Creative ALchemy settings?

[InsaniD]

I need some help here from people using Creative x-fi, or Audigy cards. I use a Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer PCI. What ALchemy settings are you using with DCS: Black Shark? The reason I ask, is because I am having a hard time with configuring ALchemy with DCS Black Shark. The reason that I use ALchemy, is because I experience FPS stuttering in the game without it, and it seems to make a big difference in FPS; however, there seems to be a big trade-off between different settings. For example, I used the following settings:

 

Buffers: 4

Duration: 25

Max Voices: 128

 

The settings above, will still make the FPS stutter every once and a while, but I get much better directional EAX audio. Whereas the following settings,

 

Buffers: 6

Duration: 40

Max Voices: 128

 

Will make the game play smooth, but the audio starts to stutter when I start releasing flares rapidly. I would like to know what settings should be used with DCS: Black Shark, that will give stutter free audio, and also smooth gameplay.

 

Here is my setup:

Gigabyte EX38-DS4 Motherboard

Intel Core2Duo E8500 CPU (overclocked to 3.8Ghz)

Average CPU temperature 35 celcius

8GB (4x2GB DDR2-1066)

PNY Geforce GTX275 896MB

2 x 1TB Western Digital Black Edition HDDs

1 x 500GB Western Digital Caviar HDD

Liteon 16x DVD+RW drive.

Thermaltake Toughpower 750W PSU

Saitek X52 Pro HOTAS

Logitech G19 Keyboard

Logitech G13 Advanced Gameboard

Windows 7 RTM x64

Latest nVidia drivers

SATA drivers for my motherboard installed, newest version

All the latest windows updates.

 

BLACK SHARK SETTINGS:

DCS Black Shark 1.1b

No mods installed

Resolution: 1680x1050 (monitor native resolution)

V-Sync on

All settings on High, except for View Distance, and water is set to Normal. Cockpit resolution 1024.

Edited December 6, 2009 by InsaniD

[spinter]

I am convinced that BS Incompatible win7 with 64 bits, or 7 win has major problems.

 

I have your same problems I ran 1000 tests but no solution.

 

read my post

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=48004

Edited December 6, 2009 by spinter

[EtherealN]

There is no specific incompatibility between BS and W7. If there was there shouldn't be so many people reporting excellent results with it. ;) (See the thread in PC Hardware section.)

 

Unfortunately I can't advice on your issue, InsaniD, since I use my onboard Realtek audio which doesn't have an Alchemy equivalent. Sorry. :(

[PoleCat]

I am convinced that BS Incompatible win7 with 64 bits, or 7 win has major problems.

 

I have your same problems I ran 1000 tests but no solution.

 

read my post

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=48004

 

There is no specific incompatibility here. This would most likely have to be a system issue specific to you or your configuration. I suspect bad/improperly configured hardware or drivers may be the problem from what you describe. If the issues are sound related try moving your sound card to a different slot on MB. also make sure you have the latest drivers for all devices. Panzertard knows his stuff as does EtherealN. Heed their words and try all they suggest.

 

I am running Black Shark under Win7 x64 with an X-FI card. I don't use Alchemy at all as it I do not believe it is required for Black Shark.

I use it for LockOn but not Black Shark. Latest drivers for my Fatility pro, no issues. Best of Luck!

 

 

Out

Edited December 6, 2009 by PoleCat

[spinter]

Win7 64 problem

 

1) http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=48004

2) http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=47794

3) http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=47872

4) http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=47844

5) http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=46977

[Panzertard]

Win7 64 problem

 

1) http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=48004

2) http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=47794

3) http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=47872

4) http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=47844

5) http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=46977

 

1) FPS Stutter.

Your setup. Under investigation. Your other italian friend have some similar issues. Interesting.

2) FPS stutter. Unknown why. (Still suspect drivers - but he overclocked. so it must be tested without overclock).

3) Install problems. Unrelated to FPS Stutter. System or user error likely cause.

4) Driver problem - could not use newer drivers. Found workaround.

5) Driver problem. Solved.

 

Now search for Windows XP - you'll find many similar things.

Now search for Vista - you'll find many similar things.

Most can be traced back to faulty equipment or drivers. Or systems which are not healthy.

 

So far I havent seen any trends that indicate that there's a major problem with DCS+WIndows 7 x64.

Only Windows 7 and Drivers. Or <insert other OS here> + drivers. :)

[Panzertard]

InsaniD, thanks for the headsup there regarding stutter and the Creative x-fi - I think it's the 3'rd setup I've heard about stutter here.

Sorry, I dont have any other advice than to try other drivers or other audio equipment.

[spinter]

I discovered now that the 64bit drivers Creative will not creative compact with win7 64 bit.test whit Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.

 

Try a test too!

 

My test whit drivers certificaded

Creative X-Fi Audio Processor (WDM)

Creative Technology, Ltd.

Not compatible driver installed for the device is not compatible with Windows 7.

[InsaniD]

InsaniD, thanks for the headsup there regarding stutter and the Creative x-fi - I think it's the 3'rd setup I've heard about stutter here.

Sorry, I dont have any other advice than to try other drivers or other audio equipment.

 

No problem Panzertard, I appreciate all of the feedback :) I have tried using other audio setups, and I end up getting worse FPS than using my Creative X-Fi; plus, the X-Fi has really nice EAX effects. I also have tried using other drivers for my sound card. That didn't seem to help the issue. Since LOMAC and DCS Black Shark use similar engines, I would like to know what ALchemy settings LOMAC needs.

 

EDIT:

I Just played Black Shark without ALchemy, and the FPS stuttering seems to be gone. It sucks not having directional audio, but I would much rather live with just plain old stereo sound, than have FPS stuttering. Before recently formatting and re-installing Windows 7 x64, I would have the stuttering, even without using ALchemy, but this time I installed the SATA drivers for my motherboard, and I think that did the trick.

 

Solution:

1) Do not use ALchemy because it is not 100% supported.

2) SATA drivers for motherboard have to be installed.

Edited December 6, 2009 by InsaniD

[isoul]

Probably a system specific problem cause I use inferior PC in every term and Win7 x64 + X-Fi. No overclocking, no use of ALchemy and still the game runs smoothly with no dramatic drop of FPS below 29-30. No sound probs too under any circumstance.

 

Sometimes such problems(which I have experienced in other games) may be solved by disabling O/C or updating firmware of a PC component. I had a strange issue in another game and the cause was my graphics card firmware.

[Thadway]

Creative ALchemy settings

 

кто подскажет где можно взять EAX консоль под Vista для звуковой карты Creative SB Audigy 2 Value?

[Bucic]

кто подскажет где можно взять EAX консоль под Vista для звуковой карты Creative SB Audigy 2 Value?

Try one of the so called "Support Packs" posted on the Creative Forums. Be sure to cross-check the list of supported soundcards - if your is supported by certain Support Pack or not.

 

 

Another ALchemy related bug report:

 

Using Creative ALchemy removes range effects of many sound effects (e.g. projectiles hitting ground) and so they are as audible from 1 km away as they are from a couple of meters, including in-cockpit.

 

Soundcards: Creative Audigy and X-Fi series

Systems: Vista, Win 7, both 32 and 64 bit

 

If anyone is experiencing the same erratic sound system behavior on windows XP, then it means that the bug referres not only to ALchemy but to EAX in general.

 

Related bugs:

Without ALchemy - in-cockpit constant engine noise ; can be fixed by opening cockpit doors.

 

Now, can anyone say anything about the underlined part?

 

More here http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=812941&postcount=37

 

 

 

Edit:

Recording included:

"Side-by-side" comparison - Audacity 1.26 project - link updated

 

http://rs463l33.rapidshare.com/files/330065337/alchemyvsnoalchemy_vista_audacity_project.7z

 

Attention!

Open with Audacity 1.26 as 3.9 will delete data files!

 

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Edited January 9, 2010 by Bucic

[Bucic]

Alchemy bug report has become an EAX bug report:

 

EAX bug report

While using EAX range effects of many sound effects (e.g. projectiles hitting ground) are not working correctly and so they are as audible from 1 km away as they are from a couple of meters, including in-cockpit.

 

Soundcards: Creative Audigy and X-Fi series, Asus Xonar DX (and probably the whole Xonar series as they all share GX2.5 technology)

Systems: Vista, Win 7, both 32 and 64 bit ; Windows XP has not been confirmed free of the bug

 

Related bugs:

Without ALchemy - in-cockpit constant engine noise ; can be fixed by opening cockpit doors.

 

 

Recording included:

"Side-by-side" comparison - Audacity 1.26 project - link updated

 

http://rs463l33.rapidshare.com/files/330065337/alchemyvsnoalchemy_vista_audacity_project.7z

 

Attention!

Open with Audacity 1.26 as 3.9 will delete data files!

 

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

 

Edited January 11, 2010 by Bucic

[Bucic]

Has the bug been acknowledged/confirmed by ED?

[mobias]

Hi everyone-my first post.

anyways- There seems to be some misunderstandings here about what Alchemy is, and used for. Creative's Alchemy "allows SB X-Fi owners to run their favorite DirectSound3D games on Windows Vista/win7and experience them as the developers intended - with full hardware accelerated 3D Audio and EAX support. This is achieved by translating DirectSound3D calls into OpenAL calls."

 

It is NOT needed, and should be turned off/uninstalled in XP! Those that state they are not getting EAX without it haven't got their software/driver settings straight. I know it's a pain, but Alchemy is not exactly a 'feature' that it seems is assumed above. check out the creative forums to see the probs people have with the non-64-bit/win7/vista Alchemy app..

 

The only bug in the short time i've played [so far] was the engine sound in cockpit, even when the door is closed. When Auto-start is initiated [and door is automatically closed] it still remains loud so not sure if that is really the issue. Perhaps RE-opening and closing might do it, haven't tried. What I noticed that fixed it was going to an external view of the heli, then back to cockpit-voila- a nicer, more muffled sound for the ears...hope this is fixed in the next patch?!?!?:( [along with the laser issue posted elsewhere]

GL

 

 

btw-here's a good link for more info re: Alchemy -http://forums.creative.com/t5/Windows-Vista/ALchemy-FAQ-DirectSound3D-games-in-Vista/m-p/358817

Edited March 29, 2010 by mobias