Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi series Driver 2.18.0004 - 7/30/08

yeah i installed these and made my adjustments. so far my weapons in far cry sound more realistic....but i noticed that my footstep sounds in are slightly lagged...i hear them but i sounds like someone else coming up on me... i just have to get used to it..i guess but i like the improved sound....

 

You may have to set the buffer to 18 to get rid of the problems, I had to do that with one mod that uses the EP2 engine. WIth TF2 you may have to put it in the SDK2007 folder if it downloads the source SDK 2007 before you play. Becuase you still have to use it for Episode 2 engine. Sady you dont only need it for older games, theres new games which uses the DS hal to give you surround sound. So they need to change the info for it. And say any game which looks for the DS sound hal you use alchemy with. Because its not true that you only have to use it for legacy games. Because I have new games and there not old games which I have to use alchemy with.

The only ones that not effected is the FMOD ones where FMOD and openAL work together and openAL. For FMOD only ones I force it to use alchemy because I cant stand FMOD doing it in software when its not working together with openal.

.

 

Where do i need to put the dll's for EAX in TF2? There are so many directories and does that apply for all source based games?

 

Right. So what have i been using ever since ALchemy came out for X-Fi cards?

You might also want to check this:
http://connect.creativelabs.com/alchemy/Lists/Games/AllItems.aspx

Source games ARE supported and they do work through ALchemy. Just not anymore with latest version... You have to use 5/10 values in order to have perfect sound.

 

These drivers HAVE in fact made my system sound better, no placebo effect. I installed them last night then went to bed without testing them, and (long story short), I popped a CD that I listen to all the time and was shocked by the crisp highs and deep bass.....awesome.

 

But the source engine games make no EAX calls?

How would it help ( honest question as i would like to know if i should use it)

 

It would help by giving you surround sound. Without alchemy you will not get surround sound in Half life 2 and source games. Even tho HL2 uses it own sound engine, it will still need alchemy.

For hl2 I been using 5/10 values for mods i used 8/15 depending on the mod.

 

You still have to install alchemy with this sets of drivers?

 

Wrong

I get perfect 5.1 surround sound in TF2 and CSS 64 bit windows NO alchemey..

Alchemey does EAX/eviroment effect calls into Openal Getting around the DirectSound barrier...

I dont see how its needed still?

 

I was going to say, I have been playing HL2 and HL2 engine based games, and since I use both XP and Vista I don't add the Alchemy .dll since I just want to play and use it in both OS's. Always had 5.1 in both though I prefer DTS-C over DDL so lately I am playing more games in Vista.

 

Alchemy also let you regain 5.1 back into games that otherwise would have 2 channel without it. That what it also does besides converting calls for Direct sound hal to openAL. Other wise you wouldnt have to use it for older games to regain 5.1 as well as newer games which makes calls for Direct Sound.

I do have newer games which I have to copy the files there or it doesnt work in 5.1, for Warriors Orochi I would like to use it with it but the game doesnt like alchemy so I have to use DTS neo in the drivers to make it come out 5.1

Edit: a HL2 update had to fix it but now it does work right without it. Because before it wouldnt let me and kept going back to 2 channels and I had to copy the Alchemy Files there just to use 5.1 option so it would stay put and not go back to 2 channel option.

 

I dont think im "lucky"
Cause its always worked, even with my previous comp...and it also works with lots of my friends that play source games.

 

For the first time, since I can remember, these Creative drivers actually seem flawless. Working great for me thus far and seem to sound a bit better.

 

Meh, my drivers have been fine but I decided to install these anyway and now everytime I reboot my machine all my settings reset. So lame.

 

Still did not fixed my crackling issue. I have this issue since Vista SP1 (that is for 6 months!).

I am off to another brand.

 

has anyone found a fix for the console launcher not saving your settings? on vista x64

I reinstalled, deleted all registry keys, did driver cleaner sweep and still not saving. really pissing me off.

 

Hi all,

I have XP and XtremeGamer card.

During installation, it says me that this driver is not WHQL !!! :bang:

Dxdiag says that this file "ctaud2k.sys" si not official.

Everybody who has XP has the same issue ??

Also, there is still the bug (that there was already in former version) that when you change volume with little volume panel in task bar, it cancelled 5.1 sound and make 2.1 sound....And you are obliged to set again everything...:bang:

:biggun::biggun:

Thanks for your input concerning WHQL

 

Another bug I have (since the former WHQL version).

i have set my sound in 5.1 mode.

When I set audio and video parameters in Windows Live Messenger, the sound becomes 2.1.

i have to go back to audio console to set all in 5.1 again.

It happens each time also after having an audio session in Windows Live Messenger.

My webcam is a Microsoft VX-3000.

How to solve ?

Thanks.

 

No issues so far. At least these ones didn't flash my firmware like the last ones.

 

NOTE: This latest driver (2.18.0004) fixed all crackling an popping sounds and also GRID crashing everytime in reload screen :O