Creative Audio Console

[archcommus]

I just updated my Audigy 2 drivers today and saw this new Audio Console that it installed. This thing is kick ass. It's basically all the features in one place in a nice bloat-free program, unlike before. Has this been out for awhile? Are you guys loving this thing as much as I am?

 

[duragezic]

I think it came out in Jan 06 when they finally released some updated, unified drivers.

Yeah, I'm glad they switched to it, but its about time. No need for that 90's-looking crappy Creative programs anymore. The only thing I miss is the THX console. Audio Console doesn't seem to have any of those options. There's not even that much settings in it... I have no idea what made them want to make all these crappy, separate programs like EAX Console, SUrround Mixer, etc etc Plus you needed the original CD to install them then get the updates from the webpage, when a lot of Creative owners probably have their cards used with no install/driver CD.

 

[archcommus]

Yes, I would like to have the detailed settings of the THX console at hand. Those are fully removed now? But for everything else this new app is nice.

 

[Auric]

Ackshilly, it was released seperately almost a year ago and is really just an update to a previous CP which has been included with drivers going back another couple years but which many users were unaware of.

How do you mean removed? Apps have always been optional. You are still free to install the Surround Mixer and THX component or whatever (not sure if the latter can stand-alone).

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: Auric
Ackshilly, it was released seperately almost a year ago and is really just an update to a previous CP which has been included with drivers going back another couple years but which many users were unaware of.

How do you mean removed? Apps have always been optional. You are still free to install the Surround Mixer and THX component or whatever (not sure if the latter can stand-alone).

I'm not sure if I can get the THX console for a regular Audigy 2.

 

[Auric]

Ah so, prolly need to h4x0r a ZS package. See driverheaven.net forum

Don't PC speaker kits sport calibration like regular receivers anyway? Seemed a largely frivolous novelty to me, like most of the apps.

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: Auric
Ah so, prolly need to h4x0r a ZS package. See driverheaven.net forum

Don't PC speaker kits sport calibration like regular receivers anyway? Seemed a largely frivolous novelty to me, like most of the apps.

What do you mean by "sport calibration"?

 

[Auric]

In this context "sport" is a fruity way of saying "have".

 

[archcommus]

Haha...I understand that...but what do you mean? Speakers can't really be "pre-calibrated," they have to be calibrated differently for different setups. If you mean, you thought they came with calibration software, mine did not (z-5500).

 

[duragezic]

I just liked the THX console for increasing the dB on the center speaker (where most of the voice comes from in movies). Some movies are SO annoying in that you can't hear a gd thing in the dialogue unless its cranked then when some explosive scene or boombastic music starts playing, you gotta jump to turn it down. Bad Boys 2 was horrible for this. I stopped watching it because there was boombastic rap constantly playing in the background while regular dialogue was happening.

I noticed that when I encode a ripped DVD that one of the parameters it sends is something like -27 dB for voice. What a stupid idea!! Sure it might be okay in the theater but its hella annoying for people watching DVDs on their computer.

 

[Auric]

I meant neither pre-calibrated nor software (as such) but rather adjustment options like a HT receiver for level and delay &c.

The perception of low center channel output is common with PC speaker kits. It's not really that it is low but that the dynamic range of the source (all channels) is high. PC kits are typically low power and lack full range via discrete drivers (actual speakers in each speaker box). The dynamic range can be compressed (reduced) in the software decoder or hardware decoder (receiver/pod).