Creative X-Fi audio renderer

[Leopardi]

Why has this been taken out? The audio quality in general with this mode and Ultra High is much better, like going from a 64 mp3 to full 320 quality. And the accuracy of surround sound is like from a completely different world. The mode works with most modern gaming motherboards, not just those with sound blasters, so it would be good to have.

[Mineral]

It hasn't been? Or do I misunderstand you?

[Leopardi]

Shows only Hardware and Software for me, FH2 launcher has no problems detecting my motherboard X-Fi.

[Spook]

Wasn't Ultra High removed as an option? Due to its glitchyness and giving people using it massive advantages. I remember reading something about it in the changelogs from a recent patch and I also lost that option in one of these patches even though I did not use it anyways.

Like hearing footsteps and FOB radio's and vehicles around 3-4 times further than normal people + consistent random sound bugs.

[Mats391]

I can still select it, but not using as it has issues. Also hearing random sounds like grenades being thrown with it on.

Code: Select all

Audio Information
-----------------
  Primary Playback: Speakers (SB Recon3D PCIe)
 Primary Recording: Microphone (SB Recon3D PCIe)
  Open AL Renderer: Software
               EAX: True
           EAX 1.0: False
           EAX 2.0: True
           EAX 3.0: True
           EAX 4.0: True
           EAX 5.0: True
             X-RAM: False

[Leopardi]

Mats391;2056081']I can still select it, but not using as it has issues. Also hearing random sounds like grenades being thrown with it on.

Code: Select all

Audio Information
-----------------
  Primary Playback: Speakers (SB Recon3D PCIe)
 Primary Recording: Microphone (SB Recon3D PCIe)
  Open AL Renderer: Software
               EAX: True
           EAX 1.0: False
           EAX 2.0: True
           EAX 3.0: True
           EAX 4.0: True
           EAX 5.0: True
             X-RAM: False

I get the echo thing too hearing people as if they're dying next to me with EAX on in FH2, but the sound quality and surround accuracy is so much better than software or hardware renderer.

Is it not possible to use the stripped down EAX with the X-Fi renderer too?

[Mineral]

Code: Select all

  Primary Playback: Speakers (2- Creative SB X-Fi)
 Primary Recording: Microphone (2- Creative SB X-Fi
  Open AL Renderer: SB X-Fi Audio [0001]
               EAX: True
           EAX 1.0: True
           EAX 2.0: True
           EAX 3.0: True
           EAX 4.0: False
           EAX 5.0: False
             X-RAM: False

This is what I have and has been working fine ever since I got the card.

[SIDEKILL3R]

I have a Creative X-Fi audio and on certain maps i hear a high reverb

[Leopardi]

Mineral;2056105']

Code: Select all

  Primary Playback: Speakers (2- Creative SB X-Fi)
 Primary Recording: Microphone (2- Creative SB X-Fi
  Open AL Renderer: SB X-Fi Audio [0001]
               EAX: True
           EAX 1.0: True
           EAX 2.0: True
           EAX 3.0: True
           EAX 4.0: False
           EAX 5.0: False
             X-RAM: False

This is what I have and has been working fine ever since I got the card.

Where are those settings located at?

[Mineral]

support menu.

[Leopardi]

And how do you change it? Looks like this for me:

Code: Select all

Audio Information
-----------------
  Primary Playback: Speakers (Realtek High Definiti
 Primary Recording: Microphone (HD Webcam C270)
  Open AL Renderer: Software
               EAX: True
           EAX 1.0: False
           EAX 2.0: True
           EAX 3.0: False
           EAX 4.0: False
           EAX 5.0: False
             X-RAM: False

[Mineral]

It's hardware detection... It's not settings. It dedects your hardware and software.

[Leopardi]

Well.. it detects wrong

[REDFOX1916]

Sound card=waste of money

[Mineral]

Sound card=waste of money

Depends what you want to use it for really. It is made and bought for specific reasons for specific needs. Same way an entire PC is waste of money cause it's a luxury product. Just depends on the user and his needs

[inb4banned]

Why has this been taken out? The audio quality in general with this mode and Ultra High is much better, like going from a 64 mp3 to full 320 quality. And the accuracy of surround sound is like from a completely different world. The mode works with most modern gaming motherboards, not just those with sound blasters, so it would be good to have.

It hasn't been taken out, your hardware doesn't support it.

Shows only Hardware and Software for me, FH2 launcher has no problems detecting my motherboard X-Fi.

You're mistaking "Creative X-Fi" (sound mode in PR/ BF2) for "EAX" (environmental audio extensions). Only Creative X-Fi sound cards will support this option. It has to do with the sound chip being used.

Wasn't Ultra High removed as an option? Due to its glitchyness and giving people using it massive advantages. I remember reading something about it in the changelogs from a recent patch and I also lost that option in one of these patches even though I did not use it anyways.

Like hearing footsteps and FOB radio's and vehicles around 3-4 times further than normal people + consistent random sound bugs.

It wasn't and it really shouldn't be. It gives the same 'advantage' as a good monitor does over a bad one, or a good CPU over a bad one. Its glitchiness is due to poor implementation in PR, it has gotten way worse since 1.0 and then even more inconsistent around 1.2.

Sound card=waste of money

Not in PR or any Source games. Not only positioning, good soundcard also gives you much better audio quality because they use much better components.

[Leopardi]

It hasn't been taken out, your hardware doesn't support it.



You're mistaking "Creative X-Fi" (sound mode in PR/ BF2) for "EAX" (environmental audio extensions). Only Creative X-Fi sound cards will support this option. It has to do with the sound chip being used.

Yes it does, the X-Fi sound mode works perfectly in FH2 except for the bugged EAX 5, even though these newer motherboard X-Fi driver packages support it.

[Unarmed Civilian]

As an X-Fi owner I can confirm that I have an x-ray like hearing. Playing in a squad of 8, I'm like a medium, foretelling what is coming and from where and being able to exactly locate where the enemy is and how far. I'm aware of this advantage, but as mentioned here, the quality is just brutally superior to "Hardware High", I can't go back and play with that quality anymore. It's water and fine wine. There are a few bugs like grenades, gun fire, and the most annoying thing the CAS rocket bug, but the quality and immersion is perfection.

Taking the Ultra High setting out is absurd, for example, its like somebody complains that their PC can only support 80% view distance, while some people are able to play at 100%. I once again beg for a fix in Ultra High, the sound glitches are annoying and would be great if things get adjusted in order to preserve the quality and fairness in general.

Edit 1: I spent like 500-600 US dollars to have this setup of an X-Fi Fatality Champion Series and a Astro a40 headset, since I live in Brazil these things had to be imported and got taxed with an extra 60% of their original value and fees. I only expected to gain a few FPS using a dedicated audio board and a decent headset for the quality. I believe PR is reaching it's last days of development but if someone could look up at the ultra high settings and fix it, that would be awesome.

Edit 2: About the advantages, I think if things are quiet, I can hear footsteps(sprinting) some 50 meters (150ft) away, and in 2KM maps I can sometimes hear the enemy CAS taking off. I can pinpoint a vehicle 300 meters(900ft) away.

[Unarmed Civilian]

Update: I played Operation Marlin 1-2 days ago and I noticed that my "advantage" was much "nerfed" to the point of being almost nonexistent. I don't know why or what, I believe that the ambient sounds that are very constant and present did impact in this. Also, on the French Embassy flag I noticed that the sound was much better calculated, like, I was standing on the stairs leading to the underground and every time I crouched the sounds of the outside were muffled. This rarely happens in most of the maps. Usually happens in Operation Marlin and Black Gold, but the sound of Black Gold can be glitchy inside certain buildings.

[inb4banned]

Update: I played Operation Marlin 1-2 days ago and I noticed that my "advantage" was much "nerfed" to the point of being almost nonexistent. I don't know why or what, I believe that the ambient sounds that are very constant and present did impact in this. Also, on the French Embassy flag I noticed that the sound was much better calculated, like, I was standing on the stairs leading to the underground and every time I crouched the sounds of the outside were muffled. This rarely happens in most of the maps. Usually happens in Operation Marlin and Black Gold, but the sound of Black Gold can be glitchy inside certain buildings.

Yes, it has been very inconsistent since 1.0 and then even more since 1.2. On some maps you have God like hearing, on others it's completely ****. Then the next time you play that same map it's great again. Ambient noises didn't matter as much before 1.0, now footsteps also sound the same as anything burning.