WHat is wrong with creative ?

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: Pariah
CMSS2 will still manipulate audio no matter what type of speakers are chosen in the control panel, and it is clearly audible. I could not hear any difference between CMSS1 on or off when limiting output to stereo.

Same conclusion I came to. As the applet says, CMSS2 adds ambient something or other to benefit the sound.

BTW Pariah, I think I had the argument with you a couple months back, with you telling me it was impossible to get 4.1 output without having installed the creative software... Well now we know why! CMSS is enabled by default.

 

[jjyiz28]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: jjyiz28

Originally posted by: Thor_Sevan
jjyiz28, you can change CMSS here :
cmss

Sincerly, CMSS can sometimes create an interresting effect but for most of the songs it kills the BASS and MIDRANGES so you loose the punch of these musics. Thing is, it ALSO affects games... I don't like it. I don't like it even more because it was ON by default without asking me anything.

Thor_Sevan.

much thanks my broohah!!!

funny thing is, cmss on or off, doesn't make my sound any different.. go figure. is it cuz i only have a 2.1 speaker setup??

Refer to my earlier posts... Also, since you have a stereo setup, CMSS doesn't come into play. Most music will be stereo format to begin with, so CMSS won't need to upmix it to match your speaker system.

Also, to Thor, CMSS won't effect your games if your games are set up to run EAX multichannel. Just make sure that option is enabled in game, and CMSS won't interfere.

parden my ignorance, but what is a stereo setup?? a 2.1 system??

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: jjyiz28

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: jjyiz28

Originally posted by: Thor_Sevan
jjyiz28, you can change CMSS here :
cmss

Sincerly, CMSS can sometimes create an interresting effect but for most of the songs it kills the BASS and MIDRANGES so you loose the punch of these musics. Thing is, it ALSO affects games... I don't like it. I don't like it even more because it was ON by default without asking me anything.

Thor_Sevan.

much thanks my broohah!!!

funny thing is, cmss on or off, doesn't make my sound any different.. go figure. is it cuz i only have a 2.1 speaker setup??

Refer to my earlier posts... Also, since you have a stereo setup, CMSS doesn't come into play. Most music will be stereo format to begin with, so CMSS won't need to upmix it to match your speaker system.

Also, to Thor, CMSS won't effect your games if your games are set up to run EAX multichannel. Just make sure that option is enabled in game, and CMSS won't interfere.

parden my ignorance, but what is a stereo setup?? a 2.1 system??

Roger that. Well, technically it's a 2 speaker system, but subwoofers don't really count, since the reciever\sound card doesn't even know that they're there.

 

[ronnn]

I find best sound for listening to music with audigy 2 and monsoon 505h speakers is cmss not enabled and i use foobar with stereo X 2 enabled. Bass seems the same to me as with the older drivers, but the monsoon speakers have a more natural sounding bass, not pronounced at all like most subwoofers and maybe I just do not hear the drop off. The big benefit for me of the new drivers is no pop when I turn the computer on and off.:music:

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: Pariah
If I set it to headphones, which sounds terrible on its own...

It's not nessisarily a "terrible" thing, but in Headphones mode, spatialization kicks in, which mixes the channels a bit so it sounds more like it really should(with headphones, you can hear the 2 channels distinctly, one in each ear; while with a real sound source, the other ear would hear the other channel slightly delayed and weaker). It works great if you have headphones, but sounds really wierd if you don't.

 

[jjyiz28]

Originally posted by: ronnn
I find best sound for listening to music with audigy 2 and monsoon 505h speakers is cmss not enabled and i use foobar with stereo X 2 enabled. Bass seems the same to me as with the older drivers, but the monsoon speakers have a more natural sounding bass, not pronounced at all like most subwoofers and maybe I just do not hear the drop off. The big benefit for me of the new drivers is no pop when I turn the computer on and off.:music:

monsoons kix ass. i myself have the monsoon MM-700.

 

[Pariah]

Originally posted by: ViRGE

Originally posted by: Pariah
If I set it to headphones, which sounds terrible on its own...

It's not nessisarily a "terrible" thing, but in Headphones mode, spatialization kicks in, which mixes the channels a bit so it sounds more like it really should(with headphones, you can hear the 2 channels distinctly, one in each ear; while with a real sound source, the other ear would hear the other channel slightly delayed and weaker). It works great if you have headphones, but sounds really wierd if you don't.

It's not the mixing of channels, I don't really notice that. The setting assumes that headphones can't produce any lowend at all and cuts off almost all bass. It sounds like the dynamic range has been severely compressed, because even some of the highend is missing. The whole sound is muffled, with a noticeable drop in volume. With a good set of headphones it sounds terrible. If you play it through real speakers, the symptoms are unmistakable.

 

[Pacinamac23]

Originally posted by: jjyiz28

Originally posted by: Nebor
I now pity the audigy 1 owners... And contemplate getting an Audigy 2 ZS, wondering what I might be missing.

actually you could do a audigy2 drivers hack on A1 and live cards

http://www.tech-pc.co.uk/audigy-1.php

haven't gotten around to it yet though.

this shows that live and audigy cards can sound better, but creative decided to use these drivers for their A2 cards. this is where i base my theory that creative did this purposfully so people will buy a2.

Very interesting guide, I am going to have to try this out.

 

[babutiger]

Originally posted by: Pacinamac23

Originally posted by: jjyiz28

Originally posted by: Nebor
I now pity the audigy 1 owners... And contemplate getting an Audigy 2 ZS, wondering what I might be missing.

actually you could do a audigy2 drivers hack on A1 and live cards

http://www.tech-pc.co.uk/audigy-1.php

haven't gotten around to it yet though.

this shows that live and audigy cards can sound better, but creative decided to use these drivers for their A2 cards. this is where i base my theory that creative did this purposfully so people will buy a2.

Very interesting guide, I am going to have to try this out.

The new Audigy 2 drivers are out and can be used with Audigy 1's (adds EAX 4.0).
Thread

Is there any need for this hack anymore?

 

[Auric]

Originally posted by: AndyHui
Nebor, you have an Audigy 2. The A2 uses CMSS2, which is VERY different to CMSS1 on the Audigy 1.

CMSS2 sounds good, CMSS1 DOES NOT.

The Audigy and Audigy 2 DSP's are the same and the feature differences are thus primarily in software. The software "meant" for the A2 has both CMSS and CMSS 2. Using that software on the A1 is the same. Anyway, each of the CMSS 3D effects are for different uses and are not to be confoozed with one being superior than the other or for a different hardware model.

 

[Auric]

Originally posted by: babutiger

The new Audigy 2 drivers are out and can be used with Audigy 1's (adds EAX 4.0).
Thread

Is there any need for this hack anymore?

Yes, because as much of the difference is in the applications and the A2 ones are far superior. The Surround Mixer, EAX Console and Speaker Settings are critical. As some peeps have discovered in this thread you cannot just install drivers without any way to configure their options and then wonder why the default settings are not ideal for your setup. That is simply wrong-headed.

 

[buleyb]

I really like Creative hardware...but they need an overhaul of their drivers...clean them up, remove the bloat...get them working and easy to configure. Last time I bought them was in the first Live! days, and I won't pick them again until they revamp their software side. The cost/headache just push it over...

 

[jjyiz28]

Originally posted by: babutiger

Originally posted by: Pacinamac23

Originally posted by: jjyiz28

Originally posted by: Nebor
I now pity the audigy 1 owners... And contemplate getting an Audigy 2 ZS, wondering what I might be missing.

actually you could do a audigy2 drivers hack on A1 and live cards

http://www.tech-pc.co.uk/audigy-1.php

haven't gotten around to it yet though.

this shows that live and audigy cards can sound better, but creative decided to use these drivers for their A2 cards. this is where i base my theory that creative did this purposfully so people will buy a2.

Very interesting guide, I am going to have to try this out.

The new Audigy 2 drivers are out and can be used with Audigy 1's (adds EAX 4.0).
Thread

Is there any need for this hack anymore?

so i could download and install the "EAX 4.0 ADVANCED HD Driver Update for Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2/Audigy 2 ZS " , no where does it says audigy 1 cards are supported. "SBA2_EAX4DRV_031031.exe"

what gives???

 

[Pacinamac23]

so i could download and install the "EAX 4.0 ADVANCED HD Driver Update for Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2/Audigy 2 ZS " , no where does it says audigy 1 cards are supported. "SBA2_EAX4DRV_031031.exe"

If you go to the Audigy 1 section and DL the drivers for it they are basically the same thing.

 

[sandorski]

Blarg! CL must have read my post then remotely started a Self-Destruct sequence on my Audigy. :|

I was playing Deus Ex earlier when suddenly the game locked up with a screeching sound. I hit reset, get back into WinXP and notice that my speakers seem rather quiet. Checked a few things so far, but not a peep is heard. I have a few more things to try yet, wish me luck.

If it's dead I'll be looking for a non-CL card, hopeully there is one out there that is decent for gaming.

 

[sandorski]

Got it working again. So disregard previous post.

 

[vshah]

in my experience, CMSS makes stuff sound like crap, CMSS 2 makes it sound awesome...for everything...games/movies/music...i just leave cmss2 on perfectly balanced between front and back. i didnt install playcenter or any of that crap...all i have is the standard audio panel and the eax control panel....\

-Vivan

 

[SkaarjMaster]

This thread gets me wondering. I have an Audigy1 and 5.1 speakers. I have no idea if CMSS is enabled or not and only have the drivers installed at the present time. Should I be concerned about this?

 

[Pacinamac23]

I just used the tech-pc guide to modify my Audigy into an Audigy 2 and I must say the results are impressive. CMSS2 sounds absolutly fantastic, it blew me away. The software is designed so much better too.

I highly recommend anyone with an Audigy give it a try.

 

[Auric]

Originally posted by: Pacinamac23
I just used the tech-pc guide to modify my Audigy into an Audigy 2 and I must say the results are impressive. CMSS2 sounds absolutly fantastic, it blew me away. The software is designed so much better too.

I highly recommend anyone with an Audigy give it a try.

Welcome to a year ago. But seriously, I concur.

Along with the three apps I mentioned previously, AudioHQ should also be installed. Most users will also want to disable the splash screen via shortcut and optionally disable startup items in Msconfig (or remove with RegCleaner from jv16.org if sure):

updreg
asioreg
cthelper (especially if not using WinDVD)
sbdrvdet (if not using front-panel bay)

Curiously, the hated splash screen is absent from the ZS install.

 

[jjyiz28]

Originally posted by: Auric

Originally posted by: Pacinamac23
I just used the tech-pc guide to modify my Audigy into an Audigy 2 and I must say the results are impressive. CMSS2 sounds absolutly fantastic, it blew me away. The software is designed so much better too.

I highly recommend anyone with an Audigy give it a try.

Welcome to a year ago. But seriously, I concur.

Along with the three apps I mentioned previously, AudioHQ should also be installed. Most users will also want to disable the splash screen via shortcut and optionally disable startup items in Msconfig (or remove with RegCleaner from jv16.org if sure):

updreg
asioreg
cthelper (especially if not using WinDVD)
sbdrvdet (if not using front-panel bay)

Curiously, the hated splash screen is absent from the ZS install.

finally got around to installing the A2 drivers hack to my a1. it works, but i can't do the same for the updated drivers, it says that it can't find an audigy2 card. any ideas?? i ran the ctcomp.exe to the directory that has the updated drivers

 

[Pacinamac23]

Along with the three apps I mentioned previously, AudioHQ should also be installed. Most users will also want to disable the splash screen via shortcut and optionally disable startup items in Msconfig (or remove with RegCleaner from jv16.org if sure):

Could you go into more detail about hwo to remove these items?

 

[Auric]

Originally posted by: jjyiz28

finally got around to installing the A2 drivers hack to my a1. it works, but i can't do the same for the updated drivers, it says that it can't find an audigy2 card. any ideas?? i ran the ctcomp.exe to the directory that has the updated drivers

It helps to consider what you are trying to do which is not modify the drivers, but the setup -so that it detects the expected A2. So, point ctomp.exe to the top directory of the expanded package where the setup files exist (specifically data1.hdr and data1.cab).

Originally posted by: Pacinamac23

Could you go into more detail about hwo to remove these items?

Start -> Run -> msconfig, open Startup tab, de-select the items. Upon next restart you will be prompted to make a choice of whether or not to accept the altered startup. I do not recall the wording exactly but you want to accept and disable further notification.

Note Msconfig is not included with Windows 2000 but the one from XP can be used and is available for download.

The other way is to run RegCleaner, open Startup List tab, select the items, click the Remove Selected button. Afterwards, these will be available on the Backups tab should you wish to restore them. RegCleaner is also a safe and easy way to remove all Creative Tech registry entries after uninstalling the original software and it includes a cleanup tool to handle the less obvious too.

 

[Auric]

Originally posted by: SkaarjMaster
This thread gets me wondering. I have an Audigy1 and 5.1 speakers. I have no idea if CMSS is enabled or not and only have the drivers installed at the present time. Should I be concerned about this?

If you are using the A2 drivers, CMSS 3D is enabled by default and as such is altering the sound. As is the SW DD decoder which could cause conflicts with another included with a SW DVD player/decoder or an external HW one. I don't recall what the defaults were for the A1 drivers but as said, it seems unlikely that they would be ideal for any given system. Indeed, if anything they will create problems. It seems logical to me that it should default to a basic 2 speaker system with all the extras off. But the brain trust at Creative has other ideas.

 

[Jeff7181]

I still have a SB16 PCI... that served me well for many many many years. Before that, I had an AWE32, which was also VERY good, but it got sold with an old computer to a relative who I think has since thrown the computer in the garbage :disgust: