Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro + Vista x64 - which driver(s) + Digital-OUT questions?

[fnord0]

I recently acquired a pretty nice setup for computer audio = SB Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro (http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=204&product=4925), it comes with the Audigy ZS 2 soundcard + an external I/O hub <very sweet> and a remote ... pretty cool for me, but I have some questions, and I hope someone here can help answer them.
From day one I had many questions about howto install the correct driver set, and get everything working properly... My intended primary use was to output "all sound" via Coax SPDIF-OUT at the back of the Platinum Pro external I/O hub, and hopefully use my Sony Dolby Digital receiver to output the 5.1 or 7.1-encoded signal to my 7.1 speakers ala NVidia (http://www.nvidia.com/object/feature_soundstorm.html) SoundStorm (http://www.overclockers.com.au/article.php?id=134416), yet lo' and behold, my hopes were crushed upon reading this sticky forum post titled " Digital Connections, SPDIF and Dolby Digital Info (http://forums.creative.com/creativelabs/board/message?board.id=soundblaster&message.id=92667)" in the Creative SoundBlaster forums (http://forums.creative.com/creativelabs/board?board.id=soundblaster).

Quite pissed off that this $130 sound-card can't even do dobly digital on-the fly encoding like my nForce 2 SoundStorm onboard soundchip did really irk'd me, but I was bound and determined to get Dobly Digital and DTS (a 7.1 encoded signal) to at least play properly via coax SPDIF-OUT connector > to my DD/DTS receiver..

So, after 2 days of constant struggle with Vista x64, at the end of the 2 days I had tried ALL ofthe following drivers/softwares ;;

Official Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy series BETA Driver (http://support.creative.com/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?catID=1&subCatID=205&prodID=4925&prodName=Audigy%202%20ZS%20Platinum%20Pro&subCatName=Audigy&CatName=Sound+Blaster#) [File Name: SBAX_PCDRVBETA_US_2_18_000.exe (http://support.creative.com/downloads/download.aspx?nDownloadId=10594)]
Creative ALchemy 1.10.01 (http://support.creative.com/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?catID=1&subCatID=205&prodID=4925&prodName=Audigy%202%20ZS%20Platinum%20Pro&subCatName=Audigy&CatName=Sound+Blaster#)
Creative MediaSource Player/Organizer 5.10.38 (http://support.creative.com/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?catID=1&subCatID=205&prodID=4925&prodName=Audigy%202%20ZS%20Platinum%20Pro&subCatName=Audigy&CatName=Sound+Blaster#)

NoMoreGoatSoup - Audigy Series Vista Driver Installer Version 2 - Audigy Series Vista Drivers 2.15.0003 (http://nomoregoatsoup.wordpress.com/2007/10/02/audigy-series-vista-driver-pack-2/)

kX drivers - v5.10.0.3541 (http://kxproject.lugosoft.com/down.php?language=en)

Daniel_K's - Audigy Vista Support Pack (http://nomoregoatsoup.wordpress.com/2008/03/29/sound-blaster-audigy-series-vista-support-pack-feb-24-2008-by-daniel-kawakami/) - SBAX_PCDVT_LB_2_15_0004EQ.exe (http://www.mininova.org/get/1281389) - (found a valid download link via torrent (http://www.mininova.org/get/1281389) @ mininova.org (http://www.mininova.org/tor/1281389))

X-Fi Crystalizer for Creative SB Audigy series 1.2.0.0 - by Daniel _K (http://nomoregoatsoup.wordpress.com/2008/05/18/x-fi-crystalizer-for-sb-audigy-series/) - (found a valid download link @ DriverHeaven (http://www.driverheaven.net/audio-general-technical-discussion/160524-x-fi-crystalizer-sb-audigy-series-daniel_k.html))

----------------------------------------------------------
After trying all the above and many bluescreens, and DriverSweeper (http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=1655#download) cleans + manual repairs, I finally settled with these drivers;

SBAX_PCDVT_LB_2_15_0004EQ.exe (http://www.mininova.org/get/1281389)
-AND-
X-Fi Crystalizer for Creative SB Audigy series 1.2.0.0 - by Daniel _K (http://nomoregoatsoup.wordpress.com/2008/05/18/x-fi-crystalizer-for-sb-audigy-series/)

Finally, I can say this :: I have DTS and Dolby Digital working via SPDIF-out only when playing Dolby Digital/AC3 and DTS DVD's/AVIs/WAVs, etc with MediaPlayer and foobar2000 with SPDIF output configured --- my questions are, how do other Audigy 2 ZS (Platinum Pro) users have their's setup? And I wonder why when I setup the Creative Audio Console for 7.1 speakrers, SPDIF passthru and Digital output = 96KHz, I am not getting 24bit/96KHz output via coax SPDIF-OUT to my receiver --- does 24bit/96KHz output work with this card at all? Do I have to use the SB Audigy 2 ZS internal decoder for 24bit/96KHz or even 24bit/192KHz to work?? And another question ... when I use analog out, and run the Vista speaker test, I am only getting sound on L/C/R/RL and RR but NO SOUND on SL or SR <for analog output I am also connecting to my receiver via the Audigy 2 ZS soundcard's 3 headphone jack connectors > thru to the back 6 RCA multi-channel inputs on my receiver> I run into this with all drivers mentioned above!?!?

Here is my current setup in "Creative Audio Console", maybe by me posting this, others can tell me how you have yours setup, and that I am sure will help me get the "right settings" ;

[Device Information]
Wave Device: SB Audigy 2 ZS Audio [9F00]
MIDI Device: SB Audigy 2 ZS Synth A [9F00]
Mixer Device: SB Audigy 2 ZS Mixer [9F00]
[Speakers]
7.1 speakers
[EAX]
Environment >> No Effects
[CMSS 3D]
Off
[Decoder]
SPDIF Passthrough (Dolby Digital /DTS Digital Out)
[SPDIF I/O]
SPDIF Input Settings: Default
Digital Output (PCM) Sampling Rate Settings: 48KHz ((I've tried 96KHz too))
[Bit Accurate]
Enable Bit Accurate Recording: Yes/Checked
[Headphone Detection]
Optimize 3-D effects for headphones when using headphones: Yes/Checked
Mute Speakers upon Headphone Jack Detection: Yes/Checked

-- BTW, after messing around with everything, then trying X-Fi Crystalizer for Creative SB Audigy series 1.2.0.0 - by Daniel _K (http://nomoregoatsoup.wordpress.com/2008/05/18/x-fi-crystalizer-for-sb-audigy-series/) I find that when I run the X-Fi Console, when enabling the X-Fi Crystalizer just doesn't do much of anything, and I am SURE I installed it exactly according to directions... the X-Fi CMSS-3D sounds like it's doing something when on, but it is barely audiable --- have others tried this, and if so what is yr thoughts of this "hack" ?? CAN this X-Fi crystallizer hack reproduce SoundStorm tech, and/or does Creative even offer Dolby Digital on the fly encoding in the Audigy/X-Fi or any of their soundcards??

Thanks for reading this, any help others may be able to provide will be much appreciated!

-peace-
fnord0

<PS. sorry bout the long-winded-ness, hope my questions are ledgible/coherant, if anyone wants me to explain more in depth, just ask me>

[bbf]

Quite pissed off that this $130 sound-card can't even do dobly digital on-the fly encoding like my nForce 2 SoundStorm onboard soundchip did really irk'd me, but I was bound and determined to get Dobly Digital and DTS (a 7.1 encoded signal) to at least play properly via coax SPDIF-OUT connector > to my DD/DTS receiver..


I'm not a big Creative fan, but don't criticize them for things they never claimed their cards would do. Do your research, SB never claimed real time DD or DTS encoding with their Audigy 2ZS (only 6 channel digital to Creative Speakers), plus the extra $$$ also goes towards the fancy schmancy external break-out box that your soundstorm never had. Note that Nvidia has dropped the real time encoding in all their subsequent chipsets... only the enthusiasts cared. So DD encoding only exists on >$100 audio cards like the Auzentech Prelude.

Note that a lot of the "reactivated" features that Daniel's drivers do, like DD encoding, don't work with x64 Vista. I don't bother with digital connections to my receiver and just connect up my computer sound system with 5.1 analog outputs (I don't have a 7.1 system in my computer room) so I can use run of the mill 3.5mm stereo to dual RCA cables.

The easiest route for 7.1 bliss is to use analog connections to your receiver's preamp in, and it's unfortunately going to make you fork out more money to Creative's giant maw by purchasing their special 7.1 cable with 8 RCA jacks: http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=13&subcategory=55&product=14309

It's kinda hard to find two four-conductor 3.5mm jacks to three RCA's cables elsewhere... :-<

[fnord0]

but don't criticize them for things they never claimed their cards would do. Do your research, SB never claimed real time DD or DTS encoding with their Audigy 2ZS (only 6 channel digital to Creative Speakers), plus the extra $$$ also goes towards the fancy schmancy external break-out box that your soundstorm never had.

yer absolutely right :: I found this out eventually; it was my own pre-misconception prior to obtaining the card that all higher-end sound cards designed after the release of Nvidia's SoundStorm would do this, since that was on-board sound -- my spirit become broken upon finding that out, heh... thanks for your thoughts!

hey, that cable u mention = http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=13&subcategory=55&product=14309

Creative's page says they are out of stock. that really bites, as that cable appears to be exactly what I need! do u know anywhere good to obtain, besides Ebay? I know how to search google 'n such, and that is where I will look - I figured I'd ask for someone's opinion that may very well be in the know -- in the meantime.

-peace-
fnord0

[deruberhanyok]

So DD encoding only exists on >$100 audio cards like the Auzentech Prelude.

Or the $90 Xonar DX. Or the $80 Auzen X-Plosion or HT Omega Striker (both of which support DTS connect, something the Prelude STILL doesn't). Or that $50 Diamond card.

[bbf]

Or the $90 Xonar DX. Or the $80 Auzen X-Plosion or HT Omega Striker (both of which support DTS connect, something the Prelude STILL doesn't). Or that $50 Diamond card.

I stand corrected. Although everything except the Xonar DX would suck for games since they don't support EAX HD... really the only need for multichannel encoding is for games... since DVD's should be already encoded.

Recompressing audio to DD or DTS will lower the quality compared to direct analog connections, but one cable connections vs. 6 is the trade off.

I don't think that DD live or DTS Connect/Interactive supports 7.1 channels do they? Just 5.1 for now.

The new HDMI 1.3 audio card from Auzentech (Auzen X-Fi HomeTheater 7.1) should solve all the cabling problems if it has the capability to stream 7.1 uncompressed audio like the HDMI 1.3a standard allows.... if it's just doing DD Live and DTS connect, then it would be no better than what's out there already.
http://www.auzentech.com/site/company/press.php

[deruberhanyok]

You don't need EAX to get surround sound in games... plenty of games support software mixers for 3D surround and that translates nicely when using DDL.

Just because a card doesn't support EAX above 2.0 doesn't mean it sucks for games... it just means it doesn't support EAX above 2.0.

[bbf]

You don't need EAX to get surround sound in games... plenty of games support software mixers for 3D surround and that translates nicely when using DDL.

Just because a card doesn't support EAX above 2.0 doesn't mean it sucks for games... it just means it doesn't support EAX above 2.0.

It does affect the quality of the sounds a lot. The fancy environmental occlusion stuff that EAX HD adds does improve audio quality in games quite a bit for realistic audio rendering.
The positional 3-D audio stuff is provided by direct3d, you don't need an EAX anything sound card for that.

You can stick with the EAX 2.0 and below cards if you want. Then you won't need to spend the extra money on the Asus Xonar series that emulates EAX HD nor the Auzentech Prelude. Obviously those companies decided EAX HD support was important enough to a) emulate or b) actually include the creative chip.

[fnord0]

excellent information everyone! thanks for the help! here's another quick question --- does anyone here suggest using AC3filter (http://ac3filter.net/projects/ac3filter) or SPDIFer (http://ac3filter.net/projects/spdifer) --- I am fooling around with it, and it actually seems pretty cool, but I am wondering if I even need this AT ALL --- as I have a sound card that I thought should be able to output directly to SPDIF without the need for any third party utilities like this.

your thoughts??