Does this driver improve sound quality or performance Are there any tweaks ?
No, this driver does not improve sound quality nor increase performance.
No, there are no tweaks.
If someone states that its driver improves sound quality and performance, you are being fooled, cheated.
It is even worse that the so called tweaks come from a person who is not EVEN technically acknowledged, does NOT know anything about Windows internals, software engineering and sound fidelity that all audiophiles always look for.
If you "feel" the sound better, that is the infamous placebo effect and there is no real proof that any tweaks work.
In fact, I have yet to see a driver that states in its release notes that it improves sound quality.
I've disassembled about every single .SYS driver, .DLL libraries and .EXE executables and found nothing.
There are some undocumented registry values, but nothing related to sound quality or performance.
Would the so called tweaks even exist, they would be in my Support Packs, you can bet that.
Fixes and improvements:
- FINAL VERSION.
- Updates applications and shared components, enables HDMI output for DDL and DTS Interactive encoders.
- Fixes Windows crash (BSOD) when you restart, shutdown or suspend Windows with Encoder activated.
- Fixes high CPU usage when DTS Interacti've encoder is enabled on Windows XP/Server2003.
- Fix the EAX Console installation error on Windows XP/Server2003.
- Removes the Microsoft Audio Home Theater Effects to (try to) fix the static issue when playing audio using DirectSound interface.
- Adds WaveRT interfaces for Windows 7/Vista
- DTS Interacti've encoder now works on Windows XP without any tricks.
- Fixes a cosmetic issue on Audio Console, encoder status now says DTS Interacti've.
- Readds support for 64-bit OpenAL and 64-bit ASIO.
- Fixes Microphone not available on Audigy cards on Windows 7 / Vista.
- Enables support for WASAPI exclusi've-mode event-dri'ven playback, seems to be working just fine.
- Fixes the enhancements errors in Windows mixer and Windows Media Player.
- Adds Microsoft Audio Home Theather Effects for both Speakers and S/PDIF Out endpoints.
- Includes Encoder Switcher to enable DTS Interacti've on Audigy cards.
- Fixes the Audio Console "Internal application error" when enabling the DDL Encoder on localized installs.
- Updates Audio Console to display DTS Interacti've in the Encoder tab when Encoder switcher is used.
- Workarounds a bug that unexpectedly resets the speaker configuration.
- Prevents an issue during installation on Windows 7/Vista that may result in low volume when certain enhancements are enabled.
- Implements Hardware CMSS Headphone by using a workaround.
- Updates all InstallShield setup scripts to support Windows 7.
- Fixes installation INI to properly install applications depending on the detected OS.
- Removes COM workaround for Equalizer, fixed by Creative.
- Adds workaround to a memory corruption issue preventing Equalizer from starting on Windows 7/Vista.
- Updates shared modules, responsi'veness on certain applications is improved.
- Enables CMSS2 and Stereo Surround.
- Fixes 32-bit ASIO not working on Windows 7 x64.
- Fixes Encoder not available on Windows 7 x64 (related to fix above).
- Sets default speaker setting to 5. to properly reset configs to their defaults during install (fixes Bass and Treble leves not set to 50% on Windows 7 / Vista).
Undocumented fixes by Creative (not listed in the release notes):
- Fixes the 6.1 speaker configuration is incorrectly available on Windows 7 64-bit (documented).
- Fixes the Enable Dolby Digital Live checkbox not staying checked when Audio Console is closed.
- Fixes Equalizer Out of Memory error.
- Fixes Equalizer settings being lost on Windows 7 / Vista when speaker configuration is changed.
- Fixes low volume on Windows 7 / Vista when default format is set to anything higher than 6-bit, 48kHz.
- Fixes MIDI instruments in Melodic Pool not playing when speaker setting is higher than 2. speakers.
- Restores missing Microphone option in Surround Mixer (documented).
- Fixes Microphone mute, volume and +20db boost controls.
Release Notes:
Windows Security warning during driver installation
When prompted with: "Windows can't verify the publisher of this driver software", choose "Install this driver software anyway".
OpenAL 2D benchmark in RightMark 3DSound crashes your system
Due to a driver bug, your system will crash if you run the OpenAL 2D benchmark using 63 buffers. No problem With 62 or fewer buffers. OpenAL 3D and OpenAL 3D + EAX benchmarks are not affected.
There is no DirectSound hardware acceleration on Windows XP 64-bit (x64)
The Audigy driver does not support 64-bit addressing, disabling the DirectSound hardware acceleration and causing multichannel sound to be played only in the stereo channels (front left/right).
Workarounds:
- install the 32-bit (x86) version of Windows XP.
- limit to less than 4GB the amount of RAM available to Windows.
- enable the "Memory Hole" setting in the BIOS Setup, if your motherboard supports it.
Microphone issues on Windows 7/Vista 64-bit (x64) with 4GB of RAM or more
Audigy driver does not support 64-bit addressing, resulting in random issues with the Microphone (static, robotic or distorted voice, white noise).
Workarounds: - connect your microphone to your motherboard's integrated HD Audio input
- install the 32-bit (x86) version of Windows
- limit the RAM available to Windows to less than 4GB
- enable Memore Hole in BIOS Setup, if your motherboard supports the setting
MediaSource DVD-Audio Player system requirements
- 32-bit edition of Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- any Audigy 2, Audigy 2 ZS or Audigy 4 card
Built-in Decoder on Windows 7 / Vista (requires Service Pack )
To use the built-in decoder, make sure it is enabled in Audio Console.
Select "SPDIF Out (Creative SB Audigy (WDM))" as the output device of your player and then configure the AC3/DTS filter to send the stream through SPDIF.
When you restart your computer, the Tone settings (Bass and Treble) are not applied.
Just readjust one of the controls one time per boot.
Advanced EQ and Special FX not available on Windows 7 / Vista
These presets don't work on Windows 7 / Vista.
There is no sound in games with OpenAL support on Windows XP
Disable Advanced EQ and Special FX selecting "No effect" before running the game or program.
Equalizer settings are lost
When you run a game with OpenAL support or using Creative ALchemy, the Equalizer settings are lost.
Just run Equalizer and the saved setting is loaded automatically.
Tone settings are reset when speaker configuration is changed
Bass and treble settings are reset when speaker configuration is changed.
DTS Encoder Switcher
The Encoder Switcher is now part of Audio Console.
A shortcut is created in the Programs -> Creative folder in Start Menu.
For additional info, read thoroughly the ReadMe.txt file included in the \EncSwitcher folder where you extracted the Support Pack.
On Windows 7/Vista, when using DTS Interacti've encoder, you MUST use ANOTHER SPDIF Out device, otherwise the CTAudSvc (Creative Audio Service) won't work properly (high CPU usage).
Hardware CMSS Headphone
To use the hardware CMSS you need to select "Disable all enhancements" in the "Enhancements" tab on:
Playback Devices -> Speaker Properties
Now check the Speaker configuration in "Playback devices".
If it is Stereo, run Audio Console and change it to 4., 5. or 7. and only after that change it to Headphones.
This procedure ensures that CMSS() will work after a Windows restart, otherwise only CMSS2 will work.
MIDI Device Configuration Utility for Windows 7 / Vista
Use this utility to change the MIDI playback device for 32-bit and 64-bit applications.
Remove all apps, driver then remove the Creative folders in the Program Files (x86) and Program Files folders.
Under the 64-bit edition of Windows 7/Vista, you might want to try the Win7Vista_4GB_MicFix.reg registry patch that might fix the issues with the Microphone when there are 4GB of RAM or more memory installed. Simply double click the registry file and restart Windows. It is not guaranteed to work on every system.
Re: SB Audigy Series Support Pack 4.0 (01/12/2012) - Final Version
Hi
First, thanks for your work.
I had a problem with a Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro, where when I switched to 7.1, the headphones and mic from the breakout box stopped working.
Your software fixed it.
One small side issue...
Since installing your stuff, the Speaker Settings ap has lost its "Channel" and "Noise" buttons, which is a shame. Any idea of why this happens? I have some audio files I can use instead, and there is the "Test Speakers" in "Diagnostics" which will do the same.
Re: SB Audigy Series Support Pack 4.0 (01/12/2012) - Final Version
HI Daniel, would just like to say thanks for all your support packs over the past few years....really grateful for all the effort you have put into the support packs.
I know its a final but would like to post up a bug I have ...maybe you might go back to the drivers at some time or maybe you or someone might know a why it happens
if I set the default format to 24 bit 48000 Hz I get no Audio unless I do either of these
select any EAX profile
select CMSS2
change the output to headphones ( normally I use 2.1)
the Issue seems to be a conflict between the default format setting and the
spdif digital output pcm sample rate
if they're both set the same I get not audio at all
change the digital output pcm sample rate to 96 Khz and 24 bit 48000 Hz works perfectly
but if I change to 24 bit 96000 Hz I lose audio again.
not really a problem for me because I just set digital output pcm sample rate to 96 Khz and the default format to 24 bit 48000 Hz and all works perfectly.
SB Audigy Series Support Pack 4.0 (01/12/2012)
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