[jr2]

OpenAL Installer for Windows     
   Updated on 7/12/2007    

Updated Summer 2007 : Version 2.0.3

The OpenAL Installer for Windows will install the OpenAL 1.1 libraries, enabling support for core OpenAL operations as well as extensions such as EAX and EFX. The installer supports both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows.

DLL Version numbers:

    * OpenAL32.dll version 6.14.357.22
    * wrap_oal.dll version 2.1.8.1

Changes and Bugfixes

    * Added new enumeration extension (ALC_ENUMERATE_ALL_EXT) to use AL on any soundcard / audio endpoint
    * "Generic Hardware" device only appears in the enumeration string if it can be used
    * Fixed alcGetIntegerv's requirement for an active context
    * Fixed alcCaptureOpenDevice so that it returns 'NULL' if the capture device fails to open
    * Fixed software reverb bugs (Reflection Delay and Air Absorption HF)

So, can we use "Generic Hardware"?  Does this solve the problems when using anything else besides "Generic Software"? 

Generic Hardware is faster, because it uses acceleration, correct?

[taylor]

No, don't use Generic Hardware, ever.  All it really does is use DS3D as a back-end, which doesn't really mean that it's accelerated.  It will never be accelerated under Vista and will only sometimes be properly accelerated under anything else.  The only way to get real hardware acceleration is to use a device specific string, if one exists.

For the next version of the launcher I'm just going to remove "Generic Hardware" as an option since it will never work properly for us.

[ADDAvenger]

wait, it doesn't work?  That's the only option that shows up for me besides "no sound"  I've got an Inspiron E1505 if it makes a difference.

edit: woops, my only option is Generic Software, not hardware.  nevermind then

[taylor]

You should always have "Generic Software" as an option.  That's the basic software sound, so it's always available, unless you have something seriously screwed up with your sound drivers.

"Generic Hardware" doesn't work since the DS3D interface generally doesn't provide enough sound sources for the game to use.  Using DS3D directly would make that not so much of an issue, but going through OpenAL it presents more of a problem.  The code is being rewritten to try and compensate for this, but that will really only make the real hardware devices work better.  The new code wouldn't do much for the "Generic Hardware" device.

[ShivanSpS]

No, don't use Generic Hardware, ever.  All it really does is use DS3D as a back-end, which doesn't really mean that it's accelerated.  It will never be accelerated under Vista and will only sometimes be properly accelerated under anything else.  The only way to get real hardware acceleration is to use a device specific string, if one exists.

For the next version of the launcher I'm just going to remove "Generic Hardware" as an option since it will never work properly for us.

I dont think that will be a good idea... Im using the Generic Hardware and it works ok for me... the diference of using "hard accelerated" is nearly nothing, both in this game or in anyother...

But i can heard a diference in the sound quality. But i think is mostly because of something else... anyway, i could save 2 samples to show you.

But, i agree whit something, is really hard to make it work. if i change my soundcard (a very old, SB Live!) driver for some others more upgrated it will not work propertly.

And is the only card that i make it work well in hardware mode, i have another 3 pcs whit onboard sounds, and nothing...