Soundcard Dolby decoder issue or OpenAL?

PawWriter · Mar 21, 2008, 07:26 PM

[COLOR=black][COLOR=silver]I am unsure whether this is a problem with my soundcard's Dolby decoder or the OpenAL that came with it.[/COLOR][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][COLOR=silver]I have the X-Fi Fatal!ty card. It is installed on an XP SP 2 system and is attached to a THX certified Creative 5.1 speaker system.[/COLOR][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][COLOR=silver]A while ago, I accidentally uninstalled OpenAL not knowing that it was part of Creative's software. The sound went funky, all highs and mids with no bass. So, I system restored. The sound was still funky. Then I ran a repair operation with my original CD. Still no bass. Then I did a complete uninstall using a driver cleaner to make sure it was all fully gone before reinstalling all of the drivers and software. Still no bass. Then I installed the (then) latest drivers from Creative. Now the bass is coming through, barely. I had to use the THX bass redirecting along with the 15dB boost to hear the bass at a comparable volume to everything else, and it's still not coming through all the way.[/COLOR][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][COLOR=silver]I have tried downloading and installing the latest Open AL. Once at the repair operation and once with the full uninstall/reinstall. I'm still stuck with this issue. [/COLOR][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][COLOR=silver]Most of the lows seem, for some reason, to be redirecting into the small satellite speakers, and even then at a vastly reduced volume. In order to hear them at all, I have to turn up the volume really high, which means my highs are now extremely distorted.[/COLOR][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][COLOR=silver]I have since tried the beta drivers for this card. Now the sound coming out is really distorted even though I seem to have some of my bass back. It is really prevalent when passing sound from a PS3 to the card via the optical in port.[/COLOR][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][COLOR=silver]Nothing I have tried has been able to restore my sound to the way it was.[/COLOR][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][COLOR=silver]Has anyone else had this problem? Does anyone have any ideas on how to fix this issue?[/COLOR][/COLOR]

Mar 21, 2008, 07:26 PM	#1
PawWriter DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Soundcard Dolby decoder issue or OpenAL? [COLOR=black][COLOR=silver]I am unsure whether this is a problem with my soundcard's Dolby decoder or the OpenAL that came with it.[/COLOR][/COLOR] [COLOR=black][COLOR=silver]I have the X-Fi Fatal!ty card. It is installed on an XP SP 2 system and is attached to a THX certified Creative 5.1 speaker system.[/COLOR][/COLOR] [COLOR=black][COLOR=silver]A while ago, I accidentally uninstalled OpenAL not knowing that it was part of Creative's software. The sound went funky, all highs and mids with no bass. So, I system restored. The sound was still funky. Then I ran a repair operation with my original CD. Still no bass. Then I did a complete uninstall using a driver cleaner to make sure it was all fully gone before reinstalling all of the drivers and software. Still no bass. Then I installed the (then) latest drivers from Creative. Now the bass is coming through, barely. I had to use the THX bass redirecting along with the 15dB boost to hear the bass at a comparable volume to everything else, and it's still not coming through all the way.[/COLOR][/COLOR] [COLOR=black][COLOR=silver]I have tried downloading and installing the latest Open AL. Once at the repair operation and once with the full uninstall/reinstall. I'm still stuck with this issue. [/COLOR][/COLOR] [COLOR=black][COLOR=silver]Most of the lows seem, for some reason, to be redirecting into the small satellite speakers, and even then at a vastly reduced volume. In order to hear them at all, I have to turn up the volume really high, which means my highs are now extremely distorted.[/COLOR][/COLOR] [COLOR=black][COLOR=silver]I have since tried the beta drivers for this card. Now the sound coming out is really distorted even though I seem to have some of my bass back. It is really prevalent when passing sound from a PS3 to the card via the optical in port.[/COLOR][/COLOR] [COLOR=black][COLOR=silver]Nothing I have tried has been able to restore my sound to the way it was.[/COLOR][/COLOR] [COLOR=black][COLOR=silver]Has anyone else had this problem? Does anyone have any ideas on how to fix this issue?[/COLOR][/COLOR]