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Difference between revisions of "Glossary:Sound"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
m (→‎Speaker setup: added final step)
(Work in progress.)
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{{ii}} This might not work for some games using EAX.
 
{{ii}} This might not work for some games using EAX.
  
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{{Fixbox|1=
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Please refer to [http://pcgamingwiki.com/w/index.php?title=Glossary:Sound&action=submit#Restoring_Legacy_Audio_Effects_.28DirectSound_3D.29 Restoring Legacy Audio Effects (DirectSound 3D)] for more information.
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{{Fixbox/fix|Install ALchemy Universal (non-Creative cards)}}
 
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# Install [http://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/28-creative-alchemy-universal/ Creative ALchemy Universal].
 
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# Configure ALchemy for the game (see the game's wiki page or Creative's [http://web.archive.org/web/20130702030043/http://connect.creativelabs.com/alchemy/Lists/Games/AllItems.aspx games list]).
 
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}}
 
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{{Fixbox|1=
 
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{{Fixbox/fix|Install ALchemy (Creative cards)}}
 
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# Go to the [http://support.creative.com Creative drivers page] and install Creative ALchemy.
 
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# Configure ALchemy for the game (see the game's wiki page or Creative's [http://web.archive.org/web/20130702030043/http://connect.creativelabs.com/alchemy/Lists/Games/AllItems.aspx games list]).
 
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===CD music not playing===
 
===CD music not playing===
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# If possible, check the game's configuration files to see what drive letter it is expecting.
 
# If possible, check the game's configuration files to see what drive letter it is expecting.
 
# Try reinstalling the game from the drive you want to use. This should make the game look to that drive letter instead.
 
# Try reinstalling the game from the drive you want to use. This should make the game look to that drive letter instead.
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}}
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==Restoring Legacy Audio Effects (DirectSound 3D)==
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DirectSound is a deprecated component of [http://pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/DirectX DirectX]. DirectSound 3D was a component of DirectSound that allowed games to use hardware-based audio enhancement features of discrete [http://pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Glossary:Sound_card sound cards]. Many Windows-based games developed before the public release of Windows Vista (January 2007) used hardware-accelerated audio effects that are no longer supported in Vista and newer Windows operating systems due to changes made with how Windows handles audio. To resolve this incompatibility, sound device manufacturers developed software to restore legacy audio effects for their respective devices and end users developed workarounds that can be applied to any sound device.
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===EAX===
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{{ii}} Using these solutions may also restore surround sound functionality in games that use DirectSound 3D.
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{{Fixbox|1=
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{{Fixbox/fix|Asus Xonar cards}}
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{{ii}} Supports all EAX versions, except 3 and 4
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# Make sure you are running the most updated drivers
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# Open the Asus control panel
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# Tick "GX" mode
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'''Notes'''
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{{ii}}Your Xonar must be the default playback device
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}}
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{{Fixbox|1=
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{{Fixbox/fix|[http://web.archive.org/web/20130508122842/http://connect.creativelabs.com/alchemy/default.aspx ALchemy] - Creative audio cards|link=false}}
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{{ii}}Not needed for EAX 5 games
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# Make sure you are running the most updated drivers for your Sound Blaster
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# If your audio card driver doesn't include ALchemy, download and install [http://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/68-alchemy/ latest version]
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# Open the Creative control panel and switch on Game mode
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# Start the ALchemy app and enable the games you want to play with EAX effects
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}}
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{{Fixbox|1=
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{{Fixbox/fix|Install ALchemy Universal (non-Creative cards)}}
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# Install [http://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/28-creative-alchemy-universal/ Creative ALchemy Universal].
 +
# Configure ALchemy for the game (see the game's wiki page or Creative's [http://web.archive.org/web/20130702030043/http://connect.creativelabs.com/alchemy/Lists/Games/AllItems.aspx games list]).
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}}
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{{Fixbox|1=
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{{Fixbox/fix|On Realtek chips}}
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{{ii}} Supports EAX up to version 2
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# Download [http://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/75-realtek-3d-soundback/ 3D SoundBack]
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# Extract it somewhere, right-click <code>setup.exe</code> and choose Properties.
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# On the Compatibility tab set the compatibility mode to Windows Vista.
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# Run the installer.
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# Go to the installation folder, right-click <code>3DSoundBack.exe</code> and choose Proprieties
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# On the Compatibility tab set the compatibility mode to Windows Vista.
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# Open the program and enable the fix for your games.
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'''Notes'''
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{{ii}} Your Realtek chip must be the default playback device.
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}}
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===A3D===
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{{ii}}Lists of Aureal 3-Dimensional enabled games can be found [http://web.archive.org/web/20030811185730/http://www.vortexofsound.com/gamelist/gamelist-a3d.htm here] and [http://members.optushome.com.au/kirben/3dsoftware.html here]
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{{++}}C-Media based sound cards support A3D 1.0 out of the box, even in Windows Vista (via Xear3D)<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20091231093325/http://www.cmedia.com.tw/news_xear3d_ex.html C-Media’s Xear3D EX announcement - C-Media company news (retrieved)]</ref>
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{{Fixbox|1=
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{{Fixbox/fix|A3D on Creative soundcard|ref=<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20100510160147/http://www.pro-hl.com/a3d_winxp.shtml A3D for Windows XP - (retrieved)]</ref>}}
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# Download latest [http://www.soundcard-drivers.com/drivers/7/7493.htm official A3D drivers] ([http://95.31.27.16/Soft/Aureal/a3ddrivers312.exe mirror]) and install them
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# Copy <code>a3d..</code> files (inside {{code|%windir%\system32}} or {{code|%windir%\SysWOW64}}) to {{code|%windir%\system}}
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# Run the game with "Windows 98 / Windows Me" compatibility
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'''Notes:'''
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{{ii}} A 1.0 wrapper should have been included in every Creative's driver since early 2000s<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20010208081840/http://alive.singnet.com.sg/features/inside/03-3d-audio.htm Inside the Sound Blaster Live! - ALive! (retrieved)] and verified by [[User:Mirh|Mirh]]</ref>
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{{ii}} Not all Creative's card will work<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20020609102420/http://www.jugger1.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/a3dnotes.htm Important Notes on Installing A3D for Soundblaster Cards - KIA Clan Site (retrieved)]</ref>. Check the fixbox below for a possible workaround
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}}
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{{Fixbox|1=
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{{Fixbox/fix|A2D - An universal DirectSound3D wrapper for A3D|ref=<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/19991010145916/http://www.aureal.com/tech/te_tech.htm Aureal: Technology - Aureal.com (retrieved)]</ref><ref>[http://members.optushome.com.au/kirben/drivers.html#A2D%20Drivers Aureal A3D Central - Drivers]</ref><ref>[http://www.ntcompatible.com/A3D_with_Soundblaster_Live_Cards_t5677.html#23924  A3D with Soundblaster Live! Cards - NT Compatible forums]</ref>}}
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# Download the [http://www.worknd.ru/A3D-Live.exe updated wrapper] and install it
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# Make sure the included {{file|a3dapi.dll}} is in your {{code|%windir%\system}} too
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# Delete any a3d related files from your game installation directory
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# Launch the game with "Windows 98 / Windows Me" compatibility
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'''Notes:'''
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{{ii}}From Windows Vista onwards, ''older'' games could require the original untouched [http://www.soundcard-drivers.com/drivers/26/26364.htm wrapper] '''''combined''''' with one of [[#EAX|DirectSound restoration]] methods
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}}
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{{Fixbox|1=
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{{Fixbox/fix|Bring back your Aureal Vortex card - Windows XP|ref=<ref>[http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85854 REAL A3D in windowsXP - Overclockers Forums]</ref>}}
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{{ii}} Default XP drivers should be fine. Otherwise try the [http://www.soundcard-drivers.com/companies/136.htm updated ones] ([http://www.nix.ru/drivers_list.html?key=2593 mirror]) <ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20031002213035/http://www.vortexofsound.com/drivers/drivers.htm Vortex of Sound - Aureal Vortex focused site (retrieved drivers page)]</ref>
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# [http://web.archive.org/web/20041011143759/http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/chris.day/download/aureal.htm Download] XP Vortex control panel, accordingly to your sound card
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# Navigate to the folder where you installed the game you are going to play with and make sure there are no a3dapi related files
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# Start the game with "Windows 98 / Windows Me" compatibility
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'''Notes:'''
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{{ii}}('''''A3D ''''' drivers ≠ '''''Vortex sound cards''''' drivers)<ref>[http://www.quantexzone.com/index.php/vortex-of-sound/a3d-faq/114-a3d-faq-drivers A3D FAQ - Drivers - Quantex Zone]</ref>
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{{ii}} You'll need original Windows XP's A3D drivers in order to have this procedure working . If you think this is not your case, replace {{file|a3d.dll}} and {{file|a3dapi.dll}} in your Windows folder with those inside {{code|%windir%\driver cache\i386\driver.cab}}
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{{--}} VIA and AMD chipsets users with a Vortex card could experience a loss of sound <ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20041017135923/http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/chris.day/guides/vortex.htm Aureal Vortex Sound Loss Fix - Quantex Zone (retrieved)]</ref> at -but not only limited to- Windows startup. Download the attached [http://prdupl02.ynet.co.il/ForumFiles/882924.zip wpcredit/wpcdset] ([http://mir.cr/16WU3XLQ mirror])([http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/cheryl.day/files/wpcredit.zip mirror2]) and follow [http://web.archive.org/web/20030814034646/http://www.vortexofsound.com/techhelp/th-v2a80.htm these].[http://web.archive.org/web/20030404154747/http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/chris.day/vortexfix01.html instructions] to solve the problem.
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
{{References}}
 
{{References}}

Revision as of 03:09, 16 July 2014

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Speaker setup

Many games use the speaker configuration reported by the operating system so having it set correctly is crucial.
Instructions

Issues fixed

Sound problems (cracking, delays, missing music/effects, etc.)

Instructions
Instructions

No surround sound

Some games are using old implementation of DirectSound or other sound libraries that result with no surround sound on Windows Vista and newer.
Instructions
Instructions

Game volume decreases

Instructions

Can't enable EAX

EAX effects need a workaround on Windows Vista and newer.
This might not work for some games using EAX.

Please refer to Restoring Legacy Audio Effects (DirectSound 3D) for more information.

CD music not playing

CD-DA music (shows up as a music CD in media players)

Instructions
Instructions

Non-CD-DA music (does not show up as a music CD in media players)

Instructions

Restoring Legacy Audio Effects (DirectSound 3D)

DirectSound is a deprecated component of DirectX. DirectSound 3D was a component of DirectSound that allowed games to use hardware-based audio enhancement features of discrete sound cards. Many Windows-based games developed before the public release of Windows Vista (January 2007) used hardware-accelerated audio effects that are no longer supported in Vista and newer Windows operating systems due to changes made with how Windows handles audio. To resolve this incompatibility, sound device manufacturers developed software to restore legacy audio effects for their respective devices and end users developed workarounds that can be applied to any sound device.

EAX

Using these solutions may also restore surround sound functionality in games that use DirectSound 3D.
Instructions
Instructions
Instructions
Instructions

A3D

Lists of Aureal 3-Dimensional enabled games can be found here and here
C-Media based sound cards support A3D 1.0 out of the box, even in Windows Vista (via Xear3D)[1]
Instructions
Instructions
Instructions


References