Creative responds to Vista questions finally

[DaMulta]

Well it seems after months and months of the public going mad on Creative's forums about Windows Vista they have finally gave a few answers. They may or may not be what you want to here but here they are.

Link

Driver & Application Questions

· Will future driver releases be certified for Windows Vista?
Yes, all of our future releases will be Microsoft certified.

· Applications from the original Sound Blaster X-Fi and Audigy series CDs do not work in Windows Vista. Will there be downloads available for all missing applications and when?
Driver downloads and basic software such as the Audio Console are available for download from our web site.
A free CD containing the full application suite will soon to be available to order from our Online Store (a Shipping & Handling charge will apply).

· Why does the packaging say Windows Vista Ready when there is no Vista-compatible install CD in the packaging?
This is to indicate that drivers are available online to support Windows Vista.

· Is there a difference in the Windows Vista and Windows XP implementation of the X-Fi CMSS3D feature?
Yes. The architecture of Vista doesn’t allow a feature like CMSS-3D to operate in hardware for applications that use the Microsoft API’s. If a game for example uses OpenAL, then CMSS-3D will run in hardware but if a Microsoft API is used it operates on the host within Windows Vista’s application level effects architecture.

· Is there a difference in the Windows Vista and Windows XP implementation of the Crystalizer feature?
No.

· Why is it taking so long for Creative to provide full driver and application support for its products in Windows Vista, given the 6 year development time of the OS?
Even though Windows Vista has been in development for several years and in public beta for a long time, the key reason for delays in providing finalised signed drivers for Windows Vista which affected several manufacturers is that the audio features in Windows Vista were incomplete until a few months before its final release.
Other features in Windows Vista such as APO’s (Audio Processing Objects) could not be installed for our products until documentation and tools were available from Microsoft. This was an issue for all aftermarket sound card vendors.
Since we received the correct tools and documentation for implementation, we began working diligently to finish the development and release the driver updates for our range. Given the considerable number of products, it is not feasible to release everything at once, so we staggered the driver release schedule.


· There is a lengthy gap between driver releases. Would it be possible to have more frequent beta-version releases?
We focus on delivering stable driver sets as this is more efficient than multiple interim releases. We anticipate releasing a further X-Fi update in the end-May/June timeframe.


Feature Loss
· Why is SPDIF passthrough not working with Windows Vista 64-bit? Will it ever?
SPDIF passthrough is available in the latest X-Fi update. For the Audigy Series, we cannot support this feature in Windows Vista 64-bit.

· Will decoding of Dolby Digital and DTS signals be supported in the future? If not, why not?
These functions are not supported at driver level in Windows Vista and going forward will be supported at application level by applications such as Power DVD or WinDVD.

· Will DVD-Audio be supported in the future?
We are not supporting DVD-Audio in Windows Vista.

· Will 6.1 speaker mode be available in future drivers? If not, is this because of Creative or Microsoft?
No, as Windows Vista does not support this speaker configuration.


Bugs/Specific Issues
· Why is the CPU utilization on some Windows Vista systems significantly higher when using X-Fi CMSS-3D than on Windows XP?
This is a 3rd party product issue on which Creative cannot comment. We have made CPU utilization improvements in the forthcoming X-Fi update.

· Why do I get BSOD and system instability when an X-Fi card is installed in my Windows Vista system with 4GB or more of RAM?
This issue will be addressed in the next X-Fi driver update. It is also recommend to check with your motherboard manufacturer for the latest version of the motherboard BIOS.

· Enabling the Crystalizer during ASIO Playback with an Elite Pro causes reproduceable BSODs (CTEXFIFX.DLL) – why?
We have reproduced this issue and are working on a solution.

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

They really could care less about vista users... so sad.

 

[DaMulta]

I have to mail off for X-Fi software they will not put them up to download......and they are not putting Vista software in the box only a sicker that says it works....but it doesn't work that well.

 

[Quake6]

But why early adopt when it was arguably common knowledge that these sort of teething problems were likely...?
I though people with sound cards would know better

 

[wazzledoozle]

The main reason I dont use Vista very often is because my Audigy 2 doesnt work that well. Damnit Microsoft....

 

[Steevo]

Damn, and here is sit with my "crappy" onboard sound and Vista has worked terribly like any sound card wonderfully.

 

[hbkl]

i Think vista its a waste of time at this moment i install it for a try and its good but the drivers its a proble forme can you imaginate i have a sound blaster live :s i no have vista driver XD and money too i will install vista on 2 3 4 or 5 months when vista is going big

 

[Ketxxx]

But why early adopt when it was arguably common knowledge that these sort of teething problems were likely...?
I though people with sound cards would know better

You would also think M$ would know better than to remove a large chunk of audio hardware acceleration. That was just the stupidest move M$ could of made. In a nutshell M$ seem to be trying to force their own standards onto hardware vendors, which is bad in an almost endless multitude of ways. Probably the best way to deal with this scenario if it is the case, is simply to not upgrade to Vista. Government organisations arent, so why should we need to? as of yet I cant find a good reason.

 

[wills916]

because of all the noobs, and media, and everyone else complaining about microsofts numerous security holes and instabilities, they had a huge focus on security for the vista release. They gave the majority of the people what they wanted, a more secure OS for the masses thats harder to screw up and harder for malware to get let in. Unfortunatly, a huge part of security vulnerabilties and instability issues stem from stupid users. So, they had to do all possible to keep stupid users from doing stupid things. In doing so, they had to introduce many annoying extra confirmation dialog boxes (which I just found out a few hours ago after upgrading to vista yesterday can be turned off for the most part thank darwin), and they had to lock down access to hardware resources and untested drivers to primarily try and keep people from installing things they shouldn't and avoid poorly written drivers from compromising system stability which is commonly (but inappropriatly) blamed on them.

So, dont blame Microsoft for this, blame stupid users, linux and mac lovers, the media, security testers, hackers, and malware coders.

However, there are ALOT of major and minor improvements to windows in Vista. I'm impressed so far that they fixed alot of the annoying little things that would make me kick or silently scream at peoples computers I was working on. It also looks much prettier. XP seems incredibly dated now (even after only a day of really using vista).

So, since its not Microsofts fault, and we cant really do anything to the above mentioned people that are partially at fault, that leaves us with Creative Labs to blame. I cant remember 1 single product of theirs that had timely or frequent driver/software updates/improvements. If I remember correctly, my soundblaster live platinum 5.1 card I just replaced, only had drivers and software from I think 2003 on creative labs web site. And I believe they wer only a few months newer than the ones that shipped in the box on the CD. Creative Labs has terrible software support and after just buying my now obsolete X-Fi Fatal1ty Pro slightly over a month ago primarily just so I could get 1 stupid mixer setting my live platinum didn't support (probably because they didn't want to update drivers, and instead would rather release a new product and collect another $150 from us), and now I cant even get functional drivers and the software it was supposed to come with for my 1 month old sound card for an operating system thats been out for months and in development for numerous YEARS, I'm giving creative a BIG ASS ED middle finger and not giving them another cent.

btw, anybody want to buy a SB X-Fi Fatal1ty Pro? almost new, works great.

 

[Juntao]

creative confusions

yea i am waiting to install my shiny vista disc when a few more kinks are worked out. That is with any driver issues i have i may just get another hdd and dual boot for a while. And yea Wills you can sell me your soundcard.

 

[ARTOSOFT]

It is happen not only on Sound blaster sound card. It is happen too on my onboard Realtec AC97 sound driver too. Yesterday they just launch a new driver. While it is not perfect, finally my audio can come out through the correct channel.

Now my days only to check everyday if they launch a new driver again.

Regards,
Arto.

 

[wills916]

yea i am waiting to install my shiny vista disc when a few more kinks are worked out. That is with any driver issues i have i may just get another hdd and dual boot for a while. And yea Wills you can sell me your soundcard.

yeah I wouldn't risk relying on only a clean install of vista. I have two hard drives in my PC already, so I moved all my crap from one onto the other and installed vista on the nearly empty, along with installing the updated versions of the kajillion apps I use as well, and so can dual boot if needed.

Took like 12 hours to install drivers, software, updates, yada yada. I dont want to see another new version of windows for a LONG time. I dont think I could have done it without porn to watch in-between clicking next buttons.

 

[mandelore]

OMFG WHAT THE HELL IS THIS BOLLOX!!!!!!


I have a x-fi fatality professional and in vista surround dont work on my 5.1 setup, the 2 rear speakers get played thru the front middle speaker. .

PLEASE forgive my language (seriously) but those retarded mother fu*king tw@ts.

im seriously not happy, really really not happy. I was almost certain they would get me fixed, my settings dont stick, keeps reverting back to sterio 2 speaker config, nothing sticks, the sound gets fecked over, surround dont work, and Vista, albeit a sweet os, dont bleedin support the hardware properly..

WHAT IN THE NINE HELLS IS BLOODY GOING ON. ITS A CONSPIRACY TO RETARD THE GAMING INDUSTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!

.. so i wasted money on this sound card, its barely a few month old, and creative, what? couldnt give a shit? cmon, EVEN the build of the card is VERY so VERY poor, the capacitors are generic for both the power and the audio circuitry, there are zero differentiation and no use of audio specific capacitors. I mean what the hell is that all about? I was tempted to replace all the caps with the correct ones, but not after this update, and that program, creative alchemy only works on a few games

 

[Scheich]

>> This is a 3rd party product issue on which Creative cannot comment.

I love this one. In other words, they hate MS too, but they wont risk their vista
approval, by going into details.

Face it, MS fucks you hard, once you have upgraded all your hardware and cant use
your *uncertified* music and videos anymore

 

[Chewy]

Im just using vista sound drivers.. I never installed my realtek ones that came with my mobo... I maxed the audio quality in windows vista to max (studio quality) and it sounds good... though I hit 5.1 and my rear and center speaker are not turning on.. not a big prob for me since they all sit in front of me.. hopefully they work soon lol, not first priority on my list.

so what are they saying they wont upload the dammed drivers! you haver to have em mailed to you! simpely retarded! I want a sound card someday, looks like I'll have to see who can give you dammed Vista drivers without a painstaking waste of time process.

Goes off and spanks creatives ass.

 

[Ketxxx]

because of all the noobs, and media, and everyone else complaining about microsofts numerous security holes and instabilities, they had a huge focus on security for the vista release. They gave the majority of the people what they wanted, a more secure OS for the masses thats harder to screw up and harder for malware to get let in. Unfortunatly, a huge part of security vulnerabilties and instability issues stem from stupid users. So, they had to do all possible to keep stupid users from doing stupid things. In doing so, they had to introduce many annoying extra confirmation dialog boxes (which I just found out a few hours ago after upgrading to vista yesterday can be turned off for the most part thank darwin), and they had to lock down access to hardware resources and untested drivers to primarily try and keep people from installing things they shouldn't and avoid poorly written drivers from compromising system stability which is commonly (but inappropriatly) blamed on them.

So, dont blame Microsoft for this, blame stupid users, linux and mac lovers, the media, security testers, hackers, and malware coders.

However, there are ALOT of major and minor improvements to windows in Vista. I'm impressed so far that they fixed alot of the annoying little things that would make me kick or silently scream at peoples computers I was working on. It also looks much prettier. XP seems incredibly dated now (even after only a day of really using vista).

So, since its not Microsofts fault, and we cant really do anything to the above mentioned people that are partially at fault, that leaves us with Creative Labs to blame. I cant remember 1 single product of theirs that had timely or frequent driver/software updates/improvements. If I remember correctly, my soundblaster live platinum 5.1 card I just replaced, only had drivers and software from I think 2003 on creative labs web site. And I believe they wer only a few months newer than the ones that shipped in the box on the CD. Creative Labs has terrible software support and after just buying my now obsolete X-Fi Fatal1ty Pro slightly over a month ago primarily just so I could get 1 stupid mixer setting my live platinum didn't support (probably because they didn't want to update drivers, and instead would rather release a new product and collect another $150 from us), and now I cant even get functional drivers and the software it was supposed to come with for my 1 month old sound card for an operating system thats been out for months and in development for numerous YEARS, I'm giving creative a BIG ASS ED middle finger and not giving them another cent.

btw, anybody want to buy a SB X-Fi Fatal1ty Pro? almost new, works great.

Allow me to direct you to THIS be sure to read it all.