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View Full Version : Creative Soundblaster "Alchemy" thread



spincut
07-26-2007, 04:03 PM
*as a sidenote, this is a about the Xi-Fi cards and the alchemy version for that is indeed free

I had said quite a bit on the issue of Creative soundcards and Vista already in another thread, and really there isnt a whole lot more to be said now that it seems there is a program that at least attempts to cover up for its hardware accelration defficiencies (at least from a gaming end....although that may be mainly were said deficiencies primarily lie), called Alchemy.

it apparently is directly supported by creative (i didnt know this before) and acts as a sort of database that slowly adds support for games that use the rather wideley used directsound API which Vista will not allow Soundblasters to take advantage of anymore and is done in software.

ANYWAY, what i want to know is, for those that currently own a vista machine with a Xi-Fi (obviously maingear, but it doesnt really have to be) have you used alchemy? does it work for you? have you noticed the difference (aside from just the EAX option being enabled....as i assume all that would be greyed out or something???).

Also, how does it work? I mean, it automatically fixed the directory of all applicable games right? do you have to reinstall it every time you get a new game, or does it autodetect?

-anyhow, any type of info on this from users with the personal experience to provide it would be useful.

theDreamer
07-26-2007, 04:23 PM
Just found it on Creative's website & it seems you have to pay to use it currently.

Link (http://buy.soundblaster.com/_creativelabsstore/cgi-bin/pd.cgi?page=product_detail&category=Software&pid=F2222X767VHL73GYR38)

Games it currently supports (http://connect.creativelabs.com/alchemy/Lists/Games/AllItems.aspx)

spincut
07-26-2007, 04:37 PM
Just found it on Creative's website & it seems you have to pay to use it currently.

Link (http://buy.soundblaster.com/_creativelabsstore/cgi-bin/pd.cgi?page=product_detail&category=Software&pid=F2222X767VHL73GYR38)

Games it currently supports (http://connect.creativelabs.com/alchemy/Lists/Games/AllItems.aspx)

important correction, that's if you have an *audigy. I beleive it is free for the Xi-Fi version (which is what maingear is of course currently selling). Although thats terrible that they charge for the audigy version if the list for the Xi-fi one is any indication.

I guess then a refocus of the subject then on those who are using the XI-FI version of alchemy (which again i beleive is indeed free).

For extra help here is "my" link/quote about it, which will also lead you to the free alchemy download page and database for xifi cards:

http://tinyurl.com/2q545g

here is a link to the explanation of their soundcard defficiencies in vista in a more sumerical form:

"What is the impact of Windows Vista™ on the Sound Blaster X-Fi series of products? Are there any significant changes after installing new drivers?

Drivers updated from the web will comply with UAA standards. However, due to Microsoft's new Windows Vista™ architecture, some features may be lost. Please refer to the (WRN) Web Release Notes (WRN) found with the new driver downloads for details.

Which Sound Blaster X-Fi products are affected?

Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Pro
Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty
Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum
Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty Champion
Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer Fatal1ty Pro
Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music
Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer
What is the effect of not having DirectSound 3D hardware acceleration?

Legacy DirectSound3D based game titles (either with or without EAX effects) will not work as they did in Windows XP. However, the Creative ALchemy Project for the X-Fi series of products* allows you to run your favorite DirectSound3D games on Windows Vista™ with full hardware accelerated 3D Audio and EAX support.

The Creative ALchemy Project is still in beta and you can learn more at: http://preview.creativelabs.com/alchemy/default.aspx

*Creative ALchemy does not support the X-Fi Xtreme AudioSound Blaster Audigy"