Wednesday, July 4th 2007

Creative Sells ALchemy Audigy Edition at $9.99

It seems that Creative Labs is now selling ALchemy Audigy Edition for $9.99 (USD). As you may know the ALchemy project enables DirectSound3D audio to be processed by your Sound Blaster Audigy and deliver EAX effects in Microsoft Windows Vista. Without Creative ALchemy, most DirectSound games running in Vista will be reduced to stereo output without any EAX effects. This project is available freely for Creative X-Fi owners. For unknown reasons Creative Labs has decided to sell this wrapper to Audigy owners. Here's the link where you have to buy the software in order to use EAX effects in Vista with your "old" Creative Audigy Series/Audigy 2/Audigy 2 ZS/Audigy 2 ZS notebook or Audigy 4 sound blaster.
Source: NGOHQ
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37 Comments on Creative Sells ALchemy Audigy Edition at $9.99

#26
russianboy
To be honest M$ could have easily released an update that allows EAX and whatnot, I winder if creative payed them off...:rolleyes:.

Yet another Vista problem, I just don't know, this software still should be in the beta stage, so many problems.

I didn't even pay for it and I still hate it, I feel bad for the legit owners.
Posted on Reply
#27
Wayward
I don't use Vista, nor will I ever use Vista, but this is just ridiculous. I paid good money for my Audigy2ZS a few years back, and it should be supported for a long time to come. Despite the fact this does not affect me, I see this as a dangerous precedent.

That will be the last Creative card I buy.
Posted on Reply
#28
russianboy
Future of warez:

appz, gamez, muzicz, ebookz, driverz.
Posted on Reply
#29
Dippyskoodlez
russianboyTo be honest M$ could have easily released an update that allows EAX and whatnot, I winder if creative payed them off...:rolleyes:.
Or not.

Vista introduced a new audio driver model which is why there are so many driver issues. Its now very similar to OS X's CoreAudio in that the OS handles a lot more of the work differently.

Creative's EAX I think used features/work arounds of the old windows model, which was fixed/changed in Vista so they have to make a new solution from scratch.
Posted on Reply
#30
russianboy
But can't m$ have created a compability layer or something like that?
Posted on Reply
#31
Dippyskoodlez
russianboyBut can't m$ have created a compability layer or something like that?
Not worth the work. ;)

If you do that, every vendor would just sit back and say "use the compatability", instead of seeing improvements from the audio subsystem rewrite. :laugh:
Posted on Reply
#32
russianboy
turds.

don't even care about the customers only about the $$$.
Posted on Reply
#33
Wile E
Power User
WaywardI don't use Vista, nor will I ever use Vista, but this is just ridiculous. I paid good money for my Audigy2ZS a few years back, and it should be supported for a long time to come. Despite the fact this does not affect me, I see this as a dangerous precedent.

That will be the last Creative card I buy.
I think you saying you'll never use Vista is a little early. It would be like saying I'll never use XP, when it first came out. Keep your mind open my friend, Vista's getting better.
Posted on Reply
#34
Dippyskoodlez
Wile EI think you saying you'll never use Vista is a little early. It would be like saying I'll never use XP, when it first came out. Keep your mind open my friend, Vista's getting better.
Difference is XP was a massive bugfix/usability upgrade in comparison to the popular os of the time- 98.

Vista brings no functional improvements that an end user would /desire/.

All Vista brings are technical changes that really aren't all that useful for an end user.

XP brought:
Stability
Networking
Networked printing, sharing
USB support
Media support

All most users will see about vista is...
Pretty.
Bloaty.
Pretty.
Bloaty.
Likes to question ones actions.
Incompatabilitys.


Microsoft needs to simplify their menu'ing and structures... Now its turning into re-learn how to use a computer, which is unacceptable for the general public. PERIOD.
Posted on Reply
#35
Wile E
Power User
DippyskoodlezDifference is XP was a massive bugfix/usability upgrade in comparison to the popular os of the time- 98.

Vista brings no functional improvements that an end user would /desire/.

All Vista brings are technical changes that really aren't all that useful for an end user.

XP brought:
Stability
Networking
Networked printing, sharing
USB support
Media support

All most users will see about vista is...
Pretty.
Bloaty.
Pretty.
Bloaty.
Likes to question ones actions.
Incompatabilitys.


Microsoft needs to simplify their menu'ing and structures... Now its turning into re-learn how to use a computer, which is unacceptable for the general public. PERIOD.
XP didn't bring stability out of the gate, either. It's start was just like Vista's is now. Compared to 98 it was bloated, unstable, and had compatibility issues. But it was prettier. Things didn't really get better until SP1. Seems to me everything is very alike.

Vista also brings better multi-core support to the table, better security (and no, I don't mean UAC), a much better network stack, DX10, much better search functionality, and generally better usage of the mass amounts of resources it consumes. It by no means is any worse off than when XP first released.
Posted on Reply
#36
Dippyskoodlez
Wile EXP didn't bring stability out of the gate, either. It's start was just like Vista's is now. Compared to 98 it was bloated, unstable, and had compatibility issues. But it was prettier. Things didn't really get better until SP1. Seems to me everything is very alike.

Vista also brings better multi-core support to the table, better security (and no, I don't mean UAC), a much better network stack, DX10, much better search functionality, and generally better usage of the mass amounts of resources it consumes. It by no means is any worse off than when XP first released.
The difference is we now have a stable XP base. 98 was just unable to cope with the addition of USB, networking and printing as a whole.

We now have an OS that has all of these functions.. so the upgrade is going to be a hassle rather than a convenience. This driver example is just another of the problems a user will face. Wheres the real motivation to upgrade? Forcing direct X down a users throat is not the way.
Posted on Reply
#37
wazzledoozle
Sigh. I think you forgot what this news post was originally. Creative Alchemy.

From now on I'm taking a zero-tolerance stance against flaming in the news section, people.
Posted on Reply
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