GTASA Sound Maddness

[Star-Lord]

GTASA Sound Maddness

This is not a guide, If it can help you with your problem great!

 

Many members here on daily bassis are posting soundcard related blues So I decided to go in deeper and try to to help some with other techniques.

 

 

The problems we face can occur from several causes. Most likely this will be from Windows not keeping up with all the data to or from the soundcard. Other causes can be hardware conflicts, a problem with the soundcard driver, or a problem with the soundcard or motherboard, or even both and obvious things we neglect.

 

Soundcard Driver issues

 

There's not much that can be said here, except that you should check with the soundcard manufacturer for driver updates. A compatibility problem between a soundcard model and devices can occur, and it may be possible for this to be handled or mitigated with driver changes. Early versions of drivers for a sound card may have bugs or may have difficulties with certain operating systems mainly Xp with Service Pack 1&2. When updating onboard sound drivers is best to get them from the manufactuer of the motherboard,Search by chipset not by name.

 

How to get the correct drivers?

 

Getting the correct drivers for your Sound card is not an easy task because soundcards nowadays are not all made by their original manufacters which is quite confusing, specially when searching for newer drivers.

First you need to know whether your sound card is a O.E.M or Retail version? This is very important because Retail cards might not work proper with O.E.M. drivers which most of the time are outdated. O.E.M is third party bundles,Stripped editions unpackaged, not the actual makers of the product. So like i said before search by chipset of the card ( usually a sticker on the card itself or back of the box) for onboard sound it usually the same as the southbridge chipset number on the motherboard. For an example: You have a ABIT KN8 SLI Socket 939 Motherboard with an 8 channel onboard sound and you need drivers for the Audio you would search for the chipset which in this case would be: nVidia nForce4 SLi

 

DirectX

 

One "driver" that is often neglected is Microsoft's "DirectX". This is used by a number of soundcards, and you should make sure that your version of DirectX is up to date. Some soundcards won't even work at all without a given version of DirectX being available! Note: If your sound card only supports 8.1 it won't work proper with DirectX 9. To find out what version of DirectX is on your computer now, do this:

Use the Windows START Menu, select RUN, type "dxdiag", click on the "OK" button.

A "DirectX Diagnostic Tool" form will appear and the version number will appear under "System Information".

To find out what the latest version of DirectX is and/or to update, go to www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/downloads/default.asp

 

Microsoft Windows

 

There are patches or Service Packs for Windows OS that can affect soundcard operation. Unless your machine is very new, you should install these, particularly if you are using a recently designed soundcard.

The idea that Windows may be getting behind in its audio data handling may seem unlikely when you have a computer with a several GHz's clock speed and when there is nothing else apparently going on in the machine. Faster processors are better, but Windows still always has the processor doing a number of things that are not obvious. Having a fast processor may not be relevant if an operation involving the hard drive, a serial bus, network card, or some other slower hardware manages to dominate the system for a short period, letting a few audio buffers get lost on occaision.

 

Special note for SoundBlaster EAX type cards: These cards typically operate only at a fixed internal sample rate (48kHz or 96kHz), and other sample rates are handled via an irregularly timed sample rate conversion.. This means that synchronous operation of these cards can usually only be done when running at the internal (unconverted) sample rate. So leave the default setting as it is.

 

Why? EAX is the shizzle:

EAX or Environmental Audio Extensions (Driver) is another standard that was developed by Creative Labs and Exclusive for their Soundblaster cards. Instead of a specific format for audio, it is a set of software extensions that modify audio to replicate the effects of specific environments. For example, the audio being played in a computer could be designed to sound as if it was being played in a cave with lots of echo. Support for this can exist in either software or hardware. If rendered in hardware, it uses fewer cycles from the CPU. There are currently Five versions: EAX, EAX2,EAX3 EAX4.0 AND EAX5.0 ADVANCE HD. If you don't have a Soundblaster Live card installed in your PC you will not get EAX support.

 

What is the AC-3 Technology?

 

AC-3 or Dolby Digital was developed by Dolby Labs as one of the first truly digital forms of surround sound for movies. It features 5 discrete channels (2 front, 2 rear, 1 center) plus a low-frequency effects channel. The primary benefit of this format is that it uses compression to take all this data and fit it in a very compact format with very little loss in quality. In order to playback sources with Dolby Digital (such as DVD movies), the computer audio processor will need to support this as well as have 5 speakers plus subwoofer. Audio processors require at least 16-bit 96KHz processing ability for true Dolby Digital. Note: Higher bit rates will affect sound performances and Should always be set at 16-bit 96KHz. This is probadly the only format AC-97 onboard sound will be able to support.

 

The Snap,Crackle AND Pop Noise

 

The sound we all hate! I read many threads just on this topic and I can't believe how many are going thru this. I can only say that this not game related So don't go tossing your GTA SA Game Disc out the window instead treasure it and keep it in a safe place one day that Game Disc is going to be worth a fortune. So how do we resolve this problem? Everyone even myself recommend driver updates for your specific soundcard, But driver updates are not always the solution as the problem could be something else. Don't just focus on the sound card but also take in consideration that rest of your system. For example USB speakers set to volume high have this as a common problem nothing to do with drivers nor soundcard. Why? because some may have the Power Scheme turned off. It's recommened to leave this on so you don't experience any interruptions. Click Start,Control Panel, and Performance And Maintance. Click Power Options. Select the Power Schemes tab. In the Power Schemes checkbox, check Always On and click OK. Rebooting is not required.

 

USB Speakers

 

Still have noise? Check your speakers's settings Remember USB Speakers are Digital so they need to be set to Digital and not Analog which is what Windows uses by Default. If your USB Speakers are in Analog Mode you will know because the The master volume slider in Windows Media Player has no effect on the volume because analog audio cannot be output to USB Speakers. To switch to Digital Playback: Start Windows Media Player. On the tools menu,click Properties for CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive that you are using for GTA SAN ANDRES. In the playback section, check the Digital checkbox. click OK

 

Sound comes out of two speakers only

 

Sound comes only out of two speakers out of 5.1. but my Speaker Setup is correct, Reduce the audio bit-depth. In Windows Media Player,click Tools and Options, then select the Devices tab. Select Speakers and click the Properties button. Uncheck the Use 24-bit Audio for Audio CD's checkbox. Click OK twice to get back to the player. Close and reopen the player.

 

For Speakers Hums:

 

Try moving the power cord from the power surge protector, if it's plugged into one, and plug it directly into a wall outlet. Keep it away from other cables that can cause distortion. If you still have the humming sound then disconnect your stereo cable from the sound card and if the hum goes away, then you may need to adjust the volume control as you may be overdriving the volume settings on your speaker system.

 

Final:

 

So now everything is working great but you want more bass. If you have your subwoofer in front of you? then you are missing the whole surround sound expirience if it sounds great now do the following and thank me later. You want those low-frequency sounds to blast into your room. But you don't want them to distort. Place your subwoofer in a far corner of the room against the wall.The farther the better because sound from a subwoofer is low frequency, the reflected sound waves will be enchanced and not distorted. Happy Gaming!

 

This may be tidy up by a Moderator if you like.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[GTA3Freak-2001]

So you actually wrote all that or did you copy-and-paste it from somewhere else? If you did a copy'n'paste then its usually a good idea to put in the source of the guide.

[Star-Lord]

So you actually wrote all that or did you copy-and-paste it from somewhere else? If you did a copy'n'paste then its usually a good idea to put in the source of the guide.

Yes I wrote it. I got all the information from my personal notes that I keep everytime I resovle a problem. I have around 10 notebooks AND also from past expirience. I wrote it all on wordpad than paste onto this site.

[GTA3Freak-2001]

Ok no problems, we've just had people in the past find some website and copy whole guides and posting them here as if they had written them. Just had to check

[djtocsik]

Nice post, but still doesnt help me solve my issues...

 

I have the crackle and pop....everything else is fine.

 

Mostly horns,speed chases,and airplanes(very bad) come with its own "Snap Crackle and Pop's" effect.

 

I got it to all but disappear on hardware acceleration set to none....the other 3 settings all produce the SCP.

 

Now ok, I'll leave it to none....Load up SA MP and now i get a hang on the uzi's...which doesnt go away....so back to full i go and with the same SCP's

 

Onboard sound:soundMAX digital audio.

 

I do have a M-audio audiophile 2496....but its not connected due to no microphone jacks.

 

which brings me up to a question...Can i have both soundcards running?....just to use my onboard for it's mic line in?

 

If anyone can point me to drivers newer then the

 

5.12.1.3620

for

Analog Devices inc ...Soundmax intergrated digital audio.

Edited June 12, 2006 by djtocsik

[Star-Lord]

Nice post, but still doesnt help me solve my issues...

 

I have the crackle and pop....everything else is fine.

 

Mostly horns,speed chases,and airplanes(very bad) come with its own "Snap Crackle and Pop's" effect.

 

I got it to all but disappear on hardware acceleration set to none....the other 3 settings all produce the SCP.

 

Now ok, I'll leave it to none....Load up SA MP and now i get a hang on the uzi's...which doesnt go away....so back to full i go and with the same SCP's

 

Onboard sound:soundMAX digital audio.

 

I do have a M-audio audiophile 2496....but its not connected due to no microphone jacks.

 

which brings me up to a question...Can i have both soundcards running?....just to use my onboard for it's mic line in?

 

If anyone can point me to drivers newer then the

 

5.12.1.3620

for

Analog Devices inc ...Soundmax intergrated digital audio.

I'm afraid two soundcards won't work at the same time. It must be one or the other. If you want to use a slot (PCI) souncard you must disable the onboard sound from your B.I.O.S or vice-versa. As for newer drivers Soundmaster will work with most C-media drivers. Give it a try.

[djtocsik]

So soundmaster is an application or driver?...im guessing there is no updates for my soundmax current driver right?

 

bit confused, but I'll do some research in the meantime....

 

im guessing, I can d-load soundmaster and try to install the drivers thru the update drivers dialog from the device manager..I might do this tonight, But i'd appreciate it if you could help me with this a bit more....could help quite a few more people here with onboard sound aswell.

[Star-Lord]

Soundmaster is the company name of the audio chip. Which is made seperate from the motherboard makers. The motherboard makers then make their own drivers according to they hardware specifics. for example if your motherboard is a ABit,Mach Speed, ect.

 

Going to your motherboard's website for driver update would be the wise choice. once there search by chipset. You can find this info at the post screen when you fist boot your system or buy using this diagnostics tool which gives you all names and id's of all your hardware http://www.download.com/3000-2086-10018691.html

 

[djtocsik]

Well, i found out asustek doesnt have any newer updates for my onboard sound.

 

am i out of luck or should i try some third-party drivers?

 

Could you do me a big favor and link me to some drivers that might be of a help?

 

seems like im running the Sound max AD1886 on this page (same driver version as mine)

 

http://members.driverguide.com/index.php?a...b&jmd=and&fzz=b

 

anything there that Is safe to use?

[Star-Lord]

Well, i found out asustek doesnt have any newer updates for my onboard sound.

 

am i out of luck or should i try some third-party drivers?

 

Could you do me a big favor and link me to some drivers that might be of a help?

 

seems like im running the Sound max AD1886 on this page (same driver version as mine)

 

http://members.driverguide.com/index.php?a...b&jmd=and&fzz=b

 

anything there that Is safe to use?

O.k. Sure!

 

I've searched and this one seems to be the correct one this one is the windows's driver which should work but you might loose some features you obtain when using the manufactures' type. The driver you want to use is "WDM_3663.zip" This is a universal for all SoundMaster/C-Media onboard sound last updated 2004. if you can't find a later version don't worry newer versions will only work if they were adapted to your hardware or if bugs/flaws were later detected. please try this one too! from C-media http://www.soundcard-drivers.com/drivers/258/258686.htm

 

Note:

Soundmaster is now part of C-media so this is why I tell alot of users whom have AC-97 onboard sound or Soundmaster as yourself to use C-media drivers. C-media handles alot of drivers for most onboard sound these days.

[djtocsik]

Thank you for your help...I tried about 8 different drivers, the c-media you suggested wouldnt install(missing files)...the others i got to install but didnt solve the problem.

 

The only thing that helps, is setting hardware acceleration to none(cars dont crackle but horns still do a little)

 

Also I get an infinite sound loop bug with SA:MP with accelration set at none.

 

So the only thing I can do at this point is set it to none while playing SP...and set it back to full when playing SA:MP.

 

Once again thanks for the help, but i think my onboard sound wasnt cut out to run SA all that well.

 

If i could only get my mic to work on my delta audiophile, I'd just use that.

Edited June 22, 2006 by djtocsik

[Star-Lord]

Thank you for your help...I tried about 8 different drivers, the c-media you suggested wouldnt install(missing files)...the others i got to install but didnt solve the problem.

 

The only thing that helps, is setting hardware acceleration to none(cars dont crackle but horns still do a little)

 

Also I get an infinite sound loop bug with SA:MP with accelration set at none.

 

So the only thing I can do at this point is set it to none while playing SP...and set it back to full when playing SA:MP.

 

Once again thanks for the help, but i think my onboard sound wasnt cut out to run SA all that well.

 

If i could only get my mic to work on my delta audiophile, I'd just use that.

Sorry! It didn't work How strange? It should of work might be some other issue you might be overlooking. When you open device manger what driver version are using and is it certified by M.S. also click on properties and look for conflictions between hardware resources. And try to update driver from there. But if you can give me more detail on your computer specs I will do everything possible to solve you problem. And if nothing works then you might want to consider the option of buying a new Soundcard you going to need it for the next GTA which probadly will be more complex on hardware resources.