Why did MS dump DirectSound ?

Just trying to figure out why Microsoft dumped DirectSound. DRM is the
only justification I can come up with.

JD

Audio in Windows Windows Vista
http://is.europe.creative.com/knowledgebase/25937.asp

Technical features new to Windows Vista
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technic..._Windows_Vista

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience -
Windows Vista Enthusiast

---------------------------------------------------------------

"John" <> wrote in message news:...
Just trying to figure out why Microsoft dumped DirectSound. DRM is the
only justification I can come up with.

JD

On Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:50:13 -0500, "Carey Frisch [MVP]"
<> wrote:

>Technical features new to Windows Vista
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technic..._Windows_Vista

Thanks for the links. I like the part that says :

"... which allows compliant audio hardware to automatically work under
Windows without needing device drivers from the audio hardware
vendor."

Does anyone know of a card that will fulfill this prophecy while
delivering true 5.1 or 7.1 audio ?

JD

Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio
http://us.creative.com/products/prod...&product=15855

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience -
Windows Vista Enthusiast

---------------------------------------------------------------

"John" wrote:

Thanks for the links. I like the part that says :

"... which allows compliant audio hardware to automatically work under
Windows without needing device drivers from the audio hardware
vendor."

Does anyone know of a card that will fulfill this prophecy while
delivering true 5.1 or 7.1 audio ?

JD

Carey Frisch [MVP] wrote:

> Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio
> http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?
category=1&subcategory=208&product=15855

Personally, I'd stay away from Creative products. Many driver problems
over the last few years.

I just look for a mobo with sound integrated with a digital output (coax
and/or optical as my Kenwood receiver can handle either).

That way I use a real stereo receiver to do the DAC decoding.

I see computer sound chips/cards as just a passthru to real stereo
equipment, but it is only really worth it, if you listen to a lot of
lossless audio files, and/or watch a lot of video with surround sound.

I do both, so the investment was worth it for me, though my thirteen year
old niece is always telling me to turn it down!

--
Peace!
Kurt
Former Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei!"

"kurttrail" <> wrote in message
news:eFlRj.27193$. ..
> Carey Frisch [MVP] wrote:
>
>> Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio
>> http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?
> category=1&subcategory=208&product=15855
>
> Personally, I'd stay away from Creative products. Many driver problems
> over the last few years.
>
> I just look for a mobo with sound integrated with a digital output (coax
> and/or optical as my Kenwood receiver can handle either).
>
> That way I use a real stereo receiver to do the DAC decoding.
>
> I see computer sound chips/cards as just a passthru to real stereo
> equipment, but it is only really worth it, if you listen to a lot of
> lossless audio files, and/or watch a lot of video with surround sound.
>
> I do both, so the investment was worth it for me, though my thirteen year
> old niece is always telling me to turn it down!
>
> --
> Peace!
> Kurt
> Former Self-anointed Moderator
> microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
> "Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei!"

Gave up Ceative as well, went with the Asus Xonar DX 7.1 PCI-e. Sound
quality is like night & day to the Creative X-Fi. And it does EAX and
DirectSound conversion.

On Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:18:41 -0500, "Carey Frisch [MVP]"
<> wrote:

>Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio
>http://us.creative.com/products/prod...&product=15855

It supports audio with no drivers or the installation of Creative's
ALchemy ? That's odd. Mine doesn't.

http://us.creative.com/products/prod...&product=16770

Also note that Vista doesn't support audio over optical SPDIF either.

JD

On Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:01:30 GMT, kurttrail
<> wrote:

>
>Personally, I'd stay away from Creative products. Many driver problems
>over the last few years.

To the best of my knowledge Creative is the only company to offer a
surround-sound support by using their Creative ALchemy which evidently
intercepts DirectSound calls and re-routes to the Open-AL API. As a
Linux enhusiast you will appreciate the irony.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenAL

JD

On Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:15:37 -0600, "Jasper" <>
wrote:

>Gave up Ceative as well, went with the Asus Xonar DX 7.1 PCI-e. Sound
>quality is like night & day to the Creative X-Fi. And it does EAX and
>DirectSound conversion.

If you're talking about the $180 card that Newegg has, I think my wife
would shoot first and ask questions later ! It's interesting to see
that it has ASIO 2.0 support though.

JD