new Audigy 2 driver

[Auric]

2.08.0002 aka 5.12.06.1162 @ station-drivers

Should work with entire EMU10K2 DSP series as always (Audigy 1 through 4 and Live! 24-bit) and prolly even X-Fi although previous versions packaged for that are also available. Don't know if a compatability hack of the setup is required anymore. Perhaps expand packages and run "\audigy 2_08_0002\Drivers\Setup.exe" or Update Driver from Device Manager.

Unlike previous versions, 1162 does include the latest 'n' greatest OpenAL for BF2 goodness so it is not necessary to fetch a seperate installer from developer.creative.com. But do replace the original DS3D wrapper "\Battlefield 2\BF2OpenAL.dll" with either the preferable OpenAL implementation "\system32\OpenAL32.dll" or in case of issues fall-back to the updated wrapper "\system32\wrap_oal.dll" (renaming whichever to BF2OpenAL.dll).

 

[The Boston Dangler]

So, what does this new driver provide or improve? And why would I have to muck around with .dll's?

 

[MDE]

Wow is that site slow...

 

[Auric]

The primary improvement seems seems to be in OpenAL since that was the only mention in the beta notes from April/May and several OAL installer updates have since been released in addition this series of unofficial driver packages.

The reason to muck aboot with the DLL's is because BF2 utilizes the OAL API but in the interest of universal compatability a DirectSound3D wrapper (translator) is utilized by the standard game installation, which naturally reduces performance if nothing else (i.e. quality and effects).

 

[duckdown]

we need more 64bit support :[

 

[Ike0069]

Originally posted by: Auric
The reason to muck aboot with the DLL's is because BF2 utilizes the OAL API but in the interest of universal compatability a DirectSound3D wrapper (translator) is utilized by the standard game installation, which naturally reduces performance if nothing else (i.e. quality and effects).

Holy crap, I have no clue what any of that means, but it sounds good.

So basically if I have an Audigy and I play BF2, I should use these drivers. Correct?

 

[Oyeve]

I am still using my stock drivers than came with my Audigy 2 ZS. I learned long ago not to mess around with SB drivers or software. Weird stuff happens man.

 

[Wellsoul2]

Originally posted by: Oyeve
I am still using my stock drivers than came with my Audigy 2 ZS. I learned long ago not to mess around with SB drivers or software. Weird stuff happens man.

I've also had problems with updates to Audigy 2 ZS.
Tried non-standard drivers and really crapped it out.

I've had problems also with the official Creative drivers wiping out EAX.

Creative autoupdate just doesn't work.

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: Wellsoul2

Originally posted by: Oyeve
I am still using my stock drivers than came with my Audigy 2 ZS. I learned long ago not to mess around with SB drivers or software. Weird stuff happens man.

I've also had problems with updates to Audigy 2 ZS.
Tried non-standard drivers and really crapped it out.

I've had problems also with the official Creative drivers wiping out EAX.

Creative autoupdate just doesn't work.

I tried the creative updates about a year ago, almost had to reinstall WinXP! Thank God I Ghosted my PC before I did it. Couldn't get the speaker settings software to come up, system constantly crashed, EAX just disappeared, all sort of problems.

 

[Auric]

The same driver package has been officially released today. Files are identical. Nothing to see here. Move along.