Trying to get Direct 3D Sound to work.

**mp84** · March 22, 2009, 06:35 PM

Hey Everyone,

I'm hoping some experienced sound card users can help me here. I've been trying to get the Direct 3D Sound Hardware option to work for me.

I have a PCI-E SB X-Fi Titanium Fatality Sound card.
Also Logitech z-5500 Speakers (With Optical Out as my main source of sound)

Now I figure I would have go into the Creative Alchemy to get it to work correctly and that is what I did. I went there, and added Empire total War to it.

I then checked the locate by "game path" and of course pointed it to the empire.exe directory.

There are some settings too, and they are as follow for me:

Buffer: 4
Duration: 25
Maximum Voice Count: 128

Now when I go in-game, and activate the Direct 3D Hardware, it seems to be working like a charm, EXCEPT for one major thing. I seem to always hear a double stutter of the sound when I click on some stuff, It is really noticeable when I click on a unit as an example and I hear that little "thump" twice, or when I move a unit I hear the same thing as well.

I know this is not suppose to happen because it does not do it in any other settings.

Can anyone recommend any ideas on how this could possible by fixed? As that is the only issue I have, and everything sounds so great with the Direct 3D enabled.

thanks,

MP

**GODzilla** · March 22, 2009, 06:51 PM

I've never used alchemy before so I wont be of many help here. But instead I have a question: What's the benefit from using direct sound 3d in this game? I'm just using "5.1 discrete" and so far the sound experience has been awsome.

**mp84** · March 22, 2009, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by GODzilla

I've never used alchemy before so I wont be of many help here. But instead I have a question: What's the benefit from using direct sound 3d in this game? I'm just using "5.1 discrete" and so far the sound experience has been awsome.

It is hard to explain, but the sound just sounds a lot more crisper.

If it wasn't for that little stutter problem on unit clicks or moves, you'd be surprise on the difference, hehe

thanks though for looking hopefully maybe someone else can help

MP

**GODzilla** · March 22, 2009, 07:00 PM

I also have an X-Fi and Vista, so I'm going to try alchemy tomorrow. Maybe we can figure this out together. I'll report back once I've done everything you did...

**mp84** · March 22, 2009, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by GODzilla

I also have an X-Fi and Vista, so I'm going to try alchemy tomorrow. Maybe we can figure this out together. I'll report back once I've done everything you did...

ok awesome thanks.

MP

**Reddaza** · March 22, 2009, 10:03 PM

Ive had the exact same problem with the double click sound running etw i have a x-fi prelude. I run it through my AD900 headphones and thought something must of been wrong with my set up through alchemy, (which i use the same alchemy settings as you). At the moment it sounds better going through 5.1 descrete for me. Also what game mode settings is everyone using? Cheers

**Maizel** · March 22, 2009, 09:59 PM

I've tried alchemy and when I use the direct 3d sound setting I get garbled and really low quality sound. It;s weird, Alchemy works fine with the other Steam versions of TW games.

**Ondaderthad** · March 23, 2009, 02:56 AM

There is a sound fix posted here:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...96#post4758096

No guarantee it will work for you but it may help.

**mp84** · March 23, 2009, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by Ondaderthad

There is a sound fix posted here:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...96#post4758096

No guarantee it will work for you but it may help.

thanks, I don't think that may help me because I don't have choppiness and that is what that post really talks about.

The problem I have, everything sounds find, just when I click on stuff, most notable clicking on units or moving units on the battlefield, I'll hear that little sound it plays after, twice.

MP

**Inazuma** · March 23, 2009, 05:48 AM

5.1 Discrete is aweful for me

Sometimes sound will go to my rear speakers and then cut back to my front speakers. The 3D positioning is completely off; I can move my camera from the back of a battle (so Im facing it) to the front of it (so the battle is behind me) yet the sound always comes from the front, with the same volume!

**acel337** · March 23, 2009, 03:03 PM

Use the following settings in ALchemy:

[Empire Total War]
RegPath=HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Valve\Steam\InstallPath
SubDir=SteamApps\common\empire total war
Buffers=6
Duration=5
MaxVoiceCount=128
DisableDirectMusic=FALSE
GamePath=
RootDirInstallOption=FALSE

It's working fine with those settings.

**mp84** · March 23, 2009, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by acel337

Use the following settings in ALchemy:

[Empire Total War]
RegPath=HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Valve\Steam\InstallPath
SubDir=SteamApps\common\empire total war
Buffers=6
Duration=5
MaxVoiceCount=128
DisableDirectMusic=FALSE
GamePath=
RootDirInstallOption=FALSE

It's working fine with those settings.

awesome ok I'll try that when I get home.

thanks!

MP

**Paul Stud** · March 23, 2009, 06:30 PM

hello! created an account just for this...

Could be the duration setting.

Try 6, 5, 128. Stock Alchemy settings result in choppy audio as well so stay away from them. But these ones worked really well for Fallout 3, which is way worse for sound bugs than this game.

No problems on my system, except for minor stuff that seems to be a lack of QC. Example: Port and Starbord commands from English ships are backwards, and sound volume levels are way too high for troop commands.

I'm debating whether to even install that popular SFX mod that increases bass from weapons... With Direct Sound running the Canon fire is already loud as hell on my z-5500s. I can't see how it could have needed any more bass to it, its already shaking my house when they fire.