Difference between revisions of "Glossary:Sound card"
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{{++}} Restores EAX completely (all versions) and surround sound. | {{++}} Restores EAX completely (all versions) and surround sound. | ||
− | {{ii}} Could be made into a universal solution, just like IndirectSound or DSOAL, by using [https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/28-creative-alchemy-universal/ Creative ALchemy Universal] (obsolete) or [https:// | + | {{ii}} Could be made into a universal solution, just like IndirectSound or DSOAL, by using [https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/28-creative-alchemy-universal/ Creative ALchemy Universal] (obsolete) or [https://archive.org/download/creative-alchemy-all-versions/GenericALchemyDerestrictor-1.0.zip ALchemy Restriction Remover]. |
{{ii}} Setting Game mode in Creative Control Panel is mandatory for some games, and in order to decrease performance overlay (if exists) and revive EAX 3 and higher.<ref>{{Refurl|url=http://forums.creative.com/showthread.php?t=495329|title=Games only work if Game Mode is selec - Creative Discussion Forum|date=May 2023}}</ref>{{CN|Creation mode too perhaps? http://ixbtlabs.com/articles2/multimedia/creative-x-fi.html}} | {{ii}} Setting Game mode in Creative Control Panel is mandatory for some games, and in order to decrease performance overlay (if exists) and revive EAX 3 and higher.<ref>{{Refurl|url=http://forums.creative.com/showthread.php?t=495329|title=Games only work if Game Mode is selec - Creative Discussion Forum|date=May 2023}}</ref>{{CN|Creation mode too perhaps? http://ixbtlabs.com/articles2/multimedia/creative-x-fi.html}} | ||
{{ii}} For Creative card which are based on Host OpenAL (HOAL) drivers (all post X-Fi card), renaming the '''sens_oal.dll''' to '''ct_oal.dll''' in '''c:\windows\syswow64''' (windows 64 bits) or '''c:\windows\system32''' (on windows 32 bits) will force alchemy to use the Host OpenAl drivers instead of his internal library, this could give you better quality in games. When using this method, to switch back to the internal library, just have ''DisableNativeAL=true'' in the dsound.ini of your game folder. Although HOAL can be used with Alchemy only on post X-Fi card, it can be used on these cards in OpenAL games.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2IiNemRjmw</ref> If sound is broken, get the SB X-Fi Series Support Pack 4.0, just don't install included drivers. Unpack ha20x22k.sys from XFTI_PCDRV_LB_2_17_0009.exe\Drivers\wdm\win2k_xp\amd64\ to C:\Windows\System32\drivers. The problem may exist on any driver past v2.17.<ref>http://forums.creative.com/showthread.php?t=726283</ref> | {{ii}} For Creative card which are based on Host OpenAL (HOAL) drivers (all post X-Fi card), renaming the '''sens_oal.dll''' to '''ct_oal.dll''' in '''c:\windows\syswow64''' (windows 64 bits) or '''c:\windows\system32''' (on windows 32 bits) will force alchemy to use the Host OpenAl drivers instead of his internal library, this could give you better quality in games. When using this method, to switch back to the internal library, just have ''DisableNativeAL=true'' in the dsound.ini of your game folder. Although HOAL can be used with Alchemy only on post X-Fi card, it can be used on these cards in OpenAL games.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2IiNemRjmw</ref> If sound is broken, get the SB X-Fi Series Support Pack 4.0, just don't install included drivers. Unpack ha20x22k.sys from XFTI_PCDRV_LB_2_17_0009.exe\Drivers\wdm\win2k_xp\amd64\ to C:\Windows\System32\drivers. The problem may exist on any driver past v2.17.<ref>http://forums.creative.com/showthread.php?t=726283</ref> |
Revision as of 23:29, 18 May 2024
Sound |
Sound card |
Surround sound |
- Audio card (chip if you have an integrated solution on your motherboard) is the component necessary to play or record sounds on your PC.
- The major producers in this field are Realtek, ASUSTeK, Conexant, Creative, SigmaTel/IDT/Tempo, VIA.
- AMD and Nvidia are also audio chip producers, since the arrival of HDMI outputs.
Related articles
Types of Sound Cards
There are two types of sound cards that are generally used in Gaming PC builds i.e. Internal Sound Cards and External Sound cards. The first one sits on the motherboard right inside your pc case while the latter can be connected using a USB interface. There are advantages and disadvantages of sound cards[1] (both variants) which completely depend on the gaming requirements.
Internal Sound Cards
Most preferred among Gamers are the internal sound cards as they are connected directly to the motherboard using PCI/PCIe port. It does not require any extra interface in between. Internal Sound cards come in both 5.1 and 7.1 channel output. As compared to external sound cards, these are less expensive and efficient. Manufacturers like Asus, Creative, etc. are the most popular internal sound card brands.
External Sound Cards
These sound cards are very simple plug and play devices and installation is very easy, unlike internal sound cards. They use a USB 2.0 interface to be connected to the PC. Both 5.1 and 7.1 channel options are available in external sound cards. The issue with an external sound card is that they have latency associated with them to an extent.
Set up OpenAL
- ADI, Creative and nForce are already ready out of the box
- Make sure to be running latest libraries. Deleting
OpenAL32.dll
andwrap_oal.dll
in games shipping with ancient ones is recommended. - Default Windows output device name must match OAL device one for native implementations to work, DS3D based "Generic Hardware" fallback will be used otherwise (if available)[2]
Asus
Enable Game eXtensions |
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Notes |
Creative (X-Fi Titanium Cards)
Use xfitssfix |
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Windows 7/8: install driver 2.17.0008C (or 2.18.0015A for PCI cards)[4][5][6] |
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Universal
- Supports binaural HRTF audio mixing for more accurate 3D sound.[7]
OpenAL Soft |
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|
Rapture3D
Use Rapture3D |
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Custom quality wrapper for OpenAL games. Among various 3D techniques, provides also its own HRTF tables.
|
XAudio2 only allows stereo on Dolby Digital Live
Use the XAudio2 Dolby Digital Live patcher[9] |
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|
Restore legacy audio effects on newer OS
DirectSound hardware path
- Starting with Windows Vista and its new audio stack, DirectSound applications are rendered entirely in a user-mode software audio session[10]
- Most games developed in the preceding decade will experience problems going from the simple lack of EAX effects to the complete demotion to stereophony[11]
Universal
DSOAL[12] |
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Notes
|
IndirectSound[16] |
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Notes |
Asus
Enable Game eXtensions |
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Notes
|
Creative
Use Creative ALchemy[18] |
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Notes
|
Realtek
Use 3D SoundBack |
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Notes
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A3D
- Lists of Aureal 3-Dimensional enabled games can be found here and here.
- A3D 1.0 is supported out of the box by C-Media based boards (via Xear3D[22]), X-Fi and older[23] Creative based devices and older VIA drivers.
Use DirectSound3D wrapper[24][25][26][27] |
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Notes
|
References
- ↑ Internal & External Sound Cards for Gaming Glinkster
- ↑ Enumeration with OpenAL on Windows - OpenAL (retrieved)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Xonar best audio settings guide
- ↑ X-Fi Titanium: OpenAL cuts outs on games with newer drivers (2.40+) - Problem might have been found | Creative Discussion Forum (retrieved)
- ↑ Will OpenAL ever be fixed on the Titanium cards? : SoundBlasterOfficial - Reddit - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ Solution for UT3 "Hardware OpenAL" issue on Creative X-Fi cards! | Creative Discussion Forum (retrieved)
- ↑ SS2 Headphones Sound Upgrade - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ Driver isn't the default with ALC_ENUMERATION_EXT · kcat/openal-soft - GitHub
- ↑ Surround sound - Steam Users' Forums (retrieved)
- ↑ Audio in Windows Vista - Creative Labs Discussion Forums (retrieved)
- ↑ Restoring surround sound to Deus Ex and other games - should I get Sound Blaster MB3? • VOGONS - last accessed on 9 June 2023
- ↑ [RELz] Restoring Surround Sound and EAX - last accessed on 2024-02-13
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 kcat/dsoal: A DirectSound DLL replacer that enables surround sound, HRTF, and EAX support via OpenAL Soft - last accessed on 2024-02-13
- ↑ indirectsound.com - last accessed on 2023-05-31
- ↑ Windows 11 Support · Issue #34 · kcat/dsoal - last accessed on 2024-02-03
- ↑ indirect sound • VOGONS - last accessed on 2023-06-09
- ↑ IndirectSound - 3D Audio in Older Games - last accessed on 2024-02-13
- ↑ ALchemy - Creative Labs: Connect (retrieved)
- ↑ Games only work if Game Mode is selec - Creative Discussion Forum - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2IiNemRjmw
- ↑ http://forums.creative.com/showthread.php?t=726283
- ↑ C-Media’s Xear3D EX Takes Audio to the next level for Windows Vista | C-Media Electronics (retrieved)
- ↑ Inside the Sound Blaster Live! - ALive! (retrieved) and verified by Mirh
- ↑ A3D for Windows XP | Pro-HL.com (retrieved)
- ↑ Anybody who didn't upgrade his HL since last year? - Steam Users' Forums (retrieved)
- ↑ Sound Fix in DarkEngine games - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ Bringing Back Aureal3d Audio? - last accessed on May 2023