Soundblaster Audigy SE

Lockstep

My pc was using an integrated audio and I eventually decided to buy a cheapish sound card as an upgrade. I picked up the Soundblaster Audigy SE. Box says it works with Vista.

Vista/1gig RAM/Nvidia 8600 GT

It's been a nightmare.

I uninstalled the integrated audio, stuck in the audio card. All well and good. Then installed the sound card via the CD. Only problem is, now my computer won't turn on. It gets up to the bit where just before the login screen where there is a black screen with a little green bar filling up. THe second my keyboard lights up then my pc freezes.

In safe mode it works (as the audio doesn't come on) but in normal windows, I have no luck at all.

Can anyone give me any advice here? I've been rebooting repeatedly to no avail.

pogcica

uninstall the sound card in safe mode then see if the pc boots up,
check online for updated drivers and try again

good luck

skuzzb

Creatives vista drivers are really really really bad....you need to find the moded vista drivers on their help forum. They are made by a guy called daniel_k and there should be some links for them on these boards.....or just google it!

PogMoThoin

Their also on the torrent sites, mods back off, Creative have allowed them now so its not warez.

Do a search for Creative.Soundblaster.Audigy.Series.Vista.Drivers[by.daniel_k]

Lockstep

Is this correct:

uninstall completely.
Install via the cd Vista
THen use Daniel_Ks drivers

OR
install via the CD normally, then vista update

Then use Daniel_Ks driver to update?

That ok?

PogMoThoin

Nope, uninstall completely, then use Daniel_k's modded driver, forget bout the one creative have released themselves. They broke their own driver on purpose to try and force customers to upgrade to their new X-fi2 being released soon. Daniel-k just fixed the broken driver.

Lockstep

Sorry, I'm not that smartest when it comes to PCs:D

So I uninstall completely, then without using the CD at all, I use Daniel_Ks driver as the only thing?

PogMoThoin

Ya, follow Daniel_k's instructions in with the driver.

Lockstep

ok, last retarded question, promise:D

Whereabouts would I find one? I did get the program but it has no instructions. If you could tell me whereabouts I might find one with instructions I'd be very grateful. My google results have just given me torrents and accounts of his battle with Creative.

PogMoThoin

Did you download the torrent? His instructions are in a notepad document in the folder

Lockstep

No, my pc is funny about torrents.

I just downloaded the EXE file.

PogMoThoin

You need the torrent, it contains a .iso file with software and the modded driver that you can mount on a virtual drive burn to cd to install. This .iso is only available as a torrent, no other download. Its 640MB.

The .exe is just the driver, no software AFAIK. You may be able to use your own cd and just update the driver but i've not tried this. Its 65MB right? This is what I think You've got.

PogMoThoin

Shít, just saw this:

Does NOT support the following OEM / Retail models:

- Host / software-based cards including Audigy LS / SE / Value, Audigy 2 SE, Live! 24-bit)
- any external Audigy soundcards

taken from Daniel_k's release notes for his driver:

Warning: These drivers and softwares are unofficial, not supported by Creative Labs, Inc.
Use them at your own risk.

Sound Blaster Audigy series Vista Support Pack - Compiled on Feb 24 2008 by Daniel Kawakami




Changelog:

* 02/24/2008:
- Finally fixed Speakers and CMSS setting synchronization, so Audio Center was removed.
- Completely uninstall the previous version, including all applications, before installing this one.

* 02/21/2008:
- Under certain circunstances, Speakers and CMSS setting are still not synchronized.
- Now includes the full featured Creative Graphic Equalizer, with Preset saving, see screenshot below.

* 02/19/2008:
- Changed the driver version from v2.15.0004B to v2.15.0004EQ (with Equalizer).
- Windows speaker settings are now synchronized with Audio Console / Speaker Settings speaker configuration.
- Enabling CMSS in Audio Console or EAX Settings now properly activate effects in Creative APO; Stereo focus slider does not work, so Audio Center is still required for that.
- Audigy 2 ZS Notebook is now properly supported / detected by Setup
- Completely uninstall the previous release before installing this one.



Supports both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows Vista (including Service Pack 1).


Supports all Audigy card with a Hardware EMU10K2 DSP chipset (OEM / Retail models):

- Audigy (including ES, MP3+, X-Gamer and Platinum)
- Audigy 2 (including Value, Platinum and Platinum Ex)
- Audigy 2 ZS (including Platinum and Platinum Pro)
- Audigy 4 (including SE and Pro)
- Audigy 2 ZS Notebook (PCMCIA) - Uses software MIDI emulation that does not (currently) work in Vista.


Does NOT support the following OEM / Retail models:

- Host / software-based cards including Audigy LS / SE / Value, Audigy 2 SE, Live! 24-bit)
- any external Audigy soundcards


Integrated setup program to install the following items:

- Audigy series driver 2.15.0004 (the latest X-Fi driver)
- APO Interface Module 1.30.00
- Audio Console 1.20.57 (including Graphic Equalizer)
- EAX Settings 1.10.05
- MediaSource DVD-Audio Player 2.00.76 (32-bit only)
- SoundFont Bank Manager 3.20.20
- Speaker Settings 2.00.60



Exclusive features in this unofficial driver:

- Equalizer
- CMSS and Stereo Surround with Stereo focus control
- Advanced EQ and Special FX available (see notes below)
- Dolby/DTS decoder (working on 32-bit/64-bit, requires Windows Vista Service Pack 1)
- DVD Audio (32-bit only)
- Hardware MIDI synthesizer (includes 2Mb, 4Mb and 8Mb SoundFont banks)
- 4 Gb RAM approved (tested on Intel C2D E6400, Gigabyte 965P-DS3, 4Gb RAM)



Release notes / Known issues:


- 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".


- MediaSource DVD-Audio Player requires Audigy 2 or better


Do not install if you have the first Audigy model.

The application does not support Windows Vista 64-bit and setup will close with an error message.



- WaveRT Pull Mode enabled by default
Does not seem to cause any problems, but if you ever need to disable it, follow these steps:
- run the Registry Editor (Regedit) and open the following registry tree:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class
- select Search (or press the F3 key) and type EnableWaveRTPullMode, deleting the value when found.
Restart the computer.

For more information on WaveRT, access:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/audio/wavertport.mspx



- Built-in Decoder (requires Windows Vista Service Pack 1)


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.


- EAX effects, Advanced EQ and Special FX


EAX effects only work in 4.1, 5.1 e 7.1 speaker settings.

Advanced EQ and Special FX only work in 2.1 speakers or Headphone settings.


- EAX effects, Advanced EQ and Special FX (Using SPDIF Out)


All effects work properly, but when you restart your computer, the Tone settings (Bass and Treble) are not applied.
Just readjust one of the controls one time per boot.


- There is no sound in games with OpenAL support or using Creative ALchemy


Disable Advanced EQ and Special FX selecting "No effects" before running the game or program.


- Equalizer settings are lost

It happens after you run a game with OpenAL support or using Creative ALchemy. This issue also occurs in Windows XP, so it is not specific to this Windows Vista driver.
When you restart the computer or run Equalizer, the saved setting is automatically loaded.



- No sound when CMSS is enabled using Audio Console (4.1 or more speakers)


Just move the Stereo Focus slider and set it back to the desired position, even if it is 0 (zero). Once the setting is saved, works properly. This issue does not affect EAX Settings.


- Windows Vista MIDI Device Configuration Utility


Use this utility to change the MIDI playback device for 32-bit and 64-bit applications.
The driver installer automatically selects the first hardware MIDI synthesizer found.
Note: The Audigy 2 ZS Notebook (PCMCIA) does not have a hardware synthesizer.



Some screenshots:

- Equalizer: http://brztech2.googlepages.com/CTEQ.png


- Stereo Surround: http://brztech2.googlepages.com/EAXSet.png


- Decoder: http://brztech2.googlepages.com/Decoder.png


- Mplayer Classic: select "SPDIF Out (Creative SB Audigy (WDM))" as the output device of
your player: http://brztech2.googlepages.com/Mplayerc_output.png


- Mplayer Classic: configure the AC3/DTS filter to send the stream through SPDIF: http://brztech2.googlepages.com/Mplayerc_filters.png


- Hardware MIDI: http://brztech2.googlepages.com/Wvmdcu.png

Lockstep

Thanks a million for all the help.

I have an Audigy SE, I'm guessing it wont work so?

IS there anything else you could reccomend?

PogMoThoin

Here, this is all thats available on the Creative website, use the latest driver. Your not going to have all the functions of Your soundcard on Vista like we used on Xp, cos Creative have decided to stop supporting it hoping you'll buy a new one.


I'm a little luckier than You as I've got an Audigy 2 ZS in a second pc of mine and can use Daniel_k's drivers. My main rig has an X-fi, which has only lately regained all its functions thru a Daniel_k hack. Never ever buyin a Creative product again, no matter how good the product is. You live and learn

Lockstep

Ugh, I hate Audigy now.

Ok, so I repeatedly installed it, using the drivers provided by Audigy from the website, every time, it still froze right on the bit with the green bar before the login screen.

This time, I uninstalled it but when I rebooted (and windows worked normally), I let Vista install the drivers itself.

Suddenly the sound worked and I was happy for a time.

However, when I had to turn my computer off and later back on again, the same thing happened: it froze on the green bar.

This means that the problem ONLY arises when Audigy is installed.

Only option now is to uninstall it when turning the PC off and reinstalling it when I need to turn in back on.