Ensoniq Audio PCI thoughts.
Greg Cisko
Well I got one. It is the Creative Audio PCI, and it will
work with 2 or 4 speakers for 3D. I spent the whole
afternoon messing with the card. All in all it does sound
much clearer and briter than my old Ensoniq Soundscape.
But I had some pretty bad problems in W95 games.
The worst was Formula 1 Racing Simulation (F1RS).
If I used the drivers off of the Ensoniq PCI CD the sound
was fine except for no 3D. If I used the latest driver from
Ensoniq the sound was really crap. 3D was enabled but
trying to run the 3D version of F1RS caused allot of stuttering.
The best solution was the Creative SB64PCI drivers. Everything
worked fine, except the car would jitter and the Jstick would
spike. I use a TM-ACM gamecard and this was some how
having a problem with the AudioPCI. Then I used the Jstick
port on the AudioPCI and the spiking went away. However every
time I pressed the brake, there was quite a bit of static popping.
But the 3D effects of F1RS is quite good! I avoided many
wrecks just by hearing that there was another car right
next to me. I mean just off my shoulder not just in one
speaker. The 3D positioning was pretty darn neat. All in
all this card just wouldn't work 100% in F1RS. So I went back
to the old Soundscape and TM-ACM game port. I'll
probably try another 3D soundcard. Also, the second set of
(rear) speakers connects to the Line-In jack, which is activated
via the driver.
Also does anyone know how to tell if your system really
is setup for DirectSound3D? The DXSETUP (directX setup)
did not show anything about DirectSound3D. And the only
drivers for this card which were close to working properly were
the Creative SB64PCI drivers. The drivers which I got with my card,
and the latest ones from Ensoniq were crap. IMHO :-)
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Rob Fullerton
What card did you buy? The Creative SB PCI64, or the Creative Ensoniq
AudioPCI, or some other card? 1370 or 1371 chipset?
If you bought the Creative Ensoniq Audio PCI, you got screwed! It's
NOT the same card.
If you did get the right card, then you must use the Creative drivers,
not the Ensoniq ones.
Also, open the mixer and turn down the aux. all the way. Do not try to
mute it! This should fix any hissing or static that may appear.
Finally, if you have a 3d video card that hogs the PCI bus (like a
Stealth II s220 for example) you are out of luck on any PCI audio
card. Most 3d video cards (like the Riva chipsets) don't have this bus
hogging problem though.
Many people with F1RS complain about the 3d sounds produced. This
occurs with ALL of the 3d audio cards used with this game, not just
the Ensoniq. But, it seems that it is only really bad using cockpit
view, and not too bad with external. Perhaps patch 1.99z will fix
this! Check out their message forum on their website.
DirectSound3D works with Ensoniq drivers 2.x and the Creative ones, as
demonstrated by the 4 speaker 3d audio that Interstate '76 produces,
which is not A3D.
Rob
Greg Cisko wrote in message <6ku868$l...@examiner.concentric.net>...
Greg Cisko
Rob Fullerton wrote in message <6l0rb9$8db$1...@gte2.gte.net>...
>What card did you buy? The Creative SB PCI64, or the Creative Ensoniq
>AudioPCI, or some other card? 1370 or 1371 chipset?
It is the Creative Ensoniq AudioPCI, with the 1370 chipset.
>If you bought the Creative Ensoniq Audio PCI, you got screwed! It's
>NOT the same card.
Well a guy at work said he might buy it from me :-) I guess I am confused
about this because this card will support the 4 speakers. Are you saying
I need a card based on the 1371 chipset?
>If you did get the right card, then you must use the Creative drivers,
>not the Ensoniq ones.
Check.
>Also, open the mixer and turn down the aux. all the way. Do not try to
>mute it! This should fix any hissing or static that may appear.
I may pop the card back in and try that anyway.
>Finally, if you have a 3d video card that hogs the PCI bus (like a
>Stealth II s220 for example) you are out of luck on any PCI audio
>card. Most 3d video cards (like the Riva chipsets) don't have this bus
>hogging problem though.
I have a 3dfx and a Diamon Stealth 3D 3000 card. I did the test
I read about where you play a wav file and move a window. No
breakup at all so I thought I was in bussiness.
>Many people with F1RS complain about the 3d sounds produced. This
>occurs with ALL of the 3d audio cards used with this game, not just
>the Ensoniq. But, it seems that it is only really bad using cockpit
>view, and not too bad with external. Perhaps patch 1.99z will fix
>this! Check out their message forum on their website.
Hmmm. I found the 3D sound quite good with my AudioPCI and
the creative SB64PCI drivers. If is wasn't for the static when I
press the brake I would be very happy with the card.
Rob Fullerton
It seems Creative Labs has done it again!
The Creative Ensoniq AudioPCI card is "supposed" to come with the 1371
chip, while the SB PCI64 comes with the 1370 chipset. A true Ensoniq
built AudioPCI uses the 1370. There have been some people reporting
they are getting the 1370 chips on their Creative Ensoniq AudioPCI
cards. "IF" the card is actually the same, then that is good, but I
suspect it will only be for a short time until they fully develop the
cheaper (and less endowed) 1371 chipset or increase supply. Timing is
everything, so sounds like you got lucky!
Check out this site for the best info on these cards:
http://204.186.128.102/
And I too have no problems with the 3d quality in F1RS, but I use
external view.
Rob
Greg Cisko wrote in message <6l0t9u$s...@examiner.concentric.net>...
Greg Cisko
Rob Fullerton wrote in message <6l10qk$bv6$1...@gte2.gte.net>...
>It seems Creative Labs has done it again!
>The Creative Ensoniq AudioPCI card is "supposed" to come with the 1371
>chip, while the SB PCI64 comes with the 1370 chipset. A true Ensoniq
>built AudioPCI uses the 1370. There have been some people reporting
Cool! I bought this card at a local computer show for $35. The sound
in general is really quite good (as you have been saying.) Oh and since
the card was out of my PC, I did check to make sure it was the 1370
chipset. I think I'll give it another try. Also when I was trying to install
the new Creative SBPCI64 drivers, I got an error about some
missing files. One was A3D.DLL, which I think I need for A3D
compatability. Also, are there instructions for setting the
AudioPCI for DOS game play?
And, I saw a 27% increased framerate in F15 (which
has a framerate counter) with the AudioPCI. This card
also made it very apparent when you lit the AB's. So this
card is probably worth another shot.
>they are getting the 1370 chips on their Creative Ensoniq AudioPCI
>cards. "IF" the card is actually the same, then that is good, but I
>suspect it will only be for a short time until they fully develop the
>cheaper (and less endowed) 1371 chipset or increase supply. Timing is
>everything, so sounds like you got lucky!
I guess I would rather be luck than good :-)
>
> Check out this site for the best info on these cards:
>http://204.186.128.102/
Thanks. I will.
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Greg Cisko
Rob Fullerton wrote in message <6l3h37$i2n$1...@gte1.gte.net>...
>Since Nascar2 is one of my favorite sims, I have tried many things
>with it.
>Under Windows 95, Nascar2 works best with SoundScape mode.
>Under Dos mode (which I don't use), some say you must use
>SoundBlaster mode 220 5/7 1. You must enter Nascar2 setup and change
>sound when switching from windows to dos versions of the game. Try
>running it like that with and without using APINIT.com. None of my dos
>programs require me to use APINIT.com.
If you run your DOS games from within W95 you don't need APINIT.com,
that is what the Soundscape legacy mode is all about. However if
you reboot into true DOS mode you certainly will need APINIT.com.
I'll try the older drivers and see if they help. A friend who has a
very old AudioPCI in his old Gateway 2000 system, said N2 runs
fine and he reboots into DOS.
Also the Unofficial AudioPCI page knows all about the mismarked
CL AudioPCI cards with the 1370 chipset. In fact I am now certain
that what I have is a true-blue Ensoniq AudioPCI (not a CL AudioPCI)
which CL somehow sold. In addition to the 1370 chipset, my card has
Ensoniq stamped right on it...