rec.autos.simulators

by **Murray Shield** » Sun, 02 Mar 2003 16:14:31

I have often seen people discussing the use of GPL or the gameport version
of the MSFFW on these newsgroups. Therefore I am currently experimenting
with a borrowed copy of XP to help me to decide whether to make the jump and
buy it (I currently run Windows 98).

I have no problems running the wheel on XP - it runs with Force Feedback in
all of the games that I have tested so far. The only thing I ever used the
SideWinder software for was to split the pedal axes, and since they are
already split, no worries!

The big thing I want to make sure works before I jump is GPL, and for the
most part it is fine... except the sound. The sound is absolutely horrible -
a muddied, static-filled engine note that builds up to a high squeal when
the engine is revved. It is completely unplayable.

If I enter the core.ini and turn off force feedback the sound is perfect.
Whenever the FF is on, the sound is bad. ONCE I turned off the FF with the
wheel button and then on again and that fixed the sound, but it only worked
once (I could not repeat it). The sound is always bad in-game, but sometimes
it is okay from the replay screens.

Any suggestions for solving this?

Windows XP Home
P4 1.8A
512Mb DDR
Radeon 9500 video card (DirectX9 and Catalyst 3.0)
SB Live! Value (using latest Creative drivers)
MS FF Wheel (running off the soundcard gameport)
GPL is at 1280x1024 in D3D

Thanks,

Murray

by **Malc** » Sun, 02 Mar 2003 19:30:51

You've probably also seen people having problems with the sound in gpl too.

The SB Live cards seem to cause problems for many, myself included. I turn
down the hardware acceleration in dxdiag (start, run, dxdiag.exe, sound) but
many others have found that using the 3109 drivers fix it. I don't think
it's ff related on my system though, My steering controller is USB, although
I use a gameport controller for the pedals.

Malc.

by **Russell Spearin** » Sun, 02 Mar 2003 22:06:55

Hi,

Go into DXDiag click on the sound tab. There is a slider labeled "Hardware
Sound Acceleration Level" which will probably be set to Full Acceleration
(all the way to the right). Drop this slider down to Basic Acceleration
(second from the left). This should cure your problem, it certainly did for
me. You don't even need to reboot afterwards.

Hope this helps

Russell

by **Murray Shield** » Sun, 02 Mar 2003 22:39:21

> > I have often seen people discussing the use of GPL or the gameport
version
> > of the MSFFW on these newsgroups. Therefore I am currently experimenting
> > with a borrowed copy of XP to help me to decide whether to make the jump
> and
> > buy it (I currently run Windows 98).

> You've probably also seen people having problems with the sound in gpl
too.

> The SB Live cards seem to cause problems for many, myself included. I turn
> down the hardware acceleration in dxdiag (start, run, dxdiag.exe, sound)
but
> many others have found that using the 3109 drivers fix it. I don't think
> it's ff related on my system though, My steering controller is USB,
although
> I use a gameport controller for the pedals.

The funny thing is that it is definitely FF related on mine... It always
fails when it is on, it always works when it is off...

- Show quoted text -

by **Malc** » Sun, 02 Mar 2003 23:50:45

> > The SB Live cards seem to cause problems for many, myself included. I
turn
> > down the hardware acceleration in dxdiag (start, run, dxdiag.exe, sound)
> but
> > many others have found that using the 3109 drivers fix it. I don't think
> > it's ff related on my system though, My steering controller is USB,
> although
> > I use a gameport controller for the pedals.

> The funny thing is that it is definitely FF related on mine... It always
> fails when it is on, it always works when it is off...

The SB Live gameport doesn't use the usual I/O range, so it could be that
it's not 100% compatible with your controller. If your mobo has onboard
sound, try enabling that & plug your wheel into it's gameport to see if it's
any better. You could also try any old soundcard to do the same thing.

Keep the speakers plugged into the Live & leave it installed to see if
there's an improvement.

Malc.

by **Murray Shield** » Mon, 03 Mar 2003 21:08:49

Sweet - it does...

Do the Audigy line also have this problem, or is it restricted to the Live!?

> Russell

> > I have often seen people discussing the use of GPL or the gameport
version
> > of the MSFFW on these newsgroups. Therefore I am currently experimenting
> > with a borrowed copy of XP to help me to decide whether to make the jump
> and
> > buy it (I currently run Windows 98).

> > I have no problems running the wheel on XP - it runs with Force Feedback
> in
> > all of the games that I have tested so far. The only thing I ever used
the
> > SideWinder software for was to split the pedal axes, and since they are
> > already split, no worries!

> > The big thing I want to make sure works before I jump is GPL, and for
the
> > most part it is fine... except the sound. The sound is absolutely
> horrible -
> > a muddied, static-filled engine note that builds up to a high squeal
when
> > the engine is revved. It is completely unplayable.

> > If I enter the core.ini and turn off force feedback the sound is
perfect.
> > Whenever the FF is on, the sound is bad. ONCE I turned off the FF with
the
> > wheel button and then on again and that fixed the sound, but it only
> worked
> > once (I could not repeat it). The sound is always bad in-game, but
> sometimes
> > it is okay from the replay screens.

> > Any suggestions for solving this?

> > Windows XP Home
> > P4 1.8A
> > 512Mb DDR
> > Radeon 9500 video card (DirectX9 and Catalyst 3.0)
> > SB Live! Value (using latest Creative drivers)
> > MS FF Wheel (running off the soundcard gameport)
> > GPL is at 1280x1024 in D3D

> > Thanks,

> > Murray

rec.autos.simulators

XP + SB Live! + MSFFW + GPL

XP + SB Live! + MSFFW + GPL

XP + SB Live! + MSFFW + GPL

XP + SB Live! + MSFFW + GPL

XP + SB Live! + MSFFW + GPL

XP + SB Live! + MSFFW + GPL

XP + SB Live! + MSFFW + GPL