Dolby 5.1 with Windows 7 using an Audigy Platinum EX

Question

Hello.
Long story short.
I've mashed together three old PC's to make one reasonably ok one as a media center.
I have an old MSI motherboard, running an AMD XP 2.GB Chip with .25GB of Ram and an AGP Video card (Soon to be upgraded to an ATI 4850 AGP Card with HDMI out.
My trusty Audigy Platinum EX has been re used (again!) and after finding some drivers, everything seems to be ok!
What's the problem you ask?
I cant seem to get true 5. surround, via the on board optical out (speaker calibration wont play front centre, sub or rear speakers.)
I'm running the lot through a Creative 5. Inspire speaker system (using the optical input) if i let the Inspire system sort out the sound, I can get surround, but only if i switch on the 5. manually, and like I said, it won't play via the speaker test in windows or the creative consul on screen.
Am I missing something real simple, or is this an issue anyone else has had dealings with?
Also (as if that weren't enough) there doesn't seem to be any support for the EAX and ESS systems, and I cant use the remote control that came with the Platinum EX.
If anyone can offer any sugestions, I'd be most grateful.
With Thanks.
Andrew. (UK)

Answer 1

Hello again.
I've got hold of a Vista Support Pack that supposedly fixes loads of the issues I've got with an old card on Windows 7, I've pasted the notebook specs and details that came with it, and if you've any idea how I can put a downloud link on this forum so you can download it from me, you are more than welcome to try it. I'm not knowledged enough to put a link on here, but others have done it, so it must be possible... Any Ideas?
Here Goes!!!
Sound Blaster Audigy series Vista Support Pack - Compiled on Feb 24 2008 by Daniel Kawakami
Changelog:
* 02/24/2008:
- Finally fixed Speakers and CMSS setting synchronization, so Audio Center was removed.
- Completely uninstall the previous version, including all applications, before installing this one.
* 02/2/2008:
- Under certain circunstances, Speakers and CMSS setting are still not synchronized.
- Now includes the full featured Creative Graphic Equalizer, with Preset saving, see screenshot below.
* 02/9/2008:
- Changed the driver version from v2.5.0004B to v2.5.0004EQ (with Equalizer).
- Windows speaker settings are now synchronized with Audio Console / Speaker Settings speaker configuration.
- Enabling CMSS in Audio Console or EAX Settings now properly activate effects in Creative APO; Stereo focus slider does not work, so Audio Center is still required for that.
- Audigy 2 ZS Notebook is now properly supported / detected by Setup
- Completely uninstall the previous release before installing this one.
Supports both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows Vista (including Service Pack ).
Supports all Audigy card with a Hardware EMU0K2 DSP chipset (OEM / Retail models):
- Audigy (including ES, MP3+, X-Gamer and Platinum)
- Audigy 2 (including Value, Platinum and Platinum Ex)
- Audigy 2 ZS (including Platinum and Platinum Pro)
- Audigy 4 (including SE and Pro)
- Audigy 2 ZS Notebook (PCMCIA) - Uses software MIDI emulation that does not (currently) work in Vista.
Does NOT support the following OEM / Retail models:
- Host / software-based cards including Audigy LS / SE / Value, Audigy 2 SE, Li've! 24-bit)
- any external Audigy soundcards
Integrated setup program to install the following items:
- Audigy series driver 2.5.0004 (the latest X-Fi driver)
- APO Interface Module .30.00
- Audio Console .20.57 (including Graphic Equalizer)
- EAX Settings .0.05
- MediaSource DVD-Audio Player 2.00.76 (32-bit only)
- SoundFont Bank Manager 3.20.20
- Speaker Settings 2.00.60
Exclusi've features in this unofficial driver:
- Equalizer
- CMSS and Stereo Surround with Stereo focus control
- Advanced EQ and Special FX available (see notes below)
- Dolby/DTS decoder (working on 32-bit/64-bit, requires Windows Vista Service Pack )
- DVD Audio (32-bit only)
- Hardware MIDI synthesizer (includes 2Mb, 4Mb and 8Mb SoundFont banks)
- 4 Gb RAM approved (tested on Intel C2D E6400, Gigabyte 965P-DS3, 4Gb RAM)
Release notes / Known issues:
- Windows Security warning during driver installation
When prompted with ?Windows can't verify the publisher of this driver software?, choose ?Install this driver software anyway?.
- MediaSource DVD-Audio Player requires Audigy 2 or better
Do not install if you have the first Audigy model.
The application does not support Windows Vista 64-bit and setup will close with an error message.
- WaveRT Pull Mode enabled by default
Does not seem to cause any problems, but if you ever need to disable it, follow these steps:
- run the Registry Editor (Regedit) and open the following registry tree:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\Class
- select Search (or press the F3 key) and type EnableWaveRTPullMode, deleting the value when found.
Restart the computer.
For more information on WaveRT, access:
<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/audio/wavertport.mspx"]http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/audio/wavertport.mspx[/url]
- Built-in Decoder (requires Windows Vista Service Pack )
To use the built-in decoder, make sure it is enabled in Audio Console.
Select ?SPDIF Out (Creative SB Audigy (WDM))? as the output device of
your player and then configure the AC3/DTS filter to send the stream
through SPDIF.
When you restart your computer, the Tone settings (Bass and Treble) are not applied.
Just readjust one of the controls one time per boot.
- EAX effects, Advanced EQ and Special FX
EAX effects only work in 4., 5. e 7. speaker settings.
Advanced EQ and Special FX only work in 2. speakers or Headphone settings.
- EAX effects, Advanced EQ and Special FX (Using SPDIF Out)
All effects work properly, but when you restart your computer, the Tone settings (Bass and Treble) are not applied.
Just readjust one of the controls one time per boot.
- There is no sound in games with OpenAL support or using Creative ALchemy
Disable Advanced EQ and Special FX selecting ?No effects? before running the game or program.
- Equalizer settings are lost
It happens after you run a game with OpenAL support or using Creative ALchemy. This issue also occurs in Windows XP, so it is not specific to this Windows Vista driver.
When you restart the computer or run Equalizer, the saved setting is automatically loaded.
- No sound when CMSS is enabled using Audio Console (4. or more speakers)
Just move the Stereo Focus slider and set it back to the desired position, even if it is 0 (zero). Once the setting is saved, works properly. This issue does not affect EAX Settings.
- Windows Vista MIDI Device Configuration Utility
Use this utility to change the MIDI playback device for 32-bit and 64-bit applications.
The driver installer automatically selects the first hardware MIDI synthesizer found.
Note: The Audigy 2 ZS Notebook (PCMCIA) does not have a hardware synthesizer.
Some screenshots:
- Equalizer:
- Stereo Surround:
- Decoder:
- Mplayer Classic: select ?SPDIF Out (Creative SB Audigy (WDM))? as the output device of
your player
- Mplayer Classic: configure the AC3/DTS filter to send the stream through SPDIF
- Hardware MIDI:
Hope this is of some help?
Let me know if you've any idea how to upload the programme!!
Kind regards.
Andrew.