X-Fi Support Syndicate & Owner's Clubhouse

[FreedomEclipse]

I was asking Tigger to swap for his Xonar.

 

[Mussels]

I was asking Tigger to swap for his Xonar.

now we're just confusing each other.

Lets all sit back, relax, and be glad we arent on creative cards. Oh yeah, right, sorry


I'll drop out of this thread again - i only popped in to help clarify the digital issue.

 

[Wile E]

If you dig up the Daniel K drivers, I do believe that most any Creative card will do 5.1 sound thru optical.

 

[Beebee]

Now I'm really confused & mortified

Ok Iv'e realized that the X-Fi Xtreme Audio isn't even an X_Fi, & is probably a step down from my much older Audigy EUX HD no SPDIF in or out so I was lucky to get it work even in 2 channel config. The more i read about SPDIF the more confused I get.

If I use an SPDIF pass thru from the CD player to the Soundcard & then an SPDIF out to a Sub with a built in Dolby Decoder where is the data being processed ? on the soundcard, well I know something is hapening there because if I play with the room settings I hear the changes in the speakers. I dont like any of them so don't use them, i'd guess some processing is happening there, then the data still in a digital stream, is then being passed on to the sub. what I'm trying to understand is what part the each play. Then we come to other sound Sources, Sound files stored on your computer in various formats, & directional sound in games.
It seems I was deluding myself about hearing any at all, well probably a little bit cause the Sterio Data was there but anything I thought I was hearing from behind me was a delusion, As none of the soundcards I have owned to date are capable of this level of decoding.

Are there any reasonably priced Soundcards out there capable of decoding The dolby data? Beebee
PS One more question is the any advantage in enabling EUX in game (Stalker) on a setup like this

 

[Deleted member 24505]

Freedom,i'll let ya know on the swap,i just wanna actually try the xonar first I dont get it till mon/tues.

Will it be ok if i put the sound card into the bottom x16(x4) slot on my board? its too long to go into the top x1 slot.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Freedom,i'll let ya know on the swap,i just wanna actually try the xonar first I dont get it till mon/tues.

Will it be ok if i put the sound card into the bottom x16(x4) slot on my board? its too long to go into the top x1 slot.

haha take your time bud, no rush. I cant find the manual for my card (if it ever came with one) but i got the drivers disk & the box still so its just good as new, found my DDL activation key finally so its all there,

 

[Mussels]

1x card will be fine in x4 slot.

 

[imperialreign]

Ok Iv'e realized that the X-Fi Xtreme Audio isn't even an X_Fi, & is probably a step down from my much older Audigy EUX HD no SPDIF in or out so I was lucky to get it work even in 2 channel config. The more i read about SPDIF the more confused I get.

audio connections in general can become quite confusing - as well, manufacturers of cables and other hardware don't help, in the fact that there's no "set" standard for testing, so manufacturer's specs are somewhat bisased at times . . .

Check out the guide I have linked in my sig, I've tried to break down the various specs, connections and other hardware in terms that easier for most people to understand

If I use an SPDIF pass thru from the CD player to the Soundcard & then an SPDIF out to a Sub with a built in Dolby Decoder where is the data being processed ? on the soundcard, well I know something is hapening there because if I play with the room settings I hear the changes in the speakers. I dont like any of them so don't use them, i'd guess some processing is happening there, then the data still in a digital stream, is then being passed on to the sub. what I'm trying to understand is what part the each play. Then we come to other sound Sources, Sound files stored on your computer in various formats, & directional sound in games.
It seems I was deluding myself about hearing any at all, well probably a little bit cause the Sterio Data was there but anything I thought I was hearing from behind me was a delusion, As none of the soundcards I have owned to date are capable of this level of decoding.

well, technically - the soundcard only in the above example only acts as a pass-through device . . . meaning that it's not actively processing the audio stream . . .

the reason you hear EAX changes, though, is that the input-output stream looks like this:

input => ADC => DAC => output

the inptu to the card is sent to the ADC, from there it's routed straight back to the DAC (which is where the EAX effects are applied), then sent to the output channels

The APU itself isn't getting involved with any processing effects, channel upmixing or down mixing . . . which, on cards that are capable, the DSP or APU typically handles the encoding.

Are there any reasonably priced Soundcards out there capable of decoding The dolby data? Beebee
PS One more question is the any advantage in enabling EUX in game (Stalker) on a setup like this

ALmost all audio cards are capable of Dolby decoding . . . it's the encoding that you need.

90% of all upper-end audiophile cards have the capability (Auzen, ASUS) . . . in regards to Creative, only the Titanium series have encoding capability for free . . . the for all other cards, I believe you can download the drivers for a small fee.

 

[Beebee]

Yes Iv'e got there by now & have been looking at the Auzen cards. The only problem is that if I go for one of the highend Auzen's, or a higher Spec X-Fi, I'd then need to look at upgrading my speakers as well, so for the moment I think I'll just stay with Stereo sound Thanks Beebee

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Yes Iv'e got there by now & have been looking at the Auzen cards. The only problem is that if I go for one of the highend Auzen's, or a higher Spec X-Fi, I'd then need to look at upgrading my speakers as well, so for the moment I think I'll just stay with Stereo sound Thanks Beebee

you dont 'need' to upgrade your speakers just because you splashed out on a £100 soundcard. you can still use them except you wont be getting the best out of the soundcard. but then again it also depends what speakers you have not all stereo or 2.1 speakers are bad.

It just gives me something to aim for. for a long time I ran a £35 set of 5.1 set of creative speakers through a Creative Audigy 2 ZS & later on a XFi Xtreme Music - but the new 5.1 speakers came at least 2years after i bought the XFi card, thats when i found out the I/O 'Flexijack' on my Xtreme Music was broken so I had no optical output. thats when I sold the Xtreme Music & bought a Titanium Fatality Pro.

 

[Bjorn_Of_Iceland]

Greetings fellow X-Fi users,

Im having problems lately with my Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Ed. After using the card for a while in Media player or playing games, somehow, it does not "release" the audio usage from the previous application.

When playing an audio or running a game, there is no audio and some apps (like media player and Hawx) reports that the audio device is currently being used by another application (in which it is not since there are no other apps in the process which uses sound).

However, other sounds seem to be working like windows "ding" and shutdown sounds..

My current specs are:

E6850 @ 3.9Ghz
Striker II Formula with latest 2102 bios
GTX 260 216 (185.85)
Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Ed (Driver Date 2/19/2009 ver. 6.0.1.1346)
Windows XP SP3

Does anyone else experience this?

 

[FreedomEclipse]

try updating your volume control panel to the lastest version if you havent done it already. If that doesnt solve it then i dont know anything else. I use to have teh same problem with Fallout3. Id play a game but when i finish & try to switch to entertainment mode - it wont do it & the only way to get functionality back is to restart the pc.

 

[magicius]

hello guys...

can someone help me solve my problem?

when i connect Front Panel to XFI Titanium Pcie only microphone works

front panel works when i connect it to MB... anyone knows how to solve this problem?

heard something about pins but cant manage to fix it

Thanks in advance

 

[imperialreign]

Yes Iv'e got there by now & have been looking at the Auzen cards. The only problem is that if I go for one of the highend Auzen's, or a higher Spec X-Fi, I'd then need to look at upgrading my speakers as well, so for the moment I think I'll just stay with Stereo sound Thanks Beebee

Well, like Freedom pointed out, just cause you upgrade your audio card doesn't mean you "need" to upgrade your speakers . . .

As well, I've heard quite a few X-Fis (and other audio cards) sound pretty good with a quality 2.1 setup.

What really helps, though, is the "virtual speaker" capabilities of modern audio cards - it can create the impression of sounds coming from speakers where none are actually placed (it "emulates" full multi-channel surround). TBH, trying to describe it is rather pointless, it needs to just be heard

Creative still have the best speaker virtualization capability, with CMSS-3D . . . it's built off a lot of the tech that Aureal developed back in '96-'98, and has only been expanded upon since then.

Greetings fellow X-Fi users,

Im having problems lately with my Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Ed. After using the card for a while in Media player or playing games, somehow, it does not "release" the audio usage from the previous application.

When playing an audio or running a game, there is no audio and some apps (like media player and Hawx) reports that the audio device is currently being used by another application (in which it is not since there are no other apps in the process which uses sound).

However, other sounds seem to be working like windows "ding" and shutdown sounds..

My current specs are:

E6850 @ 3.9Ghz
Striker II Formula with latest 2102 bios
GTX 260 216 (185.85)
Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Ed (Driver Date 2/19/2009 ver. 6.0.1.1346)
Windows XP SP3

Does anyone else experience this?

Odd - it's been a long time since I've seen this kind of issue . . .

I'd recommend as well to make sure your drivers and audio software applications are up-to-date . . . as well, make sure OpenAL is up-to-date, and your DirectX drivers.

You might need to open Task Manager and make sure that when you exit a program, that the corresponding .exe closes out with it . . . if for some reason the application is not properly closing, it might not be giving up access to the hardware.

hello guys...

can someone help me solve my problem?

when i connect Front Panel to XFI Titanium Pcie only microphone works

front panel works when i connect it to MB... anyone knows how to solve this problem?

heard something about pins but cant manage to fix it

Thanks in advance

Have you made sure to select the "headphone" option in Creative Console Launcher?

The X-Fi cards will immediately associate any line-in with the line-in channel (whether it's the line-in at the back of the card, the front panel connection). Outputs, though, are a little picky.

When you connect your headset, do your rear channel outputs actually mute?

 

[magicius]

no they doesnt mute... sound comes from X540 speakers

 

[Bjorn_Of_Iceland]

try updating your volume control panel to the lastest version if you havent done it already. If that doesnt solve it then i dont know anything else. I use to have teh same problem with Fallout3. Id play a game but when i finish & try to switch to entertainment mode - it wont do it & the only way to get functionality back is to restart the pc.

Ok, I'll try this one later.

Odd - it's been a long time since I've seen this kind of issue . . .

I'd recommend as well to make sure your drivers and audio software applications are up-to-date . . . as well, make sure OpenAL is up-to-date, and your DirectX drivers.

You might need to open Task Manager and make sure that when you exit a program, that the corresponding .exe closes out with it . . . if for some reason the application is not properly closing, it might not be giving up access to the hardware.

Nope, no other notbale exes running on the process.. (ive very few processes on my xp to the point that there is no scrollbar when I open task manager. therefore I know which process are alien on the task manager). Ive also got latest device drivers and even uninstalled, driver cleaned, and reinstalled the driver, but still the issue perpetuates. This wasnt happening before, and a lot of stuff was installed recently, so i wasnt able to keep track what was the last crap that was injected on the rig hehe. In anycase, its not such a nuisance, all I do is just restart the PC... and when win7 arives, itll be a complete reformat for me.

 

[yogi62]

X-Fi Fatality - How to turn off monitoring

Hi guys,

I have an X-Fi Fatality Pro card installed in my system and due to the recording software I use I need to be able to turn of source monitoring. I've opened the 'Entertainment' console, gone to the mixer screen and clicked on the '?' for the help notes. Under the heading 'Monitoring Audio Source' the help file reads as follows:

Quote:

Click the Mixer button.
The mixer settings are displayed.

Select the appropriate audio source checkbox.
OR
i. Click the Record drop-down arrow , and then select any audio source except What U Hear or Wave.
ii. Select the Monitor check box.

However I cannot see any Monitor box to check/uncheck? anyone have any ideas?

 

[imperialreign]

no they doesnt mute... sound comes from X540 speakers

what about when you set the speaker configuration in Console launcher to headphones . . . and set the speaker config in WIN to headphones?

Nope, no other notbale exes running on the process.. (ive very few processes on my xp to the point that there is no scrollbar when I open task manager. therefore I know which process are alien on the task manager). Ive also got latest device drivers and even uninstalled, driver cleaned, and reinstalled the driver, but still the issue perpetuates. This wasnt happening before, and a lot of stuff was installed recently, so i wasnt able to keep track what was the last crap that was injected on the rig hehe. In anycase, its not such a nuisance, all I do is just restart the PC... and when win7 arives, itll be a complete reformat for me.

quite an odd issue, man . . . I've never really run across this kind of issue - my next recommendation you already covered (uninstalling drivers and using Driver Sweeper) . . .

How about - go into Control Panel>System>Device Manager . . . how many other audio devices does WIN see?

Try disabling all except for Creative devices.

Hi guys,

I have an X-Fi Fatality Pro card installed in my system and due to the recording software I use I need to be able to turn of source monitoring. I've opened the 'Entertainment' console, gone to the mixer screen and clicked on the '?' for the help notes. Under the heading 'Monitoring Audio Source' the help file reads as follows:

Quote:

Click the Mixer button.
The mixer settings are displayed.

Select the appropriate audio source checkbox.
OR
i. Click the Record drop-down arrow , and then select any audio source except What U Hear or Wave.
ii. Select the Monitor check box.

However I cannot see any Monitor box to check/uncheck? anyone have any ideas?

The monitoring box to select/unselect are the small boxes with a speaker emblem, directly underneath the sliders (highlted in red in this pic):

To select the record source, click on the arrow right next to the red 'REC' (highlighted in green in the pic).

 

[yogi62]

Thanks for the prompt feedback.

I have already made the 'mute' selection - I didn't realise they were the monitor boxes as there was a second reference after the check monitor box which said change the mute settings to suit which suggested that monitoring and mute were two seperate actions.

The problem is that I am trying to record a guitar and hear the effects using Guitar Rig 3 (software version) but the card appears to be bypassing the software hence why I want to turn off monitoring. Under 'Creation Mode' I can turn off monitoring but that doesn't seem to work. I have a second computer running an Audigy 2 Platinum and which I dont get the problem with but the the sample rate is fixed at 48Hz and not the 44.1Hz that I want.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

I got the asus xonar today,its very small.It has small relays on it that click too.I've not tried it with the digital out yet as i cant get my amp to see detect the signal.I'm having to us an old crappy optial cable though(which i think could be knackered) coz my good one is too short.It also needs power from a floppy connector,i read on the asus site though that this is so the card gets a cleaner power supply directly from the psu,whether or not that makes a differance,i dont know.

 

[imperialreign]

Thanks for the prompt feedback.

I have already made the 'mute' selection - I didn't realise they were the monitor boxes as there was a second reference after the check monitor box which said change the mute settings to suit which suggested that monitoring and mute were two seperate actions.

The problem is that I am trying to record a guitar and hear the effects using Guitar Rig 3 (software version) but the card appears to be bypassing the software hence why I want to turn off monitoring. Under 'Creation Mode' I can turn off monitoring but that doesn't seem to work. I have a second computer running an Audigy 2 Platinum and which I dont get the problem with but the the sample rate is fixed at 48Hz and not the 44.1Hz that I want.

Go into WIN control panel, and make sure you've selected the recording device you want to use there, too.

For some reason, WIN's control panel doesn't update the changes from the console launcher . . .

 

[yogi62]

Thanks,

To be honest I think I am wastinmg my time using teh X-Fi Pro for what I want to do. I should have bought the version with the breakout box from the start. I've decided to ditch my Audigy 2 from my other computer and install a M-Audio Delta 192 instead. It's a pity because I really wanted to stay with my prime computer and the X-Fi but I can't see any way to route the signal with teh X-Fi

thanks guys.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

I think, if you live in the U.S (or anywhere else so long as its NOT Europe EL-O-EL) you should be able to order the break out box from creative which should be compatible with your pro.

as always they block additional accessories/addons from being sold in the UK.

 

[yogi62]

Nope - The card I have is the X-Fi Titanium Fatality Pro and that's the problem. There are no connectors on the rear of the card as there is with the 'Platinum' version.

Sure I can attach the Audio Break out box that comes with the 'Champion' (Which is available here in the UK through the online stores) the trouble is there are no line in's or midi I/O on the box!!

Whilst I have the Audigy 2Z with breakout, the card only records at a sample rate of 48kHhz and not the industry standard 44.1kHz (the X-Fi does)

So basically I'm up the creek...! Hence the change to a different card.

It's my own fault, I should have checked the specs more closely before buying the card.

 

[imperialreign]

Well, if your planning on getting into serious recording, I'd recommend an E-Mu over a Creative . . .

SO, the "break out" box that you have, is it the 5.25" bay drive that is installed into your rig, or the stand-alone console that attaches to the back of the card with a D-Sub connector?