New Creative X-Fi Drivers Available - not beta :)

[Tobeman]

http://us.creative.com/support/downl...pe=0&details=1

SoundBlaster X-Fi Driver v2.09.0001

This download

* Includes Creative Audio Console, which enables you to use the Sound Blaster X-Fi features and functions.
* Does not address all the reported general "crackling" issues, but it does resolve some specific issues with crackling. Investigations with some motherboard manufacturers are ongoing, and we hope to provide a general solution soon.
* Resolves some issues to improve your overall audio experience.

Added Feature:

* Supports OpenAL 1.1

Game Fixes:

For Prey™

* Resolves the issue of the computer not responding

For Quake 4™ (version 1.04)

* Resolves the issue of the computer not responding when the error message "Quake 4 has encountered an error and needs to close" is displayed
* Resolves the issue of mono speaker out in surround sound environments
* Allows you to hear audio from speakers when you select the OpenAL X-Fi option as the audio driver
* Allows audio channels to stream to correct speakers

For Battlefield 2™

* Allows the Ultra-High Audio setting in a multi-player game

For Battlefield 2 (version 1.12)

* Allows you to hear audio from speakers when the X-Fi audio driver option is selected

For Doom 3™ (version 1.3)

* Allows you to hear audio from speakers when EAX 4.0 is enabled
* Resolves the "pop" issue during the Chainsaw attack sound effect sequence
* Removes "hiss" from the front left speaker
* Allows panning
* Plays the Ambient sound effects correctly

For Unreal® Tournament 2004 (version 3369)

* Allows you to hear audio from speakers when running in hardware OpenAL mode (the System Driver check-box is cleared)

For Unreal Tournament 2004 (version 3355)

* Allows reverb in native OpenAL mode
* Allows music to play correctly during gaming in Native OpenAL mode

For Dungeon Siege® (version 1.11)

* Resolves the issue of the computer not responding during benchmarking

Music or Movie Playback Fixes:

* Resolves the issue of the computer not responding when DTS signal is passed through Creative MediaSource™ Player/Organizer
* Removes X-Fi CMSS-3D Speakers distortion when playing DivX stereo content

Recording Fixes:

For Audio Creation Mode

* Removes distortion when recording to a 44.1 kHz multi-channel wave file in Audio Creation Mode with 44.1 kHz master sampling rate
* Removes pops and crackles during record monitoring and changing sample rates

For Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional x64 Edition

* Resolves the issue where no audio is heard from your speakers occasionally when playing 3D MIDI files
* Resolves the missing instrument issue when playing a MIDI file in all modes

Others

* Resolves the "recording process aborted" issue during a 44 kHz multi-channel recording
* Resolves the issue of the computer not responding when recording with Creative MediaSource Player/Organizer
* Resolves SoundFont® issues where notes distort and change pitch during playback and recording

General Fixes:

* Allows your computer to quit Suspend mode when enabling "Automatically Enable Headphone Settings" even when headphones are not connected to your computer
* Resolves the issue where no audio is heard when testing the X-Fi CMSS-3D Headphone in the Game Mode console
* Resolves the noise issue when your computer quits Standby mode

Fixes for developers:

* Allows effects to be loaded in EAX4.0 mode of your test program (EAX50ShowDSound)
* Resolves the issue of the computer not responding when loading a 2D Sound in your test program (DSound50_OpenAL 1.1)
* Resolves the issue where there is no upmix when switching effects
* Resolves the floating point offset issue in OpenAL
* Resolves the issue of the computer not responding while using synchronous start through native OpenAL

Requirements:

* Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition or Windows XP Service Pack 2
* Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic, Platinum or Fatal1ty audio device

Note:

* Creative MediaSource DVD-Audio Player is unavailable for Windows XP Professional x64 Edition.

[Ravens Nest]

Thanks tobeman, surprised they have a fix for Prey already
Would be nice if they released a new driver like this every month like ATI and Nvidia do.

Downloading now.

[unreal]

It's the exact same changelog as the beta drivers D:

*Downloads anyway* Creative put a time limit of you being on the Beta drivers anyway don't they.

[Tobeman]

They've changed something at least, I can now set BF2 @ Ultra-high which I couldn't with the betas.

[GoNz0]

that fix was part of the beta ????

[FatalSaviour]

Are these drivers compatible with Vista 5646 too?

[Digerati]

Thanks for the post Tobeman, ill be downloading those tonight.

Hope your exams went OK by the way mate, I'm sure you'll update me when your on MSN next.

[andyjhill]

Thanks Tobeman Been Waiting For This

[neonplanet40]

link is dead for me. not loading

[unreal]

Got em installed, keep in mind folks that this is the driver and doesnt come with the console, fancy volume control and all the other fancy progs that come with it

Thanks Tobyshire

[CAL3H]

Hi there, wow one of my first posts - I've been a long time reader!

Could someone please confirm that the X-Fi cards run nicely with BF2 please? I'm also about to reformat with MCE - I assume there are no problems here either?

Any input would be greatly appreciated - sorry to change topic slightly, guess its kinda relevant, fitting in with the driver theme.

Thanks,
CAL3H

[Ravens Nest]

I have the X-FI xtrememusic and BF2 & special forces and they work very well together

Theres a sound mode especially for X-FI and i set it to "ultra high", the sound quality is very clear and explosions have more umph! and there are more sound channels so more going on around you also the sound envelopes you so you know exactly where a sound is coming from even with headphones lol

I dont know anything about MCE though sorry.

[Lee @ SCAN]

I dont know anything about MCE though sorry.

I downloaded these last night with the intention of testing with MCE2005 but I got distracted by the scantilly cladded, semi-naked girls outside so I went and sat in the garden relaxing instead

I'll try them tonight and see if theres any issues.

[unreal]

Hi there, wow one of my first posts - I've been a long time reader!

Could someone please confirm that the X-Fi cards run nicely with BF2 please? I'm also about to reformat with MCE - I assume there are no problems here either?

Welcome mate

I can clarify that my X-Fi works wonders with BF2, if you're a bit of an audiophile like me, you can appreciate being able to accurately hear each and everything going on around you, from distant gun fights and explosions to a dogfight above your head. BF2 Has a special Ultra Quality mode made especially for X-Fi cards, so it really is good. However I have no idea what differences or compatiblility issues MCE would make I'm afraid.

[GoNz0]

i went from audigy 2 to X-Fi & thought, is it worth the £80..

now im wishing i brought the next model up with frontplate...

best £80 i spent on a soundcard well recommended, but make sure your happy with the layout of the basic card, it has 3 outputs for 6 channel (5.1) and 1 last socket that is either line in/mic or digital out.

so if you need more connections you need the more expensive versions.