SoundBlaster Live! (EMU10K1) terrible sound?!

[happinessiseasy]

My crackle went away when I installed 7100 RC. Are you still running Beta or did you upgrade yet?

 

[stormy13]

For anyone that couldn't find it this,

SB Live! series Support Pack 1.0 (04/04/2009) - Sound Blaster - Creative Labs

is the daniel_k driver that has been mentioned a few times in this thread, except that I didn't see any mention of anyone actually trying it. hate to say it but as far as those old cards go, this is about as good as it is going to get as Creative declared those cards EOL years ago.

 

[adanziger]

I'm running Win 7 RC, not the Beta. I tried the Daniel_K driver first and it didn't work for me. I'm using the driver from "LiveDrvUni-Pack(ENG).exe and it's working perfectly.

 

[adanziger]

Although my sound card is working, the Creative Game Port is not. Although I don't play games on my computer, I don't like yellow exclamation points in device manager. I've tried using the same method that I used to install the sound driver to install the Creative Game Port driver that's packaged in LiveDrvUni-Pack(ENG).exe but after going all the way through the install it gives me a compatibility error and the installation routine ends. Here's Microsoft's response to the problem (which, BTW, I tried with no success):

This is a response from a pre-release version of Windows 7. If you have feedback about this response, please use the survey at the bottom of the page.
Address a problem with Creative Game Port
Creative Game Port is not compatible with this version of Windows.

To search for similar devices that are compatible with your version of Windows, go online to the Windows Logo'd Products List. If you are running Windows 7, you might be able to install a Windows Vista driver in compatibility mode.
How to install a driver in compatibility mode

1. Right-click the driver installation program you saved to your desktop, click Troubleshoot compatibility, and then click Next.
   
   
2. In the Program Compatibility troubleshooter, click Troubleshoot program.
3. On the next screen, select The program worked in earlier versions of Windows but won't install or run now, and then click Next.
4. Select a version of Windows that is earlier than the one you are running, and then click Next.
5. When asked to test the program with the chosen compatibility settings, click Next. This will run the driver installation file in compatibility mode.
   1. If you experience a problem with the driver installation program, click No, try again using different settings, and then choose compatibility settings for a different version of Windows.
   2. If you don't experience a problem with the driver installation program, click Yes, save these settings for this program.
6. Follow the steps in the driver installation wizard to complete the installation.

What is compatibility mode?
Compatibility mode is a setting that can be applied to older programs that helps them run better in newer versions of Windows. If a program that was designed for an earlier version of Windows is running poorly, or not at all, running it in a mode that is compatible with an earlier version of Windows can correct or improve the program's performance.



Anyone find anything yet that works for the game port? Any other ideas? Thanks in advance. I'll post anything that I figure out.

 

[gnopgip]

Thanks!

Awesome workaround for the driver issue, my 7 year old card now works perfectly. It's amazing that the creative site itself says the driver is incompatible with Win7, yet all it takes is to manually extract the files to install.

Anybody from creative listening?!?!?

 

[adanziger]

daniel_k driver working for the game port!

Here's how I fixed the game port issue using the daniel-k driver (followed the same procedure I used to install the sound driver, but used a different driver). I now have a working game port from my SBLive on a Dell 8200:

1. Download "daniel_k driver"
2. Right click this file and click "extract to folder daniel_k driver"
3. Go to device manager and right click "unknown device" or "game port" which should have exclamation mark next to it..click update driver. click the 2nd option to "browse computer"..then click browse button and locate your daniel_k driver folder and double click your way to Audio\Drivers\WIN2K_XP..tick "include subfolders"...then click next.

Installation then proceeded automatically and it works!

Remember I had to use the daniel_k driver to get my game port working and the LiveDrvUni-Pack(ENG).exe driver for the sound. No more exclamation marks, everything works!

 

[stormy13]

You guys need to remember that just about anything to do with getting these cards to work (EMU10K1 based SB Live series) is a workaround, as there is not and never will be any official support from Creative; and even more so with the gameport as support for that was removed at the OS level by Microsoft.

Main thing is that from the looks of things, most of you are successful getting them going with the modded drivers that are available.

 

[Rebeldawg]

Try the following drivers and see if they work as it works for me, install the drivers
from the driver folder if the driver fails to install with the package. I've used them on
my sound blaster live card and it works perfectly, just no real surround sound.

MEGAUPLOAD - The leading online storage and file delivery service

 

[botlol]

hey im new and i wanted to go to windows 7 for some time but I always have problems with SB. I have the beta version of windows 7 and I had that big base problems, i fix it but now i have this echo thing, I didn't really notice it at first untill I start playing music and stoping it. (theres a fade in the song when I stop it at a random time ) Its really werid cuz it starts to destort my music and when im playing a game it makes it really annoying. Is there anyway to fix this?




OS: Windows 7 beta build 7030


also i already try all the suggestions

 

[Rebeldawg]

hey im new and i wanted to go to windows 7 for some time but I always have problems with SB. I have the beta version of windows 7 and I had that big base problems, i fix it but now i have this echo thing, I didn't really notice it at first untill I start playing music and stoping it. (theres a fade in the song when I stop it at a random time ) Its really werid cuz it starts to destort my music and when im playing a game it makes it really annoying. Is there anyway to fix this?




OS: Windows 7 beta build 7030


also i already try all the suggestions

You'll probably want to upgrade to the RC 7100 build asap as the version
you're currently on will be shutting down every 2 hours unless you're using
the RC version which you'll be able to use until March 1st 2010 for free.

 

[unicum]

Tried

I tried the SBLive_SupportPack_1_0. (for a SB 5.1 Live!)
Before the installation, Win7 (build 7600) can't update the driver, can't install any EMU10k1 driver, can't recognize my card, can't do anything.

When finished the installation, my windows7 recognized only the game port...

Finelly, i tried update the sound device manually. (from the unzipped SBLive_SupportPack_1_0)
I've browsed the folder, Win7 said: Driver can't installed (or something like that)

OK.

I do it again. AND WORKED Windows recognized the driver, allowed everything, restarted. And tadaa. Working perfectly.
Thank you

 

[Rebeldawg]

Use the drivers here: RapidShare: 1-CLICK Web hosting - Easy Filehosting after uncompressing it
run the setup file found in the drivers directory. If you get an error
when installing it dont worry about it, it will still install just fine. Use
this pack: RapidShare: 1-CLICK Web hosting - Easy Filehosting to install audio console, ect. first though as it'll uninstall
the driver from the first pack listed.

 

[Natilus13]

None of these solutions are working for me....

Hi,

I've tried all the solutions listed here, and on a few other forums as well. Nothing seems to be working. I've managed to get sound for a short time with the KX drivers as well as the Creative set that only supports 2GB of RAM but both of these end up leading me to a BSOD after only a short time. I have a sound blaster live 5.1 (not the 24-bit one) with a live drive. I would really like to get this working because, other than this sound issue, W7 seems to run faster on my machine than XP ever did. I could just build a new machine and that would solve all my problems but, due to my work, I've had to mostly switch to Mac. I'm not sure I want to put any more money into a PC until I really get to see how this new OS performs.

I am hoping someone might have some more suggestions. I've debated trying to connect my onboard sound instead of the sound blaster but I would really like to be able to use the live drive as I want to be able to connect headphones in the front of my pc.

 

[Rebeldawg]

Hi,

I've tried all the solutions listed here, and on a few other forums as well. Nothing seems to be working. I've managed to get sound for a short time with the KX drivers as well as the Creative set that only supports 2GB of RAM but both of these end up leading me to a BSOD after only a short time. I have a sound blaster live 5.1 (not the 24-bit one) with a live drive. I would really like to get this working because, other than this sound issue, W7 seems to run faster on my machine than XP ever did. I could just build a new machine and that would solve all my problems but, due to my work, I've had to mostly switch to Mac. I'm not sure I want to put any more money into a PC until I really get to see how this new OS performs.

I am hoping someone might have some more suggestions. I've debated trying to connect my onboard sound instead of the sound blaster but I would really like to be able to use the live drive as I want to be able to connect headphones in the front of my pc.

If you try the drivers I posted above after extracting them go to the drivers directory and run the setup program and install the drivers (if it doesn't work try running it as administrator). I have the same card you have minus the live drive and the drivers work for me. Only problem I have
is no 5.1 surround sound.

 

[Natilus13]

I've got my on-board audio working right now... it actually sounds better than what I remember the Sound Blaster sounding like. lol

I still want to try your suggestion though Rebeldawg. I don't like letting the computers win, I have to solve this problem.

Thanks for the response.

 

[Corpsecrank]

The SBLive is pretty dated and you would be much better off with a newer value card in the SB line such as an audigy SE or newer.

For the price you can't go wrong. Walmart had Audigy SE cards for like 30 bucks last year and they sound much better than the legacy Live! card. Not to mention better support with drivers and software.

 

[Natilus13]

I could go out and buy a new card, but that would defeat the purpose of getting this old machine running without putting any more money into it. Honestly, if I am going to spend any money it will be towards building a new machine.

Thanks for the suggestion though

 

[Rebeldawg]

The SBLive is pretty dated and you would be much better off with a newer value card in the SB line such as an audigy SE or newer.

For the price you can't go wrong. Walmart had Audigy SE cards for like 30 bucks last year and they sound much better than the legacy Live! card. Not to mention better support with drivers and software.

Honestly I would've even touch anything creative anymore after the crap they pulled and most likely still pulling in order to get people to buy the newer
cards whenever they come out with one with features that were promised in
previous cards.

@ Natilus13 - If you can get the software installed using version 2.10 (second link) of the driver pack I uploaded and then uninstall the sound blaster live from the device manager and only install the drivers with the 2.15 version which is also uploaded (first link) and run the ctxsetup (or whatever it is) that is found in the drivers folder and you'll see an error which is nothing to worry about and then a dialog about allowing the driver(s) to install everything should work fine. Just remember to set the speakers to 4.1 or higher to avoid any sound problems.

 

[Natilus13]

Honestly I would've even touch anything creative anymore after the crap they pulled and most likely still pulling in order to get people to buy the newer
cards whenever they come out with one with features that were promised in
previous cards.

@ Natilus13 - If you can get the software installed using version 2.10 (second link) of the driver pack I uploaded and then uninstall the sound blaster live from the device manager and only install the drivers with the 2.15 version which is also uploaded (first link) and run the ctxsetup (or whatever it is) that is found in the drivers folder and you'll see an error which is nothing to worry about and then a dialog about allowing the driver(s) to install everything should work fine. Just remember to set the speakers to 4.1 or higher to avoid any sound problems.

Thanks for the input. When I get a chance I will try what you suggest.

 

[Breakthrough]

Alright guys, here's what I did this weekend...

I have a PC with 4gb of RAM. I tried going up to Windows 7 RTM (x32) from Windows XP Pro, clean install. I avoided the Windows 7 betas due to the issues I had with the RTM, so here's all of the methods I did that didn't work:

- Install the XP drivers from Creative's site (just install them, they fail, then Windows offers to install in compatibility). Drivers result in system crashing and BSODs.
- SBL_VTDRV_LB_2_10_0001A.exe results in BSODs, same as SB_Live_Naimad_Mod_LB_2_15_0002.zip
- No Daniel K drivers work (I have more than 2gb of ram) - they all cause BSODs
- The kxDrivers don't work properly. All I hear in my speakers is crackling and buzzing (stereo sound, too).

I'd love to get this fixed, but until I can find a driver that works nicely and has a good headphone mode like on Windows XP, I'm sticking with XP.