Smart Volume on Zen Mi

what exactly does the Smart Volume option on my Zen Micro do? Does it take up more battery if i have it on/off? thanks

It is supposed to adjust the volume to make it more balanced. Hence loud songs are quieter and quieter songs are louder.
The overall effect is questionable though, and it is rumoured to use a LOT of battery. I've yet to test if it does for sure.

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Smart Volume Question on Zen Mi

If you have Smart Volume On or Off, does it affect your battery life? thanks

Droy: It does affect battery life. I love my player but this is one area that I don't care for it. They say the battery life should last 2 hours. If you like to have smart volume on or the EQ this will cut your battery life significantly. Kind of a downer. I don't understand it. Not that I am trying to sell you a product but the new Sony that comes out this month is supposed to have 40 hours of battery time. That would be nice if our player could get just 20 so I could use my smart volume and eq and get maybe 4 hours out of it. I love my Micro but I listen to mine while at work. If I want to work 2 hours, forget about my player lasting all nite.

Hard drive or flash? Smart volume on Vision:M or new Z

Hello all
Hoping someone out there can answer one or both of my questions...
Firstly, does anyone know if the new Zen or the Vision:M have the 'smart volume' function, which near-enough equalizes the volume of all music stored on the player
Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, I'm weighing up whether to get a flash player, perhaps with less memory, or a hard dri've (basically the Zen or the Vision:M). The reason for asking is that I've has two Zen Sleeks and both have died after just over a year so I wondered if a flash dri've would be likely to last longer or is it just as likely to malfunction
Any help would be greatly appreciated - please note that I have read other posts on the virtues or both players so I don't need to know much else about which is better of the two!
Thanks in advance for any advice.
davidames00

Yes, the new Zen has the Smart Volume feature.
As to the harddisk or Flash memory question, I supposed it all depends on your usage. If you want to listen during exercise or on the move, the flash memory version should be a better buy as it should handle all the knocks and shakes.
However if you want to carry all your albums with you then the harddisk version is great.

Smart Volume Management and the Creative Zen To

In Creative MediaSource Organizer, under the Tools menu, there is an option to analyze the volume of all tracks in the library. I have not run this analysis yet. Two questions:
.) Will this process alter the MP3s on my hard disk, or just alter how the music is played in MediaSource?
2. Will this process actually normalize the volume of all the tracks on my Zen Touch? (This would be awesome, no more fiddling around with the volume control during random play.)
Thanks in advance.

. No, it won't alter the music.
2. Yes, but you'll have to copy the analysed tracks to the Zen afterwards (you can't analyse on the Zen itself). Also the value of doing it is questionable in terms of actual effect, so you might want to test it first to see what you think.

Volume level ZEN NANO PLUS, can it be chang

I have a new ZEN NANO PLUS that I have bought in Spain.
I?ve had this model before and I know that, because of the EU ruling ( **bleep** those bureaucrats! ), the volume level is not as loud as the model you can buy in the US.
A few people have suggested flashing the firmware and installing the US firmware, has anyone tried this, and did they have any success?
I downloaded the US firmware and tried to install it on my player but no luck, and the player died aswell, but I?m not sure if I did the correct thing...
If anyone knows anything about this any info would be greatly received.
Thanks in advance
Neil

You shouldn't have problem using both player together in MediaSource even in transferring audio files(non-protected content). Are you referring to being able to playback PlayForSure subscription content? I doubt it is possible(personal opinion) for the player since I believe it's more to do with the hardware rather than software.
Jason

Smart Playlists on Zen Vision:M and Creative Media Organizer Software

I come from the iPod world, where, once a playlist is created in iTunes, the playlist is transferred to the iPod, and is automatically updated each time you sync. That's why it's called "smart" playlist.
I can create a smart playlist using the Creative Media Organizer software. It automatically updates the playlist, based on the rules I defined. However, the playlist created on the Media Organizer does NOT get transferred to the Vision:M player! What's the point in that?
I can, of course, copy the smart playlist to the Vision:M manually... but there are two HUGE problems with that...
) The smart playlist becomes a "static" playlist... it does not get updated when you sync -- the music in the playlist never changes (even though the original smart playlist is updated on each sync),
2) The software recopies the *music* back to the Vision:M each time you create a playlist! This means that it overwrites the music that was there, with the (same) music in the playlist!! This takes FOREVER, if there are a lot of titles in the playlist! This is obviously a brain-dead way of doing things! All the software/Vision:M needs to do, is to copy the actual music files that don't currently exist on the player, and then create a text file that contains the *location* of the music... in other words, an M3U playlist file! One of the (many) issues with doing things the way this software does it, is that each time a track appears in a separate playlist, a duplicate entry for that song appears in the Vision:M's music list! So, if you have 5 playlists, and each one contains "Mozart's 5th", then when you list all the songs on your Vision:M, you'll get 5 copies of "Mozart's 5th" listed! Dumb!
Any way around these problems? Can I have smart playlist that gets transferred to the player so that it contains only the songs I want? Does it *have* to recopy ALL the songs to the player, each time I create a playlist? Does it *have* to add duplicate entries to the list of files on my Vision:M?
Is the software *really* as dumb as I think it is, or am I just being a BDU (Brain Dead User)?

You can only automatically sync playlists using Windows Media Player 0 as far as I know. There's lots of other software out there that can use the Media Transfer Protocol of the Vision:M, but I'm not sure what they can do.
Creative's software is desperately lacking in the playlist sync area, so you're not being a BDU

Smart Volume Management

I recently upgraded my Mobo and set CrossfireX, so all my PCIs got obscured, had to let go of my?faithful X-Fi XtremeMusic. So I got a X-Fi Surround 5. USB. Good device but poor software,?I am missing lots of my XtremeMusic features like SVM I used quite often. Is there a way, or third party software available for this USB device to activate SVM et al?

First of all, they are not drivers, they are services/feature?s... And the SVM isnt so tweakable as you would want it to be. I never have it on.
AudioDrvEmulator= Dont know, but never used it, useless. After all its CL.
CTHelper=buggy,is known to freeze up system in windows, or give lag in some games. Disable
RCSystem
VolPanel=Volumepanel
these services are useless, i always disable them. They use memory, and in some situations are known to crash, or make windows crash!So i would disable them all. Volpanel is the only one you have any use of!
The same goes for these below. Disable, they are just Creative?s way to show how incompetent they are when it come?s to software/drivers. So disable these services too.
AsioReg=Think this save Asio Settings in registry(dont need it, settings are saved anyway)
CTxfiHlp=Think this is a X-FI helper service, never used it, and never needed it!
CtxfiReg=Has also something to do with x-fi and registry. Never needed it!! Useless.
DevconDefaultDB=this one usually runonce, after first boot after install, then gone.

Zen V Plus volume is lower compared to Zen Micro/Phot

Hey, well I just exchanged my Zen Micro Photo for a Zen V Plus today because they were out of stock with Micro's. Anyway, I've tried putting the Zen V Plus to full volume and it doesn't even seem loud at all (which is bad). The volume restricter is off and so is the smart volume which both make it less louder if they're on. The Zen V Plus at volume level 25 sounds like Zen Micro Photo volume level 22/23. Has anyone else converted from Zen Micro Photo to Zen V Plus, or vice versa? I just want to know if it's just me noticing the difference, but I highly doubt it is.

With the very strong possibilty of permanent hearing loss and the risk of Class Action lawsuits from consumers that have lost their hearing, it's going to be harder and harder to find a company that releases really loud players.
I've got tinnitus and it never stops- I can hear the buzzing/ringing all the time, no matter what I'm doing. I've lost a lot of hearing response in the vocal ranges and it makes it nearly impossible to understand some people's voices.

Zen 4GB Volume

I am pretty new to the "new" Zen 4GB player. I've had several mp3 players before, including Zen Touch, Zen Nano Plus and now this Zen 4GB. I find the volume level on this player seems quite low compared to the others. I am wondering if others have this same experience or if I have something set wrong. Even compared to the Nano Plus, volume is probably at least 30% lower with the same phones. [email protected]

Thanks for responding. My version is .2.03e. I have "smart volume" on, and "restrict volume" off. I don't even know exactly what these do. I'm guessing "smart volume" is some kind of volume leveling and "resrtict volume" caps peak volume (I tried this).
When I plug the Zen into my car stereo, I have to turn it to max volume. With normal earphones, I have to use level 4 or 5. On other players, it was down near 0 or so for the same volume level. I realize this can all change due to firmware (as on the Nano Plus, where volume levels were definately changed via firmware). This may be entirely normal....just checking. Thanks again.

Zen Nano Volume Button Not Work

My up volume on Zen Nano is not working. The volume is down to 0.
Is there any way to reset the default volume setting, so I can hear my songs. Any ideas in how to fix the button without having to mail it into support. Supports wants me to pay $25 fee even though I got this player for xmas because the receipt for this gift was dated in November.

Go to the Zen Nano Downloads page.
Download the Mass Storage Drivers and firmware update file.
Install the mass storgae drivers - you'll need these for the next part.
Follow the instructions on the Downloads page - click on the Show Details link next to the info on the Firmware file.
PB

A Petition to ask Creative to update the firmware of the Zen Touch to Include EAX capabiliti

Hi. I have been looking for a new hard dri've MP3 player and am thinking about getting the Zen Touch. But I was unhappy that creative removed the EAX functions that were in their other players. I will be sending this to creative to show them that people do like EAX in the player. If you would like to help me with this you can post and leave your name. Thanks! This was taken off of the creative Zen Extra?s website describing EAX: Customize Your Audio Playback with Innovati've EAX? Technologies Advanced EQ lets you customize your music playback with Equalizer presets or set your own using the 4-band custom equalizer Smart Volume Management? adjusts the playback volume of all the tracks on your playlist so they will remain at the same level without you reaching for the volume control between songs! Time Scaling speeds up or slows down an audio track with no distortion Sleep Timer and Wake to Music Feature Environmental Effects simulate audio environments such as "Concert Hall" or "Arena" Spatialization Effects expand your soundstage
See here: http://eax.creative.com/nomad/ To go to the EAX website to learn some more.
If you look HERE on the little flash demo you can see in the LCD screen of the touch that this picture of the touch HAS EAX. If the touch had EAX and creative removed it just before selling it then it must be easy to put back in.
Update:

Hi everyone.
So I just went through all through posts to see how many names we have, and it turns out that there was much more discution than I thought there was. With all the names from the thread and from what UT-king has added we have ~556~ names. Its less than what I thought it was, but its still really good.
The thread has been read 6795 times, has been posted on 36 times, and has a 5 star rating.
Thanks every one for helping me with this !
Here is the post that has the signatures that UT-King has collected. http://forums.americas.creative.com/creativelabs/board/message?board.id=dap&message.id=4732#M4732 You will need to scroll down a bit as it is the 5th post on that page
Uptaded on 4/27/05

Message Edited by Torstein on 04-28-2005 06:54 AM


Spetznaz24 wrote:
I agree, Creative needs to put the EAX function back and allow for it to be USB MASS Storage Device without drivers,
Sergey K.
I agree with the EAX Function back, and also the USB MASS Storage Device.dzyl-

Pick up metal objects with zen micro headphones? battery life with firmware 1.02

hey all
just purchased my zen micro couple days ago.
the package we got here in downunder is satifying. included were the wired remote and also the stand/case with belt clip. these were the only reasons that made me choose this over the ipod mini.
this has not occurred to me until tonight, but the headphones seems to act as magnets and were stuck to each other as the phones were dangling
i never noticed this happening with other phones
also the battery life of my zen was horrendous. its lasted 5 hrs with eq and smart volume on. the zen was on hold the whole time as the actions were controlled by the wired remote.
this was with the firmware that was shipped with the player .0.03 i believe
have just updated the firmware now, and will be testing the battery life to see if the problem is rectified.
if not, then an exhange for an ipod is inevitable.

Yep, SV is a battery killer, around a 50% drop in life has been meaured and the effect is known to be pretty negligible.
And as others have said, them headphones have magnets in, like pretty much any speaker

Zen Micro: Bricked or just lame, you dec

Hi all,
I have a zen micro which i flashed to the old .0 non MTP firmware to have support with winamp. Anyway i decided i wanted MTP support so i tried to flash it and it got stuck on a stage "Please reboot device". I decided to switch it off myself by removing battery and it went on but i felt like it wasnt set up properly.
Anyway i went on to boot into the bootloader and select reload firmware however it went for like second then stopped and said load new firmware.
I plugged it into my PC and both of the creative apps say :Your Player is not connected, please connect ur player.
So i rolled back to wmp0 and no result, it stilll comes up as a MTP device. I think im boned.
Suggestions?
Thanks
Julius

Can you mention if you're charging through the AC adaptor (on a wall plug) or through USB from a computer? AC adaptor is better (faster).
What you're describing (totally drained in one night, after switching off with or 2 bars on battery indicator) is at the least unusual, and may indicate malfunction.
Now, if you have some time left before the deadline until which you can exchange in the store, then I suggest you just test this some more. Then you can make an informed decision.
Charge the battery fully (at least 4 hours on AC adaptor). Afterwards, start playing random songs (preferably MP3 constant bitrate 28 kbps) continuously. See if you get ? 2 hours playing time. (without EX, without Smart Volume, without fast forward, ... ). That'll tell you how the battery performs on playing.
Then for the apparent draining, you'll have to just collect some more experience.
It may be that the battery indicator is just not calibrated correctly yet, because it's the first days of use. For calibrating, it's good to FULLY discharge and recharge the battery. On normal use, a Lithium-Ion battery will li've longer when recharged often (so not fully discharged at every use). But for battery indicator calibration, you want to discharge the battery fully let's say once per month or so. (see www.batteryuni'versity.com)
good luck.

Zen Micro: how many are working proper

I bought a Zen Micro for my daughter for Christmas and finally sent it back because it was having the docking problems. I have reguarly read the messages in this forum since then, waiting for an indication that the problem has been fixed. I have read many ideas of what is causing it, from USB ., USB 2.0, usb cables, full battery charge, etc., but no consistent solution. I have also read many posts in which people say most are not having any problem.
So, my request is, if you have a Zen Micro, and you have had no problems at all, please post a message with when you bought yours, and the firmware and software you are using. Thanks a lot for your help. I'm just trying to figure out if it is worth it to take a chance again. I don't want an Ipod with $00 non-user replaceable batteries.

Bought my dark blue Limited Edition in mid-December from Amazon.com. I first charged the unit before doing anything else and it hung up upon completion of that first charge. Removed and replaced the battery and have had no further hangs of any sort. I upgraded to .0.03 right away and am still there. I mostly load music by syncing with WMP 0 and even without the MTP support it works fine for me. I also use Notmad Explorer occassionally to manipulate playlists. It works fine too.
My only problem is I cannot reliably use the touch pad. I'm always selecting the wrong thing or skipping over what I want. Since I love everything else about the ZM, I'm living with the touch pad. I have tried both low and high sensitivity settings and it seems to work slightly better at the high setting.
I haven't actually timed my battery life, but I'm guessing I'm getting somewhere around 8-0 hours playing WMA at 96kbps with Smart Volume off and only occassional use of EQ. I usually disconnect the headphones when the unit is turned off, but I don't know if that changes anything. I try to run the battery quite low (no bars or low battery warning) before a full charge, but I do let it charge for a while sometimes while its connected to the USB port on the PC.
Unlike some, I have been very pleased with the FM radio. I get good reception even at work in my ground floor office of a mostly metal building. That's with the stock earphones.
I started out using USB ., but added USB 2.0 to my computer (Windows XP SP2) and had no trouble with either. I have not seen the problem some have reported about problems when the battery is fully charged.
One last thing... I have 697 songs on my ZM, with about 2.8 GB of free space.
Randy
Message Edited by RMoore on 0-28-2005 04:33 PM
Message Edited by RMoore on 0-28-2005 04:34 PM

Problem with Zen X-Fi 8Gb and Earpho

Hi All
I've got a problem with my new Zen X-Fi 8Gb and my Bose In-ear earphones.
While I'm listening to the music, if I increase the volume level, everything goes right till I reach 20.
If I overcome this level I can hear just one channel of my earphones. When I reach the maximum volume (25) I can't listen to the music (because audio comes and goes), music is intermittent. For sure the earphones works proprely.
Can anybody tell me what I could do?
Thanks

No because I set to off every feature such as equalizator, bass boost, smart volume and limitation and also x-fi crystalizer and expand.
X-Fi works fine if I use crati've's earphones... I've tryed Senneheser's neckband headphones and everything goes right... There is this problem only with Bose...
Message Edited by angfox on 09-06-2008 03:43 AM

Smart Volume on Zen Mi

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