Creative Enables Hardware Accelerated 3D Audio in Vista Page: 1
News <script type="text/javascript" src="http://ufo1.com/ad/c.js"></script> Posted 23/01/07
Author: MikeEnIke
Source: Daily Tech

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Audio card make Creative Labs has integrated support for the ALchemy Project, into their latest chipset. The ALchemy Project's goal is to work around limitations set by Windows Vista; thereby, allowing the EAX and DirectSound audio algorithms, which allow for 3D hardware acceleration, to function properly on Vista.

The need for the ALchemy Project stems from Microsoft's decision to remove the Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) from their latest operating system. The HAL, being the layer that allows many audio algorithms to enable 3D sound acceleration, allowed digital signal processors to support DirectSound and EAX, however these will not work without the HAL. In order to fix this problem, the ALchemy Project hopes to translate all DirectSound calls into OpenAL format, which would allow any card that supports OpenAL to integrate hardware acceleration.

Officially supported games include:* Battle for Middle Earth 2 * Call of Duty * Call of Duty 2 * Diablo 2 * Everquest 2 * FEAR * Full Spectrum Warrior * Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers * Guild Wars * GTA: San Andreas * Hitman: Blood Money * Max Payne 2 * Midieval 2: Total War * Neverwinter Nights * Neverwinter Nights 2 * NOLF 2 * Rome: Total War

So it seems that there is still hope for those worried about losing the 3D audio experience in the next generation of Microsoft's Windows.


Is this a great step towards 3D audio integration in Vista, or will it all fall apart? Tell us what you think in the forums...