Ok here is What i found so far requarding the Audigy 2 ZS ans Plat version.
Now i have 2 XP PCs and One windows 7 PC. STO is installed on the XP PC with the audigy 2 ZS platinum.
Some how after this STO 2.1 update. MY sound would cut out at random and sometimes when zoning.
What i did was update my drivers. U have to goto the Creative Site and look for the legecy drivers.
The One that comes with the Disk was made in 2003.
The 2003 Drivers works find before the patch. How do i know this ? Because at game lunch they it worked 100 percent of the time.
My fix should work for u guys with Audigy 2 ZS cards may work for you but not me and i will tell u why.
When u update the drivers the Game wont cut out on you. This is all good for the Game BUT not my 5.1 setup.
The 2008 Drives didn't cut out during game play, but they did mess up my 5.1 setup. Lock ups and freezes.
In my case since i use my 5.1 systems for Movies and MP3, the new drivers killed my rear 2 speakers.
Not a Major problem for those that have a 2.1 setup. Even the NEW media center is buggy for me.
I use EAX alot. Version EAX 4.0. the X-Fi soundcards use EAX 5.0 and EAX 5.0 removes the EDIT for sound effects...etc. So the X-Fi cards are not to for me, maybe for some of u guys that OK. See link near the bottom to see the EDIT control for EAX 4.0
My solution is gonna COST me.
Most peoples SOLUTION on AUDIGY 2 ZS CARDS - update the Drivers - that should work for 90 percent of the gaming rigs.
My 2 part SOLUTION
PART 1
- install XP on another box. Move the Audigy 2 ZS to that Box. Buy another set of Logitect z-5500 - 5.1 which is gonna set me back 300 bucks. http://www.jr.com/logitech/pe/LGI_970115/
PART 2
Install Windows 7 on my gaming rig and my X-Fi which was setting on the shelf for over a 2 years with the stripped down EAX 5.0 and put that in gaming RIG.
There is another OPTION i gonna look into before i plunk down 300 bucks - OTHER SOUND CARDS.
IF anyone KNOWs any good Sound Cards ( other then Creative ) with EAX 4 please let me know.
I make up less then 1 percent that NEED my music with EAX 4.0. Now the day has come where i need to deicate one system just to play Music the WAY i want to here it. I knew it was coming.
quick fix for Windows 7 users using Audigy 2 ZS cards who like playin around with their MP3s
NOTE: --- If u go this route make sure u uninstall all the other features. This file will uninstall your existing
Windows 7 sound drivers - this is ok. Just make sure nothing is left around.
When i left the legecy stuff around i notice in the Audio console in the CMSS 3D tab - CMSS 2 and Stereo Surround was missing. Some EAX features will also be missing.
If this happens - goto Device manager and uninstall the Drivers and let windows 7 install it again. Then run the file noted above.
If you may have to experiment like i did with the creative auto update in reference to the Drivers.
But when i used the Auto update - those drivers - in my case - resulted in NO sound from the rear speakers.
Good luck
results my vary - but be patient. it will take time.
Comments
Now i have 2 XP PCs and One windows 7 PC. STO is installed on the XP PC with the audigy 2 ZS platinum.
Some how after this STO 2.1 update. MY sound would cut out at random and sometimes when zoning.
What i did was update my drivers. U have to goto the Creative Site and look for the legecy drivers.
The One that comes with the Disk was made in 2003.
The 2003 Drivers works find before the patch. How do i know this ? Because at game lunch they it worked 100 percent of the time.
My fix should work for u guys with Audigy 2 ZS cards may work for you but not me and i will tell u why.
When u update the drivers the Game wont cut out on you. This is all good for the Game BUT not my 5.1 setup.
The 2008 Drives didn't cut out during game play, but they did mess up my 5.1 setup. Lock ups and freezes.
In my case since i use my 5.1 systems for Movies and MP3, the new drivers killed my rear 2 speakers.
Not a Major problem for those that have a 2.1 setup. Even the NEW media center is buggy for me.
I use EAX alot. Version EAX 4.0. the X-Fi soundcards use EAX 5.0 and EAX 5.0 removes the EDIT for sound effects...etc. So the X-Fi cards are not to for me, maybe for some of u guys that OK. See link near the bottom to see the EDIT control for EAX 4.0
My solution is gonna COST me.
Most peoples SOLUTION on AUDIGY 2 ZS CARDS - update the Drivers - that should work for 90 percent of the gaming rigs.
My 2 part SOLUTION
PART 1
- install XP on another box. Move the Audigy 2 ZS to that Box. Buy another set of Logitect z-5500 - 5.1 which is gonna set me back 300 bucks.
http://www.jr.com/logitech/pe/LGI_970115/
PART 2
Install Windows 7 on my gaming rig and my X-Fi which was setting on the shelf for over a 2 years with the stripped down EAX 5.0 and put that in gaming RIG.
There is another OPTION i gonna look into before i plunk down 300 bucks - OTHER SOUND CARDS.
IF anyone KNOWs any good Sound Cards ( other then Creative ) with EAX 4 please let me know.
I make up less then 1 percent that NEED my music with EAX 4.0. Now the day has come where i need to deicate one system just to play Music the WAY i want to here it. I knew it was coming.
Attached is PROOF EAX 5 removed alot of features and to be fair added some new stuff
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_audio_extensions
With the X-Fi Cards i cannot EDit the Sounds like in the older cards. See the interface console
this is the eax 4 console - notice the EDIT button - missing in the X-fi cards
http://www.ixbt.com/multimedia/creative/audigy2-zs/eax1.png
This is the EAX 5 console
http://hardwarelogic.com/articles/reviews/misc/X-FI/X-Fi_GamingConsole.jpg
Tons of stuff missing.
getting EAX 4 to work on windows 7
http://www.softwarepatch.com/utilities/audigyzs.html
imo it's not really worth the headache and 100 reboots
My 2 cents
Hope this helps others
5.1 works.
Its Editing features are NOT perfect. In fact EDIT Button isnt even there. but u do get back some features
filename
SBAX_WBUP2_LB 2_09_0016.exe
http://www.softwarepatch.com/utilities/audigyzs-dl.html
quick fix for Windows 7 users using Audigy 2 ZS cards who like playin around with their MP3s
NOTE: --- If u go this route make sure u uninstall all the other features. This file will uninstall your existing
Windows 7 sound drivers - this is ok. Just make sure nothing is left around.
When i left the legecy stuff around i notice in the Audio console in the CMSS 3D tab - CMSS 2 and Stereo Surround was missing. Some EAX features will also be missing.
If this happens - goto Device manager and uninstall the Drivers and let windows 7 install it again. Then run the file noted above.
If you may have to experiment like i did with the creative auto update in reference to the Drivers.
But when i used the Auto update - those drivers - in my case - resulted in NO sound from the rear speakers.
Good luck
results my vary - but be patient. it will take time.