2ZS GAMER Sound Audiology Problem

[bts.rok]

Many of the higher end Sound Audiology cards are having problems running BF2. I have executed the following fix with no results:

1. Install the OPENAL32.exe App from Creative (Link Below).

http://developer.creative.com/articles/article.asp?cat=1&sbcat=31&top=38&aid=46&file=OpenALwEAX.exe

No, it's not a virus or else you could sue Creative for mass distributing one. No, this will not ruin any sound in other games. ** A box will come up, click yes I agree.. yadda yadda yadda, and you're done.**

2. Go into your windows/system32 directory, NOT YOUR CREATIVE DIRECTORY, and copy the OpenAL32.dll and paste it into your BF2 Directory (Main Folder). DO NOT CONFUSE THE OpenAL32.dll file for the OpenGL32.dll. THAT WILL CAUSE PROBLEMS.

3. In the BF2 Main Folder, make a backup of the BF2OpenAL.dll file and put it some where that you could remember where it is if any bf2 problems occur.

4. Rename the OpenAL32.dll file you got from the System32 directory to BF2OpenAL.dll and replace the original BF2OpenAL.dll. Don't forget to make a back up (just incase).

The result was this did not work and I had to remove the fix. In fact the fix ended up being worse than it is now. My question is?? Does anyone know of anything else?

Thanks!
Rok

[Talus]

That fix has been around since the demo...some people fine it works, others don't. I never found a use for it.

Would you care to describe your problem???

[bts.rok]

Yes, thanks for your response.

1. When enterening a server the sound will play like a broken record over and over again and often I get disconnected from the server.

2. If I am already in the server sound plays like a broken record usually at the beginning or end of a map........although it has happended during a map just not often. When this happens my game shuts down completely grrrrrrrrr!

Any ideas? Thank!

[Talus]

Have you tried downloading these drivers?:
http://ccftp.creative.com/manualdn/Drivers/AVP/8888/0x9B1818DE/SBA2_PCDrvBeta_LB_2_08_0002.exe

[bts.rok]

I will take a look at it.................ty

[IntensivCareBear]

this is convenient, because i ALSO have a creative audigy 2 zs and problems running it on BF2.

however, the problem doesnt seem to be with BF2. you see, there are 3 jacks on the audigy 2 zs that are analog outs. i am trying to hook these up to my home theatre 5.1 system

i simply hooked the left/ right cable into the left right jack and they worked, i hooked the rear speaker cable into the rear cable, and they work fine.

however, when i plug the subwoofer/centre cable into the sub/center jack.... absolutely nothing happens, both the subwoofer and center cable remain deadly quiet.

and even more strange, when i plug the subwoofer/center into either of the 2 other jacks, it works, but plays whatever that jack plays normally. for example, i put it into the rear speaker jack, and subwoofer plays what the rear speakers usually do, which obviously doesnt work in BF2 very well (sounds from in front are all treble, sounds from behind are just a blast of subwoofer)

i also have the 2.08 drivers specified in the last post. should i try earlier non beta drivers?

also, this fix, can it fix problems like mine, or is that simply with the whole computer?

the problem is it basically seems like the center/sub jack does nothing, no sound ever comes from it.

[Talus]

..and you checked for 'digital IO' being checked off?

[IntensivCareBear]

do you mean me or the thread starter? yeah i found digital input only and it was unchecked, i doubt the rest of the speakers would have worked analog if it was.

in fact, the only reason im using analog is because im almost positive that for some reason the audigy 2 zs digital out only does 2.1.

[Talus]

I meant you. It just seems like your digital jack may be borked.

Have you TRIED completely uninstalling your audigy drivers.
Then using Driver Cleaner Pro with the 'Creative' filter to remove ALL TRACES.
Then install ONLY the latest drivers?

I was having weird audio issues once and this fixed it for me.

[IntensivCareBear]

well i havent uninstalled it yet because i cant find it in add/remove, but ill use driver cleaner.

the prob is i am using the latest 2.08 drivers, and since they say beta i thought maybe i should try the second most recent 1.84 and see if they work better.

[Talus]

@IntensivCareBear:

Hehe...I think we're getting close to your problem ;)

I would WHOLEHEARTEDLY recommend you delete all traces of creative software from you hard drive and then use driver cleaner.

#1. Go to device manager, find your sound card, right click, select 'uninstall'.
#2. Do a search on your hard drive for the term 'Creative' and delete everything that is related to your sound card
#3. Reboot your PC into safe mode
#4. Run driver cleaner in safe mode using the 'Creative' filter.
#5. Install your drivers from original disc OR install from any downloaded version you like (up to and including the betas).

[IntensivCareBear]

hmm, i agree with you that i am almost positive the problem is software, not hardware related.

i have only one question. must i reboot it in safe mode and run driver cleaner in safe mode?

what is the worst that can happen if i run driver cleaner normally, not in safe mode? i suppose i could do it in safe mode if i should, but just wondering why.

and just a question, have you heard of similar probs that are driver related?

[IntensivCareBear]

yeah, in this thread tons of people report the same prob: namely no subwoofer with analog cables.

http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/1/38302.html

[Revoluti0n]

I never really saw the point of buying such a high end card for gaming. I mean, it sounds good enough with a regular Audigy 2, why would anyone need so much froma sound card. If you use headphones, it's not going to matter hearing every little detail, more often then not you get killed before you know what hit you.
I use an Audigy 2 and I find it works really well on its own. I've not had these types of problems with that card. I think that it also has something to do with the high end audio processor competing with the CPU/RAM and eventually it creates those problems.

[Talus]

hmm, i agree with you that i am almost positive the problem is software, not hardware related.

i have only one question. must i reboot it in safe mode and run driver cleaner in safe mode?

what is the worst that can happen if i run driver cleaner normally, not in safe mode? i suppose i could do it in safe mode if i should, but just wondering why.

and just a question, have you heard of similar probs that are driver related?

You MUST run Driver Cleaner in safe mode for optimum effect. If any file is in use, DC will not remove it if you're booted normally.

It won't cause any harm to your system if you don't use it in safe mode...but it sure increases the chance that it won't fix your problem.

[Talus]

I never really saw the point of buying such a high end card for gaming. I mean, it sounds good enough with a regular Audigy 2, why would anyone need so much froma sound card. If you use headphones, it's not going to matter hearing every little detail, more often then not you get killed before you know what hit you.
I use an Audigy 2 and I find it works really well on its own. I've not had these types of problems with that card. I think that it also has something to do with the high end audio processor competing with the CPU/RAM and eventually it creates those problems.

don't knock it 'til you've tried it ;)

The X-Fi XtremeMusic (hate that name) is NOT a high end model but it sounds and performs MUCH better. I CERTAINLY do not recommend that people buy the FPS or Platinum editions unless they are loaded.

[IntensivCareBear]

well i didnt buy the audigy 2 zs, i got it from a friend who upgraded to an xfi, which is why i didnt have the cd to install it from.

just wondering talus, how do you know that the drivers will fix it? i shall try drivercleaner in safe mode as soon as i get home today.

and hehe, i dont use headphones, ive got it hooked up to my 500 watt sub, with 5 125 watt home theatre speakers, which sounds about 300,000,000 times more impressive than headphones.

also, headphones for loud noises hurts your ears a lot more than just normal speaker sound, which also is more atmospheric.

im just trying to solve my prob here, im not going to throw out my far better card and go out and buy an audigy 2 just because you said!

[Talus]

You misread me.

I recommend to anybody who currently uses on-board sound, do NOT waste money on an audigy line card unless you cannot at least afford the X-Fi XtremeMusic. If you can get an Audigy card for FREE though, take it.

I certainly don't advocate people wasting money on upgrading FROM an Audigy 1/2 to an X-Fi unless they have money to spare.

I too prefer my 5.1 speakers to headphones. I only use headphones at a LAN party. I use a mono USB headset for TeamSpeak for daily use.

And regarding your question about the drivers solving the issue...I didn't say it will solve your problem. We're just trying to troubleshoot the issue in the HOPES that it may fix your problem ;)

[IntensivCareBear]

arg i tried, but i cant even get INTO safe mode. ive been in it before, i thought that you just hit delete during startup, but now when i do it i either enter BIOS (when its the screen that has the NVRAM check) or nothing happens.

can somebody tell me how to get into safe mode?

[Talus]

You hit F8 after the POST and before Windows starts to load.

[IntensivCareBear]

hmm, what do you think of threads like this

http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/50977/

http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/1/38302.html

they show that tons of people have the same problem, and i dont know how to fix it.

[bts.rok]

Regarding statement about whether one should use onboard sound vs a sound card for gaming:

I am certain that someone can answer this better than me but it does take significant system resources to run onboard sound. I believe for a gaming system you are better off to have a sound card of some form. In my case I made a poor selection in the one I chose as i did not want to spend too much money on a sound card for my gaming computer.

[Talus]

Have you tried searching and posting in the Creative forums?

http://forums.americas.creative.com/creativelabs/board?board.id=soundblaster

[Talus]

Regarding statement about whether one should use onboard sound vs a sound card for gaming:

I am certain that someone can answer this better than me but it does take significant system resources to run onboard sound. I believe for a gaming system you are better off to have a sound card of some form. In my case I made a poor selection in the one I chose as i did not want to spend too much money on a sound card for my gaming computer.

You are correct, in that for gaming you're better off with a dedicated sound card. But..some sound cards certainly are better than others.

[IntensivCareBear]

ok, i went into safe mode after uninstalling the creative applications (not the drivers though couldnt find them in add/remove).

so i ran driver cleaner on the "creative audio" option and it finished pretty quick. then i restarted in normal mode and there was no audio, so i figured that the drivers had been uninstalled.

i wanted to install the second most recent drivers, the 1.84 ones, but it said the same error that it did when the later 2.08 were installed which is "windows drivers are up to date. will now exit".

so i installed the 2.08 ones, which are the most recent and the ones id been using before, and guess what :no subwoofer heh.

absolutely nothing has changed. i guess its a pretty big prob because everywhere there are these forums about how the sub /bass just will not work.

its really getting ridiculous seeing as their digital outs only have stereo and their analog sub seems to work about 50% of the time, as long as ONE worked for 5.1 with subwoofer i wouldnt mind, but both being screwed its just retarded.

glad i didnt pay 100 bucks for it at least heh.

so that eliminated the drivers as a prob, i suppose it could still be the 2.08 drivers but they werent installed wrong or anything.

[Talus]

I'm just amazed that you cannot uninstall the drivers by using Device Manager, right clicking the sound card under 'Sound and Audio Devices' and selecting 'uninstall'.

You COULD have a bad card .. and maybe that's how you wound up with it ;)

[imported_GR|M|IN]

I have a 2 ZS. Can I get Ultra high or is it only for X-fi?? And If I can how?

[IntensivCareBear]

no, its not a bad card because my friend whom i got it from used it perfectly fine on a 5.1 and 7.1 sound system.

the subwoofer even worked then. its not like i got some bashed on ancient used card that had been set on fire twice.

i thought you said that you were getting close to the solution of my problem?

and i think i could do it through the device driver, yet drivercleaner definitely uninstalled them in safe mode cause there was no sound, yet the older drivers still say windows driver is up to date.

yeah, and all the other people with brand new audigy 2 zs whose subwoofer / bass wont work is too great for it to be a "bad card"

[IntensivCareBear]

hey talus, you live in ontario? looks like the tories have got it this time heh.

i live in BC, its conservative all the way! better watch out or well get drafted and sent to iraq!

just kidding, im not one of those morons with a crazy superstition that stephen harper is some incarnation of satan heh.

[Talus]

hey talus, you live in ontario? looks like the tories have got it this time heh.

i live in BC, its conservative all the way! better watch out or well get drafted and sent to iraq!

just kidding, im not one of those morons with a crazy superstition that stephen harper is some incarnation of satan heh.

Trust me...I'm not pleased :(

Well, at least you're pretty sure that your card is ok.

...and I ALWAYS hate to recommend this...but maybe it's time for a re-format? I have had some pretty nasty issues with audio drivers and software in the past and sometimes starting fresh is the best.

Final questions:
-have you disabled your on-board audio card in the BIOS?
-have you tried altering the PCI latency of your audio card? or lowing the PCI latency of your graphics card? (except if it's PCIe)

[IntensivCareBear]

heh i havent tried either of those things.

would you mind telling me how to do them?

also, what are you not pleased with about the tories heh? stephen harper WANTS YOU! he will draft us all and send us to iraq! (note for the grammatically challenged, previous sentences are SARCASTIC!)

[IntensivCareBear]

is there any chance that the fix posted by the topic starter would work for me?

so many people have posted this problem on forums, there must be a solution.

[Talus]

#1. To disable on-board sound
-access your BIOS (usually hit 'Delete' key while PC is POSTing when first booted)
-depending on your BIOS type, you may have to browse through various sections to find 'onboard peripherals'
-find the entry re: AC97 or onboard audio and change the value to 'DISABLE'
-exit back to the main BIOS menu and save changes or find the appropriate 'SAVE AND EXIT' button (e.g. F10)

If you are not comfortable with this, tell us what motherboard you have and maybe we can find the correct sections to walk you through.

#2. To change PCI Latency
-download this tool
http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=951
-install it
-reboot when asked
-run the application and change values for PCI latency for your sound card and video card to values such as 32, 64, and 128 and run BF2 with each setting and look for improvements (note: no rebooting required if you APPLY the settings within the application)
-I recommend you LOWER your graphics card's PCI latency to 64 from what is likely a high default value
-NOTE: this app will NOT work on PCIe based graphics cards

Lastly, go ahead and try the OpenAL file switch trick..it's worth a shot.

http://forum.eagames.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=3256

[IntensivCareBear]

its just annoying how the digital out only does 2.1, and how the subwoofer most often does not work. if it was just one or the other, it would be ok, but we have super expensive sound cards that just never deliver a proper 5.1 sound, at least without much trouble.

there must be a solution on the internet to either, especially the subwoofer thing with the analog. i know there must be some software or something that can fix that.

[IntensivCareBear]

yeah, i need Either a way to make the stupid analog subwoofer work, or how to get 5.1 out of the audigy 2 zs digital out which is apparently nigh impossible.

im more optimistic for a way to get subwoofer out of the analog connection, which is also a problem many suffer from.http://www.totalbf2.com/forums/images/buttons/edit.gif (http://www.totalbf2.com/forums/editpost.php?do=editpost&p=647845)

[bts.rok]

Talus:

I have decided to chalk the purchase of this sound card up to a learning experience and buy a new card. I would like some guidance as to what card you would recommend. I use my machine mainly for gamming and have 5.1/headsets. I do not have the rear channels engaged so I really have the front three speakers and a sub.

I guess what I am trying to say is I want a really nice sound card but dont care to pay more than $150 if possible; however, if it takes more to get the right card then please speak up.

Thanks!
Rok

[bts.rok]

el-bump-o-matic