Cannot get surround sound! HELP!

[[T]waylay00]

OK, so I built a new computer with Windows 7 RC 64-bit.

Everything is working fine, except for my sound in BF2. I can only get sound out of the front two speakers, and that sound itself sounds really bad and low quality. My settings in Audio are at Hardware and High, and I'm using Realtek onboard HD audio.

Also, I went to the Windows Sound Control Panel and made sure that 5.1 was selected. The issue remains.

I have even tried installing my Audigy 2 ZS from another computer with some recent Wndows 7 drivers. Once again, everything works fine, except for surround sound in BF2.

In XP 32-bit, everything sounded great. Really crisp and clear, and surround sound too.

Any help?

[AncientMan]

BF2 uses an old openAL wrapper, which doesn't do a lot of things that well, 5.1 being one of them. I believe 1.5 updates this to a later one, but I'm not sure. But anyway, try this:

1. Download the updater: Developer - OpenAL Installer for Windows and install it.
2. Copy C:\Windows\System32\OpenAL32.dll to your Battlefield 2 root directory (ie, C:\Program Files\EA Games\Battlefield 2\)
3. In your BF2 directory, rename BF2OpenAL.dll to BF2OpenAL.dll.original or something (so you have a backup incase anything fails)
4. Rename the newly copied on OpenAL32.dll to BF2OpenAL.dll

Now give it a go, 5.1 should work. As for why it worked in XP and not Win7, I'm not sure, but I have always had to do this to get 5.1 sound.

[[T]waylay00]

Thanks for the response. I tried that, but when I go to options, it says that I have incompatible sound settings or something. It won't even let me revert to the default settings without giving me this error.

This is REALLY frustrating!

[[T]waylay00]

OK, I think I found a fix. Instead of using OpenAL32.dll from the Windows directory, I used another wrapper called ct_oal.dll. When I substituted that in BF2's root directory, I was able to enjoy surround sound and high quality hardware acceleration. However, I noticed a few infrequent buzzing sounds every once and a while. Nothing too bad though.

I wonder why that file worked and not the other OpenAL32.dll wrapper?

[Jaymz]

bump, I have been having this exact same problem since I updated to Windows 7 RC

Since I do a lot of the audio work in PR, it's pretty important that I find a fix. I tried both of the solutions above with no luck.

Soundcard : USB X-Fi Surround 5.1

[Darkpowder]

Which driver variant are you using mate?
Have you tried this driver?

Creative Worldwide Support > X-Fi Xtreme Audio

Or do you get any better results using the extreme music driver

http://support.creative.com/Products/Pr ... tremeMusic

I have read a report that the 2.18.0013 driver works.

However this is the one Creative lists as compatible (at least in beta for the Surround 5.1)
http://support.creative.com/Downloads/s ... 1_0092.exe

(I don't own this product, so unless creative can advise directly one of these may help, post up the drivers you have tried unsuccessfully if you don't get any luck), as well as the model number of the unit)

[Lan]

Seems a lot of people have sound issues with windows 7 me being one of them. Lots and lots of people complain about crackling, popping etc and lack of sound quality/volume. The only thing that has been suggested and worked for some people is go to an older version of the driver and not the windows 7 driver available. Annoying me too on my laptop the sound is quiet and **** quality where as on vista it was loud and pretty great all round

[Darkpowder]

Seems a lot of people have sound issues with windows 7 me being one of them. Lots and lots of people complain about crackling, popping etc and lack of sound quality/volume. The only thing that has been suggested and worked for some people is go to an older version of the driver and not the windows 7 driver available. Annoying me too on my laptop the sound is quiet and **** quality where as on vista it was loud and pretty great all round

The first Win7 driver i downloaded for Win7 was very average, and a beta, the latest version of the one for my X-Fi works fine. My advice, if you are in the same situation, go and look for an update.

[Jaymz]

I've tried multiple drivers including the Windows 7 beta drivers on creative's site. No luck with any of them.

[Lan]

I've tried multiple drivers including the Windows 7 beta drivers on creative's site. No luck with any of them.

Me too, been updating every time they've released since 2.31. Seems every release doesnt do anything ??:

[AgentJadeD]

I'm using Windows 7 x64 Build 7600. I have had no issues getting 5.1 with SBXF_PCDRV_LB_2_18_0013 Driver and my X-FI XtremeMusic.

More than likely its the build your using and not driver or hardware.

Words of advice stop using RC builds and get your hands on the final build. and do a clean install.

[Lan]

Its not the build because ive been using the final version (ultimate) x64 for ages now and every driver still fails.

[AgentJadeD]

this is USB xfi correct?

[Jaymz]

Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 70SB109000000 - Better Music and Movie Sound, Made Easy




That's what I have.

In Windows XP, I got virtual surround with headphones in BF2 without turning on the stupid CMSS **** that ruins sound quality.

In Windows 7, all I get is stereo no matter what.

[AgentJadeD]

You've also tried the compatibility install for XP/Vista?

[AgentJadeD]

Have you tried using the vista driver?
SBXS_PCDRV_US_1_01_0076

[Jaymz]

bump,

For the craic, I downloaded the openal SDK. In their editor, I can get full surround sound (which is what I got in BF2 while using xp). BF2 uses openal, so by all means it should work in BF2 as well....