ASUS xonar d2x

[firetrap1]

Just a quick update on the sound card front. The ASUS Xonar D2 7.1 channel sound card does not support EAX 2.0 (as advertised) in Railworks or Railworks 2/3. It is also open AL and direct sound capable, but this has no effect in the Railworks engine. In fact, I can only use the card on Railworks when the audio is selected to the 'digital device' in windows 7. It will not load Railworks properly at any time, due to the way the audio engine on the card handles EAX, as the engine is defaulted to 'on'. Surprising that it doesn't have the ability to be switched on or off. Afterall, it is a £100 sound card. :bad-words:

Anyway my advice is to avoid the ASUS xonar d2 soundcard at all costs for playing Railworks.
I am thinking about trying at drivers for the PCI-E version (ASUS xonar D2X) on the card before I take it back, as these drivers give the user active control over the 'GX' mode (game effects mode) for EAX function. If that doesn't work I am going to exchange the card over for the ASUS xonar D2X so I can play the game properly.

No point in spending £100 on something useless.

To sum up.... Avoid the ASUS xonar d2 soundcard at all costs for Railworks use. It does nothing but enhance the sound quality a bit. I'm hoping for a bit more luck when I exchange it!

Regards. Chris.

[Shadders]

Hello Firetrap1,

Sorry to hear you've got problems with the D2, I don't know if this is any help, but there's a chap that got fed up with the lack of driver updates for the Xonar range and put together his own. He's got a version that disables DX mode completely. If your interested, you can find his blog here:
https://brainbit.wordpress.com/2010/07/ ... d-drivers/

The only downside I came across was that older versions seemed to have tiny "dead zones" where if you went to external view on a loco and rotated around it, at certain points the loco sound would cut out. Don't know if this has been sorted in the latest version though.

I've got the D2X PCI-E and for the most part I'm happy with it in RW, I use them in conjunction with a pair of 5.1 headphones so I don't keep next door's children awake.

The only issue I've found has been that in some demanding areas such as termini with lots of locos, or on steam engines, some of the sounds drop out. I've a feeling this is more to do with the sound engine in RW than with the card though.

Best regards,

Shad.

[firetrap1]

I really want EAX to work properly. Im tired of my hst's and older stock being louder in cab than outside.

until I get the card replaced then I will just have to imagine that the engine room door is held open all the time!


chris

[smarty2]

EAX will not work with a D2X sound card, plus rsc recommend disabling the GX function as it causes problems like TS2012 to crash.

[firetrap1]

so if that is the case what soundcard(s) does EAX work on without problems arising every second? I know Richard Armstrong has got EAX working properly, but how????

regards

chris

[SuperTux]

The Asus is a good card overall, but EAX is a Creative Labs thing, if you want full proper supported EAX you're going to have to look at what they offer. To get GX mode working with RW I suggest submitting a ticket with ASUS.

[smarty2]

The Asus is a good card overall, but EAX is a Creative Labs thing, if you want full proper supported EAX you're going to have to look at what they offer. To get GX mode working with RW I suggest submitting a ticket with ASUS.

Good idea, yes but even with a creative card EAX causes problems with Ai and various other problems within TS2012. I know I had a creative card, I do miss the EAX but the problems outweighed the benefits. Right off to submit a ticket to Asus.

[djellis]

can you tell how to make sounds louder in the cab and out of the cab i can hardly hear my with my volume turn right up i have cambridge soundworks thx 5.1 speakers what settings do you set in the sound card
to make the sound louder in the 2012 trainsim.

regards
djellis

[ihavenonamenoreallyidont]

so if that is the case what soundcard(s) does EAX work on without problems arising every second? I know Richard Armstrong has got EAX working properly, but how????

regards

chris

I think the problem here is EAX does not work reliably with RW under Vista or Windows 7, whether it's a Creative soundcard or any other.

[firetrap1]

Hmm... So basically the original developer never had any ambitions to expand the sim over the last few years (probably expecting most pc users to stick with windows xp). Then rsc came along and grew the sim due to a love for the hobby. I guess they were stuck with an outdated game engine to begin with.

I strongly believe that the future of the windows platform will encourage a solution in time. having advanced 3d sound in game is now top of my 'want' list.


Regards

Chris

[ihavenonamenoreallyidont]

RW sounds great at times with EAX on under Windows 7. But far too many crashes occur because of it so most of us just turn it off.

[SuperTux]

Perhaps if we ask nicely RSC may upgrade the way the Sim handles sound, but its never easy to do this as we've seen with the graphics update.

[smarty2]

Indeed, dumping direct sound for open al would be a better move since as you say RW's sounds much better with EAX enabled, just why RSC aren't communicating with creative or Asus is beyond me? I am only going on the response I have had from Asus, who seem to be asking me to find out if RSC have a patch for it?