guitar Rig 3 software version which cannot run properly with the X-Fi (using line in the rear of the card) as the X-Fi is playing back in monitor mode which by passes the effects in the software - which I want to hear in real time.

In my second computer I have an Audigy 2 Platinum which works fine through the line in on the breakout box (full effects in Cubase and as standalone), however the sample rate is 48mHz.

As to Emu not Creative, Creative now own Emu. I have pretty much decided to dump Creative and go with an M-Audio Delta 1010LT card but still considering possible alternatives.

[imperialreign]

When i select in Creative console to headphones i hear Left Channel and Right Channel from my X540 L and R speaker :( and if i select Headphone in Win i dont hear anything on that channel

double check your speaker connections . . . sounds like something might not be connected properly.

As well, when in "headphone" mode, volume settings are lowered - go into WIN and double check each channel's individual volume slider.


Hey guys, I'm not sure if has been answered yet in the thread. I have a Creative X-fi titanium pci-e card. And when i plug my HD audio cable from the frontpanel into the card, when i use my mic in the frontpanel then I get a huge looping of sound when i use my mic. But when i plug my mic into the soundcard in the back the problem is solved. What can be causing this?

double check your recording channel in WIN console and Creative's console launcher, make sure it's not "line-in" (line_in only works at the back of the card).

Check your microphone volume settings in console launcher and in XP.

As well, make sure that under 'settings' in Console Launcher that it's set to "auto detect headphone/mic"


At the moment I have the Guitar Rig 3 software version which cannot run properly with the X-Fi (using line in the rear of the card) as the X-Fi is playing back in monitor mode which by passes the effects in the software - which I want to hear in real time.

In my second computer I have an Audigy 2 Platinum which works fine through the line in on the breakout box (full effects in Cubase and as standalone), however the sample rate is 48mHz.

As to Emu not Creative, Creative now own Emu. I have pretty much decided to dump Creative and go with an M-Audio Delta 1010LT card but still considering possible alternatives.


Well, yes, Creative do own E-Mu, but . . . E-Mu are allowed to operate independantly . . . (think like how ATI is to AMD).

TBH, it's E-Mu's technological advancements that have made the majority of Creative's new hardware possible. The Audigy series DSP is actually an E-Mu DSP with Creative's label over it, same with the X-Fi APUs.

[eduardov]

double check your recording channel in WIN console and Creative's console launcher, make sure it's not "line-in" (line_in only works at the back of the card).

Check your microphone volume settings in console launcher and in XP.

As well, make sure that under 'settings' in Console Launcher that it's set to "auto detect headphone/mic"



Ya i did that and it still doesn't work, i would like to use my front panel with this card. Any other suggestions?

[Cold Storm]

Well, I'm back again guys. I just got a Auzen X-fi Forte card. I love the thing. Works like a charm besides this one thing.. It only has it listed as having 2/2.1 channel speakers... I have my Z500 hooked up to it..

http://img.techpowerup.org/090729/2 speakers.jpg



Thanks for any help. IT is the org drivers from teh Cd..


Also, it only happens to me on 2.1 sound if I have my effect on my speakers on "6 ch Direct"

[Kursah]

Did you change the Windows Sound in Control Panel to 5.1 yet? Are you using digital output? Also definately download the beta drivers and install those man, they're working great for me. I haven't updated the programs or anything yet, but I've read they're worth going to on Vista, and the beta's support 7 too. I might have to look up those speakers to better understand what your issue is though, as I primarily run sound to my JVC headphones, and I rarely use my cheap logitech x-230 2.1's lol. I think I recently read something about that issue on [H] forums not too long ago...I will go take a look and see if anything is there about that...but 6CH Direct does ring a bell...I'd say try the new drivers and goodies too to see if that helps out at all.

:toast:

[Cold Storm]

Did you change the Windows Sound in Control Panel to 5.1 yet? Are you using digital output? Also definately download the beta drivers and install those man, they're working great for me. I haven't updated the programs or anything yet, but I've read they're worth going to on Vista, and the beta's support 7 too. I might have to look up those speakers to better understand what your issue is though, as I primarily run sound to my JVC headphones, and I rarely use my cheap logitech x-230 2.1's lol. I think I recently read something about that issue on [H] forums not too long ago...I will go take a look and see if anything is there about that...but 6CH Direct does ring a bell...I'd say try the new drivers and goodies too to see if that helps out at all.

:toast:



Yeah, I might have to try the beta drivers.. When I went to do it, it said that it didn't support this device... I'n using the dangle.. Plugged it into each cable I had..

[Kursah]

Well call me dumb if you must, but what brand of Z500 are you talking about? I found models from Logitech, Creative, Sony and some other oddballs...or do you mean Z5000? Z5500? I don't know my PC speakers systems too well at this point...so that might help me to better understand your situation.

On the beta drivers, I had to go into: Auzentech_Forte_Beta1 > Audio > Drivers > Setup.exe iirc. I remember running into that issue also trying to run the main setup executable...so I just installed the drivers. And I think that's where I sourced the setup that would install the newer beta drivers.

:toast:

[Cold Storm]

Well call me dumb if you must, but what brand of Z500 are you talking about? I found models from Logitech, Creative, Sony and some other oddballs...or do you mean Z5000? Z5500? I don't know my PC speakers systems too well at this point...so that might help me to better understand your situation.

On the beta drivers, I had to go into: Auzentech_Forte_Beta1 > Audio > Drivers > Setup.exe iirc. I remember running into that issue also trying to run the main setup executable...so I just installed the drivers. And I think that's where I sourced the setup that would install the newer beta drivers.

:toast:

oops I forgot my speaker numbers... lol.. Logitech Z5500.. Their fine for any other set up, my Stereo, Stereo X2, DD PLII Movie & Music... But, when I go to to the 6 channel direct it messes... I'll have to grab the beta's and do it tomorrow. If I'm not passed out after working that is.. lol

[FreedomEclipse]

Hmm Imperialreign hasnt made it yet so I guess I'l fill in....

New driver update for people on the Titanium side of the fence (its about time they released so drivers with bug fixs) 2.17.0007

more info...

Software Description

This download is a driver providing Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Vista® and Windows XP support for Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium series of audio devices.


This download supports the following audio devices only:

* Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty® Champion Series
* Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series
* Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Professional Audio
* Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium

Added Features or Enhancements:

* Adds Silencer, a noise-cancelling technology for use with Creative Fatal1ty Professional Series Gaming Headset MK II.
* Adds VoiceFX, a voice-morphing feature.
* Implements new workaround to improve compatibility issues with NVIDIA® graphics cards running in SLI™ configuration on NVIDIA-based motherboards.

Fixes:
Resolves the following issues:

* Changing effects in Audio Creation Mode results in the system taking a long time to shut down.
* When system enters hibernation while DTS® Connect or Dolby® Digital Live is enabled, sound does not output to the external decoder after system wakes up.

Known Issues:

*

Audio stutters during the opening video for certain game titles while Dolby Digital Live is enabled. This issue occurs on certain hardware and OS configurations only. More details and a workaround are available here.

Requirements:

* Microsoft Windows 7 64-bit, Windows 7 32-bit, Windows Vista 64-bit with Service Pack 1 (SP1), Windows Vista 32-bit with SP1, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3), Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE) 2005 or Windows XP MCE 2004
* Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium series audio devices listed above

you can download it from >Here< (http://downloads.guru3d.com/downloadget.php?id=2338&file=1&evp=e7766868e04a9c101a743762f409db4a)

I think you owe me a drink Impy. <3

[Cold Storm]

I looked for the beta drivers, no love to get them since the now have the new 1.1 drivers out.. Keeps sending me to a auzen site that says my browser didn't load the page right...

Downloading the 1.1 drivers now..


installed and working.. I now know, thanks Kursah, that when I went to set up the speakers, on Z5500's you have to have the effect set to "6 ch Direct".. lol..


Imp, add ne, I don't think I'll be leaving this card anytime soon!

[imperialreign]

Cold Storm - added :toast:


Freedom - thanks, man . . . been a little occupied with various crap, and just worn out from work+heat+humidity we've had here the last couple of weeks. This drinks for you, man:


http://www.delicioussparklingtemperancedrinks.net/Images/MonKvas.jpg

[FreedomEclipse]

I think I may need to reinstall my drivers - game mode has suddenly gotten all distorted for no reason :O windows volume is at 50% & my z5500's aint even cranked up above 10%

[imperialreign]

I think I may need to reinstall my drivers - game mode has suddenly gotten all distorted for no reason :O windows volume is at 50% & my z5500's aint even cranked up above 10%



Hmmm . . .

have you installed any other system drivers, hardware, BIOS, or other non-software related updates?

If not, I'd recommend taking the card out and looking at the caps for any bulging and/or leaking . . . it's been a while since I've heard of this problem (as placing a cooler on the APU made the difference regarding PCB component strain) . . . but, I worry that the Titaniums might start running into this issue again, considering the EMI shielding and all . . .

[Cold Storm]

Imp. thanks for the add finally! :D Had my XtremeMusic in here so long ago.. lol.. But, I gotta say.. I love this sound card! I can keep my headphone cable in the Headphone jack, and be good to go, till I need it!!

Great stuff, Great stuff!! :toast:

[imperialreign]

Imp. thanks for the add finally! :D Had my XtremeMusic in here so long ago.. lol.. But, I gotta say.. I love this sound card! I can keep my headphone cable in the Headphone jack, and be good to go, till I need it!!

Great stuff, Great stuff!! :toast:

Good to hear it's still serving faithfully! :toast:

[FreedomEclipse]

Hmmm . . .

have you installed any other system drivers, hardware, BIOS, or other non-software related updates?

If not, I'd recommend taking the card out and looking at the caps for any bulging and/or leaking . . . it's been a while since I've heard of this problem (as placing a cooler on the APU made the difference regarding PCB component strain) . . . but, I worry that the Titaniums might start running into this issue again, considering the EMI shielding and all . . .

not to my knowledge, so I decided to do a small juggle between Microsoft update drivers & Creative drivers & that seems to have fixed it. I havent checked the caps yet cuz im too lazy to take the EMI shield off.

but another thing that has been bothering me with the last 007 driver update for Titanium series cards is every time I switch modes with a mic plugged it - the mic starts working since it dont have no 'off' switch. even when I disabled the mic in the volume launcher it still comes on. Ive resorted to unplugging the mic every time I finish using it so save opening up the interface everytime & double clicking to disable the mic/linein that was already disabled in the first place....

plus another thing ive noticed as well & its stupid its taken me this long to notice but it never occured to me.... the lack of MIC BOOST on Titanium series cards....


.:EDIT:.

I forgot to add - everything sounded fine when switched back to Entertainment mode - its like whatever i was listening wasnt masterd/produced properly so the sound was distorting. I cant explain it. as it was the intro sound/music when you put the CoD4 CD in & its at the menu screen where you select what game type you want to start up

[imperialreign]

What OS? XP, Vista or 7?


TBH, it might be an OS related issue . . . if you're running WIN 7, I can't verify that, yet. With how much stuff I got going on, I haven't been arsed to install any of the RCs yet (although, I already have 7 Ultimate pre-ordered and pending - still got to get ahold of another Velociraptor and Systrin HDD cooler, too . . . 3x boot OS :p ).

I remember, though, there were occasional issues with both XP and Vista where whatever configs you made in the Console Launcher were not always carried over to the WIN audio Control Panel . . . which meant many settings would "change" when going from one hardware mode to another, or even when switching speaker output configurations.

I've noticed with Vista x64 (not sure about x86, though), there's some occasional audio related mishaps . . . strange things, like changes in output bitrate and sample rate; weird volume settings that can't be adjusted (i.e. although all settings in WIN and CL are at 50%, some .mp3s are played back much LOUDer than other media, some vids are quiet - same goes for audio in-game . . . and it's not the media, either, as with XP the same media is at proper levels).

Anyhow, just some thoughts. :toast:

[FreedomEclipse]

yeah its win7 - I get this sudden 'loudness' in TF2 sometimes but its more to do with when im ingame more then anything else. I dunno, All i know is as soon as i can afford it - i'l be looking at possibly getting a Xonar D2X

[imperialreign]

yeah its win7 - I get this sudden 'loudness' in TF2 sometimes but its more to do with when im ingame more then anything else. I dunno, All i know is as soon as i can afford it - i'l be looking at possibly getting a Xonar D2X

S'all good . . . although, I'm truly, truly curious to learn whether some of these "issues" that seem more rampant in Vista (and potentialy 7) are also present with any of the Xonar series . . . TBH, I still firmly believe a lot of these annoyances are OS-bound, not so much the fault of the hardware/software/drivers, y'know?

If you do make that switch, defi keep me informed. :toast:

[FreedomEclipse]

well Ive not heard of anyone moaning about troubles with the Xonar on Win7 so im guessing its fine.

[imperialreign]

well Ive not heard of anyone moaning about troubles with the Xonar on Win7 so im guessing its fine.



I can't say either way . . . although, I haven't heard anything yet, either (and, quite frankly, very little from the Creative users, too).


Besides, I don't draw conclusions on repetitive OS issues until after the alpha release. It's nice to see everyone forking out WIN 7 drivers (even Creative :eek: ) before the OS is even on shelves . . . hopefully it means we'll have more solid drivers for all hardware once 7 has gone full-public.

[FreedomEclipse]

Is there any sort of tests that I could take & upload the results on here? just to see whats wrong. - Im still getting random distortion. it somehow 'improves' when I turn the crystalizer off - but you can still hear that its distorted.

I honestly dunno what to do :(

[Mussels]

Is there any sort of tests that I could take & upload the results on here? just to see whats wrong. - Im still getting random distortion. it somehow 'improves' when I turn the crystalizer off - but you can still hear that its distorted.

I honestly dunno what to do :(

ooh ooh! *raises hand*

Go into the control panel, sound. try changing the bitrate to something else, and see if it fixes anything. change it back when done if you want.

[FreedomEclipse]

ooh ooh! *raises hand*

Go into the control panel, sound. try changing the bitrate to something else, and see if it fixes anything. change it back when done if you want.

no. nothing changes

Roll back the drivers & see if it still happens perhaps?

[Mussels]

no. nothing changes

Roll back the drivers & see if it still happens perhaps?

dunno. my audio went crap after waking from sleep mode with a movie paused, and changing the bitrate fixed it. it sounded similar to what you described (like the audio was compressed in a lossy manner, being played by a crap speaker)


anything beyond that... try older/generic drivers, see what happens.

[FreedomEclipse]

Ive rolled back to the drivers that M$ update was giving me which was released in July 2009. its working perfect now. LOL

[imperialreign]

Ive rolled back to the drivers that M$ update was giving me which was released in July 2009. its working perfect now. LOL



i've had that happen a couple of times with Vista - but never with XP :wtf:


Strange - I sometimes wonder if the drivers available via MS update are different than those available from Creative . . .

[FreedomEclipse]

whats confusing is - why did the 0007 drivers just suddenly mess up like that?

[johnspack]

I've got a weird problem with my xtremegamer, could be drivers.. I've used it for over a year under xp64, works perfect. I did a fresh install of xp64 and when I go to shutdown or restart, it will sit there for 5mins at least, and then slowly shut down. I pulled the x-fi, and it shutdown in 2 secs! Problem gone! Then I remembered that my old install was using much older modded drivers, and now I'm using the latest. Same drivers work perfect under win7 64. I may try again with older drivers and see if that fixes it. Has anyone heard of an issue this weird with the new drivers?

[imperialreign]

whats confusing is - why did the 0007 drivers just suddenly mess up like that?

No idea, man . . . I've noticed it with Vista x64 occasionally, too . . .

It's as if WIN gets confused when it's allowing an application to make use of an audio device (or interogatting one), and attempts to assign it to the wrong one (such as an onboard component, or an ATI GPU-based audio device, or external USB, etc.), which results in a typical driver conflict . . . the software is trying to use a device that's not available, while the audio card is interpeting all the audio calls that are being passed from the application through the OS to the hardware . . . (and the crap part being, there wouldn't be this layer of "confusion" if software could directly access the hardware as was possible with XP :shadedshu )

I've found that merely removing the drivers and disabling the hardware in Device Manager isn't enough - make sure that you completely remove all unused/un-needed devices from the WIN Audio Control Panel as well . . . this has been more effective, but I still occasionally have some issues with new software.

TBH, man, this is just my best guess on the issue . . .



I've got a weird problem with my xtremegamer, could be drivers.. I've used it for over a year under xp64, works perfect. I did a fresh install of xp64 and when I go to shutdown or restart, it will sit there for 5mins at least, and then slowly shut down. I pulled the x-fi, and it shutdown in 2 secs! Problem gone! Then I remembered that my old install was using much older modded drivers, and now I'm using the latest. Same drivers work perfect under win7 64. I may try again with older drivers and see if that fixes it. Has anyone heard of an issue this weird with the new drivers?

Can't say that I have . . .

Although, question . . . did you install the initial drivers and software from the Installation CD first, and then the update drivers?

Also, can you provide a screenshot of the currently running WIN processes at shutdown? It's possible one or two un-needed Creative services might be holding things up . . .

[johnspack]

I have the card out right now, and I used drivercleaner.net to remove old traces. I used an old daniel_k driver package before when it worked properly under xp64. So I'm just going to try to reinstall that one. Also found an updated version by youp-pax, might try that as well. And I'll bet your right about one of the creative apps hanging on shutdown. Like I said, only a problem under xp64, win7 64 seems to like the newer drivers....

[imperialreign]

I have the card out right now, and I used drivercleaner.net to remove old traces. I used an old daniel_k driver package before when it worked properly under xp64. So I'm just going to try to reinstall that one. Also found an updated version by youp-pax, might try that as well. And I'll bet your right about one of the creative apps hanging on shutdown. Like I said, only a problem under xp64, win7 64 seems to like the newer drivers....



Well, let me know if they work better or not . . .

As well, I think the fact that the newer driver packs are for all WIN OSes, it will inherently create some problems . . . XP is a completely different beast than either Vista or 7 . . . I still believe that XP drivers should continue to be seperate from the others . . .

[Wrigleyvillain]

Hey I have an XtremeGamer am running Win 7 (7600) with Creative's beta driver (the latest afaik) and just noticed CMSS 3D doesn't work. Found some info via Google including a special modded driver by Daniel K but this was all from January so rather old. Do I want to use the Daniel K driver? Or perhaps Creative has fixed this 'officially' and I'm not aware?

[johnspack]

Yep, went back to the old daniel_k driver, no more problems under xp64. And the new drivers under win7 x64 7600 work perfect, including cmss 3d. I think it's the same driver, but they updated the installer, you might want to try this driver Wrigleyvillain: http://support.creative.com/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?catID=1&CatName=Sound+Blaster&subCatID=208&subCatName=X-Fi&prodID=15853&prodName=X-Fi+XtremeGamer
Maybe you'll get cmss back!

[Wile E]

Am I the only one that turns all the effects off? I hate them. The only thing I ever use is tone controls when needed.

[Wrigleyvillain]

Yep, went back to the old daniel_k driver, no more problems under xp64. And the new drivers under win7 x64 7600 work perfect, including cmss 3d. I think it's the same driver, but they updated the installer, you might want to try this driver Wrigleyvillain: http://support.creative.com/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?catID=1&CatName=Sound+Blaster&subCatID=208&subCatName=X-Fi&prodID=15853&prodName=X-Fi+XtremeGamer
Maybe you'll get cmss back!

All right, thanks. I had assumed the beta driver would be newer but in this case apparently not. I am presently using Daniel_K X-Fi Support Pack 2.0 and all is working fine. Only care aobut CMSS 3D as I have to use headphones for gaming...

[johnspack]

Actually, I don't care about the effects either, just don't like waiting 5mins to shut down! Plus this is a special package, can't be found anymore....

[imperialreign]

Hey I have an XtremeGamer am running Win 7 (7600) with Creative's beta driver (the latest afaik) and just noticed CMSS 3D doesn't work. Found some info via Google including a special modded driver by Daniel K but this was all from January so rather old. Do I want to use the Daniel K driver? Or perhaps Creative has fixed this 'officially' and I'm not aware?

Well, technically, all WIN 7 support is still considered "beta" until the OS has actually gone retail . . . until then, everything (both drivers and the OS RC versions) are a bit hit or miss.

As well, I have no idea on the d_k drivers, as they were never designed for WIN 7, either . . . they may or may not work. I believe WIN 7 follows a similar design structure as Vista did, so it's quite probable they will work without any issues.

I can't offer any advice yet regarding OS7, as I've been too busy to even try out any of the betas or RCs - I do have OS7 pre-ordered, though, and will be installing it on a fresh new HDD soon as it arrives in the mail.


Am I the only one that turns all the effects off? I hate them. The only thing I ever use is tone controls when needed.

I don't disable EAX - but I do lower the effects volume. 0.0db renders the effects too loud most times . . . I prefer -4.6db or round-abouts.

CMSS-3D, though, I leave enabled for gaming, but disable for multimedia. Crystallizer stays off.

[FreedomEclipse]

I think I have found the reason why my sound was technically f**ked up....I wired the card up to the FP on my pc case - that was one of the major changes i made but It didnt cross my mind that I might have wired it up incorrectly since I looked up diagrams on google & I followed the instructions where to plug the HDFP cable into.

so what happend after I wired it up was it totally wrecked the 'reception' of my microphones. volume either came in very very low & broken up or it would just be some unintelligible random amount of 'buzzing' where i would speak but it would just buzz instead of transfering my 'voice' across the channel....

after I uplugged the FP from my card Mic levels returned to normal. people could hear me clearly again. Im back on the 0007 drivers again. the distortion has improved a lot since I unplugged the FP but is still there which means i must have partially damaged or fried the card when I connected it up with the FP.

I can still sell the card to some random guy so it has a value but original plan of switching to a Xonar still stands unfortunately.

if the distortion went away then i wouldnt of botherd getting a new card.

[imperialreign]

Did you follow the wiring diagrams I had posted in the OP, or another?

Just curious, as I wnet to great lengths to test out that conncetion diagram, which should be fine with Azalia/AC97 - they both use the same common grounds - but if a power feed was crossed, that could lead to problems.

If my diagram was incorrect, please let me know.

Otherwise, the card itself might still be salvagable - check the caps on the card. If any are leaking or bulged, replacing them should fix the issue . . . but, that distortion you're hearing will typically be coming from failing OPAMPs (I've ran into this before from my own trial and error experiments). If you're up for a little board soldering, the OPAMPs aren't too difficult to replace. :toast:

[FreedomEclipse]

I followed someone elses diagram. I will have a look at the caps on the card later. op amps shouldnt be too hard to replace?? any idea what ones to go after just so i get some idea how much i can buy them & how much they are

[FreedomEclipse]

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n210/FinalFreedomEclipse/PC%20SHIT/New%20PC%20shit/opamp.jpg these are currently the only opamps that are available to me within easy reach unless I go to more specialist places.

as for soldering - even though I did tech at school & college, most of my experience was when i was still at school...In college they wouldnt let us touch any electrical goods/components till our final exam. theory all the way & no practical - only 1 person out of about 15-20 of us passed. followed by lots of finger pointing between us (the students) the head of department who lied to us about the course being 80% practical & the tutors who never gave us a PCB & resistors & other crap to mess around with so that we might learn something. swiftly followed by the withdrawl of the £10,000 by the people who were supposed to be funding us....

I can repair my own guitar leads & bits n bobs. so I'l see about soldering opamps on lol

[imperialreign]

Well, if you're willing to order OPAMPs online - I'd recommend these: AD8599 (http://www.analog.com/en/amplifiers-and-comparators/operational-amplifiers-op-amps/ad8599/products/product.html); they're much better than the LM4562 that most users recommend.

Replacing the OPAMP isn't too entirelly difficult - I'd recommend getting ahold of a set of PCB side cutters to make it easy . . . snip the legs off of the OE OPAMPs, they use a 25W-35W soldering iron with some copper braid to remove the remaining solder and the legs.

Installing them, I found it easier to take a small piece of scotch tape and use that to hold the OPAMP on the seats, then solder them to the board.

I'd recommend a 15W, as there's less of a chance of heat damaging the board, but such a weak gun makes it very hard to remove the solder, too . . . I'd recommend against using a gun that's 45W or stronger, as it could seriously damage the PCB and/or the new OPAMP.



I mean, hell, if the card has about had it, and you're planning on getting a Xonar anyway, might as well see if you can't clean it up and get it functioning again - or hold on to it for future testing, y'know?

[FreedomEclipse]

well ive seen pictures of the card with the EMI shield off & tbh it looks like a bit of a daunting task. secondly now that youve explained what i need exactly the only item ive got on hand at the moment is what i think is a 35watt solder iron. im not too sure. I could always try find a more specialised electonics store & see if their willing to do the work for me, for a small fee. otherwise im not quite sure. at the moment i really have to keep tight grip on all outgoing cash.

If i can flog the card off to a total idiot then thats what i'l probably try to do lol.

Id rather sell the card off & use whatever i get & put it towards the Xonar.

[Wile E]

well ive seen pictures of the card with the EMI shield off & tbh it looks like a bit of a daunting task. secondly now that youve explained what i need exactly the only item ive got on hand at the moment is what i think is a 35watt solder iron. im not too sure. I could always try find a more specialised electonics store & see if their willing to do the work for me, for a small fee. otherwise im not quite sure. at the moment i really have to keep tight grip on all outgoing cash.

If i can flog the card off to a total idiot then thats what i'l probably try to do lol.

Id rather sell the card off & use whatever i get & put it towards the Xonar.

Don't sell it claiming it's OK. That's not even remotely right. If you plan to sell, tell the buyer up front you think it may be damaged.

And a 35W iron will work fine as long as you use the right solder and use a fine tip. I use a 35W iron on my vmods.

@imperialreign - How accurate are those opamps? I want low distortion, but high accuracy. I was thinking of throwing some new ones on my Audigy 2, just for some fun.

[imperialreign]

Don't sell it claiming it's OK. That's not even remotely right. If you plan to sell, tell the buyer up front you think it may be damaged.

And a 35W iron will work fine as long as you use the right solder and use a fine tip. I use a 35W iron on my vmods.

Agreed. 35W is about the right recommendation for working on PCBs, anything lower tends to take too long to heat up the actual solder, and wick too much heat to the PCB and component.

@imperialreign - How accurate are those opamps? I want low distortion, but high accuracy. I was thinking of throwing some new ones on my Audigy 2, just for some fun.

They're pretty good - I'd have to rate them up there in-so-far as the quality compared to other OPAMPs on the market that would fit that style seat.

Here's a comparison between the LM4562s (which is what just about everyone recommends) and the AD8599s (which is what I recommend): http://forums.techpowerup.com/showpost.php?p=884307&postcount=689

To summarize, the LM4562 is a major step above the OE OPAMPs, the AD8599s are a major step above the LM4562.

They give a much cleaner output, reduced channel bleeding, better frequency range output, etc.

As well, they don't pick up much in the way of EMI/RFI from neighboring components, unlike the LM4562s - For comparison, I compared the LM4562s to the OE OPAMPs here, as well as comparing the 4562s before and after addition of copper heatsinks (which act as mini-EMI shields): http://forums.techpowerup.com/showpost.php?p=817967&postcount=568

Somewhere deep in this thread, too, I had compared the difference between the 8599 before and after adding heatsinks, but can't find it . . . anyhow, there's little of any change in reduction of noise with copper heatsinks installed.

Between their pricing (which is fairly dirt-cheap) and their quality, I haven't been able to find any others that compare. There are some brands that have a little higher quality output, but they're expensive as crap (i.e. $80+ for 4-5 OPAMPs).

[FreedomEclipse]

unfortunately - the AD8599 are pretty rare in the UK & if you DO find someone who sells them they will most likely be around £5-6 each.....

Ive lurked through forums where a guy orderd a few from the US - ended up costing him about £42

So lets put this in perspective....

AD8599 - Expensive for 4x opamps = £20 not including P&P which would most likely be another £5 (£25)

Soldering wire - £3-4

soldering tips £1-10 depending if i can get them seperately.

grand total - £45 at the most

secondly - I need to find a store here within a 30mile radius that sells the opamps (add another £5 for travel around london) since I cant order stuff online. the nearest retailer or at least what google is telling me is somewhere in Wakefield -an almost 2hr30mins & hefty £40-60 train ticket away from london.....

if the card was one in a million, fine. id spend that money but it aint. I paid £90-100 for the card & im unwilling to spend £45 on it when i can probably sell it for a lot more & put it towards a Xonar

[Rat1sully]

Hi guys i was wondering if it would be possible to set the Optical SPDIF output on my X-fi Platinum Fatal1ty to be a separate output option in windows xp so that using directsound in music apps i could stream my music out of the optical connector to my stereo for background music and only have game noises coming through my headset?

tried asking the creative forum and got no replys what so ever hoping from looking at the knowledge available here you'll be able to help

thanks in advance

[FreedomEclipse]

I dont think its possible. but why would you want to do that anyway?

[Rat1sully]

I dont think its possible. but why would you want to do that anyway?

i like background music while i'm playing but also want to be able to hear when they're trying to stab me in the back, i know on the realtek onboard audio chips you can do this

[FreedomEclipse]

you can have a music player running in the background. - it doesnt make any difference asside from EVERYONE ELSE can hear your music but only you can hear whats going inside the game because your wearing a headset.

just because your in 'game mode' doesnt mean music wont play when you open WMP

[imperialreign]

Hi guys i was wondering if it would be possible to set the Optical SPDIF output on my X-fi Platinum Fatal1ty to be a separate output option in windows xp so that using directsound in music apps i could stream my music out of the optical connector to my stereo for background music and only have game noises coming through my headset?

tried asking the creative forum and got no replys what so ever hoping from looking at the knowledge available here you'll be able to help

thanks in advance

This could get a bit tricky and complicated, but, I believe it should be possible - mostly depending on your software you have installed.


First off, you'd have to make sure that whatever connections you want to use are hooked up - WIN won't "recognize" output channels that don't have a jack installed.

From there, it will be dependant on your software - whether or not you can choose which audio output device to use - if you can, just set your software to use the specified output.

You might run into some odd issues, though, as everything must still pass through the DAC - it's possible you might have some channel bleeding . . . as well, it could potentially seriously hamper performance (you might start experiencing audio clipping on the analogue channels), mostly due to the fact that WIN has to literally "share" the device's IRQ channel between two "devices" - as well, some games are very taxing on the hardware and don't like to give up their priority for other applications running in the background.

TBH, I don't exactly recommend having one device juggling two different styles of output - programs might start getting crabby over their output priority.

[Wile E]

Not to mention, I agree with FreedomEclipse on this. That's an awfully convoluted way to get background music. Just start your music player in the background, then fire up your game and run it all thru your headset.

If you keep the music turned down in the background, it won't be any more distracting than having it play thru speakers outside but loud enough for you to hear with the headset on.

Short version = it makes absolutely no sense to do that.

[Rat1sully]

thanks for your responses guys, this is only a temp solution until i get round to getting a new power supply for the laptop that usually does the music while gaming

[Wile E]

thanks for your responses guys, this is only a temp solution until i get round to getting a new power supply for the laptop that usually does the music while gaming

It doesn't really make sense to do that either. Seriously, just run your music player thru the headset, but turned down, then start your game. It's kind of a waste to run music thru a second computer, when just one will accomplish both tasks.

[Rat1sully]

it's not running for that alone, also open for msn web browsing etc.

[Wile E]

it's not running for that alone, also open for msn web browsing etc.

Well, that make a little more sense for the second computer, but a second monitor would accomplish the task on the same computer. But, even if all you can do is run the second computer due to funding or whatever reason, it really does still make more sense to run the music thru the headset while gaming, instead of external speakers which will waste a lot more energy to complete the same task as background music.

[imperialreign]

Well, that make a little more sense for the second computer, but a second monitor would accomplish the task on the same computer. But, even if all you can do is run the second computer due to funding or whatever reason, it really does still make more sense to run the music thru the headset while gaming, instead of external speakers which will waste a lot more energy to complete the same task as background music.

I would tend to agree - but it might also boil down to system specs.

Even with clocked quads and pretty uber setups, even a few selective programs running in the background can really but a kink in other program's performance. Even mundane tasks such as defragging HDDs, running A/V scans, etc. can slow down i-net browsers . . . even video rendering/filtering apps (i.e. vdub), photo editors, audio editors, etc. can also have the same effect . . . the opposite holds true as well - even just browsing the i-net can slow down other apps from finishing their tasks . . .

It really boils down to the rig's specs, and what apps you're running.

[Rat1sully]

yeah rig specs aren't up to much hence it's better to do it on a separate machine

skt478 prescott 3.2GHz clocked at 3.6
Abit A17
Corsair 2Gb twinx
HIS x1950Pro Iceq
X-fi platinum obviously
Hiper Tpye-R 650W
0.86TB assorted Hdd space

[Mussels]

yeah rig specs aren't up to much hence it's better to do it on a separate machine

skt478 prescott 3.2GHz clocked at 3.6
Abit A17
Corsair 2Gb twinx
HIS x1950Pro Iceq
X-fi platinum obviously
Hiper Tpye-R 650W
0.86TB assorted Hdd space

playing MP3's was a light task for my celeron 400. i'd hardly think it would bog down even your 'old' PC

[Rat1sully]

while running games it makes a big hit on my frame rate

[Mussels]

while running games it makes a big hit on my frame rate

what player are you using? i run winamp in the background all the time (and have for years) with no performance drops.

[Rat1sully]

using winamp to but i have a tendency to run game a bit too new for my spec so i expect that doesn't help

[Wile E]

Well, OK, I can kinda understand if it's a performance issue. I bet a good clean install would help a good bit in that area tho. As long as you don't run anything but the game and player, it should be able to handle music in the background while gaming. Not so much the second screen with apps running tho. lol.

That should at least get you some music while gaming to hold you off.

[Mussels]

i'd also make sure to have nothing fancy running in winamp. no visualisations, no skins, nothing but the playlist and the pause/stop/next buttons :P

[Rat1sully]

lol this thing gets a clean install every 3-6 months just to keep it ticking over in games ok, i've got mp3 player hoocked up to stereo for now, waiting on my DSA to fix the laptop

[btarunr]

Quick tip for Windows Vista and Windows 7 users of Winamp:

http://img.techpowerup.org/091001/bta086.jpg

Use Wumpus OpenAL output plugin. Get it from here (http://www.winamp.com/plugins/details/221767). Disable the "Use X-RAM" option, it only adds latency/delay. Use Game Mode. Sounds really good.

[AphexDreamer]

Hey guys just got my X Fi card. I've installed the latest driver but in Device manager it shows my X fi Card as using the Windows Driver. No matter how many times I install it. Everything seems to be working fine though.

X Fi Titanium

Is this normal?

[ShRoOmAlIsTiC]

anyone know of a filter for media player home cinema that makes the x-fi do all the sound decoding? So I can have my 4350 do the video and x-fi xtremegamer do the audio?

[Wile E]

anyone know of a filter for media player home cinema that makes the x-fi do all the sound decoding? So I can have my 4350 do the video and x-fi xtremegamer do the audio?

Yep. Go to options, then under Playback, select Output. In the output properties, select your XFi under DirectShow Audio.

[ShRoOmAlIsTiC]

so i dont need any special filter, cause under external filters there is a creative ac3 source filter, should I use that or no. I got PowerDVD8 doing the h264 decoding so I thought there might be something similar.

[Wile E]

so i dont need any special filter, cause under external filters there is a creative ac3 source filter, should I use that or no. I got PowerDVD8 doing the h264 decoding so I thought there might be something similar.

Nope. Just set it to use the Xfi as output. If your system is already set to use the Xfi, you don't need to do anything. As for audio filters, it doesn't matter which one you use, as long as it's set up to output over the same number of speakers as your setup. I use ffdshow for most audio decoding. There's no benefit to using creative filters or anything like that as Vista nad Win 7 don't allow direct hardware access to the card anyway. Just use what works for you.

[AphexDreamer]

Awww man how come no one helps me out.:(

[eidairaman1]

you made sure to get the proper driver right
as it seems that the low profile cards had a different driver at 1 time

[AphexDreamer]

you made sure to get the proper driver right
as it seems that the low profile cards had a different driver at 1 time

I'm more then certain. Everything seems to be working fine but its bothering me and making me think its not perfect cause device manager shows It using a Windows Driver.

[AphexDreamer]

Ok I need help. I'm sure everyone here has an Active Preset List for EAX right.

WELL I don't. HELP?

[imperialreign]

Ok I need help. I'm sure everyone here has an Active Preset List for EAX right.

WELL I don't. HELP?

IDK, man . . . those are supposed to install with the console launcher.

You could try to download the most recent Console Launcher release and install it - just make sure to jot down all your current configs, etc. as the new install always resets all configs.

[AphexDreamer]

IDK, man . . . those are supposed to install with the console launcher.

You could try to download the most recent Console Launcher release and install it - just make sure to jot down all your current configs, etc. as the new install always resets all configs.

Thanks but lol. I reinstalled the drivers like ten times using custom and offical only to fingure out that is shows up only in Entertainment mode and Under game there is suppose to be no such option.

I'm on offical and everything seems to be fine. I'm really like this card. :)

[imperialreign]

Thanks but lol. I reinstalled the drivers like ten times using custom and offical only to fingure out that is shows up only in Entertainment mode and Under game there is suppose to be no such option.

I'm on offical and everything seems to be fine. I'm really like this card. :)


S'all good . . . Just realized I accidentally thought you were talking about the EQ presets :p

[AphexDreamer]

S'all good . . . Just realized I accidentally thought you were talking about the EQ presets :p

I'm such a Noob first actual real good sound card.

I've been reading the thread a bit but can you tell me of any tweaks or settings that could enhance my sound?

[imperialreign]

I'm such a Noob first actual real good sound card.

I've been reading the thread a bit but can you tell me of any tweaks or settings that could enhance my sound?


Really, it all boils down to the listener's preferences, and your speaker setup - as well, EQ adjustments can sound good with one style of music, but then sound horrible with another . . . it can also vary greatyl from one album to the next, depending on how the album is mastered.

There's some good info I had listed on adjustments towards the bottom of this post: http://forums.techpowerup.com/showpost.php?p=871135&postcount=3


When adjusting your EQ and all - do not have any of the EAX presets on, as those filters are applied towards the end of the output stream (after the audio has already been curved).

I recommend first to adjust your bass/treble settings, then to adjust your EQ from there.

For the most part, I don't recommend using the Crystallizer feature, unless you listen to a lot of higly compressed audio (.mp3, for example, or play a lot of games - which inherently compress the audio). The feature actually hurts high-quality, uncompressed audio . . . If you do a lot of gaming, I do recommend CMSS-3D . . . same goes for general music playback . . . but if you're listening to something that's already sourced for higher channel playback (i.e. DVD audio), then it's not always needed.

[Wile E]

Really, it all boils down to the listener's preferences, and your speaker setup - as well, EQ adjustments can sound good with one style of music, but then sound horrible with another . . . it can also vary greatyl from one album to the next, depending on how the album is mastered.

There's some good info I had listed on adjustments towards the bottom of this post: http://forums.techpowerup.com/showpost.php?p=871135&postcount=3


When adjusting your EQ and all - do not have any of the EAX presets on, as those filters are applied towards the end of the output stream (after the audio has already been curved).

I recommend first to adjust your bass/treble settings, then to adjust your EQ from there.

For the most part, I don't recommend using the Crystallizer feature, unless you listen to a lot of higly compressed audio (.mp3, for example, or play a lot of games - which inherently compress the audio). The feature actually hurts high-quality, uncompressed audio . . . If you do a lot of gaming, I do recommend CMSS-3D . . . same goes for general music playback . . . but if you're listening to something that's already sourced for higher channel playback (i.e. DVD audio), then it's not always needed.I'm such a purist nerd, I turn off absolutely all effects processing except EQing.

[imperialreign]

I'm such a purist nerd, I turn off absolutely all effects processing except EQing.


Same here - no EAX presets. If I'm in 'game mode' I even set the EAX down a bit (about -4.6db) . . . it's alright for games, but I don't like it for everyday media. Same goes for the Crystallizer and CMSS-3D . . . I use them for games, but not for anything else (now, if game devs would start pushing for better quality audio . . .).

[CyberDruid]

Please add me to your club. I've been X-fi for ages. I use the Plat drivers on my Xtreme Music and run the Creative Console to drive my AKG701 and it sounds much better than from the backpanel mini.

[FreedomEclipse]

(now, if game devs would start pushing for better quality audio . . .).

that would be nice - 192Hz/24bit Audio....*dribbles*

[hbkl]

.. i have heard for some modded drivers to the x-fi cards is that real?

[FreedomEclipse]

.. i have heard for some modded drivers to the x-fi cards is that real?

I have also heard, but it only really matters if your running an Audigy 2 card. (Misses my Audigy 2 ZS - I gave it to my dad :()

[Wile E]

I have also heard, but it only really matters if your running an Audigy 2 card. (Misses my Audigy 2 ZS - I gave it to my dad :()

I love my Audigy 2 ZS. I won't be replacing it until I can afford to grab an Auzentech made X-Fi board.

[imperialreign]

Please add me to your club. I've been X-fi for ages. I use the Plat drivers on my Xtreme Music and run the Creative Console to drive my AKG701 and it sounds much better than from the backpanel mini.

Sure thing, man - sorry I hadn't gotten to your post sooner! :toast:


.. i have heard for some modded drivers to the x-fi cards is that real?

Well, there are mod drivers for the X-Fis, but I typically only recommend them to users as a last resort. For the most part, the official drivers are fairly solid, with some occasional minor issues.

I love my Audigy 2 ZS. I won't be replacing it until I can afford to grab an Auzentech made X-Fi board.

They are the shit, man! High-performance and high-quality audio combined :rockout:

[FreedomEclipse]

I love my Audigy 2 ZS. I won't be replacing it until I can afford to grab an Auzentech made X-Fi board.

When i first bought mine & started playing CoD1/Uo with it, I couldnt believe how good the sound was, the Audigy 2 ZS was officially the first soundcard I ever bought.

[AphexDreamer]

Have a question.

Would it be possible to connect my PS3 to my X fi sound card via optical and then have the x fi take that sound and put it out via my Aux cables to my speakers. So it kind of acts like an amplifier I guess?

[hbkl]

Well talking about the audigy i got in my hands and a sound blaster audigy and i want to know wich card is better the x-fi xtreme music that i have or the sound blaster audigy ..

[FreedomEclipse]

Well talking about the audigy i got in my hands and a sound blaster audigy and i want to know wich card is better the x-fi xtreme music that i have or the sound blaster audigy ..

the Xtreme Music without a doubt. you dont even need to ask.

however.....the Xtreme Audio card is just a XFi rebranded Audigy card (not sure which model)

[Black Panther]

Hi guys, got a small issue here.. (been going on for some months thinking I'd eventually solve it myself)
Everything had been fine on XP but when I got Vista I just couldn't get my proper sound back.

I've got an X-Fi Xtreme Music hooked up to Z5500.

When I got Vista on the desktop, the sound was very low volume compared with the volume I used to set my speakers before on xp.

When I downloaded the Alchemy drivers, this got kinda half-solved.
Though I'm not worrying about it since there's still plenty of volume left to turn up.

The current problem is the bass volume vs the satellite volume.
If I disable bass redirection I get nice and good sub booming, but distortion on the satellites.
If I enable bass redirection the satellites play okay but the sub gets weak.

The problem's not with the speakers, they function fine on XP.

I tried playing around with the equalizer, but to no avail.

I'm pretty sure I'm missing out something... somewhere...

Pls help? It'd sound stupid for me reinstalling XP for dual boot just to listen to my music... :ohwell:

[Reefer86]

i know this sounds lame but did you download the drivers for vista and not the xp ones.

[Black Panther]

i know this sounds lame but did you download the drivers for vista and not the xp ones.

Yes I updated the Vista drivers as soon as installing Vista.
Did the Alchemy drivers a couple of weeks later.

[AphexDreamer]

Wait your having a bass problem? I had a problem where my Center Speaker was getting the bass sounds and my bass the center. If you don't have a Swap Center/Bass options then manually switching the cables will fix that too. If thats what your problem is.

[Mussels]

control panel, sound. right click the sound device and hit "configure speakers"

go through the wizard, and untick the options for "full range" speakers - the z55's arent full range, as they need the bass to go to the sub