Updating the SB Audigy 2 ZS drivers

[traveler]

I have the original 9-18-03 Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS drivers installed. I see that there is a driver update dated 5-12-05. BUT I see that part of the driver update includes: "Enables Digital Rights Management support" and that makes me hesitate and be suspicious. Suspicious of spyware and other things that may be "bad" for me.

So could someone please tell me what I would getting and/or missing if I did and if I did not install this driver update?


? :cool: ?

[flexkill]

I have the original 9-18-03 Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS drivers installed. I see that there is a driver update dated 5-12-05. BUT I see that part of the driver update includes: "Enables Digital Rights Management support" and that makes me hesitate and be suspicious. Suspicious of spyware and other things that may be "bad" for me.

So could someone please tell me what I would getting and/or missing if I did and if I did not install this driver update?


? :cool: ?
if you are a gamer looking for the best performance and sound....skip to the lates BETA driver on creatives site as it's full OpenAL capable. DO NOT USE A DRIVER CLEANER FOR CREATIVE DRIVERS EVER!!!! Thats very important. Just go to add remove programs and remove anything from creative you see in there. Then go to C:\Program Files, or wherever you have had the creative folders stored and manualy erase any creative folders in there. Then click, START,run, then in the run box type "TEMP" without the quotes. Erase all files in there. If some files won't erase, you will have to close everything in the taskbar, then it should clear them all. Reboot PC and install the BETA driver. Then you will have to download and use Audio Headquarters, to controll EAX and CMS and such.:beer:

[traveler]

Thank you flexkill for your response.

Audio Headquarters??? What is Audio Headquarters?

Yes I do game but the same computer is also my Multimedia Computer and I remember the beta driver description from Creative saying that some things will stop working. Of course I don't want that to happen.

Where will I be taking advantage of OpenAL?


:cool:

[flexkill]

Thank you flexkill for your response.

Audio Headquarters??? What is Audio Headquarters?

Yes I do game but the same computer is also my Multimedia Computer and I remember the beta driver description from Creative saying that some things will stop working. Of course I don't want that to happen.

Where will I be taking advantage of OpenAL?


:cool:
OpenAL is needed for almost all new games. For instance,alot of people where complaining of poor performance and stuttering in BF2. Well 95% of these people had Creative cards and their drivers at that time didn't support OpenAL. It does make a pretty big differance in sound and performance in the games. Now as far as losing some features. The Creative sound mixer will not work anymore with the beta drivers, but thats where the AudioHeadquarter comes in. It allows you to use EAX and all that stuff...but in Audio HQ instead of the fancier looking SoundMixer. Thats all.:beer:

[traveler]

OpenAL is needed for almost all new games. For instance,alot of people where complaining of poor performance and stuttering in BF2. Well 95% of these people had Creative cards and their drivers at that time didn't support OpenAL. It does make a pretty big differance in sound and performance in the games. Now as far as losing some features. The Creative sound mixer will not work anymore with the beta drivers, but thats where the AudioHeadquarter comes in. It allows you to use EAX and all that stuff...but in Audio HQ instead of the fancier looking SoundMixer. Thats all.:beer:


Looking at the AudioHQ for EAX. At first glance I do see a lot there but I don't see the CMSS 3D controls. Are they somewhere else?


???

[flexkill]

They are there....it is on mine. i can't remember exactly where it is....but i know it's there....keep looking. If i remember right it's not hard to find:scratch: :beer:

[traveler]

I'll look around for them.

If I don't like the update, I can always go back to my current setup.

Which way would be better? Restore an image or would a driver uninstall/reinstall the old ones work just as well?


:cool:

[flexkill]

restoring an image should be fine i would think.:thumbs:

[Snafu]

BTW did a quick google search for "what is Digital Rights Management". Google came up with:


Web definitions for digital rights management (http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&lr=&oi=defmore&defl=en&q=define:digital+rights+management)
Any technology used to protect the interests of owners of content and services (such as copyright owners). Typically, authorized recipients or users must acquire a license in order to consume the protected material—files, music, movies—according to the rights or business rules set by the content owner.
Definition in context (www.microsoft.com/security/glossary.mspx)
IMO I would avoid the new driver. You are not in control of what you can and cannot do with the music you buy.

I hear Sony only allows 5 copies of its music and none of it for iPods. The odd part is that they haven't been able to force this for Mac owners.

I'd sooner avoid anything that smells of big brother but that's just my ole paranoid self.

[flexkill]

The BETA's are free of all that.;)