Sunday, April 6th 2008

Modder Unlocks Vista Driver Features on Creative Sound Cards

Creative has received much criticism for charging owners of Audigy sound cards for its ALchemy software, which offers improved audio support for certain games under Windows Vista. However, a modder by the name of Daniel Kawakami has managed to build hybrid drivers using a combination of XP and Vista files as well bypassing certain driver checks to enable several features including:
  • Dolby/DTS decoding
  • CMSS, CMSS2 and Stereo Surround (originally only CMSS was available, but this setting also affects ALchemy/OpenAL and Kawakami notes that it's thus particularly useful)
  • Advanced EQ and Special FX presets
  • DVD Audio
  • Hardware MIDI synthesizer (Kawakami says he wrote a small utility that automatically detects and changes the default Vista MIDI Synth during driver install or can change it later using its GUI. Some media players let you choose the MIDI synthesizer)
  • Equalizer
  • WaveRT
You can read some more complete details of his work at Custom PC and download the files from here. The modded driver was originally uploaded to Creative's forums, although the company responded in a somewhat heavy handed manner, as you can see in this thread.
Source: Custom PC
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103 Comments on Modder Unlocks Vista Driver Features on Creative Sound Cards

#26
Solaris17
Super Dainty Moderator
they said something about creative crippling the xp drivers as well but im not sire for which card and what they did...i was reading to fast but its worth a shot..they should be compatable...and they enable some cool stuff so id give it a shot.
Posted on Reply
#27
GSG-9
I will try it with my X-fi Elite but it was not mentioned in the thread so im not sure what its going to do.
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#28
DanishDevil
I am not an rtard, but just to make sure, X-Fi Fatal1ty Champion (x-ram, front panel) uses which one(s) on Vista 32?
Posted on Reply
#29
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
two people i know have tried this on audigies and are crapping their pants with glee.


Edit: Just to make sure for you people!

These are VISTA drivers. not XP, not Xp64.

As for X-fis, only xtreme audio was mentioned - the others appear to have no drivers as they werent crippled to begin with.
Posted on Reply
#30
Solaris17
Super Dainty Moderator
DanishDevilI am not an rtard, but just to make sure, X-Fi Fatal1ty Champion (x-ram, front panel) uses which one(s) on Vista 32?
XFXA_PCDRV_LB_1_04_0078A.exe is the prog for the xfi card im not sure if it supports anything other than the extreme audio i couldnt find any type of compatability hart..but its worth trying and if it wont work it wont screw anything up it will just tell you like someone posted above it will just tell you the hardware support isnt thier.
Posted on Reply
#31
DanishDevil
Thanks, I'll give it a shot. The card actually installed properly with the latest drivers and console launcher, but I'll still try it.

The Vista game support for me also, right? I'm on Vista 32.
Posted on Reply
#32
Solaris17
Super Dainty Moderator
if you have a game thats having audio issues id absolutely give it a shot :)
Posted on Reply
#33
pagalms
DanishDevilI am not an rtard, but just to make sure, X-Fi Fatal1ty Champion (x-ram, front panel) uses which one(s) on Vista 32?
It will not work. I have Platinum Fatality too. I tried to install, but setup just can't detect card.
Posted on Reply
#34
DanishDevil
I had that problem with the regular drivers until I reseated and reseated the card. I had to basically trick my system into thinking the card was there. I'll give it a shot, though. Thanks pagalms.
Posted on Reply
#35
Kursah
Hmm...I wanna try them with my X-Fi Extreme Music and Vista x64....but like said earlier, the only X-Fi it states is the Extreme Audio which is Audigy stuff anyways...But it's still good to see some great help for the audigy users out there, showing that the X-Fi wasn't truly as necessary to replace it as was once thought!

I'll wait for those of you with true X-Fi's to try it out in Vista...I'd like the THX console, though it's not extremely important...I have the March Creative drivers for V. Ult x64 and they work quite well actually...I have EAX settings (I don't have Alchemy installed), equalizer, all 3 mode panels...wish it came with the little mode switcher program..that was actually handy once I had Entertainment and Gaming setup and calibrated for their uses...

Another thing I noticed, switching modes in vista causes a D3D driver init failure, and you gotta restart the program playing music/sound (I messed with Winamp and switching modes just messing around)...XP never had this issue...but really it's a small issue, and I only use the Entertainment control panel anymore anyways.

:toast:
Posted on Reply
#36
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
KursahHmm...I wanna try them with my X-Fi Extreme Music and Vista x64....but like said earlier, the only X-Fi it states is the Extreme Audio which is Audigy stuff anyways...But it's still good to see some great help for the audigy users out there, showing that the X-Fi wasn't truly as necessary to replace it as was once thought!

I'll wait for those of you with true X-Fi's to try it out in Vista...I'd like the THX console, though it's not extremely important...I have the March Creative drivers for V. Ult x64 and they work quite well actually...I have EAX settings (I don't have Alchemy installed), equalizer, all 3 mode panels...wish it came with the little mode switcher program..that was actually handy once I had Entertainment and Gaming setup and calibrated for their uses...

Another thing I noticed, switching modes in vista causes a D3D driver init failure, and you gotta restart the program playing music/sound (I messed with Winamp and switching modes just messing around)...XP never had this issue...but really it's a small issue, and I only use the Entertainment control panel anymore anyways.

:toast:
let me show you a screenshot of what i get with an audigy 4 under vista...

oh thats right. nothing. Go creative go! love the support for your 2nd newest sound card series!
Posted on Reply
#37
pagalms
You can search for Youp Pax modded X-Fi Vista drivers over teh internets. I've used them with my Platinum Fatality after Cretive's drivers started to sound like crap. I just can't remember if it was on 32 or 64 bit Vista (it was long time ago), but drivers worked very well. :toast:
Posted on Reply
#38
RamsesII
For the regular X-FI (NOT the extreme audio driver) you will need Daniel's SBXF_PCDRV_LB_2_14_0004A.exe driver..

Unfortunately Daniel, under pressure from Creative, had to remove this set from his Filefront web page..
Also his Unified Alchemy set (can't remember the correct driver name) he had to remove..

But if you search a little with Google (on Daniel's full name) you can find both drivers hosted elsewhere.

Cheers, R.
Posted on Reply
#39
pagalms
Thanks for info. I got Alchemy Universal and will keep searhing for drivers. :)
edit: Looks like i found drivers too.
Posted on Reply
#40
Kursah
blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/04/daniel_k-who-fi.html

Here it states what he did for X-Fi was pretty minimal...stuff that wouldn't really change what I use my X-Fi for...that blog was dated 4/1/08....

I found ALchemy Universal and the X-Fi driver X-Fi Vista Support Pack v2.15.0004 Driver SBXF_VTDRV_LB_2_15_0004A

Reqeuires SP1 and true X-Fi, I might add, go here to check it out:

nomoregoatsoup.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/x-fi-vista-support-pack-v2150004-driver-sbxf_vtdrv_lb_2_15_0004a/

Lemme know whatcha think!
Posted on Reply
#41
pagalms
I installed them on 64bit Vista without SP1. They are working, but i got too crappy headphones to notice the difference. Only with enabled CMSS3D sound gets louder - quiter randomly. Tomorrow i'll check the sound on normal acoustic system.
Posted on Reply
#42
Solaris17
Super Dainty Moderator
mad crazy improvements with my SB live 24bit..check it out..

Posted on Reply
#43
Kursah
I just installed them too... my TB HPA2's sound fuller and overall better sound! I haven't changed the quality yet or anything!

Definately worth the test...I'm keeping em!
Posted on Reply
#44
Solaris17
Super Dainty Moderator
glad they worked out for ya man ya i would keep them these speakers are all sorts of alive now...crazy...now im gonna go make out with my GF cause the speakers are better than they were at x-mas so much infact it warrents me giving her a kiss and thanking her agian! :D
Posted on Reply
#45
pagalms
KursahI just installed them too... my TB HPA2's sound fuller and overall better sound! I haven't changed the quality yet or anything!

Definately worth the test...I'm keeping em!
Check out what's happening when you set speakers as headphones and enable CMSS-3D. For me it's starting to sound like you are sitting in barrel or something like that. When i set speakers as speakers 2.0/2.1 with CMSS-3D enabled, everything is fine.
Posted on Reply
#46
Kursah
pagalmsCheck out what's happening when you set speakers as headphones and enable CMSS-3D. For me it's starting to sound like you are sitting in barrel or something like that. When i set speakers as speakers 2.0/2.1 with CMSS-3D enabled, everything is fine.
Actually the CMMS-3D seems to sound better in this implementation that the last official Creative drivers I installed...I still don't like it for 5.1 headphones in the first place tho, and 2.1 sounds fine also, but CMMS-3D does react better with 2.1 sound...I think that's more because it was designed for that speaker configuration and purpose...I guess results can vary. But more positive than anything!
Posted on Reply
#47
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
unfortunately XFi Cards do not have Hardware Midi that i know of, the "PCI" Series do, anyone know if the Live series and Audigy 1-4 has it?
Posted on Reply
#48
TheGuruStud
Solaris17he has drivers that fix all sorts of things even for the newer x fi's were things didnt work properly...and even on mad old cards like my live! 24bit he re enabled disabled things and took some of the bugs out id say it gives old cards a little more life span.
You wouldn't happen to have his P17 to x-fi audio mod, would you?

I can't seem to find them, since he deleted them.



oh, and the obligatory, kiss my ass creative :D
Posted on Reply
#49
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
Speaking of which, i tried the latest Creative Beta drivers, they suck still, As i was getting chopiness in games, i was unsure if it was the Sound card or the Video card, but it was certain sound that was being choppy, so i redid both sound and video and no Chopiness Since.
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