Audigy 2zs 'Decoder' Option Missing

Question

Hi Guys,   Really need some help.   I bought a Dimension 8400, with the Audigy 2zs soundcard. I need to enable the DTS option, which is supposed to be under 'AudioHQ', but I don't have the 'Decoder' tab in my audiohq app.   Can someone tell me what update I need to fix this?   I heard that the Dell OEM version of the card may not have this option. Can anyone confirm? Dell didn't say this on the site, which I think is very misleading and dishonest if it's true.   Anybody using their Dell Audigy 2zs with DTS encoding enabled? Where is the option?   Thanks!!   Johnny Utah.

Brainonska511 · Answer

Sometimes, OEM models lack some of the features of their retail counterparts.

To get to the decoder tab, open AudioHQ, open the device controls, and there is a decoder tab there. Though, that might not be the decoder you are talking about.

Message Edited by Brainonska511 on 04-28-2005 08:35 PM

Johnny Utah · Answer

I'm trying to get the option to look like this, which is the way the creative site shows the audiohq section for the audigy 2zs:

http://dmzweb4.europe.creative.com/wwimages/audio_int/audigy/Audigy2ZS_AC3.JPG

unfortunately I only see 3 of those tabs instead of 6. Don't know if it's a harware limitation from Dell's stupid "let rip off consumers" strategy by calling it exactly the same as the retail product, when it's not...

or...if it can be overcome with software. I looked over all the forums/threads I could find...everyone is ticked off about this...Dell is being very deceptive about the way they present the specs and call the card.

If it's a hardware limitation, I will have to return get it swapped or return the box...

Johnny Utah · Answer

That's what I mean...

I click on audiohq>device control> but there is no decoder tab anywhere.

I only have 3 tabs:

-bitrate
-options
-sampling rate

I also have a Dell 8400, brand new, and has the Audigy 2zs, tried it with the dell drivers including the newest update and with the regular drivers.

Can you tell me which drivers you're using in order to see the "decoder" tab??

Thanks!!

J.

Brainonska511 · Answer

Well, mine has 4 tabs (Sampling Rate, Decoder, Bit Accurate Mode, Options).

I recently reinstalled everything that came with my sound card, using the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS disk provided by Dell with my computer. You could also see if there are any program updates (not the drivers, because a retail driver might not work very well with the OEM card) at www.creativelabs.com (go to support-autoupdate (for autoupdate to work, you must run it in Internet Explorer))

WayWalker · Answer

I have exactly the same problem as you.

I received my Dimension 8400 with Dell's version of the Audigy 2ZS sound card on February 24th and I noticed this problem right away. I also noticed that if you try to play an AC3 file using the Creative software, it will not play. I think Dell has disabled some of the software and/or hardware on this sound card.

I have not tried to reinstall the software using the CD supplied by Dell but that is the next thing that I will try. I have a retail version of the Audigy 2ZS on another computer (it is also a Dell) and it works just as it should. There is quite a difference in the software though. I think Dell disabled a few things with their version of this sound card in order to be sure that the Cyberlink DVD software works properly! Anyway, I wish Dell would not mislead customers about these sound cards. They should at least inform us that they have made significant changes in how the card operates due to the modification of the software or hardware. They may even do this in some very small print somewhere most of us would never notice.

I expected to get an Audigy 2ZS with my computer with the same capabilities that the retail version has. I guess we will get it sorted out at some point. However, don't rely on Dell Support for help as they do not seem to have a clue when it comes to this sound card.

Good luck and I'll try to repost after reinstalling the Dell CD for the Audigy 2ZS.

WayWalker

Johnny Utah · Answer

Waywalker,

Thanks for posting!

I agree with you 100%. I also expected the same features/capabalities as the retail Audigy 2zs.

Dell calls it "Audigy 2zs", so it would only seem natural to expect just that.I tried reinstalling both the dell and creative drivers from the site. No go.

Maybe you could try installing your original retail Audigy 2zs drivers on the Dell machine with the Dell Audigy 2zs and see if it's only a software thing.

Otherwise they may have actually skimped on some of the hardware.

Let me know how it goes....and I hope it works. Thanks!

Johnny Utah

Mad Cat · Answer

Greetings!

I too apparently have the same "problem" as you guys do, except that I only have the Audigy 2 "vanilla" version, not the ZS. However, practically every information source that I have looked, INCLUDING the SB Audigy 2 User's Guide at Dell's own site

(< ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>) clearly states that the Audigy 2, ANY Audigy 2, is capable of decoding AC-3.

So, either we're stupid, being ripped off, or Dell is practicing false advertising.

Mad Cat

Message Edited by Mad Cat on 05-02-2005 05:26 AM

Message Edited by Mad Cat on 05-02-2005 05:27 AM

Johnny Utah · Answer

I definitely think it's the latter =).   The card may well be able to decode AC3, I haven't tested for that, but I know when I play DVD's on the computer DTS is decoded fine (although it may be the software doing it).   The problem here is that even if the card can do it, Dell has ripped us all off by not giving us the option to decide which decoder to use (AC3, DTS, etc.) and to give us the option to turn it on or off, like the regular software lets you.   It's important to have the on/off option, because if you're sending your signal to a receiver (like I am) and it's decoded on both the computer and then the receiver, the sound gets messed up.   DELL STOP RIPPING PEOPLE OFF AND GIVE US A PROPER SOLUTION FOR THIS NOW!!     Message Edited by Johnny Utah on 05-02-2005 06:17 AM

Brainonska511 · Answer

I don't know what I did, I never installed the creative drivers.

I had some problem with my MP3 player and I uninstalled everything creative related. Then I reinstalled everything from the disk that came with my computer.

Mad Cat · Answer

@Johnny Utah wrote:

I definitely think it's the latter =).

The card may well be able to decode AC3, I haven't tested for that, but I know when I play DVD's on the computer DTS is decoded fine (although it may be the software doing it).

The problem here is that even if the card can do it, Dell has ripped us all off by not giving us the option to decide which decoder to use (AC3, DTS, etc.) and to give us the option to turn it on or off, like the regular software lets you.

Well, according to the SoundBlaster forums at the Creative Labs website, they say that the Dell OEM Audigy 2 does NOT decode AC-3. You can confirm this better than I since you have that other Audigy 2 that decodes AC-3 just fine and thus can compare the two. I, unfortunately, cannot be 100% certain because my Dell is the only system in my house that has (or is SUPPOSED to have) Dolby Digital 5.1. All I can say is that I can tell the difference between discrete 5.1 channels from having played EAX enabled games, and my movies don't sound like that. I used the recently released Return Of The Jedi DVD with the Dolby Digital 5.1 sound mix to test my setup, and I can't hear 5.1 discrete channels. All I hear are stereo downmixes.

However, I went to customize a Dell Dimension 8400 and here is what it said about the Audigy 2:

Sound Blaster Audigy™2 ZS (D) Card w/Dolby 5.1, and IEEE 1394 capability [add $100 or $3/month1] Multimedia Performance

Obviously the implication here is that the card decodes Dolby 5.1! And here is the fine print in the "Help Me Choose" popup:

* Note: Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS does not ship with Audigy 2 ZS Front Panel connectors, MIDI dongle or Audio Stream Recorder 2. Also, Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 does not ship with RemoteCenter, and sound font support is available on the Web at www.support.dell.com.

And here is the final nail in the coffin:

Dolby® Digital 5.1 support - With Dell sound cards you have the ability to decode the AC3 audio format found on many DVD movies to output Dolby Digital 5.1 channel sound with installed internal DVD player.
I think that says it all. So, I'd like to know what the fudge is going on here, please.

VERY Mad Cat

:smileymad:

Brainonska511 · Answer

Did you get a Soundblaster Audigy 2 ZS CD with your Dell computers?

If you did, try uninstalling ALL of the Creative software and the Soundblaster Drivers. Then reinstall them using the disk to see if that solves the problem.

Mad Cat · Answer

@Brainonska511 wrote:
Did you get a Soundblaster Audigy 2 ZS CD with your Dell computers?

If you did, try uninstalling ALL of the Creative software and the Soundblaster Drivers. Then reinstall them using the disk to see if that solves the problem.

I did that already and it did NOT solve the problem. I checked Dell's website for updates, but there are no updates for the Audigy 2 "vanilla" (and the updates for the NX, notebook and ZS versions don't address any missing decoder problems). I also went to Creative's website and used their auto-update to update the drivers and software. This STILL did not solve the problem.

Despite this, however, I have found a solution to this ridiculous problem. I searched the web and found a free AC3 filter audio codec compatible with Windows Media Player, ZoomPlayer, BSPlayer and a few others (http://http://www.free-codecs.com/download/AC3_Filter.htm). I installed it and tried playing ROTJ again with Dolby 5.1 Surround using Windows Media Player. I couldn't hear a distinct difference between the 2 channel and 5.1 channel surround, so I tried again with the special edition of Star Trek: First Contact and, thankfully, it actually worked! And what a world of difference there is between the two! In fact, the codec even decodes DTS, so I got to hear the DTS soundmix of First Contact!!! On on off note, the reason ROTJ didn't sound as good is probably because LucasFilm did a half-assed job mixing the 5.1 mix. At least, that's what I could tell from what I heard.

Despite this, however, I'm not buying from Dell anymore and I encourage everyone else to do likewise. Build your own machine or have it assembled by a retailer where you know exactly what you are getting. I'm so sick and tired of manufacturers and software developers bullsh*tting consumers with underhanded false advertising to sell watered-down cr*p. For what it's worth, Dell, you've lost at least one customer.

Mad Cat

:smileymad:

Johnny Utah · Answer

I agree with you 150% Mad Cat!   They've lost 2 customers, 'cause I'm not buying from them either.   I built my first pc, and it's much better built than the Dell.  I hate how they try to sell you the brand name parts, when they strip them all down in the manufacturing plant and conveniently 'forget' to let you know outright.   Also, not all the Dell sites make the distinctions.  In Europe, where I bought mine they're even more vague...you have to do hours of research to get anywhere.  And Dell support is dummer than dirt...they barely know their own names.         Message Edited by Johnny Utah on 05-03-2005 06:39 PM

Brainonska511 · Answer

If you want to complain about Dell Support, go to the customer care forum. At least there, a Dell rep will read you post.

Brainonska511 · Answer

I'm not complaining, and I have never been "misled" by Dell.

I have always been happy with my computers from Dell.

At least if you talk to a Dell representative (even if they are reading out of a booklet), you'll be taking action instead of moaning and groaning with people who really can't do anything for you.

Edit:

And plus, if they are misleading people, how come my computer, which happens to have the same sound card as your's does, it has a decoder available in it.... They install the same software on everyone's machine.

Message Edited by Brainonska511 on 05-03-2005 06:52 PM

Locked Topics – Desktops General

Audigy 2zs "Decoder" Option Missing

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