SB Audigy Series Support Pack 6.1

SB Audigy Series Support Pack 6.1 (09/07/2015)

This software/driver pack is unofficial, not supported by Creative Labs.
Use it at your own risk.

Supports any model of the following Sound Blaster cards (based on Emu10kx DSP):

- Audigy
- Audigy 2
- Audigy 2 ZS
- Audigy 4
- Audigy 5/RX

Operating systems supported:

32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows 10 / 8.1 / 8 / 7 SP1 / Vista SP2 / XP SP3

Included in the pack: 

- Audigy series driver 3.01.0044 (Windows Vista or later) (**)
- Audigy series driver 2.09.0016 (Windows XP)
- ALchemy 1.45.06
- Audio Console 1.41.01
- DDL and DTS Connect License Activation 1.00.04 (*)
- Dolby Digital Live Pack 3.03.08 (*)
- EAX Console 3.00.61 (Windows Vista or later)
- EAX Console 3.00.59 (Windows XP only)
- Feature Mode Selection Utility 2.10.07
- Graphic Equalizer 2.10.02
- MediaSource DVD-Audio Player 2.00.78 (***)
- Remote Control System 5.00.35
- SB Audigy Control Panel 1.00.16
- SoundFont Bank Manager 3.21.02
- Speaker Calibrator 1.60.14 (Windows XP only)
- Speaker Settings 2.10.05 (Windows Vista or later)
- Speaker Settings 2.10.04 (Windows XP only)
- Surround Mixer 4.00.76 (Windows XP only)
- THX Setup Console 2.20.08 (Windows XP only)

(*) Purchase and activation required, more info at http://buy.soundblaster.com.

(**) - For Audigy 5/RX (SB1550) and Audigy 4 Series II (SB0612) this driver also supports Windows XP.

(***) - Requires Audigy 2, Audigy 2 ZS ou Audigy 4


Does this driver improve sound quality or performance Are there any tweaks ?

No, this driver does not improve sound quality nor increase performance.

No, there are no tweaks.

If someone states that its driver improves sound quality and performance, you are being fooled, cheated.

It is even worse that the so called tweaks come from a person who is not EVEN technically acknowledged, does NOT know anything about Windows internals, software engineering and sound fidelity that all audiophiles always look for.

If you "feel" the sound better, that is the infamous placebo effect and there is no real proof that any tweaks work.

In fact, I have yet to see a driver that states in its release notes that it improves sound quality.

I've disassembled about every single .SYS driver, .DLL libraries and .EXE executables and found nothing.

There are some undocumented registry values, but nothing related to sound quality or performance.

Would the so called tweaks even exist, they would be in my Support Packs, you can bet that.


Fixes and improvements:

- 6.1: Unless Creative releases a driver update, this is the final version. I'll release an updated Installation Disc, before you ask.
- 6.1: Fixed EAX Console crash on Windows 8 or later. Speaker Settings and Graphic Equalizer still crash on exit and couldn't fix them, unfortunately.
- 6.1: Fixed CMSS2 not available in Audio Console / Audigy Control Panel with Audigy 5/RX.
- 6.1: Fixed RCLDMWND: DLLML.exe application error.
- 6.0: Based on official Audigy 5/RX Windows 10 driver.
- 6.0: Fixed Graphic Equalizer sometimes does not load.
- 6.0: Added support for EEPROM corrupted Audigy "1" cards. Feedback is appreciated.
- 6.0: Updated KillDrvX to support changes in Windows 10, now warns if Audigy driver service is still running.
- Fixed Audigy 5/RX support.
- Readded "EndPoint Utility" to enable the use of other digital devices to output Dolby Digital Live encoded audio.
- Fixed driver installation issues on Windows 10.
- Fixed Audigy "1" or Audigy 2 mute issue.
- Audigy RX is now fully supported.
- EAX Console now works on Windows Vista or later.
- Karaoke effects now work properly on Windows Vista or later, just use EAX Console to enable them. Effects will only be applied to the Microphone input.
- Sound Blaster Audigy Control Panel now available for all cards, but it lacks many settings available on Audio Console, so use the later.
- Added instructions on how to install the Gameport.
- Fixed missing speaker settings strings on Windows XP when DDL is enabled.
- Improved driver installation, less confirmation prompts.
- Improved setup procedure and scripts.
- Removed Encode switcher for now, only DDL is available.
- Installation now customizable, select what you want to install.
- New integrated Post Driver Install Helper tweaks the driver without tampering certificate.
- CMSS2 is now available.
- OpenAL 64-bit support.
- Dolby Digital Live now works on Windows 8.1 (update 1). Creative Audio Service was not being installed on that OS.
- Special FX, Advanced EQ, Studio and Custom presets now available on Windows Vista or later.
- Audio Console does not crash anymore on non-English localized installs. Localized resources for Online Karaoke tab were missing; added mostly localized Korean and Chinese (Traditional) resources.
- Online Karaoke page is available for all Audigy cards on Windows Vista or later; this is NOT a new feature, but an easier way to configure the Microphone.
- EAX Settings for Windows Vista or later includes EAX Studio, a fancy version of EAX Control Panel, no changes in functionality, except the Test button now works.
- Added fully localized Korean and Chinese (Traditional) resources for EAX Studio, which were missing.


Undocumented fixes by Creative (not listed in the release notes):

- Headphone mode now sticks and does not revert automatically to Speakers mode on Windows Vista or later.
- Special FX, Advanced EQ and Studio presets were not working on Windows Vista or later.


Release Notes:

IMPORTANT: Driver uninstall on Windows Vista or later

The included driver for Windows Vista or later has a bug that causes a stop (blue screen) error when unloaded by disabling the Audigy or uninstalling the driver.

To workaround this issue, run the KillDrv.exe utility included and restart when asked to do so. Proceed normally and uninstall all the software or only the driver.

If you have previously installed the Audigy 5/RX driver, you MUST run this utility.

As the KillDrvX verify the driver version installed, running it won't do any harm, even if the driver version is not affected.


HOW TO INSTALL THE GAMEPORT DRIVER

You can find a GameportReadMe.htm file in the folder where you unpacked the Support Pack.

Just follow the steps shown in the screenshots.


WINDOWS 8.1 OR LATER DOES NOT SAVE SETTINGS

Configure all settings and shutdown, hibernate or put your computer to sleep so that your settings will be saved.

This does not work if you disable Fast startup permanently or temporarily (by holding the Shift key while shutting down) or if you disable Hybrid Sleep.


OpenAL 2D benchmark in RightMark 3DSound crashes your system

The included driver for Windows Vista or later has a bug that crashes your system if you run the OpenAL 2D benchmark using 63 buffers. 
No problem With 62 or fewer buffers.

OpenAL 3D and OpenAL 3D + EAX benchmarks are not affected.

Details: DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (0x000000D1) - ctoss2k.sys


There is no DirectSound hardware acceleration on Windows XP 64-bit (x64) with 4GB RAM or more

The Audigy driver does not support 64-bit addressing, disabling the DirectSound hardware acceleration and causing multichannel sound to be played only in the stereo channels (front left/right).

Workarounds:

- install the 32-bit (x86) version of Windows XP.
- limit to less than 4GB the amount of RAM available to Windows.
- enable the "Memory Hole" setting in the BIOS Setup, if your motherboard supports it.
- install and use Creative ALchemy to convert the DirectSound API calls into OpenAL, which is not affected by this issue.


Karaoke effects make the audio play in mono

You can avoid this issue by using EAX Console to enable Karaoke effects. Audio Console is affected by the issue.

Optionally, follow the steps below.

Open EAX Settings, select a Karaoke effect, then click the Edit button.

Click on the Source (Wave) tab and change the Original sound to 100% and Pitch Shift to 0%. Click the Save environment button.

Repeat the steps for all Karaoke effects.

These changes will be valid only for the current speaker configuration. If desired, repeat the same process for each speaker configuration.


Using other devices to output the DDL encoded audio

Only for Windows Vista or later, you can use any "SPDIF/HDMI Out" from HD Audio, PCI or USB device to output 5.1 encoded audio.

To expose all SPDIF/HDMI Out devices to Audio Console, run the EndPtUtl.exe in the Audio Console installation folder.


MediaSource DVD-Audio Player system requirements

- 32-bit edition of Windows XP or later

- any Audigy 2, Audigy 2 ZS or Audigy 4 card


Built-in Decoder on Windows Vista or later

To use the built-in decoder, make sure it is enabled in Audio Console.

Select "SPDIF Out (Creative SB Audigy (WDM))" as the output device of your player and then configure the AC3/DTS filter to send the stream through SPDIF.

When you restart your computer, the Tone settings (Bass and Treble) are not applied.

Just readjust one of the controls one time per boot.


Equalizer and EAX effects are not available when using OpenAL or ALchemy

Only Tone (Bass and Treble) and CMSS 3D (CMSS, CMSS2 and Stereo Surround) features are available.

There is no sound in games with OpenAL support

Disable Advanced EQ and Special FX by selecting "No effect" before running the game or program.



Equalizer settings are not applied after using OpenAL or ALchemy

After you run a game with OpenAL support or using Creative ALchemy, the Equalizer settings are applied.

Just run Equalizer and the saved setting is loaded automatically.


Tone settings are lost when speaker configuration is changed

Bass and treble settings reset to their default values when speaker configuration is changed.