SB Audigy Series Support Pack 3.1 + DTS Encoder Switcher + AMD64 FiX by daniel_k (fre

Supports any model of the following Sound Blaster cards (based on Emu10kx DSP):
- Audigy
- Audigy 2
- Audigy 2 ZS
- Audigy 4

Operating systems supported: 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows 7 RTM / Vista SP2 / XP SP3


Included in the pack:
- Audigy series driver 2.18.0011.8 (latest beta)
- ALchemy 1.30.00
- Audio Console 1.32.02
- DDL and DTS Connect License Activation 2.00.03 (*)
- Dolby Digital Live Pack 3.00.03 (*)
- DTS Connect Pack 1.03.04 (*)
- EAX Console 3.00.56 (Windows XP only)
- Graphic Equalizer 2.00.65
- MediaSource DVD-Audio Player 2.00.78
- SoundFont Bank Manager 3.21.00
- Speaker Settings 2.00.60

(*) Purchase and activation required

Does this driver improve sound quality or performance? Are there any tweaks?
No, this driver does not improve sound quality nor increase performance.
No, there are no tweaks.
If someone states that its driver improves sound quality and performance, you are being fooled, cheated.
It is even worse that the so called tweaks come from a person who is not EVEN technically acknowledged, does NOT know anything about Windows internals, software engineering and sound fidelity that all audiophiles always look for.
If you "feel" the sound better, that is the infamous placebo effect and there is no real proof that any tweaks work.
In fact, I have yet to see a driver that states in its release notes that it improves sound quality.
I've disassembled about every single .SYS driver, .DLL libraries and .EXE executables and found nothing.
There are some undocumented registry values, but nothing related to sound quality or performance.
Would the so called tweaks even exist, they would be in my Support Packs, you can bet that.

Fixes and improvements:
- Enables support for WASAPI exclusive-mode event-driven playback, seems to be working just fine
- Fixes the enhancements errors in Windows mixer and Windows Media Player.
- Adds Microsoft Audio Home Theather Effects for both Speakers and S/PDIF Out endpoints.
- Includes Encoder Switcher to enable DTS Interactive on Audigy cards.
- Fixes the Audio Console "Internal application error" when enabling the DDL Encoder on localized installs.
- Updates Audio Console to display DTS Interactive in the Encoder tab when Encoder switcher is used.
- Workarounds a bug that unexpectedly resets the speaker configuration.
- Prevents an issue during installation on Windows 7/Vista that may result in low volume when certain enhancements are enabled.
- Implements Hardware CMSS Headphone by using a workaround.
- Updates all InstallShield setup scripts to support Windows 7.
- Fixes installation INI to properly install applications depending on the detected OS.
- Removes COM workaround for Equalizer, fixed by Creative.
- Adds workaround to a memory corruption issue preventing Equalizer from starting on Windows 7/Vista.
- Updates shared modules, responsiveness on certain applications is improved.
- Enables CMSS2 and Stereo Surround.
- Fixes 32-bit ASIO not working on Windows 7 x64.
- Fixes Encoder not available on Windows 7 x64 (related to fix above).
- Modifies default format on Windows 7 / Vista to 24-bit, 48kHz.
- Properly adds support for 64-bit OpenAL and 64-bit ASIO.
- Sets default speaker setting to 5.1 to properly reset configs to their defaults during install (fixes Bass and Treble leves not set to 50% on Windows 7 / Vista).


Undocumented fixes by Creative (not listed in the release notes):
- Fixes the Enable Dolby Digital Live checkbox not staying checked when Audio Console is closed.
- Fixes Equalizer Out of Memory error.
- Fixes Equalizer settings being lost on Windows 7 / Vista when speaker configuration is changed.
- Fixes low volume on Windows 7 / Vista when default format is set to anything higher than 16-bit, 48kHz.
- Fixes MIDI instruments in Melodic Pool not playing when speaker setting is higher than 2.1 speakers.
- Restores missing Microphone option in Surround Mixer (documented).
- Fixes Microphone mute, volume and +20db boost controls.

Release Notes:

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".



OpenAL 2D benchmark in RightMark 3DSound crashes your system
Due to a driver bug, your system will crash if you run the OpenAL 2D benchmark using 63 buffers. No problem With 62 or fewer buffers. OpenAL 3D and OpenAL 3D + EAX benchmarks are not affected.
Details: DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (0x000000D1) - ctoss2k.sys


6.1 Speakers available on Windows 7 64-bit (x64)
Due to a version detection bug in the 64-bit drivers, the FilterSpeakerMode registry setting is ignored, exposing the 6.1 speakers setting on Windows 7 x64 edition.
Do not choose that mode as it causes sync issues with Windows mixer.


MediaSource DVD-Audio Player system requirements
- 32-bit edition of Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- any Audigy 2, Audigy 2 ZS or Audigy 4 card


Built-in Decoder on Windows 7 / Vista (requires Service Pack 1)
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.


Advanced EQ and Special FX not available on Windows 7 / Vista
These presets don't work on Windows 7 / Vista.


There is no sound in games with OpenAL support on Windows XP
Disable Advanced EQ and Special FX selecting "No effect" before running the game or program.


Equalizer settings are lost
When you run a game with OpenAL support or using Creative ALchemy, the Equalizer settings are lost.
Just run Equalizer and the saved setting is loaded automatically.


DTS Encoder Switcher
The Encoder Switcher can be found in the \EncSwitcher folder in the path where you extracted the Support Pack.
Thoroughly read the ReadMe.txt file included before using the provided utilities.


Hardware CMSS Headphone
To use the hardware CMSS you need to select "Disable all enhancements" in the "Enhancements" tab on:
Playback Devices -> Speaker Properties
Now check the Speaker configuration in "Playback devices".
If it is Stereo, run Audio Console and change it to 4.1, 5.1 or 7.1 and only after that change it to Headphones.
This procedure ensures that CMSS(1) will work after a Windows restart, otherwise only CMSS2 will work.


Microsoft Audio Home Theater Effects
This driver adds the following audio effects, which are available depending on the current speaker configuration:
- Bass Management
- Speaker Fill
- Room Correction
- Loudness Equalization
- Bass Boost
- Virtual Surround
- Low Frequency Protection

Some effects are also available for the "SPDIF Out" device.


Windows MIDI Device Configuration Utility
Use this utility to change the MIDI playback device for 32-bit and 64-bit applications.


Creative Audio Driver Fix for AMD64 Architecture:
Enables 64-bit application support for OpenAL and ASIO.
Read the ReadMe.txt file included before using the provided utility.

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