For those with trouble using SB512, Live! (or Audigy)

[Flower]

Hiya, as some of you know I am combating chronic Allegiance related lack of FPS on my system. And in this "crusade" chased several leads (see other threads).

I encountered a driver replacement for Emu10k1 and Emu10k2 based Soundcards (Sb512, Live! and Audigy)

Especially those who have trouble with SB512 or Live! might be interested as Creative dropped support for these cards long ago. (SB512 drivers are 5 years and Live! drivers are 3 years old)

I would only recommend using the kxDrivers if you currently have trouble with Sound. As the kxdrivers are targeted to musicians, they neglect the gaming side of sound a bit. (minor Issues with DX 3d and no EAX)
Thus as they have their own share of problems, you might want reconsider touching your system (if it can be classified as "working" that is /smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

Procedure:
1. Download the latest kx drivers (from the Forums)
2. After install do not forget to switch Front and Rear plugs. (they are switched by kxdriver as default)
(Rear output uses a different Coding scheme in EMU10k1 chips and is far higher quality than front output)
3. Read Manual of kxMixer especially the Troubleshooting part. (no I am not joking, could have helped me if I had read it in time)

Advantages:
1. You know this static noise you hear all the time when no sound is playing? It will be gone.
2. Microphone recording was a bit too silent? They let you boost it by 40dB instead only 20dB :-)
3. You were annoyed by the insensitive mixer volume sliders? kxMixer uses Logarithmic tapers.
4. If you are a musician hordes of functions which I have no clue about.

Disadvantages:
1. Rear exit has weaker amplifier. Thus maximal volume is a lower.
2. EAX is not supported. :-(
3. Recording works but is a bit strange to work out how the first time. (switch ac97 panel to mic and activate boost and mic gain, then switch to recording panel and adjust gain of AC97 recording and Master recording)

Though the kxDrivers did not solve the Problem with my FPS (Alleg is 1-2 FPS faster now as sound is routed more efficiently by the drivers, but hey 1-2 FPS is not what I had hoped for.)
Still I would not want to miss them after only using them for one day.
The static noise with the Creative Drivers almost always annoyed me, and the Mic gain function is superb as well :-)

[Grimmwolf_GB]

There is a problem with the kxdrivers though. (At least there was, 1.5 years ago) They were unable to fix (or even pinpoint) a random noise, a loud high frequency sound that suddenly started and did not disappear, until you rebooted.

[Flower]

QUOTE (Grimmwolf_GB @ Jul 16 2006, 02:43 PM) There is a problem with the kxdrivers though. (At least there was, 1.5 years ago) They were unable to fix (or even pinpoint) a random noise, a loud high frequency sound that suddenly started and did not disappear, until you rebooted.

Seems you are right, thats an exerpt from the helpfile (in which I just peeked)
QUOTE Certain hardware configurations can cause constant beeping instead of sound - please review our forum for details.[/quote]
No beeping noise on my side though.
(Tested it with a SB Live! and Sb 512 today)

Hehe rather the absence of it. I am almost enraptured by the crystal clear quality of the sound signal.

[MoGas]

ok, thanks for the link. just installed em on my SB live 5.1, now in game testing. none of the problems grimm mentioned yet.

ok, thoese drivers dont work. still cannot use hardware acceleration (some sounds are missing then). still need to use software with lowest quality. no differnce to original creative drivers.

[Relax]

Just a word of caution: I tried those drivers today and they crashed my system to a blue screen of death and made my CD Rom drive unaccessible. Re-installing the latest Creative drivers restored the system. No big deal, just wanted to let you know to bring some spare time before trying them. :-)