Introduction

The brand “Sound Blaster” manufacturer’s Creative Labs enjoys a reputation of high quality in the PC-audio range since the introduction of the first sound cards in this series. So far, just the members of the Audigy family were considered standard for highest musical enjoyment. But Intel moved with the passage of high-definition audio standard and enabled the same acoustic quality, as they reach the relatively expensive PCI sound cards also onboard components. Besides supporting higher EAX versions and a better performance in such applications, there was nothing more that spoke for the purchase of a creative sound card actually.

But also creative has itself not rested and long working on a new chip, which is to put everything else in the shade. The result was announced in May 2005 the first time, is called “X-Fi” and aims to create a new standard of quality, the “Xtreme Fidelity”. Every now and then new information about the new sound processor which should make watery mouth the customer have been published on the website specially set up. The X-Fi chip is to have the computing power of Intel Pentium 4 with his 51.1 million transistors and them in numerous securities to implement, that even a normal stereo speaker set Gets a high spatial representation, which is similar to a 5.1 system. As a very special sweet two of the four cards have own memory 64 megabytes, to store uncompressed sound files. This is to not only the acoustic quality again raise, but relieve the system while playing computer games, and thus a further performance boost bring – of course, as long as the game developer to program the game to the use of so called X RAM.

Unfortunately, the new generation prepares not only computationally new records: the prices are salted. The smallest model of the series, the Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme music, goes with a retail price of 129.90 euro at the start. The largest variant, the Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Pro, creative proposed even 349.00 EUR. It is worth yet to buy a card of the X-Fi series audio or existing Audigy card despite high definition? We have send the complete series us and show whether the cards in use hold promise of advertising.

Scope of delivery and price

The scope of the four sound cards contains everything, to immediately take the cards into operation. As now used by creative, all components make a high-quality impression. All of the ports on the cards, cables, and the respective extension modules are gold-plated and should be an optimal audio playback not in the way.

Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme music:
In the package of Xtreme music is next to the actual sound card a folder with a guide and a CD with the necessary drivers, a creative software package and an electronic user manual. In addition the CD contains the patch to version 1.3 for the game Doom 3, for the horror shooter to get the full support of EAX. There are no more side dishes. However, this had driven the price of around 98 euro also unnecessary in the amount.

Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum and Fatal1ty FPS:
The Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum as well as the Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS Edition extend the contents of a box with a fancy front panel which is in a free 5, 25 inch slot space. It offers various inputs and outputs for mini-MIDI and S/PDIF, coaxial and optical cable. Of course there is also a headphone output and an input for microphones together with associated control. The Panel of a 20-pin flat ribbon cable with a length of 60 cm finds the connection to the sound card, as it is used also for hard drives. Just Casemodder would have pleased more surely with a round cable. The power is supplied via a normal floppy connector. In the event that the user does not have more free, creative has settled in a Y switch. Furthermore, the buyer receives two adapter cable for mini-MIDI to standard MIDI ports and the package is a plug adapter from 6.35 mm to 3.5 mm. rounded off by a remote control with which a lot of the features of the X-Fi activate and regulate can be. The package of the X-Fi Platinum is currently from about 155 euros, while the customer for the Fatal1ty FPS paid approximately 193 euro. The latter is in addition equipped with X-RAM. In addition, two X-Fi-poster, size A2, are provided in the Fatal1ty FPS.

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Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Pro:
The high-end model of the series, the elite Pro, has installed not only better quality components, it gets included also a much more extensive accessories. Also it has X-RAM. Instead of the internal panel of Platinum or Fatal1ty FPS, the large box of the elite Pro provides a positively huge-looking, external console. It offers the same outlets such as the internal panel. However the front along with a further line in provides a total of seven controllers, to set the X-Fi effects. A large knob can regulate the General volume. A print output can be completely mute. Similar to the controls for the 3D-Midi, the EAX effects, the CMSS-3D and the 24-bit Crystalizer function. The two remaining knobs control the volume of the two line inputs. To set up the console, creative sets in a set rubber feet and a base for vertical installation. The power supply of the console takes over the sound card, which in turn receives the necessary “juice” on a floppy power connector of the power supply or the supplied Y turnout. With is also a remote control including batteries found in the package. In addition to the installation CD, the package includes a further CD, on which additional audio creation and editing software is included. Specifically it involves Steinberg Cubase LE, Steinberg WaveLab Lite and IK Multimedia Amplitube LE. The set of the X-Fi is currently approximately 275 euros to have Elite Pro.

If you already had a sound card from the Audigy series before the X-Fi, will miss perhaps a demonstration CD and the DVD-audio sampler, that demonstrate the capabilities of the sound card in adequate way were. Also a game bundle has no unfortunately.

Striking is that of the four only the Platinum version a us this card has small black aluminum heat sink. On request creative shared us with, that it involves maps of different production lines. You have must modify easily the production due to high demand, to guarantee a high availability of the cards. It chips on the card are installed now, requiring better cooling, to work at optimum temperature. In other words: The present X-Fi Platinum comes from the new production, while it is the other three cards of the “first-generation”. Up to the higher temperature the chips do not differ.

Connections

Below, we once again want to give an overview of the different connections that include the different sound cards and its add-on modules. It should be noted that creative such as with the previous cards offers both the internal and the external module individually for sale, so that their ports cannot be upgraded later. Unfortunately, the internal module can be using Elite Pro, because the necessary connection module is not available there but not with the X-Fi. They can be obtained exclusively through the creative’s own webshop. Included with each is the remote control. The external console of the X-Fi software package is also included Elite Pro bundle. The prices are currently 109,90 EUR for the internal module and 189,98 euros for the external console. In addition, there are still some other accessories allows the sound card to expand be freely creative.

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It should be mentioned at this point still the FlexiJack which is a universal solution for microphone input, line-in, and the digital output. The AD_Link port used to connect to the external console, while the AD-EXT port allows the contact to the internal module. AUX-IN is the analog connection for CD or DVD drives – a digital connection does not exist. The DIN-socket is intended to connect creative analog speaker systems with wired remote control or audio control pod.

Technical data

• Recording at 24 bit / 96 kHz
• 7.1 Playback (analog) at 24 bit / 96 kHz
• Stereo playback at 24 bit / 192 kHz
• Frequency response (+/-3 dB, 24 bit / 96 kHz) = &Lt; 10 Hz to 46 kHz
• Frequency response (+/-3 dB, 24 bit / 192 kHz) = &Lt; 10 Hz to 88 kHz in stereo
• S/N ratio (20 kHz low pass filter, A weighted): 109 dB (116 dB at X-Fi Elite Pro)
• Harmonic distortion + noise at 1 kHz (20 kHz low pass filter) = 0.004 percent (0.008 percent with X-Fi Elite Pro)
• ASIO 2.0 support for recording with 16 and 24-bit at 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz and 96 kHz with direct monitoring
• Enhanced SoundFont support up to 24 bit resolution
• 64 MB of X-RAM for X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS and X-Fi Elite Pro

Technical development

To set the technological advancement of the X-Fi sound chip due in scene, creative has published a table with previous sound chips from in-house performance information. As a result of different architectures, the specified values were calculated only, but still give a good insight into the performance of the individual chips.

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Audio-ring

The full computing power of the X-Fi processor is created a new architecture, on which creatives in Scotts Valley, California-based developer the last five years have worked. She should allow maximum flexibility in the handling of data which have not had previous audio processor.

So, the individual components have been arranged to date always linear. The disadvantage here is that the data in the processing take always the same way and thereby pass all units. Should also conclude a further filter applied or something mixed, so this the DSP (digital signal processor) has to take, because the signal processing only one-way. A DSP can do such a task but not with the same effectiveness as a unit provided specifically for this purpose. Both affect negatively the performance of the processor.

Newly developed architecture of X-Fi chips, however, the so-called “audio ring”, the components are independent of each other integrated. Therefore, 10230 MIPS (million commands per second) performance also not referring to a single entity, but rather is a sum of the services of all units. During processing, the data in the audio ring must go through every station, so that unnecessary steps can be saved. It is also possible that individual units several times can be used, before the process is complete. The audio ring has over 4096 channels, which however are not with the maximum number of votes (128 at the X-Fi processor). These channels are used for the internal signal transmission and to create the effects. The use of local aims to improve the performance of the new architecture, can she use more bandwidth but in this way to process the data, as the PCI bus available is able to provide. But not only the general architecture has been retreaded, also the individual units have been redesigned and optimized for their performance through.

The processor units

The sample rate converter (SRC):
The most important component of audio processors is still the SRC. He is the unit that contributes most to the performance of the X-Fi platform with 7310 MIPS. He needs this power to perform high-quality calculations at high speed. The SRC is a need when should be calculated 3D audio or mixed multiple sources with different sample rates. In the event that an application requires times no transformation of the sample rate, the audio ring makes it possible to bypass the SRC.

The mixer:
The mixer has the largest share of the implementation of the audio ring according to creative. Equipped with 1210 MIPS he is responsible for the regulation of traffic on the new architecture. Also, it can scale signals, or combine multiple signals to a single. In addition, the mixer takes over the work of various other Studio Tools, including synthesizers and equalizers.

Filter:
The X-Fi chip has over 512 optimized filter units. They have enough power to create surround sound such as EAX effects and very realistic, virtual surround sound with stereo headphones, with a total of 200 MIPS. The 13 applicable filters help also in the music production. Creative indicates that a DSP needed much more power to apply the filter just as quickly while keeping same quality level.

Of the DSP:
The DSP of the X-Fi consists now of four processor units, which is why creative has given him the name “Quartet DSP”. It also supports SIMD instructions. The results of a sub processor has calculated, are written in a two megabytes large cache and can be used without greater delays from the others for their calculations. Overall the DSP Unit contributes 1180 MIPS to the power of the X-Fi.

Transport engine:
Even if it is a unit, that is not actively involved in on signal processing, the transport engine is an important part of the architecture. It establishes the connection to the PCI bus and the optional X-RAM and contains several DMA channels for this purpose. To customize the transfer rate to the current needs, whose priority with every clock cycle is recalculated. These calculations are based on the bandwidth needed for the transfer and latency.

Tank engine:
The tank engine is responsible with their 440 MIPS for any form of acoustic delay. Thereunder are effects such as reverb, chorus, delays, or reflections. Special thanks to pipelines for address and data calculations and the tank engine can a two-level cache system removed these calculations the DSP or the CPU of the computer. In addition to their relief, this also improve the acoustic quality is beneficial, because these components could cause probably cracks and other faults.

New technologies

But how transforms creative this tremendous performance? The probably most features are under the names of 24-bit Crystalizer, CMSS-3D, 3D-MIDI, to find EAX 5.0 and of course X-RAM. Below we would like to respond, as creative calls them, these “components of Xtreme Fidelity”.

24 Bit Crystalizer

The most important (because marketing prestigious) innovation is creative with the sonorous name 24-Bit Crystalizer. With this creative addresses the problem of the nowadays most widely used audio media, the CD, a sound depth of 16 bit data stores what could be a maximum listening pleasure in the way. Certainly the end user could substitute just his CD collection by audio DVDs which save their contents with a 24-bit precision. But there are on the one hand too much music, not as an audio DVD, has (yet) seen the light of day in to another is such a new acquisition usually also very in the money. But how should we address this problem now? Would an engineer is asked, a song for an audio DVD to master instead of a CD, he would again this song mix and trying to make the best out of him now to the available sound depth. Exactly this recalculate of the 16-bit audio data takes over the 24-bit Crystalizer (in the form of the X-Fi DSP). In the fly, from any audio source. This involves also the acoustic featured in games and the own MP3 library.

How it works?
16 Bit audio limited the relationship between the loudest sound and the background noise. This has however also a very large influence on the sound spectrum of the represented instruments. The 24-bit Crystalizer enhances this range by he constantly computes a normalized energy flow on the basis of the input audio streams. An instrument shall enter in now such as, for example, the kernels kick bass, it creates a significant variation in the flow of energy. This change in turn is then used by the DSP proportional to expand the audio signal. Due to the continuous recalculation of the energy flow at full strength, the change affects only the position of the audio signal. For soft sound diagram, the Crystalizer committed, however, not so much. Because a picture more says a thousand words, here an example on the basis of the title of “Lazy days”, “Enya”:

Relatively balanced over the entire song, so the image can be described. There are some few exceptions hardly highly salient tips.

The image at first is unchanged after treatment by the 24-bit Crystalizer. However, a significantly enhanced spectrum falls up at a second glance. Most of the tones, with sudden transitions, are significantly more pronounced as they have been there without the Crystalizer. The result is a clearly audible cleaner sound in all frequency ranges. A mix of the two pictures brings the changes, here dark shows, even better to light:

Of course, it can also happen that the user does not like it, how much the sound of his beloved music collection is changed. In this case, creative gives the user the ability to turn off the 24-bit Crystalizer either completely or on the basis of a controller to adjust according to his liking.

CMSS-3D

The second change that Polish part is to up the sound experience with the X-Fi sound card, is CMSS-3D. There is a upload or Downmix algorithm, which makes it possible to adjust the audio content to the output hardware. So, the conditions for the audio playback are seldom optimal. Often, the source has too few channels, either the extra purchased 5.1 or even to use 7.1 system fully, or has a multi-channel source and can play only on stereo speakers or headphones.

The interface to the optimal sound background should now create CMSS-3D without to distort the actual sound to reduce the quality or create even error. Creative into what audio source and output it is here “CMSS-3D Surround”, “CMSS-3D Virtual”, “CMSS-3D Headphone” and “CMSS-3D Interactive” – depending on that.

CMSS-3D surround
This technology will, similar to how many approaches in the past, from a simple stereo signal “real” surround sound on (up to) produce 7.1 systems. Examples include Dolby ProLogic II, DTS Neo: 6, SRS circle surround or lexicon logic 7. Here, the sound of the two front channels through the is issued Center, while the surround speakers out of the differences are calculated. This is sufficient for individual sound sources. Once but more sources come to do this, it is possible that they are so mixed, that none of the sources properly come to light. The result is a washy looking sound. Also for example WMA or MP3 files, through the upmix on the surround channels can occur in sources low bitrate, the mistake to days, which are incurred but not to hear when listening to normal when you encode the files.

Creative goes to these problems in a similar way, as does the human ear has always been. A calculation of frequency is made for a separation of multiple sound sources. Several sources use different frequencies, so people can focus on a particular source. This is often called the “Cocktail party effect”. Similar works also the X-Fi sound chip. So he tries to distinguish the main source of noise and places them on the corresponding front or center channel. Other signals such as applause or Hall be distributed appropriately to the other channels.

CMSS-3D headphone and CMSS-3D virtual
Basically both technologies take same idea up, namely the display of multi-channel content by means of a stereo output. A virtual space will be created in which the sound is played by ortbar. Creative used the experience earned IRCAM, UC Davis, Aureal, Sensaura, and creatives advanced technology center over the years. So, creative uses three techniques to generate convincing surround sound over headphones (CMSS-3D headphone). First of all, HRTF filters (head-related transfer functions), which the spatiality of the front and rear speakers to emulate. Secondly, early environment reflections of sound in virtual space are calculated, which would arise when listening to a multi-channel system. And thirdly, noise are separated from the importance which is to further reinforce the spatial impression.

CMSS 3D virtual, which is used for stereo and 2.1 speakers, the calculation of environment reflections is cancelled as these result in a natural way. But also here creative inserts HRTF filter and an extraction of ambient noise, to simulate the other channels. A crosstalk compensation will make an additional separation. While the sound portions of the channels are crosstalk, which on the other channel, by a quadrature-compensation signal eliminates the übersprechende signal. Of course the user must be right in the Centre between the two speakers, achieve his optimum performance the spatial impression. Thanks to the THX console can be helped but also here software.

CMSS-3D interactive
As the technology introduced by the Sound Blaster Audigy, CMSS-3D interactive serves to distribute several sources of noise, even at inappropriate speaker arrangements independently of each other in cyberspace. It is based to a large extent on the use of EAX effects. In principle, only the accuracy in positioning at the same time increased the number of source is improved with the new version. More than one filter must be applied for an accurate positioning on each individual source. These are used to calculate time differences, with which the various sources (would) reach the left or right ear. Differences in the volume of effects and tones are calculated to simulate the distance to the user. And also, HRTF filter come here used to imitate acoustic reflections on the body of listeners themselves. To present as many sources still increase the complexity of the sound chip in the infinite to be creative using a fixed set of filters for all 3D, instead to calculate any source for themselves. CMSS-3D interactive can be used with any speaker configuration.

3D-MIDI

With 3D-MIDI, creative has not newly invented the 1983 for the first time featured MIDI standard. Instead, it has been extended to a multi-channel functionality. With X-Fi support, the user can both multi-channel MIDI produce as well as play. Of course a upmix can take place here too, so that normal stereo content on the local 7.1 system can be played back.

EAX 5.0

Since the introduction of environmental audio extensions, short EAX, this standard ensures that the environment in computer games not only three-dimensional look, but also sound. Aureal 3D, whose engineering first was used by NASA, and later was introduced in the PC sector was the only competitor. The development however ceased with the acquisition of Aureal by creative.

And while sound cards and chips of other manufacturers still with maximum EAX 2.0 can work, creative continuously increases the standard of his own cards. So already the 2001 published Sound Blaster Audigy received support for EAX 3.0, which was reflected in up to 64 simultaneous voices. With the Audigy 2 EAX 4.0 on the series was then. Thus multi environment rendering was possible now, so the appearance of various environments and their effects on the sound, which should significantly raise the level of realism. In the meantime, more sound cards from creative came onto the market, but brought neither the Audigy 2 ZS, still the Audigy 4 Pro a new revision of the EAX standard.

This is now changed with the cards of the X-Fi series, because from now on, EAX 5.0 is the highest of emotions. It comes with some new effects in addition to a number of votes from 64 to 128 doubled:

EAX FlexiFX:
The X-Fi cards allow up to four simultaneous EAX calculations. These calculations were always required, every “slot” is also available with any effect. This gives developers more freedom to meet their ideas. The effects can also on all the voices at the same time apply, where it is the processor no matter whether it is two-channel or multi-channel sources. Finally, two-channel sources in one this effect slots on surround sound can be extrapolated to simulate, for example, noise in games.

EAX PurePath:
Thus, it allows developers creative, individual speakers target – a function that is standard in the field of (home) films long ago. Previously you could only set from which direction a sound is expected to reach the user, which has associated the sound card with this then one or more speakers. Now can the developer fix talks to the center channel, or set the output of a noise source through the subwoofer, which is just for bass-heavy effects of great benefit. As well, a sound can change also hardware accelerated between the individual channels.

EAX MacroFX:
Thus, the dimension of notes will be increased. Audio sources, which are close to the user, should now also as sound. Typical examples are bullets that just miss the player and to the ear by hiss or whisper of comrades in the battlefield.

Environment occlusion:
This function is more to do with an update of an effect in older versions of EAX. Environment occlusion is to ensure that objects that are between the user and the audio source, change the sound according to their nature. The Hall reached the user then muffled.

EAX voice:
EAX voice is no effect in the true sense. With the help of the “microphone environment FX control”, the user can feed his voice recorded through a microphone connected directly into the EAX engine. These calculated according to the current gaming environment a Hall and emits in the game it, so that the impression of a real environment to strengthen again. EAX voice should work with any EAX compatible game. The effects are represented always in the area in which the player at the time of each resident.

X RAM

Another innovation in the field of sound cards is the integration of local memory on the two top models X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS and X-Fi Elite Pro instead of a small cache, which is installed on the other two cards. The trend towards ever-increasing volumes of data, are 64 megabytes SDRAM on the Board of the cards, which are connected directly to the transport engine of the X-Fi chip and therefore very quick access to the data stored in them. This should be to not confuse the small black box, which adorns the two large X-Fi cards, because this is the only jewelry. There are only two LEDs that red light at the X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS the side mounted logo of the eponymous Profispielers Johnathan “Fatal1ty” Wendel in operation under the hood that reads “X-Fi”. When the X-Fi Elite Pro is there, however, a blue radiant X-Fi logo.

The true X-RAM is a 512-Mbit chip by Micron, which is called “MT48LC32M16A2TG-75″ and is located directly on the X-Fi processor. The X-Fi Xtreme music and the X-Fi Platinum a 16 Mbit chip from Samsung or Hynix sits at this point. Thus, the elderly PCI bus despite improved audio quality and performance in games should be relieved. Why creative has released so far but no X-Fi sound card for the PCI Express standard, is however mystery to us, you would have had additional bandwidth available yet in this way. At least it was said at the CeBIT, that such cards at the end of the year could appear.

With the help of X-RAM can the developer, for example, the audio data load uncompressed in memory of the sound card and play from there can be, without further burdening the CPU or increase the number of possible effects in the game. So far, mostly the opposite path was elected to keep the memory load. Either was the number of effect is limited or, as in the case of Doom 3, the data stored compressed, so that the processor only had to unzip them before.

But to take advantage of X-RAM, the game on its use and must be programmed. As only game 4 Quake used the features – all the others go out empty. Adversely the additional memory affects also the price of sound cards, which is seen particularly at the price of the X-Fi Platinum and X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS. Our tests show at the end of the article whether is worth the cost about 40 euros for the (so far) barely used feature.

Installation

Depending on which card is called his own, requires the installation of the hardware between five and 15 minutes. Once, before it continues to act, the supplied label on the front of the sound card should be installed. This helps by a colour marker later connect of the speaker cables, because the connections on the sound card itself only with 1-3 are known.

The easiest installation turns out course of the X-Fi Xtreme music, need to be put here but only the PCI card in a free slot and connect the speaker cables. After the installation of the driver card is available for immediate use of the available.

The installation of the X-Fi Elite Pro takes already a moment longer, because the external console would be supplied with power. It does this via the sound card, which in turn own a floppy power connector. At this, a free plug or the enclosed Y switch for connection to a 4-pin Molex connector must be fixed now. The connection between sound card and console is a thick, 26-pin cable, which is similar to simply is screwed a monitor cable to the ports of the two components. With a length of two metres, the cable should provide sufficient room to place the console in a convenient location.

The installation of the X-Fi Platinum and X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS can take the most time may, depending on how the user is planning the installation. To install the front panel, the show and the Panel on the ribbon cable must connect first. Most easily, this is naturally fitted the sound card to the cable and then builds. Then, the other end of the cable is pulled the PC through a free 5, 25 inch shaft from and attached to the contact bar of the Panel, which can be then pushed into the shaft and attached. Finally, the Panel must be connected to a 4-pin Molex connector on a free floppy power connector or via the supplied Y turnout.

Problematic the higher quality speaker cable to the sound card port could be more, because the connections for each channel very close beieinanderliegen. So thicker cable or Connector connection can block each other. However, this is not a particular criticism of the X-Fi cards, but common practice among all sound cards. The FlexiJack, which combines the microphone and line in, and the digital output in a port is also rather impractical. Which of the three interfaces just to stand, adjusts the user in the driver. However, it is for owners of the X-Fi Xtreme thus impossible something about microphone to record music or on a TV show, which watch the sound of the supplying line-in, and digitally print the tone here. An additional slot with the other connections would have been better here. That would have can relieve at least also the already mentioned problem of space.

Driver

The driver installation went smoothly on the test system. A complete installation takes up to 20 minutes and is divided into three areas: the X-Fi software, the MediaSource package and the Doom 3 patch. In their respective fields, the user can also select the content to be installed so that unneeded software can left. During installation, then the first time the user must choose which sound system to the sound card is connected, and in which of the three modes of operation, the show to perform her work after the final restart. The speaker Wizard, which helps the user when connecting to its speaker starts after the restart. To do this, the user selects whether the output is digital or analog, and how many channels the used system has. Then, you can check the individual channels to correct connection and functionality.

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In the application on the test system, the driver made a solid impression and caused no problems. The same applies to a test installation on a system with nForce-4 mainboard. We could not see the incompatibilities that some time after the release of the new sound cards were known. Should there still be problems with playback, the wizards installed with the driver help figure out the root of evil. As usual from creative, the user interface for the drivers are completely questions, what looks good, but at the same time expressed in a slightly increased load time. Easier and faster, but also visually but is operated through the audio console. It includes the most important settings for each operating mode.

A process (XFIHLP.) is important: the external console of the X-Fi to set volume and effects to use Elite ProNecessary (EXE) which is automatically started after installation with the system and carries out his work in the background. Terminates this process is free it resources for games or to speed up the connections can, but not the regulator of the console used to boot.

The remote control

Settled in the three larger versions of the X-Fi, the remote control allows the handling of different player software from a distance. The supported programs include include the Windows Media Player, Winamp, and PowerDVD. Of course, also the software package of the X-Fi cards is to use. Only with the Creative MediaSource Player, we have noted that the play button does not work. Previously, to use the remote control, this must be enabled in the through the start menu “Entertainment Center” settings. There, the user can also set whether it is supposed to work exclusively in connection with the entertainment center, or whether it can be used also with other players.

Data transmission via infrared. Depending on the card version, the front panel or the external console takes receive either. Who both has connected to his sound card, has to decide in the settings for a recipient. For the contact between remote control and receiver must be no direct eye contact, but should be targeted as precisely as possible in the direction of the recipient. The remote control a range of about five meters at eye contact.

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Creative were an ergonomic shape, which is well up to the remote control. The process is good. The idea to use screened buttons-wheels instead of digital keys for controlling the effects like, is however room for improvement. On the one hand, it often happens that the thumb of the smooth plastic wheels slips without having this turn. On the other hand, the sampling responds very inaccurate, so the software often do not exactly know, whether the user adjusts the respective effect of higher or lower. The switching on or off the effect by means of pressure on the wheel, however, works perfectly, as well as the remaining buttons.

One for all, all in one

Creative effect can be divided into three large groups all applications: games, audio creation and entertainment. Each of these groups has their own requirements to the sound hardware. So there are customized hardware on the market especially on these scenarios such as all-rounder lie where certain parts of the chip fallow during the application in an area, which lost power unused. With the X-Fi chip, creative now offers sound cards for all occasions.

Thanks to the modular architecture, creative’s “active modal architecture” called, can disable unnecessary features of the chip, to allocate its entire performance the current requirements and to get the maximum performance from the hardware. To the user only in the “switching the mode” of the driver or the audio console must select the scenario that corresponds to its current application. The following list tells you, in which mode, which features are enabled or disabled and which either are can hooked up.

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The choice of the mode is supported ‘ by the appearance in the driver. Depending on the application, the menu is similar to a stereo system (Entertainment), a mixing console (audio creation) or a futuristic game menu. The basic settings such as the choice of the speaker, the graphic equalizer or volume control are available in each menu. Some functions, as well as the set speakers kept only for the respective mode, so that can be set differently for example the degree of 24-bit Crystalizers for each mode.

Entertainment mode

While there are strong demands on the hardware for games and audio creation, it is difficult to clearly improve the audio quality in the field of entertainment. In addition to the support of all important compression and high-quality formats such as AC3, DTS, or DVD-audio, as well as the playback with 192 KHz or playback on 7.1 systems, creative wants to score points with the audio improvements from CMSS-3D and the 24-bit Crystalizer. Here, the quality of playback in the foreground is clearly.

Audio creation mode

In the audio creation, the X-Fi platform supports the user, by relieving the CPU of the computer and speed up the processing of data. As to delays completely eradicated or reduced to a minimum. In addition, this mode offers extensive setting options to manipulate the sound. The diversity of the possible settings ranges various inputs to the outputs of from control the volume through a mapping to the adding of reverb and other effects. In addition the new 3D-MIDI, with which you can freely position output of MIDI channels in space. Support for ASIO 2.0, a default value of the sampling frequency can be selected, applies to all changes. Disappeared the effect modules with earlier sound cards, as soon as 96 KHz has been set, they remain active also in combination with a X-Fi card.

Game mode

The game mode is designed mainly for the 3D and surround for maximum gaming performance. So the hardware accelerated EAX effects takes the last almost completely by the CPU, which in turn positively influences in the game the number of frames per second. In addition the use of EAX voice is possible in the game mode, which work with almost any EAX compatible game and its Realismus further increase to. Also additional settings for the bass and the EAX effects available are only in this mode. With CMSS-3D, also creatives surround upmix with is on board, while the 24-bit Crystalizer is to optimize the sound of the sound effects.

Software package

On the installation CD, which is enclosed to each X-Fi card, a comprehensive package of creative’s own applications located next to the actual drivers, to make the most of his sound card. There are several programs for audio and video playback, to the audio recording, to edit music files and to create sounds.

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Most programs (as well the THX setup console) are next to the start menu also has “MediaSource Go”, a kind of quick launch Panel, or the volume control window can be reached. Both start after you install with the operating system, unless the user manually changes this.

Creative MediaSource Player:

While it is our own media player the now third edition of creatives. It supports all popular file formats, dispense with colorful visualizations, and instead offers some other interesting features. In addition to the mandatory creation of playlists or different designs is possible also, Crossfading, which pass into each other one at a time playing title. In addition an audio clean-up can be enable, making errors and errors in the playing music files to be removed. Also the audio recording including multi channel support, and burning audio CDs is possible.

DVD-Audio Player

Also a software in the package must be of course, which is responsible for playing audio DVDs. During the playback of high-quality content the listener must however draw on an analog output, because any S/PDIF output is muted. This is part of CPPM copy protection, which was developed by 4 c entity, a collaboration of Intel, IBM, Toshiba and EIM, and is used on the X-Fi.

WaveStudio:

As a program for easy editing of own music collection, creative provides that “wave Studio” with. Content tool is similar to the Nero wave editor. Parts can thus also here cut or effects. These include ECHO, channel switching, and normalize, among others. Also the convert a file in a different format and the audio recording with simultaneous recording of individual parts of a previously opened file is easy.

Smart recorder:

Specifically for the recording of the creative is recorder in the package smart. Thus, you can quickly and easily perform recordings. As a possible target file formats MP3, WMA and wave, each available in Mono and stereo, available. During recording, the volume level can be analyzed and automatically set to a value of “optimal”. Also noise and therefore can be removed in real time. Finally he introduces smart yet a schedule available audio recordings can be planned in the recorder. Enter for this source, file format, quality as well as start and end time of the recording.

3D-MIDI player

This player is used to only play MIDI files. The main window shows a large circle, whose Zentrum represents the position of the listener. When you open any file, now all used instruments before the listener be placed. These can now freely position in the space around the user. Depending on the distance to the user individual it is quieter or louder. With a subsequent press of the play button it can be heard now arrangement räumliche(re). When playing a move of the instruments is not possible.

Karaoke Player

A popular party fun to are now also on the PC. Provided it is in the possession of corresponding LRC files (lyrics), can you display the text to the selected song and sing along. This data should be present, is a an easy Internet download these and import. Is to a track find no LRC file, can you even create them themselves. Then, line by line, the text must be entered in the appropriate window. In addition, the respective start time for each row can be set, which allows the software to hide past passages and highlight the current line. More setting options of the player include hiding the sound or the alienation of the music, which the text is hardly understandable or audible. Unfortunately, this alienation affects the rest of the sounds, making this feature almost unusable.

Software package (continued)

Vienna SoundFont Studio 2.4:
The SoundFont technology was jointly developed by E-MU and the Creative Labs in the 1990s. It is an audio sampling format, which allows the user to create different sounds MIDI-based audio data from a minimum and to edit them with filters and other effects. Since the Sound Blaster AWE 32 creatives sound cards support this technology. But also here the X-Fi goes one step further and enables 24-bit quality. The SoundFont Studio represents the required software. Located to simple manage of the created sounds “SoundFont Bank Manager” in the package.

Creative Entertainment Center:
Now, each manufacturer seems to give a “Media Center” software to its devices to allow the user easy access to its data on the PC and play them on the domestic big-screen TV. This is called “Entertainment Center” is creative and includes the usual features. More specifically the playback of audio, photo and video are. The software can deal also with “Power Point” presentations. The file compatibility allows for all major formats. The Entertainment Center only on the remote control or the keyboard is served. Where but the remote control can handle all functions of the software, the keyboard is just good enough to navigate with the arrow keys as well as the return and BACKSPACE key through the menus and call up the desired medium. Other features of as previous/next track and pause can not call with a keyboard. This is apparently requested by creative, you can start the entertainment center but only on the remote control, unless it directly calls the corresponding .exe file. Another limitation: playing video-DVDs with multi-channel audio Cyberlinks PowerDVD must either from version 5.0 or Internet video WinDVD be installed from version 7.0 on the computer.

The Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Pro or external console containing music creation application CD”also included” further software for musicians and committed user, specially dedicated to the processing of sound. Although it is Lite versions that contain not the full functionality of the full versions. However, they offer the semi-professional users more than enough ways to record songs, mix and edit.

Steinberg Cubase LE:

Steinberg’s Cubase LE is suitable for entry into the professional audio editing. The program is the most important functions of the high end systems Cubase SX and Nuendo and is able to process audio data at a resolution of 24-bit / 96 KHz. Supports several plug-ins are included, which should make more pleasant work the future professional, whether he from a MIDI device picks up, one or more songs from mixes or newly set to music a movie.

IK Multimedia Amplitube LE:
Especially for guitarists, a comprehensive plugin in the software package, which is intended to replace a complete guitar course and provides a wide range of settings and effects the musicians, to produce the various sounds without complicated settings on the amplifier is located Amplitube Le.

Steinberg WaveLab Lite:

There is an another editing program for your own music collection included with WaveLab Lite. As the creative wave Studio and other programs can it convert files, merge or sound change. In contrast to the competitors, but up to three effects when playing can be set. WaveLab Lite can only handle MP3, wave, and AIFF files. Useful for DJs: saving the data channels can be backed up independently of each other as Mono files.

Is a member of

The most important and at the same time most difficult-to-value criterion of a sound card is its acoustics. Those who before the X-Fi only onboard sound after AC’97 specification has heard, will be amazed by the clearly audible better sound of new cards. But also the owner of previous sound cards including the recent victory, the Sound Blaster Audigy 4 Pro, will notice a difference – provided an appropriate speaker system. We have already tested good candidates some time ago. In this test, we check the cards in three different scenarios: surround sound with creative GigaWorks ProGamer G500, stereo on the basis of the Logitech Z-2300, and Sennheiser HD595 headphones operation.

We take the following CDs, DVDs and games for our opinion as a basis:

• Music
  • Blink 182 – blink 182
  • Enya – Amarantine
  • Nightwish – highest hopes
  • The last samurai – official soundtrack
  • DVD-audio sampler (settled in SB Audigy 2 ZS)
  • various MP3 files of different bit rates
• Movies
  • Matrix Revolutions
  • From dusk till dawn
• Games
  • Battlefield 2
  • Quake 4

Music

Sounds music, be it MP3, CD or even DVD-audio, better when using a the generation X-Fi sound card? Yes! Overall, the new cards sound warmer and rounder than their predecessors. Can this be when the Xtreme music. The listening is just plain fun. The tonal difference of pure cards to the predecessors of the Audigy-series turns out here but not so vast that it constitutes an overriding reason relating to the upgrading, if one must not necessarily have the best of the best and/or belongs to the team of the audiophile user. A special position under the X-FIS takes a the X-Fi Elite Pro, which is again different from the smaller X-Fi cards by using a (still) better digital-to analog converter. It helps the show to a s/N ratio of 116 dB – 7 dB over at the small children. Thus the elite Pro achieved a quality that looks fantastic and is able to make happy also audiophilere natures and speakers.

The additional effects are what most clearly distinguishes the X-Fi series in both good and bad of the predecessors. The 24-bit Crystalizer makes all honor his name. Bass are powerful, heights are more accentuated. All titles in the test worked Enya “it’s in the rain”, above all better separated and were given a higher spatial depth. But you should watch out and set the effect not too much: guitar reefs and hard attacks – for example in Nightwish have been partial “wish I had an angel” – considerably overemphasized. For the use of headphones the bass is a track too heavily, and at this point, the personal preferences for each user are different. Also, the quality depends heavily on the playback source. It is a low bit rate MP3 file or a live recording, a very low setting or a complete deactivation of advantage is because the Crystalizer coding errors and noise mercilessly reveals and represents.

Also CMSS-3D has two sides: the surround sound on headphones (CMSS-3D headphone) is very convincing and music can win here significantly in width. Partly this width can develop but at a disadvantage, because the sound with a high setting contrary to creatives objectives is well audible discolored. But also here the feeling may differ greatly from user to user. CMSS-3D surround, however, is in our opinion tend not to recommend. The upmix places on all channels the sound like a wide belt and tried to fix the voices and main noise on the center speaker. Unfortunately, the stereo separation this goes under, so that instruments can be more precisely locate. In addition a dull bass, which takes the pleasure of listening.

A superb sound experience can be by CMSS-3D and the 24-bit Crystalizer from a very good piece of audio in summary, if one exaggerates it not at the dosage. These functions do not however constitute a panacea for badly encoded MP3 files can make it not sound masterpieces. A good demonstration of the capabilities of CMSS-3D and 24-bit Crystalizer offers creative on your website for download. The Cretive demo player is necessary to play of the demos, which can also be downloaded on the page.

Games

From the phonetic point of view are the most important arguments for buying an X-Fi CMSS-3D headphone card, the 24-bit Crystalizer and EAX 5.0 with its 128 possible votes. The former produces really good surround sound in games and allows a better detection of sounds in 3D space as “real” 5.1 headsets such as, for example, the Medusa of SPEEDLink with stereo headphones. So you can hear exactly in far cry, where is the tracking helicopters, no matter whether rear or front left. Even the flight altitude and the distance to the player can be an idea itself.

Although still not far is EAX 5.0. Currently, use only a handful of games, including Battlefield 2 and Quake 4, the latest evolution of the environmental audio effects. However, should more high-profile titles join up in the next few months, which is why this technology is likely to become the must-have for demanding players. In Battlefield 2, the highest sound quality, for example, only in combination can be enable with a X-Fi card. And Yes, it’s worth. The level of realism is further enhanced by the additional votes, so that wakes up the battlefield at sonic level to new life. Now the shots of the opponents one fly really from all sides around the ears and you can locate the source of a noise more clearly than with the high setting, that represents the maximum limit of quality when other sound cards. Apropos shots: the 24-bit Crystalizer can enhance the sound of a Feuerstoßes, a bullet zipped past and an exploding grenade properly and be realistic. Although it hardly stands out at first, so you will notice, that all this noise without the Crystalizer sound a little verwaschener.

The newly introduced EAX voice is to increase the reality level of a game as we explained in the section of EAX 5.0. It is activated in the menu of the game mode in the point of “Mixer”. Here is it however not under the name EAX voice, but is called “Microphone environment effect” and can be set on a scale from 0 to 100 percent. When tested with Unreal Tournament, and Battlefield 2 revealed however, that the effects depending on the pre-set intensity is far too quiet. at 100 percent, the reverberation is calculated from the own voice is barely noticeable and is simply, in the battle of the game. Also, the effect is slightly delayed and shows only about half a second after speaking. Apart from this, the change in other environments works very well. So, it runs around in Battlefield 2 in a hangar, a strong echo is calculated. At the moment in which you left the hangar, but, this echo disappears because there is nothing in the wild, which could strongly reflect sound. EAX voice is a nice feature that works without play and can – underscore voice chat with an echo, not more, but not less.

Movies

Also in the weekly DVD evening the new cards afford no setback. 5.1 Positioning is easy only be outstanding to call and perfectly comes to bear. Explosions, shots and zerspringende Windows work just the same, as you wish it. You almost have the feeling, is final fight on NEOs with Smith in the matrix revolutions in the rain and occasionally must wipe the water from the face. Not that this is true not even for older generations of sound cards, only creates on it the X-Fi architecture, here again a it to set.

This 24-bit Crystalizer and CMSS-3D were not yet considered. The behavior of the two special functions is like the games.